Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a serious issue and we have to treat it with a serious debate. I think the Premier made it pretty clear in his response to Mr. Erasmus's question earlier what his position is, which is also the position of this Cabinet; that is, to ensure that aboriginal students born in the Northwest Territories get the first chance at these jobs. I am trying very quickly to bring forward this review that has been undertaken, so that we can have a healthy debate in this House, and as Mr. Ootes has said very well, so we can come forward with some recommendations and suggestions for change. That way, there will be a sense of fairness in the issue of northern recruitment in this government, whether it is in students or whether it is in permanent jobs. So it is our intention to do that and I look forward to a healthy debate on it, hopefully in May, so we can then put it into effect to meet the student employment program this summer. Also, we want to be able to deal with the everyday running of government and the recruitment and training of the people we all represent. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. I was pleased to read in your document, wages and benefits, that you have noted this is the result of considerable speculation and concern among employees about where their jobs are at. I appreciate that. I suggest the wording is probably very light for individuals out there who have families, mortgages, and payments to make. I would suggest it is probably for them a lot more than just concern. When will these people -- we have identified that there are going to be 150 lay-offs -- be notified of their positions being terminated? Thank you.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I totally agree with Mr. Henry. It is a time of concern and anxiety. We are trying to, in a clear and concise way, to reassure those people that we are trying to do this in a caring and compassionate way. My understanding is that we are interviewing people on an individual basis who, unfortunately, have been assigned to be laid off. That process is currently under way and is going to be concluded very shortly in the coming days. So some people have already been advised. People are being advised as we speak and others will be advised over the next three or four days. I do recognize the concern that Mr. Henry has alluded to and we are trying to reassure people that this is going to be done in a caring and compassionate way.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have some very serious concerns with the elimination of the Personnel functions in the regions. I have said this in and out of committee. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Personnel. Can the Minister inform this House how the Inuit training plans for the new Nunavut government will be implemented without a coordinating Personnel presence in the Nunavut region as outlined in the NIC model that we seem to be going forward with for the new Nunavut territory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the present time, discussions are under way with the federal government. We have had a few meetings now with the Honourable Ron Irwin, Minister of Indian Affairs. At this time, we have had no commitment on the incremental costs, let alone training costs from the federal government. Until I see the dollar figures and commitment, I will wait and hopefully we will get as much accomplished in the period of time while we are waiting on those numbers, but we aren't going to proceed on anything until I see the dollars. I am not willing to put dollars forward to process, unless we can get something out of it. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a very serious situation. I will have to address that in another question tomorrow. How will the appeals process, for example, through the CDA be handled if we don't have a regional Personnel presence?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If it is an appeals process relating to the union, we are delegating that responsibility out to the management. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North and I have very strong concerns with the implementation of affirmative action on possible nepotism occurring in the hiring process without a strong regional Personnel presence. Mr. Speaker, if there aren't going to be any more people in Personnel in the regions, then what is headquarters going to be doing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has been made quite clear to me by Members of this House that they already know that that is going on, even with a fully-funded Department of Personnel. When we have managers who are held accountable and Ministers held accountable, then hopefully that will stop. No one will be able to pass the buck. If that is happening in a department, that deputy will be held responsible. Hopefully by restructuring, that is what we will do and we have kept a total of five PYs, including the ADM, at this time in the Department of Personnel. They will be slowly phased out, once the departments are up and running on the hiring practices and training. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Steen.

Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, as the Member well knows, the petroleum products division of the NWT is set to be privatized in the coming months. I cannot make the commitment at this time, without looking into the issue further. There are, at present, tenders out for fuel delivery contracts. So without further research into this matter, I cannot answer the Member's question.

Supplementary, Mr. Steen.