Qujannamiik. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How are people supposed to know that there are jobs they can apply for, if they are not advertised?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How are people supposed to know that there are jobs they can apply for, if they are not advertised?

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just explained the process to the Member. I will try again. He might be able to understand it this time. There is a general advertisement for casuals. Then the resumes are kept in a pool, and then it is drawn down from that pool. Thank you.

Mahsi. Secretariat. Mr. Erasmus.

So, is the Premier saying that there is no advertisement for a specific casual job? That there is an advertisement saying that we want casuals, and please apply, or something to that effect?

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sometimes casuals are needed to move paper boxes around or whatever. They are needed a couple of days here, a couple of days there. It would not be effective or efficient government to advertise every casual position the government needed. Effective and efficient government would be to put out a general advertisement for a list of casual into a pool and draw from that pool. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Erasmus.

Mr. Chairman, I also know that there are many jobs people have been in for two, three years because they have been hired as casual positions, time after time. It seems to many people that the managers in certain areas use this method to hire friends and circumvent the affirmative action policy which I am very interested in this area, and I would think that if you want to hire someone to move some boxes, that is not what I am talking about. But when there are good paying jobs and there is a lot of affirmative action people out there, they should be given the opportunity to apply. I would like to know if the Premier can ensure that the jobs that are going to be more than say a month in length can be put out to the general public so that they know that they are there.

Thank you. Without taking the right of the Member to ask questions, the Member has spent a good deal of the portion of his time asking questions. Mr. Henry has indicated that he wanted to ask. So after I let Mr. Premier respond to Mr. Erasmus, I will recognize Mr. Henry. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Like I have said earlier. We have given up a certain amount of advertisement dollars to cut back on costs of this government. That money is gone. It is history. The way the government handles the casual employment is that you can only have a casual maximum of four months. That is the very maximum. If you have to have a casual longer than that than it becomes a term position, and all term positions have to be in an advertisement. If Mr. Erasmus knows of specific cases, please bring them to the attention of the Minister responsible for that department, and the Minister will deal with his deputy minister on the issue. But I need specifics, I cannot deal with generalities or rumours. I need specifics. Thank you.

Thank you. I will recognize Mr. Henry, but that does not mean that I am taking Mr. Erasmus' right to ask a question after Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a short question on Division Review Secretariat to change the pace a little bit. That department has a budget of $1,028,000 and nine people. Can the Premier advise the committee what types of activities this Secretariat is involved in and where the money is spent in particular.

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Division Secretariat major challenges for the GNWT and divisional issues, they do better communication linkages with parties to the division process, improve public understanding of division, and maintain a positive public image, and a proactive role in establishing the GNWT's division agenda. For example, our response to Footprints 2 is basically done by the Divisional Secretariat. All communication between NTI, NIC, Ottawa, DIAND is basically taken care of by Divisional Secretariat on divisional issues. Also, we do have a presence in Iqaluit and Ottawa for division, and to be on top of those issues. Thank you.

Thank you. I would like to remind Members of the time we have here. Cabinet Secretariat, Mr. Erasmus.

Mr. Chairman. Are the casual positions also governed by our affirmative action policy?

We have Mr. Erasmus and Mr. Ootes. Mr. Premier.

Sorry, Mr. Chairman. I missed Mr. Erasmus' question.

Would you repeat the question, Mr. Erasmus. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When casual positions are being filled, do the managers have to follow the affirmative action policy?

Thank you, Mr. Premier.