Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. This government is in need of an employment strategy whereby we can identify what employment will be available in the coming years, both in the government and in the private sector. By doing that, we can then identify training programs and educational programs whereby individuals can be slotted into those positions. The federal government has identified almost $40 million in the next three years to be applied to prepare Nunavut residents for the increase in government employment in Nunavut that will come about as a result of division. I think that is excellent. However, here in the west, we are also going through dramatic changes and part of that being the division process. Secondly, the advent of mining coming about. We will also no doubt see a need for retraining of the employees of the Government of the Northwest
Territories and for training for potential jobs in the mining industry.
While the Premier was in Cambridge Bay at the Nunavut Leaders' Conference this weekend, I wonder if the Premier had an opportunity to speak to the Minister of Northern Affairs about this matter to see if we could get some funding allocated for the western part of the Territories for training, such as they have in Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.