Oral questions. I have been requested to recognize some visitors in the gallery. They are, as earlier stated by Mr. Rabesca's statement, I would like to recognize the grades 10 and 11 combined classes with their teacher, George Mackenzie, and Ernestine Steinwand. They are here to show support for us and to try to get something done to ensure teenagers are not going to the bars and to learn more about the government system. Welcome to the Assembly.

--Applause

Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question, Mr. Speaker, is to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng. It is my understanding that various health boards in the Northwest Territories utilize the services of agencies to supply nurses to fill short-term nursing positions in some of the communities. My question to the Minister is, when the nurses are hired to fill these short-term positions, who is their employer, the health board or the agency that hired them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An interesting question, Mr. Speaker, I would have to take that as notice. It is more of a technical question and I will get back to the Member. Thank you.

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have not seen the article that the honourable Member is

referring to, and therefore, I have not been able to develop any opinion and I will have to take the question as notice for the time being, and ask the department if we are, in fact, looking in that direction. Thank you.

Thank you. The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up on Mr. Steen's question to the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, I understand we are losing more and more teachers and nursing staff due to collective bargaining. I understand these jobs are very stressful and I am sure they need benefits and VTAs in order to keep these jobs. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance. Will there be other packages in order to support these jobs in the Northwest Territories, such as VTA or other benefits? The reason I am asking this question is, that is not included in collected bargaining, and I understand there is not going to be any retroactive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the question my honourable colleague is asking, are we going to go back to the way that we did in the past in relationship to compensating our employees, I think the answer would probably be no. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, how does the government plan to deal with nurses and teachers in the Northwest Territories, so we can attract more to the Northwest Territories? Thank you. (Translation ends)

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, if I may be so bold, we have a great deal of other employees besides teachers and nurses and while both of these professions play an important and critical role in the delivery of services to our people, so do a variety of other people who work for this government. When we negotiate an arrangement, we try to negotiate an arrangement that is fair and equitable to everybody. We do not isolate out, if you want, particularly in the nursing fraternity which is part of the UNW collective agreement. The NWTTA has its own association which represents its interests and we deal with them separately.

It is recognized in the nursing and medical fraternity by my colleague, Mr. Ng, and my other colleagues, that there is a problem. It is important to point out that this problem, as my honourable colleague from Iqaluit indicated, is not just in the territorial jurisdiction. Recently I was at the Finance Ministers meeting in Winnipeg two weeks ago and every other jurisdiction in Canada is having difficulty retaining professionals in the medical field. I cannot tell you today, why I am not qualified to do that, but clearly, there is recognition in this government, as Mr. Ng has indicated in an earlier response to questions, which is making a concerted effort through his retention plan in trying to solve some of those problems.

Hear, hear!

...but it is not a problem that is isolated to the territories. It is a problem that is broadly based across Canada. Thank you.

Hear, hear!

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.