Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would it be safe to say that some of the things that are being contemplated are the ability to go to conferences or workshops and short courses down south to update skills and knowledge that the nurses have? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I could say that would certainly be one of the higher priorities for funding with this fund, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Mr. Speaker, another concern which was raised, of course, is the inability to recruit and retain nursing staff in the smaller communities. I am aware the Minster had indicated that the plan will attempt to address this. The Stanton Board has talked about the possibility of establishing a recruitment nursing pool from which nurses could be provided to the regions for certain periods of time and then come back to work in Yellowknife for a certain period of time and back to the community. Is the Minister aware of such a proposal and could he indicate what he thinks of it?

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are fully aware of that proposal. In fact, I believe it was a departmental initiative at the start. They have it based here in Yellowknife. To have that take place, the involvement of the Stanton Board is critical, as well, as they provide a lot of the services not only for Yellowknife but for some of the surrounding areas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the Minister has been working with several partners on this plan. Could the Minister indicate how this particular aspect, the nursing pool based in Yellowknife is being received by the rest of the partners? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this Recruitment and Retention Plan was done very broadly with as much input from the professional associations, health care associations and the boards, as possible. In that respect there is very broad support for it and, hopefully, with that greater opportunities for success as well. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to Mr. Arlooktoo, the Minister responsible for Justice. During the last sitting of this Legislature, I had introduced and a motion was passed in this House for the Minister to relook at sections of the Labour Standards Act as it deals with contract employees. This affects many workers in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. I believe, we had demonstrated to the Minister the need for changes to this legislation. My question to the Minister is, can he update the House on how his department has acted on this motion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I recall correctly, the issue had to do with how the Labour Standards Act dealt with commission workers and professionals and some inconsistencies and some old parts of the legislation that did not treat the employers fairly in some cases and employees in other cases. The government and the department have taken the motion that the Member referred to heart, and we have started some of the consultation. I am informed that the deputy minister of Justice has written to a number of stakeholders and interest groups on what they see as required changes to the act. We are planning for these changes to be drafted up to go through the committee process and the House as part of a bill this fall. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I would like to thank the Minister for that and also for his correction. I believe I did say contract employees, and the Minister is correct to point out commission employees. Could the Minister just assure us again that this legislation will be introduced in the fall? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is our intention. Originally, the department had felt that because it was a complicated part of law and the fact that we do have many other things on the plate as far as legislation is concerned, it would require some more time. However, we will be following closely some changes that were made in Alberta in their employment standards code and their employment standards' regulations. We believe they are very close to what is required here in the north. We have every intention to put these amendments through the House in October. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to my colleague, Mr. Ng, the Minister of Health and Social Services. As I mentioned earlier, last week, the Minister and I had the opportunity and the pleasure of attending the Kitikmeot Leaders Forum in Kugluktuk, formerly Coppermine. Many issues were raised. Mr. Ng and I were asked questions. One of those is in relation to the operation of the Kitikmeot Boarding Home. My question has to do with not the management, but with the conditions within that building. One of the concerns was there is no air conditioning in the facility. Many pregnant women, children and elders pass through that facility, and we appreciate that from the Kitikmeot Region. My question is, will the Minister direct his staff to communicate with the Kitikmeot Health Board in order to put air conditioning in before mid-summer sets in? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of air conditioning for the Kitikmeot Boarding Home, the Lena Peterson Boarding Home has been an ongoing issue since it has been established. My honourable Member points a hand for five years. I think it is safe to say that the board recognizes the problems. They have, in consultation with DPW, I understand, looked at some options that have been developed, I believe, last year. I do not know at what stage they have taken those options or if they have made a decision on an avenue that they want to pursue, but certainly it is an issue. I will be glad to directly speak to the Kitikmeot Health Board in trying to resolve this matter in conjunction with the Member. Thank you.