Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are all familiar with the now famous no lay-off policy. I quote the Premier from his statement in this House last March when he said, "this government plans no more lay-offs, either due to division or to department consolidations" for the remainder of this government's term. This was a welcome announcement, after the difficult times and the uncertainty that government employees have faced over the past years.

I am sure the government knows that the policy was much talked about among employees. As it turns out, we are now hearing conflicting messages. Members may recall a letter we received from the Premier in August. The Premier pointed out that the creation of two new governments will result in a transfer of responsibilities to the Nunavut government. This is not ground breaking news. He also said, and I quote, "the need to downsize the public service".

Now, we are downsizing the public service, but apparently not laying off. The Premier wrote that there would be no lay-offs because there will be an internal competition process for GNWT jobs. According to the Premier, this would reduce staff numbers by creating greater mobility within the workforce. Mr. Speaker, I am not convinced that it will be quite that simple or painless or effective for that matter. We need a lot more information. To me, downsizing sounds a lot like lay-off policy by another name. Later today, I will be speaking and asking questions to the Premier on this particular topic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. O'Brien.

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Miltenberger.

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Thompson.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Sarah Kidlapik, her mother and father are also in Repulse Bay and she is here too as well. I would like to thank her for coming. (Translation ends)

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Premier. The Premier said a number of GNWT employees must be reduced. The government intends to do this without lay-offs by creating an internal competition process for the GNWT employees. The Premier said that the staff would be reduced by creating greater mobility within the workforce. My question to the Premier is, can the Premier tell me approximately how many GNWT positions still need to be eliminated prior to division? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot give him a number today. I will be pleased to try to find that number for him and forward it. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would ask the Premier then, Mr. Speaker, to give me some clarification of what he meant when he addressed this House last March when he told this House that this government plans no more lay-offs either due to division or to departmental consolidations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I said in the last Legislative Assembly, there will be no more lay-offs to government staff due to division and downsizing. When we say that, we meant that. There is a certain amount of people who work for the government right now. We are going to need a certain amount of people to carry out the functions of the new western governance. What we have done, is we have internal staffing that we have to do. So, some people may be in positions right now that will be in a downsized position after division. We are attempting to move those people to other positions so we do not have to lay people off. We have approximately the same number of people on staff as we do positions. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Do I understand the Premier to tell us that there will be no more lay-offs regardless of these internal competitions that he spoke of earlier? Is he telling this House there will be no lay-offs of GNWT staff? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

The Minister responsible for the Economic Strategy, Mr. Todd.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure why that took place, but I will check with the people who are working on the project and report back to my honourable colleague. Thank you.