Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware of specific positions targeted for summer employment by various departments, but I am also certain that we could survey departments to find out what positions may be available for summer student employment by department and by community. I am not certain how long it would take to get that information. The Member is correct when he says the students are returning in five weeks. I believe we could undertake to contact departments to get that information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final supplementary is for further clarification. Since April comes every year and summer students return every year, can the Deputy Premier indicate what formal process they have that is ongoing, so it is not a question of scrambling around trying to get the information and so it is planned out in a careful, anticipatory way, knowing what the numbers are and what the need may be. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Deputy Premier, Mrs. Jane Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware of previous years in terms of precedent on how this information was gathered. I will have to take that supplementary as notice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. That part of the question was taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister responsible for the Department of Justice. I would like to ask him about this government's intentions for developing legislation in a few different areas. Specifically, I am very concerned with human rights legislation. We currently have a Fair Practices Act. I think that by all accounts there are big-time holes in all of this. It excludes a lot of people. It seems every time we have problems, we have to go to Ottawa in this area.

I also have concerns with labour legislation. With some of the issues and concerns that have recently been raised, I think it has been suggested that the North take ownership and develop some labour legislation. I have heard it many times. I have heard Mr. Dent speak to this on occasion.

We know this government has a zero tolerance for violence declaration. I would suggest that this, in its current format, is simply a nice gesture and nothing more. This thing really has no teeth. I think we need formal legislation and policies in this area. I am wondering if the Minister can tell me what his intentions are in this area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was happy to hear the Minister suggest we are looking forward to our own human rights legislation and possibly labour legislation. But I am not so happy with his responses in relation to zero tolerance for violence.

I do not think it is enough to say we have a strong concern in this area and the federal government has legislation. I think we have to take ownership in this area. I think we have to do something and we have to move quickly. If the government does not have plans in place now, I would like to urge this government to make plans. I think this is very important. I am wondering if the Minister can tell me, and assure this House, that he will look into this area and report back to the House?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Jane Groenewegen. It has to do with the NAS facility outside of Yellowknife. I have been getting calls from my constituents who had worked there and who have been in limbo for the last few weeks without getting paid.

Their matter has been before the Labour Standards Board. I understand the certificates were issued, but they are still waiting to hear if they can get the money. I would like to ask the Minister what she knows about what the government has done and what the government is able to do to compensate these workers.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the issue the Member raises in the House today. We had been contacted by someone from labour standards asking what the government will be prepared to do in response to these concerns that were raised by employees of Northern Addiction Services.

The Department of Health and Social Services has a number of contracts with the board of directors of the Northern Addiction Services. However, these contracts have expired some time ago. The department does not have a contractual relationship with NAS at this time. The responsibility for the payment of the employees of NAS rests with the board of directors, not with the Department of Health and Social Services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's answer. However, I think this is a situation that is very similar to the Giant Mine pension workers, in that the workers at the facility are being penalized with their pay. There are about eight people that I know of who are going without pay up to thousands of dollars. I think it is really unfair for the government to say the contract was with somebody else. They were providing the services required by Health and Social Services. I would like to ask the Minister if she would look at this situation and find the money to pay the workers the wages owed. I do not think it is a lot of money, but it will go far for them. I am wondering if the government can do anything. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Honourable Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed it is a very regrettable situation for the employees of NAS as well as the board of directors who now may find themselves in the position of being liable for these costs.

However, the department did try to provide advice to the NAS board with respect to their responsibilities to their employees, and had even advised at one time the board should get insurance in the eventuality of something like this happening. The board declined to do so. We find ourselves in a difficult situation. It is an awkward thing to expect the board of directors to be liable for this. However, they continued to employ people after contracts had expired. It is not possible for the government to come in at this time and respond to those shortfalls. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Has anyone told the workers this? They are waiting for somebody to pay for their wages. They think the board of directors is working on it. They think the government is working on it. I hear that nobody is really working on it. It is really up to the board of directors, which I know is not doing anything. We have workers out there working without getting paid. They are working as we speak, and think they are going to get paid. I feel the government has to take the responsibility and let them know they are not going to get paid.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. I am not sure of the question. You made a statement. Could you clarify the question please?