Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I will just say that our vacancy rate is not as high as it would appear at first because we have a number of seasonal positions.
For example, in the May vacancy report we had 34 full-time vacant positions and the other 32, when the data was pulled together, were seasonal positions, so a lot of those have been filled. Having 32, 34 about that number, out of a total compliment of 420 fulltime positions, is probably not out of line because you always expect to have eight, nine, or ten percent turnover.
On the other issue the Member raises though, I agree 100 percent with the need of having some really thorough baseline data collected and information available on our wildlife and natural environment, so we need to do that. Oil and gas is quickly catching up to us, or speeding up in the North. The department is aware of the need for it.
We are doing a review within the department of our programs and services to figure out how we can identify the resources, human and dollars, to be able to achieve what the Member is recommending we do. So we are in agreement on that. Thank you.