Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we did try an open competition earlier on in the year and that ran its course for a number of months. That concluded unsuccessfully and then we had to reactivate a retired warden in the meantime to run the correctional facility on a part-time basis. In the meantime, looking at the personnel that was there and the abilities of the individual we were considering, I determined that we have the prerogative, as Minister and Cabinet, to do direct appointments. This prerogative has been done quite often, and it is still going on today. We have found many qualified people through this process to take on key positions throughout the whole government.

As the honourable Member knows, that has been going on and will probably continue to go on in this government. Through this process, with guidance and good direction, we will be able to develop our own aboriginal northern people to good management positions. We can also do it through the open competition. However, this form of appointing people and putting them into key positions with guidelines has worked as well. Thank you.