Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the positions identified for the communities are all funded. What we are faced with, as the Member has pointed out, is a recruitment issue and, as I have tried to indicate over the last number of days, we are working with all the boards and the department to try to improve how we recruit. Not only how we recruit, but how we retain staff in all areas. We recognize this is a very complex issue and one we have to become very efficient and effective in.
There are some very specific issues as they relate to the smaller communities, as the Member mentioned as well. Things like housing. We are trying to work with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to determine the best way to try to bring some stability into that area as well. We are looking at ways to retain staff with career opportunities, staff training, mentoring. We want to make sure we work very closely with the communities so that we have a work environment and community environment that is the most appropriate and the best that the community and the staff can come to rely on.
We are doing a number of things and the money is in the budget for all of the positions.
The Member has touched on the difference in wages between some of the communities that he has indicated. We are also having to deal with the difference between government pay ranges and what is given to NGO's for salary dollars. That is an issue that we are dealing with. It is on the list, but it is one that has not been resolved yet and it is one that is not fully funded in this particular budget. Thank you.