Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. For a number of reasons. Similar to what I responded to with the director position, there are more resources available within Yellowknife and trying to provide that level of training, along with trying to staff that position was difficult. So an agreement was reached to train the individual here in the capital and move that position back out. That was the arrangement that was made; being more effective and being able to provide the level of training needed, as well as the experience. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again on this same issue with regard to that position, if I could just get some further clarification I probably would be very satisfied to move on to another issue. I'm just curious on the training of this position. Is it quite unique that this person requires very specialized training, that you can only receive this training in Yellowknife even though the function of this position is to be to fully operate in the Fort Simpson area? I'm a little confused on that one. As well as the fact that maybe for my clarity, as well as Mr. Menicoche's clarity, is it a unique position whereby we're bringing someone into the fold of opportunity that, for example, wouldn't normally be able to qualify for this type of job and we've giving them an opportunity take hold of a new career opportunity? Maybe if the Minister could explain that to me a little further, and maybe it will get to a saturation point of satisfaction, I'll choose a new question. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again with that, the idea of the training to occur was we've taken an individual who was working within the system and through other efforts of trying to staff up the higher level position, we weren't successful, and we felt that with this individual we could take that person and have them come in for training, and have the position that they are being trained for work out of here in Yellowknife. But again working with the individual who has not relocated to Yellowknife, but is coming on a regular basis for that training, being trained by an individual here in headquarters for the two-year period. At that time, they will be able to take up the higher level position, and the actual position itself will be relocated to Fort Simpson. So the position itself has been moved to headquarters to facilitate for the training exercise. The person filling the position continues to travel between the communities to receive that training, and once the training is complete, that person will then take up the position and the position will be relocated to Fort Simpson. But the individual right now travels back and forth for the training, and after two years will assume the actual higher level position and then move back to Fort Simpson. That's the position. The person stays there now, travels back and forth, the position has been relocated for two years, moving back to Fort Simpson. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am now prepared to switch topics. I appreciate the suggestion that I think I understood, which is it's a little bit of a promotion within the department, which I think lends a lot of weight to future growth as well as the employees' satisfaction to see one of their own working through the system. That's the way I understood that, which we could probably talk for hours about but that's not why we're here, although I will lend credit to that plan. It's good to see.

The next question if the Minister could explain for me and on behalf of the rest of the Members, they may have questions in this regard, as well. I notice Public Works and Services retains a reassurance role in the quality of drinking water, and it is noted on page 4 of 5, if the Minister could explain what services the department provides, and why the department provides it versus, for example, RWED, or maybe even more so the Department of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Public Works and Services' role in the drinking water side of the equation is one for the facility itself, in the operation and maintenance of it and the training of individuals who would be in it. Over the years a lot of the maintenance functions have been transferred to communities. One of our roles along with the others is to ensure that the actual facility itself is up to standards, and that maintenance of those facilities are up to standards in that as we replace

those types of facilities we are putting in the most current and up-to-date features and controls in place and provide training. We work with MACA on the side of operations, with community training, and Health and Social Services is more involved in ensuring that the actual quality of the product being delivered to residents meets the standards as set across our nation. Our end, Public Works and Services, is on the infrastructure and the sort of technical nature of the facilities themselves. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Mr. Minister, for clarifying that. I just wanted to make sure we were on the turning the wrench side, rather than the diagnostic side or the health side. On the last note -- and it could be my last question depending on the outcome -- presently does Public Works and Services run any water facilities, water treatment plants in the Northwest Territories, or at this time are they all in the hands of the communities? Could the Minister expand if that is not the case? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are four communities that we are directly involved with in the facilities maintenance end. We also do have some involvement in the other communities depending on the level of assistance required from communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins, do you have any further general comments?

No, thank you.

Next on my list for general comments I have Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The process that Public Works is involved in is when there are other departments that are going to be building facilities or expanding facilities in the communities, we would work with the departments to see what type of materials they would need in the granular area. Based on that, we would then look at getting some work done and having that supplied in the community. So we initially start off working with departments to see in fact how many pads they would need and those types of things, and based on that we would go through the other side and see if a tender needs to be let out for supply of that material, and then stockpile it until the actual work is done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just notice a sentence here on page 2 of 5 just ahead of Mr. Pokiak's concern. It mentions the management and construction of new facilities, management of the design. Is that for communities in particular, or is that a chargeback function that we provide for smaller communities? How does that work? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The role Public Works and Services gets involved in is at the department level. When a client department, if it is Health and Social Services or Education, Culture and Employment become involved, we would work with them and provide the technical expertise in project management and design, and work with them to see what the requirements are in helping to establish the estimates that would be used and placed in the main estimates document as well. So there are a number of areas that we are involved with them, but it is mainly with departments and then as a contract is laid out and issued we are involved in the project management end in communities, unless there is an agreement for full authority with the communities then they would take over that area. We, again, mainly work with departments in the delivery of our capital projects. Thank you.