Thank you, Madam Chair. I shouldn't be very long. I will stay clearly out front. I am still extremely supportive of this process, how we have come about where we are today. When I came to this Assembly about two-and-a-half years ago, I saw the creation of the Human Resources department priority. I am glad to see that we are going there. It wasn't initially on the radar but, through our Assembly process, we were able to bring it to fruition. I am extremely pleased that we are still going in a very strong direction.

I know, like anything, whenever there is change, of course there are highs and lows. Change certainly isn't easy. It is a challenge I can only imagine. I certainly see that the highs and lows, the peaks and the bottoms, are probably levelling off. I often tease my fellow colleagues here about how they are afraid of change. I tease them by calling them dinosaurs and how changes are difficult to handle, but, all joking aside, it truly is when it comes to people's jobs, their lives and the realities they have to live in. We always have to be very sensitive. I am glad that we are focussing in a direction that I think can truly be sensitive to people's needs.

I have always believed that a Human Resources department would be better suited to adjusting to the policies that this government sets out. I have often heard in the past, and I don't want to make it sound like the recent past but more so the distant past, in a sense of where our government doesn't practise its policies. The effectiveness of this is often described as we had much autonomy everywhere sort of acting and doing what they wanted to. The interpretation of our policies that are set out in this Assembly, lead by this Assembly, and should be followed on the directives, weren't being understood properly. I don't necessarily blame the autonomy function. I think it is just individual areas sort of grow and aspire on their own. Like I say, interpretation can happen being separated. I think corralling the organization together makes us a stronger government as a whole. I see it in time, and I would like to see it in a short time when I say in time, that we start working towards a comprehensive review of all of our policies. I don't suspect that would be easy, but I think, in time, we can truly work to become very progressive in many ways. I say that because I would like the GNWT, to some extent, work very hard towards becoming yet again the employer of choice that it used to be known for many years. That does mean money, but that road doesn't need to be crossed today, but it needs to be thought of.

I really see the human resource section as almost the nucleus of government. It is where you get hired. Unfortunately, sometimes, that is where you also get fired, too. Through the process, it even had growth, development and learning. It is a resource for getting help if you need it. If you want to go learn, you can contact your Human Resources department. I really see it is as a critical element to our government to be able to have a strong nucleus in order to go forward.

Through this coordination process, we have established a new human resource section. I know that the frustration of applications in the past I think may continue in the future. But I think it is certainly being minimized by being able to focus proper attention that it deserves, and the creation of this department is where I think we are solving some of the problems. I have often heard the challenges of interpretation of policy, but I think these are the types of steps that will help minimize this for the future.

Madam Chair, I only have a little more to say which is, I really think that the growing pains will continue but I see them as short. I am pleased with the direction they are heading in. I am very supportive of the fact that it needs a bit of time to continue to sort of solidify that foundation that they have already established. We have to keep in mind if we don't allow them to create that solid foundation, I guess it causes me to think why even bother. We have to give them the chance to sort of give them the opportunity to set up, start learning, coordinating in an efficient manner, which I think that they are.

At this point, I think I am just going to close by saying that I am happy that this government is meeting that challenge by creation of this department. I think, at the end of the day, we will be able to suit the specific needs of our people through our hiring practice and growth more efficiently. Thank you, Madam Chair. That is all at this time.