I’d have to get some clarity from the Minister of Human Resources, but my understanding of the process is that we’re looking at retirement. If individuals have set their dates, we have to work with, for example, Superannuation, because there are set dates when individuals can qualify. Working with them on potential earlier retirement for individuals that may be affected…. Once people are retired, I don’t see where we have any problems. Again, I’d have to defer to the Minister of Human Resources and get more detail on that. But for retirement and coming back as a casual, people call their regional offices or offices in communities and put their name on the list. I’ll have to see if there’s any problem around that, going forward. I’ll get that information to the Member.

I look forward to hearing what the Premier finds out about that. It’s not just that

they…. They have everything in place to retire: the pension, everything, all the numbers; they’ve reached the goals. But before they do that, they would like to know for sure that they could come back as a casual, because it’s important to their decision whether they retire or not. If that kind of thing could be accommodated, I think it could be a win-win for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, whether we are affected with our work environment, with our unions or, in this case of retirement, working with Superannuation…. If they have policies in place that could affect some of those areas, we’ll get some detail on that. One of the factors that could affect that, for example, is how high a level they are within the public service. That also has an effect on that avenue. Again, that is more a reflection of our relationship with Superannuation.

The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke yesterday in question period and asked the Minister of Human Resources about what they’re doing for summer students. We talked about summer students that potentially could be hired by the GNWT, and that process. The Minister alluded to a potential answer to my questions about the private sector. In the past there has been an incentive program out there for the private sector. I think the Minister said there was around a $5,000 potential out there. What is the Minister doing to ensure that the private sector knows this is available, and to make sure that they can obtain access to this program?

Thank you, Mr.

Hawkins. The

honourable Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a number of programs to entice summer students to return to the Northwest Territories. It comes in two forms: the northern Summer Student Employment Program and the Northern Graduate Employment Program. The programs that the Member is referring to…. Under the Northern Graduate Employment Program, we have a Graduate Transition Program, and that program is being reduced. It was a program to place returning students with the private sector as interns, and the government subsidized interns up to $25,000. Unfortunately, that program is being phased out, and we’re providing for the remaining students that are in the program.

We also have the Progressive Experience Program, which provides up to $5,000 to place students with different agencies. Although primarily used during the summer, funding can also be accessed throughout the year for northern post-secondary students doing co-op or practicum placements with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, we heard a couple of programs, and they’re certainly good. But the private sector is telling me that they need more support, because there’s certainly enough work in their businesses and in the private industries to take on more summer students, as well as other types of programs. The principle, really, on this issue is: is the government making money available so the private sector can help supplement those summer student wages and maybe take on more summer students?

Mr. Speaker, the only program we have right now is the Progressive Experience Program, but we’d be prepared to look at something for the next business-planning cycle. Certainly, if we can reduce the costs to the government by having the private sector hire more summer students, I think that would be something we could work towards.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Member a short supplementary. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, a private sector person called me yesterday, as I’ve said, and they want access to any opportunities they can to help leverage their money to hire students, because they’ve got a lot of work in their shop. This is one of a number of examples out there. Mr. Speaker, if there is a pot out there through the Progressive Experience Program, how much money is available, and how would they obtain access to this potential program to make sure they put these students to work?

Currently we have 75 progressive experience positions that are available. Most of them have been taken up for this year.

Thank you, Mr.

McLeod. Final

supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Mr. Speaker, if I said today — simply just today — how much money is there in any incentive program for any employer to come in and tap into, so they could use that to leverage their own money in order to hire summer students…? Because, I think, as highlighted by the Minister and me yesterday, the territorial government can’t employ all the students; it certainly isn’t reasonable. We’ve only been able to employ approximately 60 per cent of what we had last year. The private sector wants to take it up. So what programs exist

today that they could call to tap into to hire these extra students?

Mr. Speaker, I should point out that there are a number of funding agencies that provide for summer student employment, including the federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories. I’ll be pleased to make a list of those programs available to the Member.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 8, written questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, capital projects within the Department of Transportation.

1) Of the projects identified for funding under the

proposed Building Canada Fund, how many were brought forward from the NWT Highways Strategy or from the department’s Infrastructure Acquisition Plan, and how many are new initiatives?

2) What level of consultation was undertaken with

community and aboriginal governments on the infrastructure projects identified for funding?

3) Can the Minister provide to me copies of any

agreements or motions from community or aboriginal governments in support of the infrastructure projects that are identified for funding?

4) What class of cost estimates is each of the

proposed Building Canada Fund projects presently at?

Thank you, Mr.

Krutko. Item 8,

written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled Communities and Diamonds — 2007 Annual Report of the Government of the Northwest Territories under the BHP Billiton, Diavik and De Beers Socio-Economic Agreements.

Document 59-16(2), Communities and

Diamonds — 2007 Annual Report of the Government of the Northwest Territories under the BHP Billiton, Diavik and De Beers Socio-Economic Agreements, tabled.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod.

Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, with Bill 8, Tabled Document 37-16(2), Committee Report 7-16(2), with Mr. Krutko in the chair.

By the authority given me as Speaker by Motion 10-16(2), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the hour of daily adjournment to consider business before the House.

I call the Committee of the Whole to order. In consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 8, Committee Report 2-16(2), Committee Report 3-16(2), Committee Report 4-16(2), Committee Report 5-16(2), Committee Report 6-16(2), Committee Report 7-16(2), Tabled Document 37-16(2). What is the wish of the committee, Mrs. Groenewegen?

The Committee wishes to proceed with the Main Estimates for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations and, depending on how that goes time-wise, proceed to the Department of Public Works and Services.

Is the committee agreed?