Mr. Speaker, just for the record, I don’t see the comparison to the bridge and the comparison to how we are compensating our employees as being even remotely comparable.

As far as what we pay our employees and how we pay them, especially at the senior management and the executive grid, I would say that it is fair.

As I have indicated, within the current system now, individuals in the senior management and executive category do not get annual steps similar to all UNW and all excluded employees. All union employees

and all excluded employees, every year until they hit the eight-year cap, will get a step in their pay. Senior management and executive don’t get this.

The bonus system gives us the tool we need to provide those individuals with a step within the system when in fact they have performed their duties and exceeded in the performance of those duties. It gives us an opportunity to provide steps similar to all other employees, Mr. Speaker.

The general public thinks, and I believe they are correct, when they see that performance bonuses do not have the transparency or scrutiny like other situations, many people define it as spinning the dial as to where it comes out.

What type of transparent process will the Minister put in place so the public can see what is happening? Bonuses are needed. As I said, roll it into their salary in a transparent manner. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I think the process is quite transparent. We post it on-line how individuals are eligible for these particular bonuses and these steps within their pay grids, what individuals have to do in order to be assessed to receive these steps and/or bonuses. At the end of the day, we can’t take away the fact the way positions are compensated in the Northwest Territories.

In 1989 a pay equity complaint was filed against the Government of the Northwest Territories because some jobs were deemed as not being compensated fairly or accurately. We lost that pay equity complaint, and as a result, we had to put a job evaluation system that assessed jobs based on knowledge or skills, problem solving and working conditions. That applies all the way up through the system, all the way up to senior management. So, all jobs are assessed-based on the work required, not the individuals doing it.

For senior managers it’s the same. For deputy heads a review of the salary was done in the early ‘90s and it was compared to other jurisdictions across the country. Since that time we haven’t changed the senior management grid, other than the normal performance increases that have been negotiated by the union.

Our compensation package is fair and reasonable. It’s transparent, it’s been posted. All salary ranges are posted in the Northwest Territories, and when it comes to the bonuses, all of that information is public, it’s all there. If you want to know how an individual is eligible and gets those bonuses, please look at the website. It’s there, it’s transparent and it’s available for everybody to look at. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How many people who qualify for bonuses actually get bonuses? Thank you.

I don’t have the specifics memorized, but I believe that was in the written response that was provided to the Member earlier this sitting. I’ll confirm those numbers again tomorrow. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Item 8, written questions. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Human Resources. The Minister is asked to provide the following information:

1. The amounts, reasons and details for any

penalties assessed against the GNWT and its boards and agencies by the Workers’ Compensation and Safety Commission for each of the three most recent years for which information is available; and

2. The actual results from the GNWT management

practices questionnaire and the return to work questionnaire from the WSCC Safe Advantage Program for each of the three most recent years for which this information is available.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. 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 committee on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled Government of the Northwest Territories Strategic Plan on French Language Communications Services, October 2012. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Pursuant to Section 21 of the Human Rights Act, I wish to

table the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report, 2011-2012.

Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, October 26, 2012, I will move that Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, be read for the first time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. 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: Tabled Document 64-17(3), Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2013-2014; Bill 2, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2012; and Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Securities Act, with Mr. Dolynny in the chair.

Good afternoon, colleagues. I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 64-17(3), Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2013-2014.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We’ll commence after a short break.

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Welcome back, committee. I would like to ask the Minister if he has witnesses he would like to bring into the Chamber. Mr. Ramsay.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Does committee agree?

I would ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to bring the witnesses into the House, please.

Mr. Ramsay, would you like to introduce your witness to the House, please?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ve got today Mr. Russell Neudorf. He’s the deputy minister of DOT.