Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other day the Minister of Human Resources issued a news release announcing that the GNWT continues to develop and implement an array of recruitment and retention initiatives to strengthen the public service and create employment opportunities throughout the Northwest Territories. I fully support this approach but it will not work unless all departments are on the same page.

My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. At a time when recruitment and retention could not be more important, why is it emblazoned in red writing across the Department of Health and Social Services’ career website, Practice North, that, “New applications to the DHSS recruitment and retention programs are suspended effective immediately until such time as the human resource strategic plan is complete”?

Does the Department of Health and Social Services not share the same commitment to recruitment and retention as the Minister of Human Resources? Can the Minister explain that?