Mr. Speaker, we know from the Minister’s own numbers that we have well over 500 vacancies. That’s under my estimate, but it’s fine, we’ll use that one. We know that the government had received 700 resumes, as the Minister has clearly articulated, and the Minister clearly said here today before this House, they found five people out of 700 resumes, which begs the question why weren’t we making a bigger concerted effort from his department when we know over 500 vacancies exist on the ground.
Why aren’t we turning these into some type of training positions? We know immediately that would
deliver solid results in the communities where the employment rate is over 30 percent. We know it would have a huge impact on people who are already here. It means our government wouldn’t be wasting time flying across the country and doing whatever they’re doing and only getting five people.
At the end of the day, why weren’t we finding better ways to hire Northerners who have invested their lives, their families and their future here?