Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

In the past there's been, Mr. Chair, some difficulty in filling these positions, so I don't think I could make that kind of commitment at this time. Clearly, a local resident, perhaps one speaking one of the local Aboriginal languages, would have some advantages. I don't think I can commit at this time to restricting the competition to a certain radius. I will hear from HR with respect to this matter I imagine. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Any further questions, Mr. Thompson?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This will be my final one, I hope. I'm disappointed in hearing that, but will the Minister and the department be willing to get back with that information and what they're doing with that position to myself? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Mr, Chair, when the competition goes out, then it would be known as to whether we are restricting the radius or not. Clearly, there's considerations that will go into the nature of the ad that goes out that will be mainly driven by the people actually hiring the person. So it would be known at that point as to the radius, if any, if there's a restriction on the radius. However, I can't really commit to anything along those lines at this juncture. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Thompson.

I apologize, I guess I'm going to have to ask the question a little differently. I'm asking if the Minister and the department will tell me when the position is coming out. I didn't ask if it's the radius. I just want to know when it's coming out so that I'm aware and I can, you know, help promote this important position out there. So thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Yes, Mr. Chair, we will inform the Member when the position is coming out. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Sebert. Next we have Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my question concerns page 275. What the active positions present is that there's a decrease of three positions in the Beaufort-Delta. Could the Minister provide some detail on that? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Sebert.

Yes, I can do that, Mr. Chair. The reduction in position is a result of the planned changes of the situation with respect the Legal Aid Clinic in Inuvik. One of the positions that will be removed to Yellowknife, and I think the person involved is already contemplating that move or has made that move, is the lawyer's position. The lawyer's assistant apparently has already found other employment in the Inuvik region. So this is a significant change in the Delta Legal Aid Clinic. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What I took from that answer is one lawyer moved to Yellowknife and one assistant has found other work in Inuvik. So that does mean there are still four people in that office there? If so, what roles are they in? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Sebert.

Mr. Chair, one of the positions that has also been vacant is the Fort McPherson court worker position, which has not been filled for some time. Those are the three positions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the Minister describe the services that remain in Inuvik for the Beaufort Delta in the legal aid clinic? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Sebert.

Mr. Chair, just some history on the clinic up there: At one point, 10 or 15 years ago, there was resident lawyers in private practice, the Federal Crown Attorney's Office was located there, and there was a resident judge, and there was a legal aid clinic with, I think, two or three lawyers. Things changed over time. There's no longer a resident judge. The federal Crown Attorney's Office closed, I think, five or six years ago, and we were left with the legal aid clinic, but we were only providing family law services.

Now, those services will still be provided out of Yellowknife. So these changes necessitated our changing, taking a realistic look at the clinic, finding that it was not an efficient way of provided services. As I said, some time ago there were criminal law lawyers there, several and who were very busy. And there will still be a court worker in Inuvik, so legal services will be provided by that court worker and, also, the clinics out of Yellowknife. There are four clinics: Somba K’e, Community Legal Aid Clinic, and the Yellowknife clinic -- so there will be three, three left then, as we're closing, planning on closing, the one in Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister confirm, first of all, when the clinic there will be closed? Thank you.