As a government, we're always looking at how to maximize local and Northern content in all contracts and procurement in the Northwest Territories, and we will continue to review our policies and stuff moving forward to maximize that.

A couple of things that we do use already to help maximize local involvement is the BIP Policy; that gives someone local and northern content to give you a little leverage over anyone else, and also the Northern Manufacturing Policy has a whole different set of rules around it to help people purchase northern manufactured products in NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the departments look at any kind of reductions within our programs, specifically when it comes to positions in the GNWT, we look at three factors. One is the nature of the position: does the incumbent require specialized training or could the task be delegated to others within the work unit.

Another one is the status of the position; whether it is vacant or not. The third factor that we do take into consideration is risks and impact on program delivery: could the program continue to be delivered with staff that are still within that division.

So what level in the government are these expendable positions identified at? Is it the office manager, regional manager, director, ADM, deputy minister, et cetera?

Mr. Speaker, all positions from entry level to management are looked at and reviewed and we base it on those three factors that I mentioned; mostly the one that would be least disruptive to the program delivery in that division.

My question, I must not have phrased it properly is: who determines if the position is expendable? Is it the deputy minister? Is it the ADM? Is it the director? Is it the director in consultation with the manager? At what level is that position identified and that decision made?

Given the confidentiality of the reduction exercise, senior management that the department delivered the exercise with the positions as mentioned from entry level to management.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So from the sounds of it, it's senior management, which I assume is above a director. I'm not quite sure what "senior management" means, but they identified positions that they feel as though could be filled by someone else or it won't affect the work being done on the front lines. So I just want to confirm there's no consultation with the actual office manager or a direct supervisor of someone's position who is up for the chopping block? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Going through such an exercise is difficult on our senior management. Obviously, we don't want to look at any positions being cut as affecting residents of the Northwest Territories, but we do look at the position based on those three factors. It's not based on the individual that's in that position, it's based solely on the position and using those three factors to identify should a job be cut that it will have the least disruption to the programs that they serve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today, I spoke of the uncertainty and lack of transparency around how hydraulic fracturing seems to be taking place in the Northwest Territories. There doesn't seem to be any kind of monitoring program for abandoned wells and no funds from industry to help to do this or pay for any remediation that may be necessary. Alberta has an orphan or abandoned well system. Will the Minister responsible commit to developing and implementing a polluter-pay system to ensure that there is monitoring, inspection, and the necessary funds to carry out remediation of abandoned wells? Merci, Monsieur le President.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have committed in our mandate to develop and propose amendments to the Oil and Gas Operations Act and the Petroleum Resources Act. These acts are currently mirrored on the federal government that was in place prior to devolution, but, moving forward, we are currently in the early stages and we will be seeking input from MLAs and others for information on this process. The public review process, when it happens, will be the opportunity that we must use to identify and address those in areas of concern and priority of NWT residents.

I guess the other thing I'd like to mention is the Member has raised a number of concerns on oil and gas so far in the House, and I can assure him that these are well recognized, and I welcome him to bring these comments forward when we help guide this review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the response from the Minister. I really look forward to bringing forward my ideas and suggestions when we finally get there, but the response by the Premier to my written questions tabled earlier in this session reveals a convoluted regulatory system that is not open or transparent.

Previously, we've heard the words "evolve" and "devolve." Can the Minister responsible provide any assurances that we will improve this and move to a co-management system as is currently in place for land and water, where openness and transparency are far greater?

To answer the Member's question, we will need to obtain the technical information from the office of the regulator of the oil and gas operations, and, as such, I'll have to take this question as notice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I spoke about the month of cancer awareness. Many times, on occasions, we're given the opportunity of trying to raise the awareness, so my questions are to the Minister of Health and Social Services. In the NWT, what services does the department provide for cancer patients from initial diagnoses to treatment and beyond? Mahsi.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's kind of a difficult question to answer, given that every individual will be treated differently, depending on the nature of their illness. We do have providers across the Northwest Territories who can do some frontline diagnosis and assessment, and, if an individual is at risk or there are concerns about cancer, they certainly can be referred to a specialist who can help develop an individual care plan that suits the individual and the particular type of cancer they have.

But, on a broader scale, Mr. Speaker, we do have the 10-year cancer strategy that we put in place. In fact, I tabled it in October of 2015. This is a 10-year plan. This is the first strategy that we've had in place, and, as a result of that, we're doing a number of things across the Northwest Territories to help people who are living with and/or going through treatment processes, things like sharing circles and other opportunities for people to get together, share their experiences, and work together through the healing process. But, when it comes to actual treatment, Mr. Speaker, like I said, very difficult to answer. It really depends on the individual and the nature of the cancer that he or she may have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. At the very minimum, cancer patients that go through the experience of dealing with this condition, at the very minimum, this system should have a care and compassion, and a public system sometimes becomes very impersonal. What is the department currently doing to promote cancer awareness, prevention, and standardized access to screening? The Minister has stated that he's tabled a 10-year cancer strategy. Can he please explain in terms of the prevention measures that his department is taking?

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the cancer strategy, we're also trying to work with residents across the Northwest Territories and create awareness of healthy choices. Those are not only to help prevent cancer but also help prevent other chronic diseases that are really prevalent here, in the Northwest Territories. We're trying to get more information out there on healthy diets and physical activity, reducing or quitting smoking preferably, as well, you know, controlling the amount of alcohol that one consumes, basically everything that the Member said in his statement, which I thought was a very fantastic and a very thorough statement.

We're working with different communities. There are different community wellness plans in place to create awareness, to create promotion, and we do have the cancer strategy in place. We have "Let's Talk About Cancer" websites, where there's a tonne of information. I would strongly encourage the Member to encourage all of his constituents to please take a look at this website and learn about the information that's on there and talk to family members, encourage people to eat healthy and not smoke and get physical activity. In fact, I would encourage all Members to use the means that are available to them through newsletters and other promotional materials to get that information out, as well. We all need to work together to create awareness and encourage people to make healthy choices moving forward.