Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Committee, any further questions on active positions, 123. I see none.

Committee, agree. We have agreed to page 123, Executive Cabinet support…Sorry, Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I notice that in here there are three positions deleted from last year's budget to this year's budget. With those three positions, are they ineffective employees or were they just reduced with the new government? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. They were not affected. Those three positions were transferred into a separate division, in Executive called priorities and planning and the other one is a board secretariat for PUB.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Any further questions, Mr. Thompson?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. They are in the business plan somewhere else? Is that what it is? I guess if it is, then is it identified in the business plan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. McLeod.

It is under directorate, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Any further questions, Mr. Thompson?

No, thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, committee. Any further questions to active positions on page 123? I see none. Committee, are we agreed to page 123, Cabinet support, active positions?

Great. Thank you. committee, that brings us to page 125, Executive, directorate, operations expenditure summary, $6,859,000. Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is in regards to the ombudsman. My understanding is that there is work being done between the Department of Executive and the Department of Justice in terms of trying to move the initiative forward. My question to the Minister is: can he give us an indication in terms of the scope of the work that perhaps his department has outlined to the Department of Justice in terms of, perhaps within the period of two years, a draft legislation and maybe indicate just how it is that the reporting function would be reflected in ensuring that the Regular Members have been informed. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That was established during the mandate setting exercise that we all went through, where the legislation would be developed over two years of time. There are still some outstanding direction that we need to seek. We expect we will do that at Caucus retreat. Essentially, it is what kind of ombudsman does this Legislative Assembly want? Do we want a full-born one, or do we want one that will assume some of the officers of this Legislative Assembly's responsibilities, such as human rights and associated other responsibilities and roll it into ombudsman? So we just need some specific direction in that regard. We are working with Justice who develops all of the legislation for our government. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you Mr. McLeod. Any further questions, Mr. Nadli?

No, thank you.

Committee, any further questions to page 123, operations expenditure summary? Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. One of the pieces of our mandate for the 18thAssembly is to encourage women to get involved in politics, and also to encourage stronger gender equity and balance in boards where GNWT makes appointments to those sorts of bodies. Is there a role for the Executive in helping ensure that that part of our mandate is actually met? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. I believe that as a rule, we keep track. I think 39 per cent of all the board appointments are women. Certainly our Minister responsible for Women is very vigilant about board appointments. I think it is incumbent upon all of us that make recommendations for board appointments to submit names of qualified, capable women to increase their representation if that is the wish of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.