Thank you, Mr. Chair. So three P1 lawyers out of 40 is the complement. What steps is the department taking to increase this number, if any? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Minister Sebert.

Thank you. I know we are encouraging Aboriginal lawyers, but perhaps Mr. Goldney can fill us in. Perhaps some of his personal experience might assist. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Deputy Minister Goldney.

Thank you, Deputy Minister Goldney. Minister Sebert.

Perhaps I could address the overall issue of Aboriginal and affirmative action within the department. I see from the statistics supplied to me that, as at December 31st, 28.5 per cent of our employees are Aboriginal, 18.6 are Indigenous non-Aboriginal, and the balance are neither Aboriginal nor non-Aboriginal residents. That is the overall department. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Simpson.

Thank you to the deputy minister and the Minister for that information. I was going to give the department a hard time, but I know that all the northern Aboriginal lawyers who have come to the department that I know of personally have had good experiences and the department has been welcoming and encouraging.

So I guess, as Mr. Goldney pointed out, the issue is getting those potential employees in contact with the government or getting them into law school in the first place. I know, when I was in law school, there was a program and the U of A Faculty of Law accepted 12 Indigenous law students. The person who was sort of running that program left that year, and then the next year they accepted two.

So there are these programs that law schools can use to encourage students to get into law school and become lawyers. Is the department doing anything to reach out to these schools to say that, you know, we would like to work with you. We would like to get more Northerners into law school, either outreach to the schools or bringing those schools to work with the high school students or something like that?

This is another issue I have discussed before, is just reaching out to students themselves. I mean, when I was in law school, I never heard anything from the government, and I brought this up for different departments, as well, that the government should be doing more outreach, contacting, sending letters to students saying, you know, we would like to have you back. We see you taking an engineering degree, a law degree, whatever it is. We would like to have you back. Is the department doing anything more proactive like that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Minister Sebert.

Certainly, we agree with the comments. I do know that, perhaps, there are several universities down South that have a long-term history of being particularly accommodating for Aboriginal students. A Member mentioned the University of Alberta. The University of Saskatchewan has had a program for many years that enables students to be fast-tracked into the law school, either their law school or other law schools, but yes, we probably could and should do better. I am willing to work with the Department of Education to provide more of an outreach and, perhaps, an encouragement to students who are either in university now, or finishing high school, to encourage them to go to law school. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Simpson.

Thank you, for that answer. It is good to hear that they are willing to work with the Department of Education, as well as reach out. If they need any help, I would be happy to offer my services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Reply to that, Minister Sebert?

Only to add that we do support Law Day, and clearly more needs to be done, particularly to encourage those students who are considering law as a career to follow that path. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Further questions. Ms. Green?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, on page 254, under the program category, I see that the Nunavut exchange of services is declining from $2.5 million to $1.1 million, and I am wondering if the Minister can give us a reason for that change? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Deputy Minister Goldney.

Thank you, Deputy Minister Goldney. Minister Sebert.

I can add to that by saying that the facility in Nunavut was in rather shocking condition, as I understand it, so it was absolutely necessary that they send inmates out. I understand also from the note I have been given that the Government of Nunavut has signed an agreement with Ontario which has provided the means to transfer additional offenders south versus west to the GNWT. I imagine it is an issue of accessibility. It is easier to get from Nunavut -- less expensive, maybe, from Nunavut to facilities in Ontario than it is in Yellowknife. This is likely an amount that will continue to decline. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Ms. Green.

No further questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Recognizing Mr. O'Reilly.