Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think it is worth revisiting this conversation because of the number of things that have changed in the last one or two terms since the Minister was a Regular Member around having a child and youth advocate. As I indicated in my statement, there is considerable uptake in both the Yukon and Nunavut in having these services available to children. Given that interest, how can I, as a Member of the Standing Committee on Social Development, move this initiative forward so that we can engage in conversation with the Minister and his department? Mahsi.

I appreciate the role of a child advocate. I did have opportunities to meet with child advocates in other jurisdictions and learn about the importance of them. I am not saying the Northwest Territories will never have a child advocate, nor should we never have a child advocate. The bottom line is, for the remainder of this term, we are already looking at our last O and M budget before us. It would take legislative drafting. Given the legislative agenda that is in front of us, it probably is not something we are going to be able to accomplish.

However, that doesn't mean we can't start looking at it. If this is something that committee would like us to put some attention on, at least do some research around the concept, what it would take, we are happy to look at those things. I don't believe we are going to be in a position to write legislation, pass legislation, or get it funded within the life of this government. We are certainly open to input from committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No.

I want to thank the Premier for that quick reply. Presumably, the Premier, as the chair of the Executive Council, exercises some oversight on ministerial performance and actions, including appointments. Can the Premier confirm whether he does exercise oversight on ministerial appointments and explain how he carries out that responsibility?

The appointment the Member refers to is a ministerial appointment. The position for which the appointment was made is consistent with section 107, subsection 3, of the Workers' Compensation Act.

I want to thank the Premier for reciting the famous section 107 of the act. He didn't actually answer my question, but I am going to go on. In the statement I made, I discussed the Cabinet-approved Boards Policy that states, "The process for appointments to GNWT boards should be timely, consistent, and transparent." Does the Premier agree that all ministerial appointments should be timely, consistent, and transparent, and that the recent workers' advisor appointment met those tests?

We track board appointments. Where Ministers have the responsibility for making direct appointments, we leave that to the Ministers. I am not in the practice of reviewing all decisions in hindsight.

Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Thanks to the Premier for that, and I agree. Let's look forward, now. Lastly, there doesn't appear to be any policy or guidance around ministerial appointments for positions not on boards. Given the public concern around the recent appointment of the workers' advisor, can the Premier tell us whether he is now prepared to develop and implement a policy framework for all ministerial appointments? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I guess, first of all, we will have to determine: this may be the one and only ministerial appointment in the Government of the Northwest Territories. I guess that would be my first step, to determine whether that is the case or not. If there is more than one ministerial appointment, then we would determine whether there are enough ministerial appointments that would warrant to have more oversight. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community of Fort Providence is very interested in the increasing amount of tourism that we are seeing in terms of small-community travel. My questions are to the Minister of ITI and Infrastructure: what actions have been taken in the last year toward getting a big sign erected to alert travellers that they are approaching the mighty Deh Cho? Mahsi.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has brought this to my attention today. Upon follow-up, the short answer is: none. The ITI staff has met regularly with the tri-council organization in his community. There are a number of discussions that have taken place there. Upon further follow-up, we have not had any discussions on what we talked about in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

What are the steps to getting a sign placed along the highway?

To get a sign along the side of the highway, that is through the Department of Infrastructure. There are both guidelines and a formal process that is in place to approve all sign applications for signage along our highway network in the Northwest Territories. Signs need to meet a technical requirement. Any person or organization who wants to put up a sign must apply through an application process.

The Minister has agreed that a big Deh Cho sign in the roadside park is a good idea. I am thinking that it is the government's job to initiate projects like this on the road system. Will the Minister confirm that he will get this job done?

As I have said in previous questions from the Member and the House, I think that this is a great idea. On the second part of the question, I don't know if we need to be the initiator of it. I am going to talk to my superintendent in the region about having a conversation with the local community groups that need to be involved, but I think that this needs to be pushed as well from the local group, and maybe with some input from our MLA from the riding, to get some input from him, as well. I think that this needs to be collaborative approach, not just a one-sided approach, but we certainly need to work together on this. I know that I made a commitment in this House to have this discussion with his community, and we will do that.

Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have reached out to talk to Members of the Deh Gah Bridge Society and DIGAA Enterprises, and they are willing and very interested in making this a possible reality. When will the Minister instruct the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment to develop a program for this sign project and seek input on the content from local governments? Mahsi.

As I said, I will get our superintendent to go in there to have a discussion with the tri-council group in the community. I know that there has been a lot of conversation with that group, particularly around the old landing site for the ferry landing, about turning that into a park, which would be a long-term project that we are trying to work on and have discussions with them. I know that there needs to be some restoration work, if I remember from my briefing with DFO on that, but I will be sure that our superintendent, when we goes there and meets with the tri-council again, initiates the conversation about this signage project along the highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.