Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As of May 7^th, we've had 98 people attend the training centre.

That's a pretty good turnout. Out of the people who completed the training, how many have been hired by either MTS or ferry operations or the Coast Guard?

I don't know the exact number, but what I can tell happened this year: MTS has identified six people for our operations, one for each tug, and I think two for Kakisa operating out of the harbour. Canadian Coast Guard has made six job offers to people who have graduated out of their class, and I think four have accepted to date.

Is there a guarantee for employment once completed at the Marine Training Centre?

Some of these courses that are offered at the Marine Training Centre are actually lifesaving stuff for the fishermen and these sorts of things, different skills that need to be set. Some of the courses that are going to be offered this coming season, because they've already expanded their mandate at the training centre, it's going to include a bridge watch rating program, a small vessel operator proficiency, and fishing master programs. These things are targeted towards NWT residents, of course, Indigenous people, and women. Myself and the Member from the Sahtu actually had the opportunity to stop there probably about a month ago, and just surprised the class that was ongoing there, and there were a couple of young ladies from his particular region who sought the desire to actually be on the Imperial Esso boat in Norman Wells. That was interesting. We had a good conversation with them. There's no guarantee for a job when you come out of there because there are so many different types of related training. There is opportunity with the Government of Northwest Territories to continue to grow the non-positions that we will need, and the boat captains and the deckhands. This is a large industry. Last year, I think we had 170 or 180 people who were working on our boat systems, so there's a lot of opportunity for these people to move on.

Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister: will the marine training also focus on engineers to maintain our vessels? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Actually, earlier this year, our senior management hosted a meeting with Canadian Coast Guard and transportation officials and the Marine Training Society, as well, and we actually proposed that we have a serious look at some of the trades in the industry, and we're going to start having those discussions on moving that forward. MTS, as I said, has a number of positions there as well, and we'll be looking at opportunities for residents in the Northwest Territories to get some type of apprenticeships there as we identify them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.