We always have post-secondary students who are looking for work and stuff. It's good to bring them into the folds and job-shadow people, even for the summer, so it gets their interest up. I am wondering if you can provide me a breakdown just to show me how many are actual Dene people in your positions there. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

I'll head that back to Dr. Dragon, as well. Thank you.

Thank you. Dr. Dragon.

Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Member for Deh Cho.

You mentioned the GNWT leadership program. I am wondering what program you're mentioning there. It's not the associate directorship program? Can you elaborate? Mahsi.

Thank you, Member. Dr. Dragon.

Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Member for Deh Cho.

Yes, maybe. Something about that emerging leaders program, my work with Infrastructure as a project officer, I did take the first level of that training, emerging managers program. My manager at the time allowed me to go, but that is as far as it got. The other two levels were off-limits to me. So it's mostly geared for people who are in actual management positions, to enhance their roles, and stopped a person like me. I am a prime example. I can tell you I applied for a manager position. I was not even considered for an interview or any transition, so there are problems within the departments, no matter how well you figure you have it structured. In succession planning, there are always problems. 2020, brighter future, I have been there for over 10 years and was never, ever advanced, so there are problems with succession planning. Like we say, you live within the Indigenous territory. We want to see more of our people advancing. In order to get that, you have to open these doors for them. Those are the only comments I would like to make at this point. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. I will take that last as a comment. Are there any further questions? Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think the Minister made a comment or somebody made a comment on lessons learned on projects. We have seen the Deh Cho Bridge, the highway out at Behchoko is going ahead, and we hear problems there, and there are probably other ones out there, as well. Over the years, we seem to always go back to lessons learned, but I don't know if we ever learn any lessons, to tell you the truth, or, if we do, we forget them pretty quickly. I just want to know what your department is doing; what are you doing with the information from lessons learned? Give me some examples or something that tells me that you guys, that the department, has actually learned something. Can you do that? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Well, considering I have only been here for eight months, I do not have a delta. I can't look at what it was before and say: this is how it's changed to here. However, I can tell you I have already learned lessons from projects I had nothing to do with the contracting of, for example, the Member's comments about the TASR, about Rae access, other things such as that, so I can guarantee to you that I am personally learning lessons and I will be incorporating those. I will turn it over to Dr. Dragon, though, to speak to the department's more formalized lessons learned planning. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Dr. Dragon.

Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess, you know, again going back to lessons learned, I was talking to somebody today, and on the Whati road there is in excess of $200 million worth of work, and right now my understanding is that it's less than 10 percent northern, and, of that 10 percent, most of it is diesel fuel and just flow-through type goods. What have we learned, I guess, if that's what is happening? Maybe I am off-base, but I would like to hear what you have to say on that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have to admit that I am not familiar with the context of what you are saying, to give you the more fulsome answer, but I commit to looking into it; I will take that back. Again, I think I want to reiterate the commitment that I personally have and that I am directing my department, that we need to start doing things differently and that we do have to have things stay in the North and Northerners working. Even if it's more painful for us as a department to ensure that that work is staying, we need to do it. That is the messaging I am giving my department. How long it's going to take to change a department of -- I don't know how many people work in our department, which maybe I should know; I can probably look on my page here, but it's a big, big department. It is going to take some time for my new corporate messaging to filter down and become the reality of what they are doing, and that is going to be a learning experience, and the lessons learned is part of that.

I can tell you that there are times where I butt heads, where I am saying, "This has to change," and these are the conversations that Dr. Dragon and I are having. The other part is that both of us being new to a department that is very set in its ways is actually a really good thing, I think. I already see Dr. Dragon's influence in changing how things are going. I see the people who he has brought in, has promoted to an ADM position, an Indigenous, Aboriginal person, and that person has more than excelled during COVID-19. I see those impacts of new leadership in the Department of Infrastructure already. I commit that that is going to continue on for the next three years. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I just want to touch on what MLA Bonnetrouge alluded to, which is, you know, fairness I guess in the department when it comes to advancement, job opportunities and that type of thing. We are in the smaller communities. We know the BS that goes on. We know the reality of what happens. The fairness, sometimes it's there. A lot of times it's not. It can still be an old boys' club, for lack of better words, and I would like to know how your department is looking at addressing that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.