Thank you. So is the department -- I don't see anything clearly identified along those lines, but is the department considering additional benefits or labour market supplements to support the recruitment and retention efforts within the health authority? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister Semmler.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, as the negotiations go through the collective agreement bargaining, we follow whatever the agreement is after that, you know -- we cannot bargain additionally outside that collective agreement. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My understanding was during the pandemic in particular but additional benefit -- or wage subsidies -- the labour market supplement in actual fact was -- were negotiated to help support medical -- or frontline workers. Is that -- and that process occurred outside of the collective agreement, is that accurate? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of health.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the labour market supplement that was negotiated at the time, this current negotiation that they -- there was pieces added as part of that negotiation, and that is now where 17 additional health and social services positions were added to the list of those eligible for labour market supplements along with the existing nurse practitioner, registered nurse, midwives, licensed practical nurses, and medical laboratory technologists. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Range Lake.

Okay, thank you, Madam Chair. I'm just -- I'm trying to get at if we're trying to find more ways to support that -- those incentives because the retention and recruitment numbers are very -- well, the retention numbers are very poor, and even it seems when we recruit nurses, in particular -- because there is a dedicated unit to do that -- they're out the door as soon as we get them in. So if the department isn't considering additional financial incentives, what is its strategy to work on recruitment and retention let's say around nurses working with the health recruitment unit and finance? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Range Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I wanted to also mention as part of that labour market supplement there were eligible positions that were increased for retention in that labour market supplement. But as for what the department is doing or what -- within NTHSSA is there is the recruitment strategy that the department is working along with. And I can turn that over to the deputy minister to go through some of the things that are going on. And the thing to be reminded is these are things that cannot be monetary, so in cash or the -- as the labour market supplement is, and so it's ways to try to enhance making this a better place to come and work. So I'll turn that over to the deputy minister if that's okay with you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister of health. Deputy minister Cecchetto.

Thank you, deputy minister Cecchetto. Member for Range Lake, do you have any? Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, has the department consulted with frontline health care workers and -- other frontline health care workers, practitioners, on this people strategy that's due this June? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Range Lake. Minister of health.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, that is correct that there is -- they are consulting with frontline staff and, you know, and as one of the things that I would encourage and I would commit to even bringing that back to making sure that is still -- that that's being carried out. So thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister of health. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate that coming from the Minister. Can the Minister share the engagement schedule with me and any other pertinent details around these consultations with staff. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Range Lake. Minister of health.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As I mentioned, I would follow up back with NTHSSA, and I will follow up to see what their engagement is with the staff and how that's taking place. And I have no problem sharing that with Members, and I think it's an important piece. Like, we've heard it many, many times on the floor of this House is that our staff need to be heard, and so we'll make sure there is some kind of documentation on how that is being done, and so we can share that with Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of health. Any questions, more questions? Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's actually just a question of clarification. I have some questions about the midwifery program. I'm just wondering where we can actually find that on these pages because it's not specifically listed.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of health.