Yes, Mr. Chairman. That is what is outlined in the funding proposal. There is going to be a coordinator of Northern Workforce Development, from the aspect of the health field and the aspect of the social service field. That would be over and above the overseer, the recruitment and retention specialist we have within the department, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the intent is in respect to the professional development in the interaction fund that is going to assist our health care professionals. There would be an ongoing evaluation of the development, obviously to see if the funds are being properly resourced, that there are actually upgraded individuals within our system and hopefully that we will be able to retain those same individuals. The last thing we want to be doing is upgrading individuals to move on to other jurisdictions or other pursuits that would be detrimental to our health care system, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as it stands now, yes it is NWT locum relief pool. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, what I said was we have six individuals who have signed on and that is a start and we hope to be able to develop more. Certainly I do not think six is enough. I do not know what the correct number would be. When you recognize there are vacancies, it depends on the various stages of the communities and what their vacancy rates are. It depends on the circumstances of the community who are under stress because of an outbreak of a virus or with the conditions they are working under. Ideally, we would have enough individuals signed up to cover all vacancies, for whatever reasons. If there was stress on the system and the need was there or individuals were designated for holidays or upgrading, that they would not be available to their communities. I cannot say right now what is the ideal amount. All I am trying to suggest is this is a start. I am trying to address the problem of recruitment and retention. We are hoping in the medium and longer term, there is going to be some solution and hopefully it will address some of the immediate, short-term needs as well, over time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would think it depends upon the circumstances, what aspect of the whole recruitment and retention plan is implemented. In respect to some of the professional development, ANSIP development or facilitating workshops with their peers, that type of thing. That will have to be worked out between the boards and their existing resources they have on staff, in

coordinating how they can manage that.

In respect to an area like the locum relief pool, obviously if there are six individuals that are already signed on, I could perceive that would be put into place if a need were to arise now that they would be able to call upon these individuals to assist some of the existing health care professionals in the territories. It is just a matter of identifying that need and putting the resources to that, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we started advertising for relief assistance in this area about a month ago. To date, from my understanding, we have six individuals we have signed on to be available and obviously we are expecting that to grow, now that we have some resources to assist in that area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the intent is the development of the locum relief pool would provide the bulk of the support for community nurses that are operating under the stress if they needed additional relief, because of whatever circumstances were happening in the community at the time. They need the relief to get out for professional development or for the Advanced Nurses Skills Education Program to upgrade their skills. That is the intent, that the locum relief pool would provide the support, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, unless the Member is referring to the Health Insurances Services Administration where there was always a plan, which is based primarily right now in Inuvik, there are a few headquarters positions here and with the Nunavut side of it moving on to Nunavut, the plan was to fully implement a decentralization of the Health Services Administration. The two or three positions that remain in Yellowknife would move over to Inuvik, and that has been in the works, Mr. Speaker, for a couple of years now in response to the transition plan for developing two new territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not know at this stage because, as I indicated, I am not sure of what the Member is speaking of. I will check into that

and get back to him. Thank you.