In a move to get the North thinking as two territories, Yellowknife Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent has been made minister responsible for western transition planning and deputy premier Goo Arlooktoo, MLA Baffin South, has been made minister responsible for Nunavut transition planning.

Finance Minister John Todd has overall responsibility for division.

During this session, government will table a transition action plan on division. A second document on the western territory should be out in about six weeks.

Move federal jobs here

Ordinary members caucus chairman Jake Ootes, MLA Yellowknife Central, renewed the call for Ottawa to transfer NWT-related jobs to the North. Ootes is seeking an "inventory" of Northern jobs. Premier Don Morin said he did not think it was "appropriate to write the prime minister asking for a catalogue of jobs."

Affirmative action

Premier Don Morin said 93 per cent of the 319 students hired by government over summer were affirmative action employees.

Diamond expert

Finance Minister John Todd declared himself the "expert on Northern diamonds" during day one of the current session of the Legislative Assembly. Hay River MLA Jane Groenewegen said she was glad to hear it, especially after Todd took a trip to Europe's diamond centre. Todd said Groenewegen could have made the trek to Antwerp too, had she wanted.