Bob Bromley

Mr. Speaker, government’s commitment to building a new dementia centre is a good thing, but our government must recognize that forced-growth costs accumulate for non-government organizations just as much as they do for government. We’ve seen very significant forced-growth figures for government operations in the budget before us today. Putting these same costs on the backs of non-government organizations is hardly fair.

If this government can wipe out over $11 million in over-expenditures for one institution in Yellowknife — albeit not lightly done — surely they can look after this modest...

I appreciate the Minister’s comments on that. I too would be interested in the research on that. I would just note that the average wage of employees in the Northwest Territories is 50 per cent above the Canadian average, and I suspect that if you just took the GNWT employees, it would be even greater than that. Our cost of living, especially in our larger centres, is more like 20 per cent higher. So I think there would be some room for some exploration there.

Mr. Chairman, the other question or frustration I have is that I feel I’m sort of finessed into dealing with this situation of vacant...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Following some of the words from Mr. McLeod from Inuvik Twin Lakes, I’m wondering if the department considered additional mandatory leave days in the summer.

My impression — and it’s just that — is that productivity has actually gone up during mid-winter in relation to the so-called Donnie Days that employees still enjoy. That’s leave without pay. But it allows some extended family time. It’s got to be healthy for families as well as labour relations and so on. I know there’s interest out there in our brief but beautiful summer season.

If employees had access to…. Say if...

Mr. Speaker, our economy is sort of like a freight train right now. We have a roaring economy. There’s a lot of people benefitting. At the same time there’s a lot of people who are feeling barrelled over, as we heard in some of the statements today. There’s a number of passengers on this train. Clearly, those passengers who are benefitting are industry representatives, businesses and so on.

Will the Minister invite onto this panel representatives of the social and environmental communities?

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to follow up on my spontaneous Member’s statement regarding the Minister of ITI’s announcement about the Minister’s Advisory Panel on the Economy. Does the Minister agree that a strong and sustainable economy is one that actually includes social and environmental considerations best represented by members of those communities?

I’ll take that as some sort of commitment. I appreciate that. I wonder if the Minister would consider bringing a draft forward at some point during this session so we could have some input into that and start that process. It’s one of those things that the earlier we start it, the bigger the returns we could realize. I just want to emphasize that the employees have expressed an interest in that sort of thing through their regular MLAs and possibly through Members of Cabinet as well.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to ask the Minister about the Employee Recognition Program. This government is supposed to be about prevention and engaging our employees. I hear a lot of frustration about wasted energy, wasted resources, inefficiencies in programs. A lot of employees have individual observations and experiences to offer that aren’t necessarily part of their job descriptions. When we started the reductions exercise, I think it was recognized as a valuable source of information. We put out a call, and in fact we got a lot of good suggestions from employees in our public service...

Again, I’m always looking for a new approach from this government, and some innovation. I think that’s what our public is asking for too. I’m sure the Minister and others are aware there are reports coming out showing that productivity actually goes up with various schemes, such as shorter work weeks and so on. This also results in direct savings. Between those things, I would think that increased productivity and the money saved on 5,000 employees, or whatever we have, taking six days off should account for those 24-hour services. I’m hoping the Minister could have his staff start looking...

I’m sure the NGOs will look forward to that, and the members of the social and environmental community.

One last point of agreement I’m looking for: does the Minister agree that MLAs, as the elected representatives of — especially on this side of the House — most of the people of the Northwest Territories, probably should have had some input on this panel, and that their input might have been useful, or at least worth considering and, in fact, consistent with consensus government?

Is it the intent of the Minister’s Advisory Panel on the Economy to ensure that it benefits all residents?