David Ramsay

Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Premier. It’s in regard to the budget process that has been followed to date.

Mr. Speaker, like all of us in this Chamber, I make decisions for a living. In order to make sound decisions — decisions that affect the people in our communities, our families and the opportunities that are out there — we need to have a solid base, a foundation of information, in order to build these decisions and make these decisions on. Throughout this budget process I have been surprised at the lack of detailed, solid analysis that has been done by the government that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted.

I thank the Premier for that. I think it’s a discussion that needs to happen. I think, even outside of this building, the public wants a chance to have a discussion about the goals, the aspirations and the opportunities that are going to present themselves over the next three-and-a-half years. I think maybe we can get to some of that here in the next three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half weeks, but I think we should also look at having a public debate where people can come and ask questions of the Ministers and we can have a full disclosure on how decisions were arrived at.

The Premier also said...

Mr. Speaker, I guess I challenge the Premier on the fact that he says that Regular Members were included in this process. I was here the seven months since the government came into power. To be honest with you, I don’t see that conclusion that the Premier speaks about. I don’t know where....

Maybe this is the question I’ll ask the Premier. Mr. Premier, where were Regular Members when Cabinet decided where to spend the millions of dollars in strategic initiatives? How were we included in that decision?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am feeling very uneasy about a budget process that has not been inclusive of Regular Members, one where I don’t believe my input as a Member — or the input of my constituents — has been taken to heart by the government.

Mr. Speaker, it is going to be a very interesting few weeks that we have here. I do look forward to the debate that is going to take place. Mahsi.

I, too, would like to speak today about the budget process the government has followed that leads us up to where we’re at today.

Just several months ago, on October 1, Members of the 16th Legislative Assembly were elected. Shortly thereafter we got together to develop a strategic plan and vision on behalf of the residents of the Northwest Territories.

I want to let my constituents and the public know that this process has not been inclusive of Regular Members, and it absolutely runs contrary to the spirit and intent of consensus government. If I could, I would like to point out a few examples...

My question is for the Department of Human Resources.

Please provide a comprehensive, up-to-date list of direct appointments by department for the past four years.

Please provide the affirmative action status of those persons directly appointed and a justification for each hire.

Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering if the Minister can also commit to looking at grievances and the length of time it takes for employees to have grievances heard. As I mentioned, I’m aware of some that are two or two and a half years in duration. That’s unacceptable, and I want to hear from the Minister what he has in terms of adding some accountability to that process.

Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering. The Minister had mentioned the standards that they adhere to. Is that from time to time, I wonder? I’m aware of it sometimes taking months to fill positions. I’m wondering if the Minister could look at putting in an accountability factor and looking at a Web-based competition status so that people who are applying for jobs know exactly where that competition is at.

Yesterday in response to a question I had asked on the realities of working at the Department of Human Resources, the Minister said they had reduced the backlog of final pays by 50 per cent. To my knowledge the backlog has been there since the department was first formed two years ago. So 50 per cent, Mr. Speaker, is nothing to be proud of.

What about grievances? How is the department dealing with grievances? I’m aware of some that are at least two and a half years outstanding. Is this an acceptable standard? Has the Minister talked to any of the front-line staff at Human Resources? I remember...