Frieda Martselos

Mr. Speaker, you know, listening to the comments in the room, you know, it surprises me that  I'm not saying that all human resource staff are negligent. I think we have to look at the superintendents of each region. I think we've got to see where the direction comes from and a direction to go through. So with that, Mr. Speaker, does the Minister recognize that the hiring staff have sometimes been retaliated against certain individuals based on the applicant's or employee's association with certain people whom hiring staff doesn't like or like, know, or like personally? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to take a moment and wish all the graduates from PWK High School in Fort Smith a big congratulations for concluding their high school studies. I was not able to attend the grad ceremony in person due to our session taking place here at the legislature. I did send some remarks which were read at the ceremony last Thursday. I want to thank all the parents, the teachers, the families and friends of the students, and the entire community for helping our students achieve their goals.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to wish all the graduates of...

I just want to make one short comment. You know, it's easy to listen and it's easy to criticize and sometimes I do it myself, you know, but a balanced approach to development and to social programs is reflected in this plan. I don't agree with everything in the plan. But, you know, from a business point of view and being in business for 50 years and strong  with strong business background, I feel that a lot of things that are in here are good, not all of it is bad. The mineral  the mineral part of our economy is extremely important. The hydro is extremely important. Mini hydros just wouldn't...

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment bring forward a plan to better support schools in small communities to ensure students across the territories have an equitable learning experience, and, further, that the department work with district education authorities to minimize the impacts of differing school calendars on northern distance learning. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I move this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment include Indigenous language proficiency when hiring positions in the Indigenous Language and Education Secretariat. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment report annually on each action related to revitalizing official languages, including on the oral proficiency assessment tools, the Indigenous language revitalization certification program, and the mentor apprentice program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, our report was read into the record so I do not have any substantive comments to add. But I would like to thank the committee for their work on this report and individual Members may have comments on the report and its recommendations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I hear the Ministers saying there's accessibility. Accessibility is extremely hard, okay. Sure, the MLAs have accessibility. But what about the poor person on the street? Do they have accessibility to actually say what they actually felt when they went for an interview and is refused again, over and over? Can the Minister tell whether staff incompetence or employee insubordination may be part of the problems relating to broader human issues in the Government of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wasn't going to ask any questions but just listening to some of the comments here today, I'm going to go back to my questions that I asked the Minister of human resources the other day.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us if she is aware of the unspoken practice and culture within the human resources wherein hiring staff will brown and blacklist potential applicants and existing employees from advancing within the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to the recommendations contained in this report within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Chair.