Frieda Martselos

Mr. Speaker, Chief Antoine said that this is a very simple request, but it is urgent. He also said they already have professional technicians on restoration ready to go. They need the guarantee to recoup the costs.

Will the Premier guarantee that the Government of the Northwest Territories will help the affected communities recoup all costs, such as labour, material, equipment, et cetera pertaining to flood restoration? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Premier consider a more personal and compassionate approach to helping the communities of Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River with appointing a disaster navigator with a team to help both communities for a positive recovery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister recognize that more widespread issues other than that of the affirmative action exists within the department of human resources in relation to hiring practices. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the Department of Finance has just recently begun a new government renewal initiative, would the Minister consider expanding the scope of that initiative to incorporate a renewal within the structure and processes of human resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have made several statements in this House about the Affirmative Action Policy and how it is not working as it should to help Indigenous people be employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Lately, however, I've realized the issues within the Human Resources Department go much deeper than just the Affirmative Action Policy. I'm seeing now that there are several structural issues around hiring in general that is impeding all people from attaining employment with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, last week I heard from many...

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister commit to creating departmental changes to ensure that deputy Ministers, assistant eeputy Ministers are provided ministerial direction to follow policies that are neutral, professional, and that all competitions are open to equivalencies, and the job competitions are not arbitrarily closed for no reason, and ensure that the best candidate for the job is hired. No friends of friends or family friends or acquaintances hiring each other anymore. Does the Minister agree with that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as mentioned earlier, the department of human resources continues to put up roadblocks for people applying to government jobs. Does the Minister acknowledge that there are some existing questionable hiring practices within her department which adversely affects applicants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, that quote appealed to me because I don't think that our government has done enough of that when it comes to addressing the various hiring issues within human resources in the Government of the Northwest Territories. Direct intervention by the Minister of human resources is necessary. Continuously friends will take care of friends, families hire their families, and they protect each other from any potential repercussions because of it.

There are many people who want to better themselves and to seek employment by the Government of the Northwest Territories, but if there's no room to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is our last sitting day of this session until we return at the end of May. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all of the essential workers throughout all regions of the NWT. I want to thank all the medical personnel in all NWT medical facilities, which includes everyone from the janitors, the nurses, and the doctors, to the specialists, patient advocates, and social workers, among others.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank all of my colleagues, both the Regular Members' side and on the Cabinet side, for understanding what I am about and for...

Thank you. I just want to make sure that we still have the option of voting by ballot. Is that going to be taken into consideration in this recommendation?