Jane Groenewegen

So the Minister is saying the departments received their instructions to go and look for ways to reduce their spending, including positions being cut, and that he is confident those reductions came back in a well thought-out manner, and they did not target employees for any other reason than just the review of the program or the service that was being delivered.

In the instance, though, Mr. Speaker — I’m trying to represent my constituents — where a constituent comes and tells me they have substantial evidence that, in fact, that was the case, what recourse does that constituent have? I don’t...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I’ve asked before and have not got an answer, what recourse does the affected employee have? In fact, the government could be cited for wrongful dismissal. How many employees without the benefit of the protection and the advocacy of their union in this instance would have the resources to seek a legal opinion and take the GNWT on? What kind of unbearable work environment would that create for them going forward?

These are real cases. They are questions I don’t have answers for. I’ve tried to pursue some answers from the Minister of Human Resources, but I have not had...

Over the years, I’ve known of situations that existed. They were fairly well known. It didn’t seem like the government could get a handle on them or document them or do anything about them. And the people who worked in those divisions didn’t really want to say anything.

I think there’s a contradiction there. To say you could have whistleblower protection for people to make complaints anonymously or identify situations anonymously — well, if they can do it anonymously, you don’t need whistleblower protection because nobody would know who did it, right? I think the idea is to let people feel they...

Today I want to talk about the support, or lack thereof, for members of our public service by our Department of Human Resources. In recent months I’ve continued to hear from my constituents about their frustration in securing the most basic information, such as records of employment, information needed to initiate retirement benefits, and the list goes on. This is peculiar to me given the millions of dollars that we’ve invested in the best and most current communications in HR management software. It’s also peculiar given the 125 positions at headquarters in the Department of Human Resources.

W...

Mr. Chairman, certainly in fairness to the people who work there…. Looking at the vacant positions, I agree with this, but I don’t think that’s going far enough. I think, again, it comes back to this issue of program review and looking at the effectiveness and efficiency of the methods by which we deliver those programs. One hundred and twenty people in headquarters is a lot of positions. I guess I’m just concerned about doing things the same old way and kind of status quo, and when a reduction target comes up, it’s not looked at in that in-depth way that a program review or maybe an outside...

It’s not really my place. It’s the prerogative of the Chair whether to call for a break or not. But general comments on the Department of Human Resources’ Main Estimates would be the first order of business.

Mr. Speaker, in information I was able to get from the Department of Human Resources, they said there’s currently a backlog of requests for personalized pension counselling. I’d like to know what the nature of that backlog is and why, for a department with 125 employees in headquarters, there would be a backlog.

Is the pre-retirement program that was advertised and sent out to all government recipients — the one that costs $400 — intended for people planning to retire? Does our government expect retiring employees to pay $400 to learn about their retirement options?

It is also my pleasure today to welcome the grades 5 and 6 students from École Boréale to the Legislative Assembly. I’d like to recognize my constituency assistant and thank her and your assistant, Mr. Speaker, for their help in planning this event today. I’d also like to recognize the teachers of these students: Kim Ivanko and Patrick Poisson. I’d also like to recognize the students — and give us a big wave — Mason Bruneau, Paige Kruger, Andrew Payeur and Andrea Walker.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that we report progress.