Tom Beaulieu

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the Aboriginal content in the GNWT public service. Mr. Speaker, the Minister responded to one of my questions this week on the percentage of Priority 1 employees we have in the public service. His response was 32 to 33 per cent. I think the GNWT lead by the Department of Human Resources must develop a strategy that will see the public service get closer to the GNWT's goal of having a public service that is representative of the people we serve. In other words, try to get the public service to as close to 51 per cent Priority...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, during question period I asked the Minister of Human Resources just briefly on the human resource plans. The strategic human resources, I'm kind of reading a bit of the activity here and I'm seeing workforce planning as a part of it. I just want to ask a question maybe about the human resource plans that the departments would have. I want to know: what the status is of the human resource plans from the departments? I just want to know roughly the percentage of departments that actually have human resource plans for their staff.

Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I have some questions on the summer student program. I am a firm believer in investing in our youth and investing in students. Students are out getting their education. We need to attract the person back. We need to treat that student with respect. When they come to the Government of Northwest Territories, we should do all we can to try to make positions available for the students. I would not advocate to create a budget for summer students because, under normal circumstances, I do understand that we have a certain amount of turnover in our system. If we are turning...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes. I had indicated in my question that it was qualified Priority 1 candidates. Just to get this very clear and on the record, the Minister is indicating that if Priority 1 candidates are qualified in accordance with the job description that is put out there, then they only interview the Priority 1 candidates in round one of interviews. We will call it round one of interviews. It may not go beyond that. Is that what I am hearing? That only Priority 1 candidates will be interviewed? Thank you.

Rather than bringing it up for a political sense and discussing it with the Minister, there is nothing in place, then, to ensure that Priority 1 candidates applying for jobs, who are qualified, are given every opportunity into getting a job. Right now, as I understand it, whether you are a qualified Priority 1 candidate or not, you go through the steps that... I cannot talk about specific cases here, but I will talk directly to the Minister about the specific cases. If a Priority 1 individual is going to apply for a job where there is actually an individual filling that position as a casual...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman. I recognize that that is the role of the appeal officers to look at potential procedural errors. What I'm asking is, is there anything aside from procedural errors that makes the appeal process almost redundant? If you're only looking at procedural errors and you're not looking at anything outside of that, this appeal process is… You know, as the Minister indicated we may be the only jurisdiction to have that type of process because it's probably not effective because it looks at just procedures. What I want to know is are there any potential or future...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to continue their consideration of the mains with the Department of Human Resources today.

I recognize that the Minister of Human Resources is not solely responsible for the Affirmative Action Policy. I would like to know if the Minister is prepared to have a regular role, maybe during committee or anything, on a regular basis conferring with other Ministers of other departments to ensure that each department has a human resources plan that also has the contents of what is needed in order to increase Priority 1 hires in the GNWT. Thank you.

No, that's what I'm looking for. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today in my Member's statement I talked about the Priority 1 candidates in the GNWT, or employees in the GNWT. I would like to ask the Minister of Human Resources, would the Minister reexamine all the programs, policies, and initiatives that are designed to increase the number of Priority 1 employees in the GNWT to ensure their efficiency? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.