Debates of August 15, 2007 (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also jump on this PeopleSoft issue and I have some questions to Minister Dent. Mr. Speaker, this PeopleSoft issue has been around for a long time, for the entire eight years, and as far as I know it’s an internal personnel management software program, but the reputation for this program has grown to such a level that when I had a neighbourhood coffee meeting recently, even the people who have nothing to do with government, or they’re not employees of government, couldn’t stop talking about this PeopleSoft problem. Mr. Speaker, there are private businesspeople and doctors and health care professionals and they have asked me and begged me to say that until this is all ironed out, that this not be implemented for the doctors and other professionals working at the Stanton Hospital because the reputation is that lots of managers are spending their entire time because they’re not even asking the staff to do it anymore and they’re spending time putting the stuff in. So until it’s all ironed out, could I get the commitment from the Minister that no one else will be added on? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Human Resources, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 125-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Management System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, if they’re being paid now, they’re already on the system. So the system is actually delivering their cheques to them as we speak. What we’re talking about here is upgrading the software and we can’t go back to the old software because the old software is not being supported anymore. So we can’t get the new tax tables or if the system doesn’t work, it’s not being supported. So the requirement is to move to a new system. So either its upgrade PeopleSoft or find entirely new software in order to get people paid. The issue that has been has been the Absence Management module that’s given us the most problems. The rest of the system appears to be working as it should. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 125-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Management System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t think I’m suggesting that government comes up and adapt a whole new software program to address this. I’m talking about the network of people who are required to actually sit in front of the computer and enter these numbers or whatever they have to do to put the process in place and data in place to get the software to do whatever it has to do. A lot of people who are not having to do that right now don’t want to experience the kind of stories they are hearing from other people who are having to spend a lot of time dealing with it. So until these are ironed out, I understand you still have to use the same program, but can we limit the number of people or the duties of people having to deal with the software program until it's ironed out? I hope I’m clear on that question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 125-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Management System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There will be no changes. The doctors should see no changes from what they were seeing before July 3rd and how the system operates. In fact, all employees should see the same system as what we had in place pretty well before July 3rd. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 125-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Management System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to ask the Minister for clarification then. Is it the Minister’s information that everybody that works at the Stanton Hospital actually has to enter all of their data in this computer? That is all I am asking. Can we just limit it to people who are most familiar with that program so that there is less chance of a lot of people spending a lot of time trying to iron out the wrinkles? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 125-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Management System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, not every employee has to enter their time. Positive time reporters and shift workers are the ones who would most often take advantage of the opportunity to do that. If they are not doing it, then it has to be done manually by somebody. If there is an issue around it, that process could be handled at the hospital. But what we find is that most people want to enter their own time to make sure that it is being done accurately. Obviously, when you have somebody else do it, there is a chance that there is a mistake. Thank you.