Debates of August 23, 2007 (day 16)

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 192-15(6): Human Resources Duty To Accommodate Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would agree that the government should act as a role model and ensure that it is living up to all of the requirements of the human rights legislation in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 192-15(6): Human Resources Duty To Accommodate Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in response to a previous question, the Minister did say that he thought the duty to accommodate did not extend beyond the immediate employee of the government. By extension, this is a family obligation; this is a family member with a disability, not the employee themselves. If the existing policy does not include that provision by extension, will the Minister look at a means of revising our policy and legislation or manual that managers are guided by to ensure it does include this? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 192-15(6): Human Resources Duty To Accommodate Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've already committed that we will review the human rights legislation and ensure that our policies are in line with that legislation.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister responsible for Human Resources while we're on the topic of revisions of the human resources policy manual. I know the human resources process for staffing GNWT positions places a lot of authority in the hands of the human resources officers, Mr. Speaker, and on a lot of occasions I've gotten feedback from some supervisors that are included in an interview with possible candidates for a position in the GNWT, only to find out that they don't have any say in who gets hired at the end of the day. All this authority still sits in the hands of the human resources officers. During the interviews, these officers are also in these interviews with the supervisors and they have just as high a point rating system as the supervisors, especially when technical questions are coming up that the human resource officer may not be fully aware of in a lot of departments but still have the same amount of weight as a supervisor in giving a rating to the candidate. I just want to know if the human resources manual can be revised to give supervisors a say in who they hire and more emphasis on their ratings on point ratings when they're doing some technical analysis, technical questions, during the interviews? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Honourable Minister responsible for Human Resources, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 193-15(6): Role Of Human Resource Officers In Staffing Processes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The goal of involving human resources officers or staffing officers in the process is to ensure that all of the government's rules and regulations and policies are followed. We want to make sure, for instance, that the affirmative action policy is followed as it should be in the process. I would expect that in terms of technical questions, that more weight would be given to a supervisor if they are more knowledgeable about the technical area, so I'll have to follow up with the department and find out exactly how that might be accommodated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 193-15(6): Role Of Human Resource Officers In Staffing Processes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll look forward to what the Minister comes back with when he revisits that issue. Just on the affirmative action issue, I just want to ask the Minister how is he going to ensure all people that are possible employees or future employees of the public service, that all the human resource officers in all the regions interpret and understand the human resources policies, especially when it relates to affirmative action, that they all understand and all interpret this policy all the same? I've been hearing conflicting stories about different human resources officers are having different views and opinions and interpretations of affirmative action in our human resources manual. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. .Dent.

Further Return To Question 193-15(6): Role Of Human Resource Officers In Staffing Processes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's interesting that the Member says he's hearing about a difference in how the affirmative action policy is being interpreted by human resources officers. In fact, what I've heard more often is that since the centralization, that there's been more consistency in how it's applied, because each department often had an interpretation in the past. There is one policy around affirmative action and our staff are regularly updated on how to apply that. So I'm quite confident that we are seeing more consistent application of that policy across the Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 193-15(6): Role Of Human Resource Officers In Staffing Processes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just with the role of the human resource officers when it comes to filling these staffing positions, I just want to ask the Minister why the human resource officer holds all the authority in the hiring of new positions here in the GNWT and will only take recommendations from supervisors, any managers, et cetera? Why is all the authority for hiring only in the hands of our human resources officers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 193-15(6): Role Of Human Resource Officers In Staffing Processes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to make it very clear that that is not the case. The human resources officer is not the person who makes the decision about who gets hired. It is a departmental decision. The human resources officers are involved to ensure that the process follows all of the GNWT policies and that the method of doing the interview and the assessment is done correctly. It is a department decision about the offers, but they have to make sure that they've followed all the processes and that's the role of the HR officer.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 193-15(6): Role Of Human Resource Officers In Staffing Processes

Just with the human resources officers' roles in the hiring, I know that in the interview process I've heard some constituents coming back to me after their interviews and a lot of them are saying that basically the whole emphasis on their applications to these positions are placed on the interview. Some people get nervous doing interviews; they don't do so well. Ninety percent of the recommendation to hire is based on the interview, Mr. Speaker. Résumes, cover letters, very little emphasis is placed on review of those. I just want to ask the Minister why isn't there a 50/50 split between your interview and your résume and your cover letter and your reference checks? Mr. Speaker, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 193-15(6): Role Of Human Resource Officers In Staffing Processes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, during the hiring process, different weight can be put on different aspects and it's not uncommon for the people conducting an interview to recognize that an interviewee may be experiencing some difficulty with the interview and ask whether they would like to do it again or do it at a different time or handle it in a different way. So the government does make attempts to modify the process to work with applicants to ensure that we are not screening people out simply because they are having a bad day at the interview. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up on the line of questioning from the Member of Hay River South. I am familiar with the circumstance the Member is referring to and I am of the opinion that there is significant latitude in the existing policies and I want to keep in mind the comments made by the Premier in his Member’s statement about one of the benefits and joys of our job being able to help people. My question to the Minister is, is this a situation that involves other departments? Would he commit to sit down with the Minister of Justice and the Member for Hay River South to see what is possible within the existing structures? These folks don’t have time for protective policy debate that is going to drag on for the last Assembly and is going to satisfy the immediate pressures. Would the government sit down and see what is possible? Would they do that and possibly provide some relief to a very pressing issue? Would the Minister commit to do that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 194-15(6): Review Of GNWT Duty To Accommodate Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am always willing to meet with a Member to discuss a constituency issue any time.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 194-15(6): Review Of GNWT Duty To Accommodate Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister is aware, the time is short and people are off and about. I would ask if the Minister could commit to connect with the Member for Hay River South and possibly the Minister of Justice even before we depart because once the morrow comes, everybody will be going to the four points of the compass. I know this has urgency and needs to be addressed before we all depart, even before supper. I don’t think it’s going to be a discussion that’s going to take a long time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 194-15(6): Review Of GNWT Duty To Accommodate Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we could end question period right now, we could meet right now.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled NWT Arts Strategy - Action Plan 2, 2007. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Tabling of documents. Pursuant to section 21 of the Human Rights Act, I wish to table the 2006-2007 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission. I would like to draw your attention to Members to the visitors gallery to Mr. Colin Baile, vice-chair of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS section 103.(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides for the approval of sole adjudicators by motion of this House;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to have persons approved for appointment as sole adjudicators under section 103.(2) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Mr. Ted Hughes be approved by the Legislative Assembly as a sole adjudicator. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will call Committee of the Whole to order. I will ask what is the wish of committee? Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Committee Report 6-15(6), Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner 2005-2006 Annual Report. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. We will do that after a short break. Does committee agree?

Agreed.