Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Mr. Speaker, the government seems to be taking this reduction exercise as a licence to pretty much do what they want. I mean, we haven’t known about this. And again, that gets back to my point: if you’re going to make decisions, especially like that, I mean, let us know.
My last question would be on timing, Mr. Speaker. I think there are a lot of rumours out there in the public service. I’ve heard numbers. I don’t want to throw them around; I don’t want to exacerbate the situation. But there are rumours out there about the number of job losses. I want to ask the Premier: when can the public service and Members of this House expect some more information on the reductions — where they are at and what they’re going to be?
Mr. Speaker, again, in a consensus-style government, working with Members as to the time frame and meeting the May-June target, we’ve had to track from that point of bringing forward a budget process. The work is going to be done to compile all that information so we can present that to Members. It will be later on this winter and early spring before we will be able to present Members draft documents of where we’re going to meet our timelines and targets for the first budget to be put in place in May-June.
Mr. Speaker, the people of Dettah have waited a long, long time for an appropriate road with safe conditions — actually, since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. I remember it well.
Laughter.
It was a long, long time ago. The condition of the road is taking its toll on vehicles and people’s budgets. People are really extremely concerned about the unsafe conditions.
Will the Minister of Transportation sit down with the leaders in Dettah to plan and implement, at the earliest opportunity, something to address this situation and get the road properly resurfaced?
Mr. Speaker, I too have driven the road to Dettah, and I understand what the Member is saying. I want to thank him for bringing this issue to my attention.
Mr. Speaker, as Members are aware, there are high transportation needs right across the Northwest Territories. I’m committed to looking at all requests. I too would direct my department to continue working with the leadership in Dettah and with the Member here in terms of looking at this particular need in terms of their safety. It’s our priority in the department to provide safe and reliable roads for the travelling public. I would be happy to sit with the Member and also with the leadership of Dettah to look at this particular road.
I appreciate that offer, and I hope that’s actually a standing offer to all people of the Northwest Territories, all communities. I’m looking for a little extra attention here, Mr. Speaker. We’re only talking 11 kilometres. This is something that’s long overdue. The last piece of work, like I say, lasted weeks or months, and I’m hoping the Minister will commit to meeting — himself with the leaders of Dettah — and getting this road a priority for this government.
I didn’t hear a question there. I must remind Members that it’s time for question period, not making statements.
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier, and it’s in light of my statement. There is a Senate committee which is studying rural poverty in the northern territories. They are in the Yukon on Monday; they’re here in Yellowknife on Tuesday and Wednesday; then they’re going to Iqaluit on Thursday.
I think it’s important, Mr. Speaker, that we as government intervene and also have a say in regard to what — especially with the cost of living in the Northwest Territories for our residents, especially in rural parts of the territories, and realizing that part of our deficit situation is just that: it’s the cost of delivering programs and services and providing to communities where we don’t have an economic base for people to be able to live on. I think it’s important that this government also takes part in these hearings and also that they intervene on behalf of the residents of the Northwest Territories.
I’d like to ask the Premier: are there any scheduled departments or people from the Department of Health and Social Services, or EC&E, who will be intervening on behalf of this government during these hearings?
Mr. Speaker, we are aware that the Senate committee is doing a number of trips, or a trip, across Canada. I’m not sure exactly where they’re stopping. We have been approached on that basis about their meeting here, and Minister Bob McLeod will be attending on our behalf.
Mr. Speaker, I do encourage all residents of the Northwest Territories, especially here in Yellowknife…. There will be hearings at the Northern United Place on Tuesday at nine o’clock in the morning. I think it’s important, even as MLAs, that we do talk about the issue of rural poverty, because it is something that affects all our residents.
Again, I’d like to ask the Premier: will the cabinet be meeting with the Senators to also, in light of other issues that we have in the Northwest Territories such as the Northern Accord and also dealing with devolution and any other problems we may have…? Has that effort been made to meet with the Senators, when they visit the Northwest Territories, to address other issues with them?
No. We have not set up a meeting as a cabinet or other Ministers. The point of contact will be through Minister McLeod, going on our behalf of when they are sitting on this specific issue that they are travelling on.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s very important that we do, whenever possible, have dialogue with the Upper House by way of the Senators that do come to the North, because they do have a role to play in what happens in Ottawa.
I think it’s important that we do get our message to not only the MPs or the Prime Minister but also the Senators by way of influencing them on issues that we’re trying to deal with. I think we have some big challenges, especially with the devolution file being where it’s at.
Again, I would like to ask the Premier if he has spoken to our Senator. Will he be meeting with Senator Sibbeston if he is also a part of this panel?
For the record, I have a lot of faith in Minister Bob McLeod and his being able to carry our message to this Senate committee.
As for the specifics with our Senator in the Northwest Territories, I haven’t yet been able to get a meeting time or made contact with his office on initiatives that we are looking at.
I do have a lot of faith in my cousin too.
Laughter.
I think it’s important to realize that as a government and as the Government Leader in this government, your voice carries a lot of weight around here. And I think it’s important that we do voice our concerns, especially in regard to the Conservative Senators who didn’t make an attempt to be here.
I think, as a government, we should write a stern letter to those Senators to make them aware that we do not appreciate being put aside because of the cost and not having the time to be here. I think, as a government, we do have a responsibility to stand up to these types of statements.
I’d like to ask the Premier: will he be writing a stern letter to the Senators who did not make an attempt to come here on the basis that they didn’t have time and the cost was too high?
It’s not my intention at this time to be writing a letter to the Senators who are not making the trip. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to follow up on Mr. Ramsay’s questions with regard to the $135 million target for reductions in government expenditures over the next two years.
Mr. Speaker, there is concern out there, and I do believe that much of it is premised on a lack of information. I’d like to ask the Premier today…. We have committees that will be looking at strategic initiatives as reinvestments. We are, as a Regular Members’ caucus, looking at strategic reductions. There are many ideas that are coming out with the help of the public service, who are submitting suggestions to us as well.
I’d like to ask the Premier: would it be possible to meet the $135 million over the next two years’ reduction without bringing layoffs to the public service of the G.N.W.T.?
Mr. Speaker, the concern is being raised out there about the government’s focus on reduction. There are rumours about the number of positions that may be taken out of the system, and they are just that — rumours.
We are working on putting the information together. We’re looking for input from Members. We’re looking for the method of how we’re going to do this.
More refocusing of government across departments’ initiatives will probably be brought forward and have an impact in ‘09-‘10. Some of the exercises we have to do is going to have an impact on our employee levels because, Mr. Speaker, almost 50 per cent of our expenditures across the Northwest Territories is related to compensation and benefits. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to hear something encouraging from the Premier so that we could look at effecting these cuts and reductions with the absolute least impact on employees as possible.
At any given time in the public service of the G.N.W.T., I believe there’s about a 15 per cent vacancy rate. I know that in some positions, it’s not possible to deliver the programs and services without positions being filled. But with a 15 per cent vacancy rate, isn’t there an opportunity to look at perhaps not re-staffing positions that are not absolutely essential and integral to delivering a program or service as a way of saving money in the interim?
Mr. Speaker, that is, in fact, one of the areas that we’re looking at — the basing of fees within departments, of removing those types of dollars or identified positions that are not filled, as well as attrition.
If we set a target and we know that people are retiring, then we could look at doing that. If there are areas that are not a priority but we are reinvesting in initiatives, we can see if we can transfer employees over as well.
So there’s a whole number of tools we can do in limiting the impact on our staff. That is some of the work that we are looking at as we compare the strategic initiatives we want to put in place in the 16th Assembly and the areas that don’t fit in priorities. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I think measures like that and communications like that are the most prudent on behalf of our government.
We’ve heard that our government is not the employer of choice anymore. We know that in all various sectors of the labour market, there’s extreme competition out there. I don’t think that we can afford to scare anybody out of our public service and out of the Northwest Territories. We need the people we have, and we work at professional development and investing in our employees.
I would like to ask the Premier if he will clearly communicate to his deputy ministers what the policies and the rules of the government are. My fear is that in the absence of very, very clear direction, deputy ministers could use this cost-reduction exercise inappropriately. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, as to the reason why we’re moving forward in this manner, instead of a main budget being this session we’re in, we’re looking to delay it so that we can do the right analysis for what we bring forward in cost savings as well as investing in the new initiatives. The message has been that we need to look at that.
The earlier question today about the deputy ministers being involved in reviewing who’s being hired is part of that overlap. The policies haven’t changed. We’re just ensuring that if we’re going to go through this exercise, we don’t unduly affect employees that are either just hired by us or have long service with us.
Mr. Speaker, I know, at least for myself, I want to make sure that we use government resources to impact our residents in the most positive way possible. Our public service is a huge piece out there.
I would love to hear the Premier today tell us and confirm with us that layoffs of employees in the public service will be a last resort in terms of reducing the expenditures of this government.
Mr. Speaker, we will be measured, careful in the way we approach this, and I’ve laid out a number of things that are under consideration.
When we look at the options that are before us, there’s the impact of the delivery of programs and services to the people that are out there expecting the delivery that we say we will provide, our employees who deliver those programs, looking at vacancies, looking at attrition, looking at transfer assignments that can happen — all those tools that we will be incorporating as we proceed forward.
But I must say, as difficult as it is, the unfortunate reality is there will be some impacts. We’re going to minimize that as much as possible.
I’d like to ask my questions to the Premier with regard to job cuts and the wave of terror, as we read in the headlines this morning. My honourable colleague from Great Slave was quoted on that. But that’s exactly what’s going on, not only in the capital but throughout the regions as well. The people are fearing for their jobs.
What I’d like to know is…. Yes, the bottom line is important to the Finance Minister, and yes, cuts are necessary. But there’s got to be due diligence and due process when they’re assessing job cuts. I’d like to know what kind of processes are in place or what kinds of mechanisms are being used to assess these? Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, the biggest things we’re working at is taking the appropriate amount of time to ensure that what is being advanced as initiatives or cost-saving areas is, in fact, going to be cost-saving areas. It is going to minimize the impact on the delivery of programs and services.
But the cold, hard reality is that if we don’t take the necessary steps today, then we are mortgaging our children’s future — and I would say mortgaging at a sub-prime level, which we don’t want to see happen.
We are taking initiatives, looking at how we do this, taking the necessary time. We will be presenting Members with our draft plans as we pull those together. The work is happening. It’s taking more time than we initially anticipated, but we will be having draft plans to Members in the near future.
With respect to the assessments that are going on out there, I know that government is doing the work. The Premier said all the departments and all their analysts are doing as much work as they can.
But I’m an MLA, and people are contacting me. They're saying this is happening, and that's happening. We are the front line to our constituents.
There appears to be a disconnect. Things are happening in the regions, and they're moving forward in terms of reductions. But the government is not letting the MLAs and our committee systems know. There seems to be a gap there.
I'd like to ask the Premier: has direction been given to departments to start initiating cuts beginning April 1st? Mahsi.
No, we have not given direction to begin the reductions in the front line on April 1st. In fact, our interim appropriation is one that will keep us going at the existing levels.
In terms of all government-wide essential services such as health care, nurses, and emergency services, how will those be affected? Have assessments been done on those?
The work is ongoing, looking at what options are being developed by departments. Every department is going to be affected by this process. The decisions we make on what is acceptable to bring forward as well as incorporating what Members would bring to the table through their work is under careful review.
At this point we are unable to put out the detail, as we're putting that together so we can go to committee, have that review, and get some feedback as to what's being presented. We're not at the stage yet where we can lay out: here is where it’s going to happen, and this is how people will be affected.
The fact is, though, because so many of our dollars go through authorities such as Education, Health and Social Services, when departments are given targets, they have to work with their partners in delivery. That's probably where they're seeing information, as options are being reviewed but have not been accepted at this point.
Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Earlier in the week, in my inbox, I saw an invitation from the Union of Northern Workers to the Premier, inviting him to speak at a round-table discussion. I'd like to know what his response was to that invitation. Mahsi.
I did receive that letter. I am reviewing what we may be able to do. Our work is in this forum. I have had contact with the president of the UNW and will continue to have contact with him as we develop our plan.
At this point I haven't responded to that letter. Once we come up with a better plan and details of that and Members have looked at that, I can sit down and provide a briefing to their executive.
My question is for the Minister of Transportation.
Recently the government of Nunavut signed a deal with the Government of Canada — the Building Canada Fund. I believe we are negotiating a similar agreement for the Northwest Territories. And it’s an opportunity to get some of these capital projects done that we've had in mind.
We've had one in mind a long time — the Dettah Road resurfacing. I’d like to ask the Minister: will the Minister commit to meeting with the leaders in Dettah to make resurfacing of the Dettah Road a high priority?
Mr. Speaker, I will instruct my department to look into our transportation plans across the Northwest Territories, and I assure the Member here that the Dettah access road is in these plans in terms of improving the access roads right across the North. I’m working very closely with my colleague the lead Minister for the funding that the Member alluded to in terms of all of the priorities that we’re being asked for. I certainly would again reassure him that I will instruct my officials in the North Slave regional operations to set up a meeting with the leadership of Dettah, and I also invite the Member to participate with me at that meeting.
I would like to ask that the Minister use his influence here to make this a priority for these people who have waited so patiently for so long. Will the Minister make it a priority? I will have one follow-up at least after that.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Member for the question and also for the encouragement to use influence in terms of all of the priorities across the North here and specifically on transportation needs, as we heard from other Members in terms of their needs in terms of transportation. I will be sitting with the lead Minister on specific funding arrangements that we’re discussing today with the federal government and looking at all the needs.
Certainly, again I would, you know, take into consideration the Dettah access road as any other roads, airports or regional facilities that are being looked at in the North here to see what our best possible investments are in terms of our limited dollars. So I thank the Member, and I certainly look forward to sitting down with the leadership and the people of Dettah, either in a short time frame or whenever you’d be able to meet, in terms of improving the safety of their roads.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister’s commitment to sit down with the people of Dettah, the leaders in Dettah, to discuss this priority.
Will the Minister work to ensure that it will be a long-lasting resurfacing this time, a little bit thicker than a poker chip and something that will actually last a number of years? I know we have the technology for that.
Laughter.
Mr. Speaker, as Minister of the department I’m sure that any type of work that this department does will be quality work. It will be a long-lasting investment. It will be a good investment. The people in Dettah will be very happy with the department in terms of working on their roads.
Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Mr. Speaker, that was exactly the answer I was looking for. I’m sure the people will be pleased. When can we expect this meeting to take place?
Mr. Speaker, I’ve indicated to my office to check on our schedules and my schedules and, of course, the Member’s. I want a schedule that we can coordinate with the leadership of Dettah so that we would arrange that meeting with the community as soon as possible. That may be within a week or so. I’ll be working with the Member on setting the time and location as to when we can meet with the good people of Dettah.
Mr. Speaker, I want to pick up where I left off with my questions to the Premier in regard to hiring. I just don’t want people out there in the public wasting their time applying to positions that we’re not deeming appropriate or where they’re not going to fit into our strategic initiatives, like I heard the Premier say earlier.
I’d like to ask the Premier: what positions currently are not deemed appropriate or fitting into our strategic initiatives, so that people aren’t applying for them?
Mr. Speaker, we’ve heard the Member in the past talk about the growth of our government and the growth of our employees. I don’t have a handle today on just what positions, what areas of departments, are not going to fit with our initiatives. We’re undertaking that work.
The jobs are still going out there for areas that we need to fill. There hasn’t been a job-hiring freeze. The process still goes, but before a final hire happens, deputies are working on initiatives with their senior staff, bringing them back to our government and seeing how they fit with the cost-saving measures we’re making as well as the reinvestments, to see if they would align, as a preventative sort of step instead of having to deal with it after the fact.
Mr. Speaker, I guess the fact of the matter for me is that we weren’t consulted on that. I listened to the Premier state to my colleague Mr. Menicoche that no instructions had been given in terms of beginning reductions. When he was answering my questions earlier, it was obvious to me that he said that instructions had been given to department heads to begin an exercise where they would see where hiring fit in terms of the strategic plan.
So again, Mr. Speaker, it’s a bit complex. It’s a bit unsettling for me. I’d like the Premier to maybe explain exactly what instructions have been given to the departments.
