Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment:
Please identify the grants and contributions provided to the Barren-Ground Outfitters for the fiscal years, 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.
Can the Minister also identify the purpose of each grant and/or contribution to those outfitters?
Can the Minister provide any accountability measures required by the grants and contributions?
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Beaulieu on February 4, 2010, regarding income support services in Lutselk’e.
How many visits did the client service officers make to Lutselk’e in the following years:
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
In 2007-2008, client service officers (CSOs) made two visits to Lutselk’e.
In April 2008, responsibility for the Income Security Program (ISP) delivery was transferred to the North Slave region.
In 2008-2009, a Yellowknife-based CSO made eight visits to Lutselk’e.
In the current fiscal year, 2009-2010 up to February 2010, a Yellowknife-based CSO has made six visits to Lutselk’e.
From November 2008 through July 2009, the community was serviced by an individual who was hired from and resided in the community. That individual has since left the position. Since summer of 2007, a total of six competitions have been run to permanently staff a CSO position. However, no candidates have been successful so far.
In addition to visits, services are available to clients at all times through a Yellowknife CSO by a toll-free telephone. That way a client does not need to wait for a CSO visit to their community to access services.
How many clients were seen during these visits broken down by approvals and refusals?
The department does not track information on the number of income assistance or public housing rental subsidy clients seen by CSOs visiting a community. Instead, ECE records the total number of income assistance and PHRS cases assessed by phone and/or in person on a monthly basis. The average number of cases assessed per month and the total number of cases assessed by fiscal year have been calculated from this information. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the document Lutselk’e Income Assistance and Public Housing Rental Subsidy Program Caseload Statistics 2007-2010.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure has reviewed Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act. The committee wishes to report that Bill 11 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 3, Medical Profession Act, and committee wishes to report that Bill 3 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled 2009 NWT Survey of Mining Employees Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mr. Speaker, further to my return to Written Question 17-16(4), I wish to table the following document entitled Lutselk’e Income Assistance and Public Housing Rental Subsidy Program Caseload Statistics 2007-2010. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, February 26, 2010, I will move that Bill 12, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 4, 2009-2010, be read for the first time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010; Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act; Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act; Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act; Tabled Document 62-16(4), NWT Main Estimates, 2010-2011; Tabled Document 78-16(4), Supplementary Appropriation (Operations Expenditures) No. 3, 2009-2010; Tabled Document 84-16(4), Supplementary Appropriation (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 4, 2010-2011; Minister’s Statement 47-16(4), Transfer of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy; Committee Report 5-16(4), Report on the Review of the 2008-2009 Human Rights Commission Annual Report, with Mr. Krutko in the chair. By the authority given me as Speaker by Motion 12-16(4), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House.
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have several items to deal with: Bills 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, Tabled Document 62-16(4), Tabled Document 78-16(4), Tabled Document 84-16(4), Minister’s Statement 47-16(4), Committee Report 5-16(4). What is the wish of committee? Mr. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee, I believe, would like to deal with the last department in the budget, the Department of Human Resources, and then move on to Supplementary Appropriation No. 3, Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 and then Bill 2, time permitting, Forgiveness of Debts Act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee agree?
Agreed.
Okay. With that, well take a short break and begin with the Department of HR.
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I’d like to call the Committee of the Whole back to order. As we agreed prior the break, we will continue on with the Department of Human Resources. At this time I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for Human Resources if he has any opening comments. Minister Bob McLeod.
Mr. Chair, I am pleased to present the Department of Human Resources main estimates for the fiscal year 2010-2011. The mandate of the department is to provide leadership and direction to the Government of the Northwest Territories, its boards and agencies, in all areas of human resource management.
The Department of Human Resources is the face of the Government of the Northwest Territories as an employer. As the human resource service agency of the Government of the Northwest Territories, we are responsible for the development and implementation of government-wide human resource management, recruitment and compensation practices. Our advice on these practices supports departmental and agency decision-making.
The department is proposing a budget of $40.073 million in operational expenses for the coming fiscal year. This represents an increase of $4.994 million or an increase of 14.24 percent over the last main estimates. This includes $2.017 million for the NWT Public Service Strategy Plan 20/20: A Brilliant North and Service Stabilization Initiative, forced growth funding of $3.120 million for core operations resulting from the compensation increase negotiated during a successfully completed collective bargaining session. The forced growth also includes increased costs for the public service medical travel and dental benefits. Finally, Mr. Chair, the increase includes a corporate initiative of $136,000 for the printing of the Collective Agreement and implementation costs, and a sunset amount of $279,000 for arbitration hearings and for the Yellowknife consolidated clinic.
Mr. Chair, improving human resource management in the Government of the Northwest Territories is one of the priorities of the 16th Legislative Assembly and one of the key components of the Refocusing Government committee mandate.
Mr. Chair, I would like to outline for you the key themes of 20/20: A Brilliant North, and the programs and initiatives under development for 2010-11.
Under the theme of “proving a healthy, safe work environment for employees:”
The department will create a health, wellness and safety framework for the Government of the Northwest Territories.
The Aboriginal Cross-Cultural Awareness and Diversity Awareness training programs are under development, to be available to all departments by April 1, 2011. This will include e-training a component in the orientation and on-the-land cultural opportunities. The e-training will be available on-line to all existing and prospective employees.
There is a GNWT Green Team and a number of departments have started their own green teams.
Mr. Chair, under the theme of “create a diverse and inclusive workplace representative of the Northwest Territories population:”
The department is organizing regional advisory committees to provide a regional perspective and support the Aboriginal Employee Advisory Committee. These committees will help advise on issues related to the Affirmative Action Policy and methods of increasing the fair representation of aboriginal employees within the Government of the Northwest Territories.
The GNWT Advisory Committee on Employability will be operational by March 2010. This committee will advise the Human Resources Deputy Minister’s Committee on methods of promote, support and increase the representation of persons with disabilities within the Government of the Northwest Territories workforce.
A sensitivity training project will be piloted in March 2010. The training, focused at directors, managers, officers, administration staff and persons with disabilities, will give attendees a greater understanding of the workforce that is represented by people with disabilities.
The Human Resources employer of choice unit, in addition to providing program support to the GNWT Advisory Committee on Employability, will develop a strategy and vision for increasing representation of all priority groups.
The Department of Human Resources will be increasing our ability to track and report on all employees with disabilities who require an accommodation in our continuing attempt to increase the number of disabled employees, attract and retain them within the public service.
Mr. Chair, under the theme “demonstrate a commitment to learning and development of employees:”
The Department of Human Resources will create a structure for the design, delivery, administration and evaluation of targeted programs for the advancement of aboriginal persons within the public sector. These programs will provide the foundation for an Aboriginal Learning and Leadership Initiative.
The department will make draft Government of the Northwest Territories-wide Learning Guidelines available by April 2010. The guidelines will help to provide much needed investment in learning and development within the public service.
Finally, Mr. Chair, under the theme “deliver effective workforce planning practices, from attraction to retirement:”
Human resource plans, which align with business plans, are being piloted in three departments: Environment and Natural Resources, Finance and Transportation.
A review and update of Government of the Northwest Territories recruitment and marketing initiatives is underway and includes a review of current departmental practices for hard to recruit positions. This information will be critical in the development of a Government of the Northwest Territories-wide recruitment strategy.
A Department of Human Resources Transition Team has been created to review and streamline existing processes. Work is underway to improve efficiencies, help resolve outstanding pay and benefits issues and look at improvements in other areas of human resource core service delivery.
Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the Members of this House, specifically the Government Operations committee, for their support on these initiatives and of the NWT Public Service Strategic Plan 20/20: A Brilliant North. I will be pleased to answer any questions that Members have regarding the budget.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time I’d like to ask if you’ll be bringing in any witnesses.
Yes, I will be, Mr. Chair.
Does committee agree that the Minister brings his witnesses?
Agreed.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in.
For the record, Mr. Minister, can you introduce your witnesses?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left, I have Mr. Tom Williams, deputy minister, Human Resources. On my right, I have Michelle Beard, director of strategy and policy for the Department of Human Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. Any general comments in regard to the Department of Human Resources? What is the wish of the committee?
Detail.
Detail? Okay. Turn to page 3-7, department summary. With that, we’ll defer until consideration of detail. Starting on page 3-8, Human Resources, information item, infrastructure investment summary. Any questions?
Agreed.
Moving on to page 3-9, Human Resources, information item, active position summary. Any questions?
Agreed.
Moving on to page 3-11, Human Resources, activity summary, operations expenditure summary, directorate, $590,000. Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I could have done this under opening comments, I guess, but I’ll do it under the directorate. Being an MLA, obviously we field a number of calls and complaints, usually from constituents who are government employees or looking at getting positions with the Government of the Northwest Territories. I just wanted to make a comment, Mr. Chairman. In the past year or 16 months, year to 16 months, there’s been a marked improvement by the department, I think, in handling issues that have come up with constituents and I’m not getting the number of calls or complaints that I used to get. I think that’s a testament of the management there at the department, and I just wanted to put that on the record, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think that’s largely a function of the hard work of the staff in the department and working very closely with all the staff at all of the different departments of the government. It’s helped quite a bit working with the committees and focusing on improving service delivery. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Any other questions on the directorate? Okay, operations expenditure summary, directorate, activity summary, $590,000. Agreed?
Agreed.
Moving on to page 3-12, Human Resources, information item, active positions, directorate. Any questions? Agreed? Mr. Bromley.
