Debates of June 2, 2005 (day 7)

Madam Speaker, this question is for the Minister of FMBS. Given that the GNWT, FMBS, has implemented payroll changes whereby seasonal staff such as firefighters will have to wait more than a month for their pay, the temporary seasonal workers in the communities wait all year for this summer employment, Madam Speaker, and oftentimes this seasonal employment is the only employment for the whole year. Will the government consider modifying the payroll delay changes implemented by the FMBS? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 78-15(4): Payroll Issues For Seasonal Workers

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I am unaware of the changes that impact the seasonal firefighters as the Member has stated. The payroll changes that we have implemented across the Territories sees a delay or an advance being paid to all employees and then a portion of those being drawn back. I am not aware of the details of how that would specifically affect the firefighters, so I will have to get that information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 78-15(4): Payroll Issues For Seasonal Workers

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I will be pleased to provide the Minister with that information. Here is a case where we are going to have to look at it, and probably immediately, the procedural changes like the FMBS is really wanting to put in place. But when it applies to the smaller communities and seasonal workers, it just does not make sense and I will forward to the Minister more detail if the Minister is willing to have a good look and maybe make some immediate changes, Madam Speaker.

Thank you for the offer, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 78-15(4): Payroll Issues For Seasonal Workers

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Member is talking about the actual pay cheque and the delays. For example, our casual hires would have to wait the two weeks before they get their first cheque. The normal process for GNWT employees, until we made this change, would have been that they have gotten cheques sooner, but it made it very difficult for us to calculate sick time or time away and make those adjustments for overtime and so on, and it further delayed when the season ended. That is the reason why we made those changes. Now I see where the Member is coming from on the delay of that first pay cheque. We are planning to put everybody on the same cycle and that was the intent of the decision we made this past winter. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 78-15(4): Payroll Issues For Seasonal Workers

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In this case, it is the community of Trout Lake and they have been waiting all year for their seasonal work and now that they have it, they are not going to be paid for a month. This is a case where a bureaucratic decision just does not work in the smaller communities. I will champion the smaller communities over the bureaucracy any day, Madam Speaker. I would like to know, is the Minister willing to look at this situation and improve the process for payment of the workers in smaller communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 78-15(4): Payroll Issues For Seasonal Workers

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would take this information, I will check into it to see what may be done. Since all of these employees have started working already, it may be a bit difficult, but I will look into it and see what information we have and I will provide that to the Member. Thank you.