Debates of March 18, 2004 (day 3)

March
18
2004
Day
3
Speaker
David Krutko
Word
Members Present
ITEM 1: PRAYER
Assembly Members
Topics
Committee Report 1-15(3): Standing Committee On Accountability And Oversight Report On The Review Of The Draft 2004-2005 Main Estimates
Committee Report 2-15(3): Standing Committee On Social Programs Report On The Review Of The Draft 2004-2005 Main Estimates
Further Return To Oral Question 9-15(3): NWT Housing Needs Survey
Member's Statement On Clawback Of National Child Benefit Supplement
Member's Statement On Implementation Of Changes To The Motor Vehicles Act
Member’s Statement On All-Weather Highway To Link Tuktoyaktuk To Inuvik
Member’s Statement On Crowded Classrooms In Yellowknife Schools
Member’s Statement On Family Involvement In Sport
Member’s Statement On Land Claims Obligations
Member’s Statement On Listening To The People
Member’s Statement On Management Opportunities For Aboriginal Employees
Member’s Statement On Resource Development Trust Fund
Member’s Statement On Road To The Northern Leaders Meeting In Hay River
Member’s Statement On Timely Receipt Of GNWT Records Of Employment
Minister's Statement 3-15(3): Report On Federal/Provincial/Territorial Meetings
Minister's Statement 5-15(3): Implementation Of New Municipal Governance Legislation
Minister’s Statement 4-15(3): Aboriginal Languages Month
Minister’s Statement 6-15(3): Winter Road Report
Motion 1-15(3): Appointment Of Deputy Chairpersons Of Committee Of The Whole, Carried
Motion 2-15(3): Setting Of Sitting Hours By Speaker, Carried
Motion To Move Committee Report 1-15(3) To Committee Of The Whole, Carried
Question 24-15(3): Land Claims Obligations
Question 25-15(3): Update On New Housing Re-investment Proposal
Question 26-15(3): Standing Committee On Non-Tax-Based Communities For The 15th Assembly
Question 27-15(3): Motor Vehicles Act Amendments – Mandatory Drug And Alcohol Awareness Training
Question 28-15(3): Permanent Trust Fund For Residents Of The NWT
Question 29-15(3): Delayed Receipt Of Record Of Employment Forms
Question 30-15(3): Clawback Of National Child Benefit Supplement
Question 31-15(3): Raising Revenues Through The Sin Tax
Question 32-15(3): Non-Insured Health Benefits – Growing Deficit
Question 33-15(3): Federal Government Honouring Commitments To The Non-Insured Health Benefits Program
Question 34-15(3): Supporting Resource Development In Small Communities
Question 35-15(3): Fair Treatment Of Tax-Based Communities
Question 36-15(3): Formal Process For Receiving The Public’s Suggestions For Fiscal Restraint
Statements

Member’s Statement On Management Opportunities For Aboriginal Employees

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was just going to use this opportunity in my Member’s statement to drive home some of the concerns I made yesterday in my Member’s statement in the House. Just to express some of my concerns with the government’s lack of accountability with regards to increasing the number of aboriginals hired to senior management positions.

As far as I’m aware, Mr. Speaker -- and I’m sure a lot of the MLAs of previous governments are also aware -- this government is not meeting the expectations for aboriginal hiring in senior management positions and has no tools or policies in place to date to measure the results of the human resource accountability framework that was developed to address this issue in 1997. Mr. Speaker, this issue does not specifically have to do with the lack of the human resource strategy that the government has developed for all the departments to adhere to, but more directly to do with the lack of a clear, measurable way that the departments are monitored and made accountable should they not be able to meet the targets and expectations in aboriginal hiring and training for the senior management positions.

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated yesterday, this government is interested in looking at ways to increase the number of aboriginals particularly in senior management positions and to increase the overall percentage of aboriginal government employees. We all have to work together as a government on how to best proceed and to develop some tools that compel the deputy ministers, government administrators and human resource managers to be more accountable and committed to ensuring that we can be successful to a greater degree to resolving this problem.

Mr. Speaker, I am committed to working with this government to develop a clear and concise document and/or action plan that will pave the way to a new, accountable, open and transparent government for all our constituents, especially for the men and women that are currently working in this government so that they too can feel that they are an integral component to ensuring that the needs of all the aboriginal northerners are being addressed and resolved. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause