Debates of March 7, 2005 (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat. It’s with regard to the GNWT’s plan to phase out the affirmative action policy through their human resource consolidation. I want to ask the Minister if it is the plan of the new consolidation of the human resource function of this government. Is that an avenue to the eventual elimination of the affirmative action policy, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 558-15(3): GNWT Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is not the intention to phase out the affirmative action policy of the Government of the Northwest Territories. What we have looked at are a number of the reports that were done by previous assemblies, and Members of previous assemblies and one of the recommendations in one of those reports suggests that the name be changed to employment equity and that’s one of the considerations we’re taking into consideration as we go about the review of the government’s affirmative action policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 558-15(3): GNWT Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The employment equity I know is based on the philosophy that employers will hire a representative workforce because it makes good business sense and operational sense to do so, and that’s a quote from the past Premier of this government in 2002. Another quote is from the executive director of our corporate human resource division saying that I expect it will be here for another two years and then we’ll eventually phase out the affirmative action and replace it with this employment equity. So I just want to ask the Minister what measures, with the amalgamation of the human resource function, is the department going to take to ensure that the guidelines that are in the affirmative action policy are going to be incorporated into this new employment equity policy, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 558-15(3): GNWT Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our intention is, as we begin this work and pull the initial portions together, to meet with Members of the Assembly and through committees and put the work forward in that way and begin the in-depth discussion that we need to do on how we come up with a program that is going to work well for us as the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 558-15(3): GNWT Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess as it stands now, the government spends about $7.8 million just to carry out the human resource functions in the various departments of the GNWT. How is the amalgamation and consolidation of the new human resources functions? Is that going to be a higher cost to this government or is it going to be less or is it going to be the same or has that even been visited yet, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 558-15(3): GNWT Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the work that’s undergoing right now we’re trying to get done within the resources we have available, but we also recognize that with over 180 employees being impacted and how we redesign the Human Resource Service Centre process and go into the regional build up of those, we understand and know that there’s going to be some growth in the areas as we try to make sure we can do this job accurately and get it done efficiently, as well. So there’s going to be some growth when we look at some increase in regional centres for staffing, as well as the restructuring of the office space. Right now, a lot of the individuals are in place in the communities within their departments and we’re going to pool those into central locations in the regions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final short supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 558-15(3): GNWT Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess with the new vision of the human resource services for the GNWT, it says connecting our clients to provide leadership and excellence in human resource management. Mr. Speaker, one of the operating principles of that vision is that they will support managers in the recruitment and retention of a capable, competent public service that is representative of the people it serves and that focuses on results. So I’m just wondering, is the Minister going to make a commitment to the residents of the NWT, especially the aboriginal affirmative action candidates in the government, that they are going to be getting fair and equitable representation in Management Assignment Program positions, in any management program that this government is looking to fill.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 558-15(3): GNWT Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, affirmative action is something that this government takes seriously and we are working to continue to improve on what we are able to do at this point. That’s one of the reasons why the Human Resource Service Centre idea is one that we feel will bring some positive results. Right now, each department is doing their own thing with different interpretations on the same rules. If we pool these human resource service staff together, they will not only support each other in the work they do, but the interpretation will be the same amongst all service centres. At the end of the day, it will still be the managers who have to manage and account for the final hirings that do go on.

That is something that was of concern to all departments, that we did not go back to the days of Personnel and did all the hiring and so on with employees across the government in the whole of the Northwest Territories. It is something we’re working on. We intend to improve on what we have available. At the end of the day, it’s going to be how we best fit those who apply for the jobs, what type of educational criteria they have and background they have for the jobs they apply on. Again, affirmative action is something that is to support the people of the North getting into those positions, but we have to ensure that they can do the job first of all. Thank you.