Debates of March 7, 2005 (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for Mr. Roland as the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat and the workforce for the GNWT. Mr. Speaker, the affirmative action policy that our government has, I mentioned earlier, was passed in 1989, as one of its provisions the creation and operation of the Northwest Territories Affirmative Action Advisory Committee. It sounds like a pretty useful organization, considering the issues we’re facing now. I wanted to ask the Minister, Mr. Speaker, what is the status of this committee and what is its current mandate? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 561-15(3): NWT Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the committee that the Member just spoke about hasn’t been in operation for quite some time now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 561-15(3): NWT Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Okay. For quite some time, Mr. Speaker. I’m assuming now that we’re going back into previous governments here and I will not hold this Minister accountable there, but I would like to ask why this government has not acted to create or engage this committee and get some creative work coming out of it. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 561-15(3): NWT Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the work we’re undertaking now around human resource service centres and the work tied to that around preparing ourselves for bringing forward a paper for two Members, we feel that through that avenue, we could address how we would engage further activities or would we still feel that this is a satisfactory avenue to use. We would be addressing that through that process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 561-15(3): NWT Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This committee, according to the policy, means that it can be composed of nominees from unions, native organizations and special interest groups that provide interest to the then Minister of Personnel. Now, the Minister already has a mandate to create an advisory group and I would like to know, even though there is this forthcoming process, it sounds like this committee could make a potentially valuable contribution. Would the Minister be considering whether or not he will actually engage what is already a mandate on the books for him? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 561-15(3): NWT Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I had stated earlier, with the work we are undertaking now to bring forward a document for Members to review, at that point I would take that into consideration. At the present time, I think we need to do the work we are. We understand there are problems and we’re working to try to improve on that, but I’d like to bring the next piece of the work to Members from that point, then look at what we might do or not do. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 561-15(3): NWT Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Mr. Speaker, the Minister had earlier indicated that this committee had not been active for some time. The policy was created in 1989. I’m wondering if he is able to advise just how long a life this committee had. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 561-15(3): NWT Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the information available to me. Thank you.