Debates of May 11, 2007 (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Human Resources. I would first like to start off by saying thank you for allowing me to have a look at the Hackett report that was done last year. I have never held $500,000 in my hands before, so it was quite amazing to know what $500,000 feels like. Thank you, Mr. Minister.

---Laughter

I want to ask the Minister today of the recommendations that were contained in that report that was done over a year ago. I would like the Minister to provide us with a status of where those recommendations are and how they are being proceeded upon. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 61-15(6): Delivery Of GNWT Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have implemented a number of the changes recommended in the Hackett report. The structural changes to the Department of Human Resources are in progress. They are substantially underway. I can't say they are 100 percent complete, because a lot of the changes required that we work to move people around as the work gets done. For instance, we have a significant backlog in pay and benefits that we have been trying to deal with. We need to keep people in that area until that backlog is dealt with, but we are moving towards the final transformation. I would expect that we should be able to, over the course of the next year, conclude the transformation of the department.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 61-15(6): Delivery Of GNWT Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if you look on the Government of the Northwest Territories website, go to the phone directory and have a look at Human Resources, you see no fewer than six managers managing six people. They each manage one person in the benefits section. I would like the Minister to explain to me how it’s a proper business process to allow the department to have six managers managing six people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 61-15(6): Delivery Of GNWT Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, the department is in the midst of a transformation process and that won’t be the final status of the department. So as the work gets caught up and brought up to date, as we finish the movement into the latest version of PeopleSoft and as self-service rolls out, the structure will be in line with what has been recommended in the Hackett report.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 61-15(6): Delivery Of GNWT Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Keeping with the business processes, I would like the Minister to explain to me how it is that an employee who works at HR who has been an employee of the government for 20 years, 20-plus years, and has had glowing performance reviews all through that 20-year history in the Northwest Territories, all of a sudden finds himself on the outs at HR and is being rushed out the door. I would like to explain how we have employees who work for us for 20 years and all of a sudden they are discarded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 61-15(6): Delivery Of GNWT Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be careful to say that our employees are discarded. We value the employees who work for this government and know that the public service have nothing but the best of intentions and always want to do the best job. Mr. Speaker, as this whole transformation process has taken place, it has meant that some people are having difficulty finding a spot in which to fit. When you bring a bunch of people in who have been out in the departments doing different jobs and try to build one centralized structure, it’s sometimes difficult to find the exact fit. So we are working with employees to ensure that training is offered and we are endeavouring to ensure that we can find positions to suit all of the employees that we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 61-15(6): Delivery Of GNWT Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering if I can get a commitment from the Minister today to come back to committee to discuss in further detail the recommendations that are outlined in the Hackett report and how it is we are moving forward with the recommendations that are in that report, so that we can deliver a more streamlined, efficient Human Resource service for our employees and the public. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 61-15(6): Delivery Of GNWT Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be pleased to do that. Anytime we are requested by the committee, we will make ourselves available. Mahsi cho.