Debates of May 15, 2007 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask questions today to the Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Dent. Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of jobs advertised in the local media. Mr. Speaker, one of my favourites was manager of total rewards. It got me to thinking that perhaps the employees of the government were accumulating points to redeem for some toasters, camcorders or iPods, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Human Resources, a department that has, as I mentioned the other day in the House, six managers managing six people. Of these new positions, how many of them are new? What does the job of manager of total rewards entail? Mahsi.

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

Return To Question 79-15(6): Department Of Human Resources Strategic Direction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member asked how many new positions were new. All the new positions are new. Of the positions advertised, two are new. The rest are existing positions. I think, Mr. Speaker, it is important to remember that the amalgamation of the Department of Human Resources was staffed with 188 people. Over the course of the year and a bit that has happened since then, the staffing component has dropped. So these are not additional positions. These are positions that have been outlined in the Hackett report and recommended for inclusion. We expect that, from 188, the department will, over the next little while, be down to the recommended 170 positions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question79-15(6): Department Of Human Resources Strategic Direction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Hackett report, it also says that the Government of the Northwest Territories is completely out of whack with an organization of comparable variety where you look at employees per transaction. In a normal government operation, you look at seven. We have 24 employees per transaction, Mr. Speaker. What exactly is an organizational design specialist? Is this just to organize the 170 employees at Human Resources, or is this position government-wide organizational design? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 79-15(6): Department Of Human Resources Strategic Direction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Hackett report did say that the government organization was out of whack with comparable size organizations, but we have taken their advice and will very shortly be at exactly the structure and number of employees that they recommend. So, Mr. Speaker, we have used their guidance to move to where we should be. An organizational design specialist would work with other departments, as well, to talk about how their structure should be established.

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

Supplementary To Question 79-15(6): Department Of Human Resources Strategic Direction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have mentioned, in the Department of Human Resources there are six managers managing six people. I would like to see somewhere….I know it is not mentioned in the Hackett report, but how can we keep hiring manager-type positions, positions where we are going to have to pay more to have these folks employed at Human Resources? Why do they all have to be management positions? What is the ratio of management positions in Human Resources to actual on-the-ground employees in that department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 79-15(6): Department Of Human Resources Strategic Direction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have said, the structure of the Department of Human Resources will be just as recommended by the Hackett report very shortly. That would mean that there will be the number of managers that were recommended as well as the staffing levels.

It takes some time to move. When the department was created, we had 188 people that came in from various departments. Trying to move those positions into the exact right position for each employee and to fit into the organization has been somewhat challenging. It has required retraining, staff moves and it takes some time to go through the process without a wholesale layoff or mass firing, which was not something that we wanted to do. So it takes a while to get to that structure, but, Mr. Speaker, we are very close to being there now.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 79-15(6): Department Of Human Resources Strategic Direction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister could make me feel a little bit more comfortable today if he could tell me that the Department of Human Resources today is working on a comprehensive human resource strategy or plan long-term that is long overdue by this government. Are they working towards that, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 79-15(6): Department Of Human Resources Strategic Direction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has worked with some departments to prepare the long-term plan and stands ready to work with other departments as they are prepared to work with us. It is an offer that is out there. The department would agree that it is something that we need to do. Thank you.