Debates of October 27, 2006 (day 17)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister responsible for Human Resources with respect to the Human Resources amalgamation. Just as I was stating in my Member’s statement today, Mr. Speaker, my first question to the Minister is, the affirmative action policy since it was first mandated in 1989, there was a policy in there to put together an affirmative action advisory committee, which was an objective, independent committee that had a gender balance and a racial balance to oversee the operations of the affirmative action policy. I think if that committee was implemented when it was supposed to be implemented, Mr. Speaker, we wouldn’t be here today talking about human resource equity or employment equity in the government. I think the percentage of indigenous aboriginal employees in the government hasn’t changed over the past 10 years. It’s been pretty constant and it’s actually on the decline. The percentage of indigenous in management has also declined slightly over the past five years anyway.

I just want to ask the Minister, is there any appetite for the Human Resources department to set up an employment equity advisory committee that oversees the operations of the Human Resources department to ensure that the policies in that department are being followed up and that the representative workforce that this government is committed to establish is being worked on? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Return To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Being relatively new to the file, I know that I’ve talked to my colleague, the previous Minister, about the status of this and I understand that he’d gone to the standing committee with a proposal for moving to an employment equity process, but the committee isn’t in favour of that. So clearly we’re in a position where we have to take a look at the affirmative action plan and see if we can come up with something that Members of this House are supportive of, if we’re going to make any changes. As things stand right now, the affirmative action policy is the one that governs the operations of this government and I will certainly look to work with Members of this House to see what we can do to improve on its results. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t recall the committee, I don’t know if it was AOC or maybe the Social Programs committee wasn’t in total favour of it, but I know the affirmative action policy as it stands today calls for an affirmative action advisory committee to oversee the affirmative action policy and make sure that the government is committed to developing a public service that is representative of the population of the NWT; namely, women in management and indigenous aboriginals in government, in the public service. So I just don’t see what’s wrong with having a totally independent, objective body to oversee the operations of our Human Resources department are to ensure that the government is building our public service that is totally representative of the population. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Not sure if I heard a question. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, the government had looked at the affirmative action policy and had agreed that it wasn’t delivering on the results that were expected from it and had looked at other options, including moving to an employment equity position. That proposal was taken to the standing committee and proposed. We haven’t actually heard formally back from the committee, but we had the sense that there wasn’t support for it. If there’s not support for a change in the policy, then we are looking at the existing policy. If there’s a committee that’s called for in the existing policy and that’s what we’re going to continue with, then I’ll take a look at the policy and make sure that we’re living up to its terms. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Okay. Well, let’s review the policy again and we’ll go over what was mandated in that policy. I’m pretty clear that there was an advisory committee that was supposed to be established. That’s all I’m saying. I don’t see why we would sway from having an objective body to oversee the operations like that. Just with respect to Yellowknife alone, the population of Yellowknife comprises of roughly 51 percent of aboriginal population here and the public service here in Yellowknife only comprises 14 percent of indigenous aboriginals in the public service in a community which comprises 51 percent aboriginals, Mr. Speaker. That’s probably why there’s a lot of people out there that are always, you know, especially aboriginal northerners who are saying they’re not getting the consideration that’s based on their merit or experience or their education…

Do you have a question, Mr. Villeneuve?

Yes. Can we look at setting up an employment equity advisory committee? Yes or no and why not? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, the government went to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight in September of this year with a proposal for employment equity. In other words, taking specific targets and providing resources to make sure we could move to meet those targets in certain areas. The government hasn’t had a formal response back yet from AOC. Once we have that response, we’ll be prepared to move to address the issue and we’ll certainly take a look at the proposal that Mr. Villeneuve is now making. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

With the new employment equity of programs, Mr. Speaker, is the government going to be applying any special measures to improve the rate at which our qualified members of a designated group are hired in the NWT? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government believed that the employment equity plan that was put before committee would have improved the results over what we’re seeing under the current policy. That was the position that was advanced. So yes, that was the goal to try and improve the results. Thank you.