Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, for many years, we have discussed the modernization of the Public Service Act. With over 5,000 public servants providing essential programs and services to nearly 45,000 Northerners, it is our responsibility to ensure our public service is competent, efficient, skilled, results-oriented, managed in a transparent manner, and supported to maximize their effectiveness.
A modern Public Service Act would allow us to provide clearer staffing processes, build a framework for successful union-employer relations, strengthen and celebrate teamwork, and implement a fair process for the safe disclosure of wrongdoing. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm that the Government of the Northwest Territories intends to update the Public Service Act during this Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a matter that is of significant importance to me, as well. I am pleased to have this question from the Member. The need to modernize the Public Service Act is really overwhelming, the last substantive review, of course, being back in 1988.
With that, I am pleased to be able to say that it is my intention to bring a bill forward to amend the Public Service Act early in 2020. A significant amount of work was actually already completed on this during the previous Assembly, back in 2017. I have already been briefed on that work, and I have already requested that the department work without delay to bring this matter to a point where we can have it dealt with within the current Assembly.
We are conducting some final pieces of consultation with some of the key stakeholders who played a role in that initial work from two years ago, and it is again my intention to have a legislative proposal to standing committee for consideration in the February 2020 session. After reviewing and responding to any questions standing committee may have, of course, the bill would then be drafted for Cabinet approval, with my hope that it will be introduced in the Legislative Assembly in due course.
As part of the legislative review process, what public bodies will the GNWT engage as they modernize the Public Service Act? How will constructive participation be assured? Thank you.
Again, I appreciate the question in that ensuring that we engage the stakeholders, in particular the unions, Union of Norther Workers and the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association, is critical. Both of those organizations, as key stakeholders, were significantly involved two years ago, during the initial consultations, and it is critical that they be involved again before this matter can actually progress in any real way. Again, making sure that they are involved and that the relationship with those unions is renewed between the government and the unions is of critical importance to me and to this government. It is important that we strengthen that relationship.
I am pleased to say that both the UNW and the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association have been provided already with reading materials about our intention to proceed with proposed updates to the Public Service Act and that their feedback will be taken into consideration, of course, as we progress to have amendments done on this act. Currently, the Department of Finance is doing that engagement, and that kind of engagement is what will make this a success, ultimately.
Another critical stakeholder, Mr. Speaker, is, of course, the public servants. Department of Finance, back in 2017, held focus groups in person in Fort Smith, in Inuvik, and in Yellowknife, with the assistance of a facilitator, as well as collecting feedback broadly online and through other forums. The public employees were also encouraged to provide that feedback anonymously in the online tool.
I would also note that we are conscious that the Northwest Territories Power Corporation also needs to be engaged and have their feedback taken into account as they were in 2017 and as they would need to be in the renewal of that process.
All of the employees, the unions, and the general public, of course, will have an opportunity to be engaged throughout any consultation progress that would be led by the standing committee as this matter proceeds, again, hopefully, in early 2020. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
