Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I’d like to go back to something that I’ve been talking about for quite some time. Since the 16th Assembly, I’ve been after the Minister and the government to increase minimum wage and to bring us on a par, or at least close to par, with the rest of Canada. We did have an increase in our minimum wage on the 1st of April of 2010, and then again on the 1st of April of 2011. They were, thankfully, not an April fool’s joke.
Since 2011, I’ve been anticipating the development and the publication of a department policy to guarantee regular increases to minimum wage so we don’t have to lobby for it every three years. In 2010, the Minister specifically said in a Minister’s statement, the department is considering ways to implement future increases that will see regular and reasonable increases linked to other economic factors such as inflation and cost of living. I’d like to know from the Minister whether or not the department has acted on that promise.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. When we first introduced the minimum wage increase, there has been a very positive vibe in the Northwest Territories. Although it’s just a small increment, at the same time, we’re trying to be compatible to other jurisdictions. We have been working on this incremental comparable to other jurisdictions, as well, what kind of mechanism do they have in place, so we’ve done our research in that area. The standing committee also provided some suggestions to the department on the recommended method. We are working on that and also working with employers and employees, just various representatives on this particular topic. It is anticipated that a committee will be established to begin work in the spring of this year. That’s the target date.
Thanks to the Minister for the update. The Minister said that a committee will be established and start work in the spring. I need to ask the Minister what this committee is intending to do and what work they will be undertaking.
When we first discussed this particular area where we should have a format where on an annual basis the increment to the minimum wages, how it’s going to be reflected and when is that going to be happening. The committee will be established to look at those areas and how we can make those changes, and working with various provincial counterparts as well as territorial. Those are some of the anticipated discussions that will be taking place. It will be established in the spring of 2013.
I’m struggling to understand the Minister’s response. I think I heard him say this committee will be established and it will be looking into how to set up something to have regular increases to minimum wage. Could I get him to clarify for me? Is that the intent of this committee?
This Assembly wanted us to set up a mechanism to reflect on the wage incremental on an annual basis, a wage increase. We’re trying to establish that through our networks, through our research, through various discussions with employers and employees, and also the representatives of the Northwest Territories. That’s what we’re embarking on, and we’re going to be establishing a committee to deal with that.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. I’m hearing that this committee will be established and I gather that it’s a permanent committee. It will look at increasing minimum wages on a regular basis, I gather.
I’d like to know from the Minister how many people are part of this committee. I would think it would be rather cumbersome, and I’d like to know what kind of an expense this committee is going to cost us.
When we talk about committee, we want to be cost efficient and effective, as well, so just a small group that we can move forward and we can make decisions right away, part of the recommendations that will be brought to my attention. I want this to be, of course, a small cost to our department. We have to use it internally. Those are just some of the factors that will come into play. We want a small group that will provide recommendations to us that represents the Northwest Territories as well.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
