Debates of June 2, 2004 (day 18)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about a program this government has been initiating to prepare government employees to advance to higher level government positions like deputy ministers, directors and managers.

Mr. Speaker, the management assignment program, which started last year, selected 25 participants to take part in this important initiative. Out of the 25 people selected for the first round of this program, Mr. Speaker, I only saw one aboriginal person on this list of eligible participants.

Shame, shame!

After the list was sent to various government departments, I have received many inquiries from potential and very qualified aboriginal employees who have been in the government for long periods of time, some even having trained some of the individuals on the list as to why they were not considered eligible to take part in this management program.

Mr. Speaker, although the first 25 participants in this program have yet to receive any type of extra duties or responsibilities to prepare them for the higher level of positions after one year, I have received notice that this program is once again eligible to six eligible employees in this government. Mr. Speaker, I hope that the second round of nominations to engage employees in management assignments not only includes more aboriginals, but also initiates this government to start to…(inaudible)…in this program because the program does seem to be a very low priority as the program is on its second round, but no action has been initiated or identified according to some of the participants who were selected in the first round of this management assignment program. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause