Debates of October 22, 2004 (day 26)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question would be directed to the Minister of FMBS, the Honourable Floyd Roland, regarding the department which oversees all the human resource policies of this government. Mr. Speaker, I know the treaty issues are not something new, but to date government policy, that I feel can be quite concise and clear, has not been developed to date with regard to entitlement leave on treaty day. I feel all treaty Indians, treaty members, regardless of their place of employment are entitled to the half-day leave, which some receive today and some don’t. I guess my question to the Minister is when is the Minister going to circle the government wagons and get a policy in place that entitles all treaty Indians to leave to go out and receive treaty no matter where they live? Thank you.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, the Honourable Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the civic leave section of the human resource manual states that civic leave is for those that are entitled to the treaty or have treaty status in the Northwest Territories and it is quite clear. It hasn’t been an issue raised to me in the past, but it does state that Dene employees with treaty status would request one half-day leave per year to attend treaty celebrations in their community. That can be granted. So it is clear at this point, but I guess what I am hearing is that there is a concern that it should be eligible to status Dene whether they move from one community to another to take part in that day and that’s something we can look at. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am well aware of the civic leave entitlement in the UNW agreement and the government policy, and the Minister did exactly hit the point that I am trying to put across to you, that many treaty Indians that have relocated for employment purposes and no longer go out and receive treaty in their respective communities, even though they are employed in and, in some instances, employees that are entitled to treaty in another community, are not granted the leave by their employers because they don’t receive treaty in that community. So I guess my question is maybe the Minister should direct the department to omit the section in article 17 under civic leave, which states that employees are entitled to receive a half-day off to receive treaty in their community. I think that should be omitted out of the policy and maybe the Minister could direct his staff to carry out that initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think, as the Government of the Northwest Territories, we are one of the leading jurisdictions when it comes to recognizing aboriginal rights throughout Canada. For example, we have provided National Aboriginal Day as an actual day that is recognized as a paid day off for employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories and have put it in as recognized throughout the North. So I think we have examples of being proactive here. I would gladly discuss with the Member the specifics of what he is looking at. The whole civic leave area is one of some concern as the more time we add to it, it means more cost to the government as we have to fill those spots of people leaving the place of work where we still require the work to get done. I would gladly sit down with the Member and try to work out some specifics here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Third supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be glad to sit down with the Minister just to make some changes on that policy, but I know this government is really supportive and develops a lot of good initiatives that deal with the aboriginal and treaty rights. The point, I guess, I am trying to make is that, on a government-wide basis, the human resource policy is interpreted differently from department to department. There is no consistency. It depends on which department you are working with. For instance, in Aboriginal Affairs, I am sure all the treaties in that department get a half-day off, including non-treaties, from what I understand. Then you go across to the other side of the government spectrum to the Department of Finance…

What is your question, Mr. Villeneuve? Could you please get to question?

Supplementary To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

When is this government or the Minister going to ensure that the government makes all the government departments more consistent in the delivery of the whole leave policy on treaty day? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have started our work as a government to bring all departments and boards into line when we deal with our human resource issues. We have begun that work to ensure that. The rules that we have in place are interpreted the same way across the board. We have heard the concerns before and are starting to do some work in that area and bring it into line. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. A very short supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that response because I look forward to seeing some changes in the near future. I am willing to sit down with the Minister and help develop some new policies with respect to more consistent delivery of the human resource policies in this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.