Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some months ago we had discussions in this House about changes in the way GNWT jobs were advertised. As of October 1, 2013, the Department of Human Resources stopped putting individual job ads or listings in print media publications. Instead, they opted for a half-page or larger ad promoting the GNWT as an employer. The substance of the ad told people to go online, go to the HR website and look there for available jobs in our public service. This change was touted as an improvement in how we advertise for GNWT jobs, a way to reach most job seekers and so on. But recently I have noticed a change in the way that GNWT jobs are being advertised, at least in our northern newspapers. Let me give a few examples.
The Northern Journal, Tuesday, April 18: four job-specific ads for an air attack officer, regional environmental coordinator, water resources officer and apprenticeship plumber. News/North April 28th, the usual big ad “Come Work with Us” and job-specific ads for information system coordinator and finance officer Liquor Commission. Again, in News/North May 26th, a specific ad for an area manager of Public Works and Services, Fort Simpson.
Why the change? Is this one step forward, two steps back? The Minister of Human Resources vigorously defended the department’s change from specific job ads to the one generic ad urging applicants to make their applications online. Admittedly, the concerns of MLAs were considered, but what I heard in the responses from the Minister was: “Thanks, but you have nothing to worry about. It’s all good. This is an improvement.” To be fair, Members were advised that residents unable to access the job site online would have access to available jobs through postings in their community.
But now I see us doing twice the advertising it seems. In most newspapers there is both the generic apply online ad and several position-specific ads, and that seems like a waste of taxpayers’ dollars to me. There are few enough of those available to us and we shouldn’t be wasting them. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
