Debates of June 2, 2006 (day 4)

June
2
2006
Day
4
Speaker
Paul Delorey
Word
Members Present
ITEM 1: PRAYER
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 3: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Bill 4: An Act To Amend The Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Territorial Parks Act
Committee Motion 1-15(5): Recommendation To Review Implications Of Including Systemic Remedies In Human Rights Act, Carried
Committee Motion 10-15(5): Recommendation To Consult With Information And Privacy Commissioner Before Moving Public Registries Online, Carried
Committee Motion 11-15(5): Recommendation To Set Standards For Submissions To Information And Privacy Commissioner And Provide Leadership To Public Bodies, Carried
Committee Motion 12-15(5): Recommendation To Update Schedule 'A' To ATIPP Regulations Annually, Carried
Committee Motion 13-15(5): Recommendation To Keep Online Director Of ATIPP Coordinators Current And Provide Link To Directory On Legislative Assembly Website, Carried
Committee Motion 14-15(5): Recommendation That GNWT Public Bodies Consult With Commissioner To Identify Potential Privacy Issues In Early Stages Of Projects, Carried
Committee Motion 15-15(5): Recommendation To Evaluate Capacity To Respond To Access To Information Requests, Carried
Committee Motion 16-15(5): Recommendation To Table Comprehensive Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Committee Motion 2-15(5): Recommendation To Review Implications Of Amending Human Rights Act To Prohibit Discrimination, Carried
Committee Motion 3-15(5): Recommendation To Table Comprehensive Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Committee Motion 4-15(5): Recommendation To Make Public Statements Supporting Principles Of ATIPP Legislation, Carried
Committee Motion 5-15(5): Recommendation To Make Basic Records Management And ATIPP Training Mandatory For Chairs And Executive Directors Of GNWT Boards And Agencies, Carried
Committee Motion 6-15(5): Recommendation To Bring Forward Plan For Developing And Implementing Municipal Information And Privacy Legislation For Consideration By 16th Assembly, Carried
Committee Motion 7-15(5): Recommendation To Review Effectiveness Of PIPEDA And Need For Legislation On Private Sector Use Of Personal Information, Carried
Committee Motion 8-15(5): Recommendation To Ensure Access And Privacy Issues Are Considered In Devolution And Self-Government Negotiations, Carried
Committee Motion 9-15(5): Recommendation To Ensure Adequate Measures Are In Place To Monitor And Enforce Contractors' Compliance Against Disclosure Of Personal Information, Carried
Member’s Statement On Concerns With GNWT Human Resource Service Levels
Member’s Statement On Condolences To The Families Of Richard Apples And Joe Migwi
Member’s Statement On Congratulations To Fort Providence Graduates
Member’s Statement On Congratulations To Nahendeh Graduates
Member’s Statement On Congratulations To Nunakput Graduates
Member’s Statement On Consideration For “Safer Communities” Legislation
Member’s Statement On Due Diligence For New Housing Proposals
Member’s Statement On Need For More Funding For Non-Government Organizations
Member’s Statement On Over-Expenditures And Delays To Capital Projects
Member’s Statement On Proactive Actions Required By Government To Regain Public Trust
Member’s Statement On Process Issues With GNWT Health Insurance Provider
Minister’s Statement 10-15(5): 2006 Get Active NWT Community Challenge
Minister’s Statement 9-15(5): Celebrating The Success Of Graduates
Question 32-15(5): Funding For Non-Government Organizations
Question 33-15(5): Consideration For Safe Communities Legislation
Question 34-15(5): Exploring Options To Meet Housing Needs Other Than Convertible Workforce Housing
Question 35-15(5): Concerns With GNWT Human Resources Service Levels
Question 36-15(5): Ekati Mine Labour Dispute
Question 37-15(5): Consideration For “On-The-Land” Alcohol And Drug Treatment Programs
Question 38-15(5): Status Of Student Residence Facility Planned For Inuvik
Question 39-15(5): GNWT Health Insurance Providers Process Concerns
Question 40-15(5): Value Of Convertible Workforce Housing Project
Question 41-15(5): Affordable Housing Strategy
Question 42-15(5): Change In Scope To Dene K'onia Facility Renovation Project
Question 43-15(5): Residential School Lump Sum Payments
Question 44-15(5): GNWT Employees Seeking Outside Employment
Question 45-15(5): Change In Scope To Dene K'onia Facility Renovation Project
Question 46-15(5): Delivery Of Dust Control Programs For Small Communities
Question 47-15(5): Maintenance Needed For Highways No. 1 And No. 7
Question 48-15(5): Review Process Of The Public Utilities Board
Question 49-15(5): Status Of Canol Heritage Park Project
Tabled Document 10-15(5): NWT Biodiversity Action Plan Report Two: Gap And Overlap Analysis And Recommendations For Future Actions
Tabled Document 14-15(5): The Safer Communities And Neighbourhoods Act - Yukon Presentation
Tabled Document 15-15(5): Toward New Voluntary Sector - Government Of The NWT Relationships And Funding Arrangements - Final Report
Written Question 3-15(5): Dene K'onia Facility Project
Written Question 4-15(5): Statistical Information
Statements

Member’s Statement On Concerns With GNWT Human Resource Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I am going to discuss an issue that I have brought up in this House numerous times in the past couple of years. That is how our government is handling the amalgamation of our human resources.

Mr. Speaker, last year I had a number of constituents who were very concerned over how they were being treated by the new HR division, now the Human Resources department. Some of the stories were very alarming. The Minister knows these well, and I do thank him for helping me resolve those issues. That was last year, Mr. Speaker.

Between then and now, have the business processes and the treatment of individuals improved any? The answer for me is still an emphatic no. The Minister’s answer to fix HR was to rush out and hire an American company by a sole source $450,000 contract to come in and tell him what was wrong. Results from this consultant’s work should be forthcoming soon, as the Minister stated I think it was yesterday. The problem, Minister Roland, is that the problems are still very evident in your department. Phone calls are not returned. Files remain incomplete. Responsibility is bounced from one person to another person and getting a record of employment, well, that would require quite a degree in patience as it sometimes takes up to eight weeks. The service levels remain unacceptable, Mr. Minister. People still stop me at the store, in the street, with horror stories about how long it is taking them to get their first pension cheques. Just the other day a man told me a story of how he waited 20 months to get his retirement issues resolved. He had to work two jobs once he left the employ of the government in order to make ends meet.

What I am very interested to hear from the Minister today is whether or not this sole source $450,000 contract has done anything at all to improve the services to our employees and to the public we serve. I want the Minister and the Members of this House to know that I do still remain committed to the amalgamation process of our HR services. However, I remain very skeptical of our government’s ability and its leadership to take whatever corrective steps that are necessary to make this new HR department as accountable, transparent and as effective as possible. Comments I hear from employees and the public is that it remains, in the words of many, a mess. Mr. Minister, I am leaving out many expletives that accompany the words "a mess." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause