Debates of June 6, 2006 (day 6)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I was talking earlier in my Member’s statement about the lack of improvement, I guess, in the government’s Employment Equity Program and new human resources amalgamation that a few Members have brought up in the past to the Minister of FMBS. I guess my first question to the Minister with the human resources service level agreement that rolled out in 2004 on the performance recording process, if the level targets and their achievements have been documented in annual reports to date and if the human resource performances have been monitored to date. Is there any reports on those initiatives? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 67-15(5): Public Service Performance Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, later on today I will be tabling the Public Service Annual Report that will give some information on how the work has evolved at this point, not specifically to the amalgamation process, that we are providing some more information on that side of it. Earlier the Member spoke of the employment equity policy. That is not in place yet. We’re still using the affirmative action policy in the work we do, but we are working on a paper to bring forward to Members of this House. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 67-15(5): Public Service Performance Review

Mr. Speaker, affirmative action, employment equity, it’s all the same to me, but in the Human Resources Services Agreement that was drafted up in 2004 there’s continuous improvement where review teams will be established on a regular basis with the goal of reviewing the service performance and identifying opportunities for process and improvement, and the membership on the review teams will be fluid to reflect the issues of current interest or concerns, Mr. Speaker. I think that’s one of the most important aspects of this whole human resource amalgamation, is to make sure that, you know, we’re spending a lot of money on this amalgamation, you know. I want to ensure that it’s actually improving things in the government workforce and in the NWT economy as a whole. You know, if we’re spending $1 million on the review of the amalgamation, I want to see these review teams put in place, and is the Minister going to ensure the northern residents that, yes, we do have review teams that are looking at their human resource amalgamation and employment equity or affirmative action policies to ensure that there is some reviews done on an annual basis? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 67-15(5): Public Service Performance Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are tracking the work that has been done as a result of the amalgamation and, as well, looking at further process that we operate under and are working to improve them. That’s one of the reasons why we have the contract with the Hackett Group, is to further look at our processes and how we’ve aligned ourselves, how we’re using our computer environment to ensure we’re being most efficient in what we do, and there are changes coming about. I will be tabling information on the work around the human resources in this House later in the session. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 67-15(5): Public Service Performance Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, $450,000 for the review is pretty expensive. That’s a lot of public money. I just want to ask the Minister, the membership on these review teams, are they going to be independent members that ensure that there’s some objectivity and non-biasness, or are they just going to consist of FMBS employees and department employees of FMBS, because if they do, then what’s the use of even having these review teams in place, Mr. Speaker? Is the Minister going to create an independent arm's length body to do the reviews for the government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 67-15(5): Public Service Performance Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ll have to get information on the actual makeup of how we’re going to form these review committees. Initially, my understanding is that we’re going to look at doing it from within our own forces. If we have to hire outside help to help us in that review, we will do so, much as we’ve done to date, but I will get further information on that piece. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 67-15(5): Public Service Performance Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I’m sure a lot of the other Members here would agree, I couldn’t stress the importance more of having an independent, objective review committee in place to do this whole human resource amalgamation review, to do a review of the Employment Equity Program, to do a review of the Affirmative Action Program. I think that would be something that this government has got to prioritize and ensure northerners that the review committee is going to be at arm's length from this government to ensure there is objectivity, and I don’t think northerners are going to accept anything of the lesser. Can the Minister commit to that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 67-15(5): Public Service Performance Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this time I will not commit to looking at an independent review process. We’ve got a lot of work to do within the amalgamation to complete it before we can do a final review. But at stages, as we are in this case with the Hackett Group, looking at the processes we have, the operating environment and seeing where we need to improve on that, and once we have that established would look at the next phase of how we go about this. But as I said, throughout the amalgamation process and the work we’re achieving, I would be happy to continue to inform Members of how that work is progressing. Thank you.