Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. We just went through a business plan session with the departments; I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. The first time we went through this most of us were very new and I didn't quite understand the process, and I'm still not clear on some things and so I'd like to clarify with the Minister about some of the decisions that were made. Specifically, when the department is looking at cutting positions as was done throughout the GNWT, what factors are considered when determining which positions are expendable? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the departments look at any kind of reductions within our programs, specifically when it comes to positions in the GNWT, we look at three factors. One is the nature of the position: does the incumbent require specialized training or could the task be delegated to others within the work unit.
Another one is the status of the position; whether it is vacant or not. The third factor that we do take into consideration is risks and impact on program delivery: could the program continue to be delivered with staff that are still within that division.
So what level in the government are these expendable positions identified at? Is it the office manager, regional manager, director, ADM, deputy minister, et cetera?
Mr. Speaker, all positions from entry level to management are looked at and reviewed and we base it on those three factors that I mentioned; mostly the one that would be least disruptive to the program delivery in that division.
My question, I must not have phrased it properly is: who determines if the position is expendable? Is it the deputy minister? Is it the ADM? Is it the director? Is it the director in consultation with the manager? At what level is that position identified and that decision made?
Given the confidentiality of the reduction exercise, senior management that the department delivered the exercise with the positions as mentioned from entry level to management.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So from the sounds of it, it's senior management, which I assume is above a director. I'm not quite sure what "senior management" means, but they identified positions that they feel as though could be filled by someone else or it won't affect the work being done on the front lines. So I just want to confirm there's no consultation with the actual office manager or a direct supervisor of someone's position who is up for the chopping block? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Going through such an exercise is difficult on our senior management. Obviously, we don't want to look at any positions being cut as affecting residents of the Northwest Territories, but we do look at the position based on those three factors. It's not based on the individual that's in that position, it's based solely on the position and using those three factors to identify should a job be cut that it will have the least disruption to the programs that they serve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
