Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions today for the Minister of Human Resources. I mentioned earlier, in terms of the due date of a report, it needs to be coupled with a whistleblower protection act of some sort. I know we did have the agreement on the Safe Disclosure Act and I know the department was working on creating legislation.
I want to ask the Minister of Human Resources, where are we on that legislation and when can we expect to see that legislation introduced to the House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department is looking at this legislation and considering two options. The first option is to create stand-alone legislation, in which case the department would like to see some disclosures and how the disclosures have been based. The disclosures are based on the misuse of public funds, an illegal act, gross mismanagement and a substantial and significant danger to health and safety or the environment.
Since we had the memorandum of understanding signed with the UNW, we’ve had one safe disclosure. Because it’s restricted to that area, we’re thinking maybe that’s why we’ve only had one disclosure. Now we’re looking at creating legislation, but we may actually be adding it to the modernization of the Public Service Act as opposed to stand-alone legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I know we’ve had this agreement in place for a long time. Only having one uptake in it, that does create some alarms. Why aren’t we hearing more from our employees when sometimes we as MLAs hear it from the employees on a one-on-one basis?
What kind of support is given to our employees so they have the opportunity to speak up without any kind of reprimands to themselves or their jobs? What supports are given to our employees for them to speak up, especially on the health and safety aspect with workers in the workplace? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We have training sessions with the employees on disclosure. We have a Harassment-Free and Respectful Workplace Policy that clarifies personal harassment within the GNWT and the public service. We are trying to let individuals know that if they do disclosure in any of those areas that I spoke of, it would be a safe disclosure.
The only thing we could come up with on why there has been so little uptake is people actually don’t feel safe disclosing with the public service, with their supervisors, management and so on. I too get a lot of calls where I indicate to the people that this is an opportunity if you think this is what’s going on, do it this way. But their preference is to have the Department of Human Resources handle it in the way that they wish to have it handled through my office, through the deputy minister’s office and so on.
We are trying to get the word out to people that there would be safety in disclosure. Thank you.
I’m glad to hear that the Minister of Human Resources, who is undertaking this Safe Disclosure Act, is in fact also hearing from employees that there are some issues around health and safety in other areas that have been identified. That means there is a stronger need or a stronger support for employees.
As the Minister responsible for Human Resources, would he make a commitment to do a campaign where our Minister of Human Resources affirms to our employees that he’s behind them, to speak up and get some of these issues drawn out on the table, either in an awareness campaign on the radio or in a news release, that he commits to supporting our employees that they have the right to work in a safe and healthy environment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will commit to getting information out advising the public service, most likely on our website. That would indicate that we support people who wish to disclose in any of these areas. If that still doesn’t generate anything, then we may go to sending out a form letter to all of the staff in the public service. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Nadli.
