Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Affirmative Action Policy has been in place for a very long time. More recently, over the past 10 years it has been about 31 percent. Despite many efforts to move that percentage up to have a public service that is representative of the Northwest Territories where 50 percent of the population in the Northwest Territories is Aboriginal, we seem to be unable to move past the 31. Although we had a slight increase this year; it is 32 percent.
With “20/20 – A Brilliant Future,” we have taken another strong run at improving our Affirmative Action Policy, making our affirmative action policies work. We have an Affirmative Action Advisory Committee to help us to work with the departments, to find new and innovative ways to get Aboriginal people into the public service. I think there are a number of things that we compete with industry. There are certain jobs that require different levels of skills. Not everybody wants to work for the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Having said that, there is a court challenge on the Affirmative Action Policy. Our view is that this is a very important policy. We need to continue with it.
Last Assembly, I think it was the 15th Assembly, we
came forward with an Employment Equity Policy, to replace the Affirmative Action Policy, that would be more focused on strategic categories of jobs, and at that time was felt that would be a better approach to deal with affirmative action. The 15th Assembly
didn’t agree with that and decided not to change it, so right now I think the affirmative action is the way to go. I think we need to defend it in a court case. I think that as the 17th Assembly we should review it
and see if we still want to continue that route or are we prepared to look at something else. Thank you, Mr. Chair.