Hon. Nellie Cournoyea's return to Question W31-12(2), asked by Mr. Zoe on March 27, 1992:
1) The Department of Health currently has 10.25 per cent of employees at headquarters who qualify as aboriginal employees under the affirmative action program. The number of people who have both training and experience in the health care system is very limited. In order to increase the number
of aboriginal employees in the Department of Health, the number of aboriginal people taking health care studies needs to increase significantly.
2) Because of fiscal restraint there are currently no training positions within the Department of Health to prepare aboriginal people for management positions in the department.
3) The Department of Health in headquarters hired two aboriginal employees on a casual basis during 1991-92. The affirmative action criteria for hiring are applied to applicants for departmental positions. One of these employees is in the process of completing a course in health administration. The number of aboriginal post-secondary school students in health care studies who are receiving Department of Education funds for 1991-92 is 20. All resident aboriginal students qualify for Department of Education funds. All of these students are studying in health practice areas. There are two students receiving health bursary assistance during 1991-92; one in the health practice field and one in diploma studies in health administration. All aboriginal students who applied for the health bursary funds received bursaries.