Debates of June 14th, 1995

This is page numbers 1311 - 1340 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was education.

Topics

Further Return To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We addressed as a government the grievance that these Bird Dog officers laid before this government as a safety issue. We brought in two independent consultants to assess the pilots.

For example, one of our consultants has 21,000 hours total flying time. He has 45 years' experience in aviation operations and management. He was the DC-6 chief training pilot and operation captain for Con Air for over four years. He has flown fire suppression missions for other operations in northern Canada. He is currently a company training pilot and check pilot for Air North, training pilots and conducting safety proficiency checks on both DC-4 and DC-3 aircraft functions. He has performed since 1988 as an instrument check pilot and air carrier inspector with Transport Canada. He monitored the operations of 23 different air carriers and was co-founder and chief of operations for the Biafra human airlift. He was also director of flight operations for Air Vietnam which operated 56 aircraft. His qualifications are excellent, and this man sat in the cockpit and said the DC-4 captains were qualified to fight fires in the Northwest Territories. It is this government's position that they are quite qualified. We have addressed the safety issues.

The next step is to inform the Bird Dog officers to report to work. We need them to work to do their orientation. They refused to go to work so they were terminated. It is as simple as that. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, this Minister doesn't listen, whatsoever. He doesn't even attempt to answer the question I posed. I asked the Minister nothing to do with the review. I mean, they pay the price for the review; they call the tune. They get the results of what type of review they asked for.

But I asked this Minister, why is it that the Bird Dog officers got their notices of termination verbally and not in writing? That is my question. It has nothing to do with his consultants.

Supplementary To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A meeting was held with each individual to report to work. They were told verbally. This happened around 11:45 am and 1:15 pm to day. I am sure the paperwork is going to follow before 5:00 pm today, hopefully; or if not, tomorrow. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs .Marie-Jewell.

Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier if she could advise this House when departments started to take over the responsibility of terminating employees. I was always under the impression, Mr. Speaker, that this responsibility lay with either FMBS under labour relations or with regard to personnel, but it appears that now departments are starting to take over this responsibility. Can the Premier indicate to this House why it is now becoming a departmental responsibility to dismiss employees? Thank you.

Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the Member is quite right. There is a process that is followed with the Minister handling the responsibility. I believe that all the processes were followed. The steps that had to be taken to do the termination have involved all the departmental responsibilities that had to be involved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Can the Premier advise me as to why it was the ADM for Renewable Resources who advised these individuals of their termination of employment and not someone from FMBS, which is normally the practice of this government? Thank you.

Further Return To Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, it's my understanding that the department has full responsibility to take such action. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Further Return To Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

We are on item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Supplementary To Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Question 612-12(7): Departmental Responsibility For Termination Of Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1324

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, under the public service agreement, under the act that we passed in this House, there is nothing that gives the responsibility to department officials to terminate employees. I know that, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to ask the Premier as to why it was the departmental officials who granted the dismissal verbally to these employees, without even the courtesy of a written notice from FMBS's labour relations area, which is normally the practice. They are the ones who generally give the termination notice, and it is generally given in writing, but, now departmental responsibilities are being taken away. I would like to ask the Premier, since it's in the act and clearly defined who should do the termination, why was this not adhered to? Thank you.