Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are not following a policy of the government as such, but we are following a direction from Cabinet, a Cabinet direction is what the Minister said, a policy direction from Cabinet is what he said. My question is, is this policy direction from Cabinet of privatization available in writing and is it available for the Members of this House and for the people of the Northwest Territories to have a look at? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of Feb. 24th, 1997
Topics
Supplementary To Question 386-13(4): Responsibility For Privatization Initiatives
Question 386-13(4): Responsibility For Privatization Initiatives
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Supplementary To Question 386-13(4): Responsibility For Privatization Initiatives
Question 386-13(4): Responsibility For Privatization Initiatives
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 386-13(4): Responsibility For Privatization Initiatives
Question 386-13(4): Responsibility For Privatization Initiatives
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, the Member refers to Cabinet motions and directions that I do not believe are available to the public or Members of the Legislature. However, the policies of the government are in fact available. I understand there is a privatization policy still in the books from the era of the Commissioner. Commissioner Parker initiated such a policy back in 1988 or so that is still used as a general basis for privatization initiatives. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 386-13(4): Responsibility For Privatization Initiatives
Question 386-13(4): Responsibility For Privatization Initiatives
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Yes, I would also like to remind the Members regarding questions. In the rules it says that a question must not seek information about matters which are secret, such as decisions or proceedings of Cabinet. Again, just to remind to the Members. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier on affirmative action. I wonder if the Premier could tell me when the figure of 34 percent is presented, how is that related? Is that related to the general population?
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Premier.
Return To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, it is not related to the overall population. It would be related to the amount of employees in government. It would be a certain percentage of employees in government. Thank you.
Return To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought it was related to the amount of the availability of the labour force in the NWT, Mr. Speaker. In that regard, I wonder if the Premier could tell me if the availability of the labour force is representative of certain sectors. If 34 percent and according to my previous statements, there has been success in certain other areas, if he believes that and once he has that researched out, could the Premier tell me and perhaps confirm with me, does he consider all sectors, every aspect of the territorial government, every department should have 50 percent aboriginal employment in every department, in every division, in every sector? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That would be an ideal situation, but it does not exist today. When the policy was developed, it was with the goal of getting 50 to 51 percent aboriginal employees into the government. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Premier be able to tell me in medical services, for example, there are nurses required and doctors required. We have just graduated 11 nurses but there are no other available nurses. Could the Premier tell me if he considers that an area we have to immediately get 50 percent aboriginal employment in? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I remember not long ago in my home community, the nurses all came from southern Canada. When I was with a good government and good intentions of this government, they developed the nursing program that was delivered in the Northwest Territories to Northwest Territories residents. In this way we can help to get the percentage of aboriginal people and long-term northerners that fall under the affirmative action policy as employees of this government. Then you would kick up the numbers in that sector. We do the same thing, I believe, you call it the TEP program under the teacher's assistance program, to try to encourage teachers to be trained in the Northwest Territories. We have done the same thing with game wardens and we have done the same thing with social workers. All as good government to try to get the numbers of northerners increased in those sectors. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 813
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Premier the effort has to involve more long-time northerners and aboriginals in all aspects of territorial government employment. However, there is a reality here in the Department of Justice. Does the Premier feel we are under- represented? How can we fill these positions, when the
majority of the employees may be lawyers and paralegal individuals, when we do not have those individuals available in the Territories, remembering what I stated earlier, 72 percent of the clerical and other levels have been filled by aboriginal people. Could the Premier tell me how do we fill those positions? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 814
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 814
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I travel around the north quite a bit and I meet a lot of people. I meet a lot of young people and I see them as being just as capable as any other people of being able to fill those positions. They need to get their education. They will fill those positions. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Question 387-13(4): Percentage Of Aboriginal Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 814
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.
Question 388-13(4): Office Space For Community Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 814
Levi Barnabas High Arctic
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of MACA, Honourable Manitok Thompson. With community empowerment being enforced through the communities, I understand there is less office space for these communities that are getting staff for the hamlets. Will the Minister provide offices for the people that will be working for the hamlets? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 388-13(4): Office Space For Community Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 814
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Thompson.
Return To Question 388-13(4): Office Space For Community Employees
Question 388-13(4): Office Space For Community Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 814
Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we do community transfers, we talk with the community and we deal with each community individually. If there is office space that is needed, we deal with it and with the individual communities. If the Member wants to know which community needs an office space, then we will deal with that community. Thank you.
Return To Question 388-13(4): Office Space For Community Employees
Question 388-13(4): Office Space For Community Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 814
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
Supplementary To Question 388-13(4): Office Space For Community Employees
Question 388-13(4): Office Space For Community Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 814
Levi Barnabas High Arctic
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) My question is with regards to government offices. They have not been renovated. These offices will be taken over by the hamlet councils. I would like to ask the Minister if they are going to make the offices available to the hamlet councils. (Translation ends)