Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are in follow-up to my Member's statement I made today. I have listed a number of policies which, since becoming involved with the government, I have been frustrated by, the number of situations which arise when policies are too broad and do not address the differences in the various regions and communities across the Northwest Territories. I named a few of them in my Member's statement but even the difference in climate, geography, proximity of communities to renewable and non-renewable resources, are all things that I believe we need to take into consideration. For example, in housing, the vast difference even between the east and the west with respect to people that are coming out of a wage economy as opposed to those coming out of a traditional economy. I would like to ask the Premier, Mr. Speaker, if these diversities are going to be acknowledged and incorporated into our programs and services when Cabinet undertakes a review of policies that the Premier has referred to this summer? Thank you.
Debates of Feb. 27th, 1997
Topics
Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Morin.
Return To Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now, our policies do reflect the diversity of the Northwest Territories and we will continue to do that. Thank you.
Return To Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Supplementary To Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not want to be argumentative here today but I am asking the Premier to commit to further recognize these differences, because there are problems with certain policies. For example, when we talk about the Affirmative Action Policy, we talk about it reflecting the population that we serve and the demographics, if you look at the whole territories, may be such that they would differ considerably from that of a region. We saw that problem come to light with regards to student employment in communities like Hay River and Yellowknife, where there were targets set with respect to affirmative action but they did not really reflect the actual make-up of those communities or regions. I think there is a lot more fine-tuning that needs to be done with respect to our policies and if we are going to undertake a review anyway, I am asking the Premier if he would concur with me. Let us make it worthwhile and take a really hard look at those diversities. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will do that. In the past, I have attempted to do that as well. I think we have done fairly well on that whole issue of policies addressing the Northwest Territories. Sometimes when you are developing a policy, it is fairly broad so that it does encompass the whole Northwest Territories, but we also try to include the uniqueness of the communities in the policy. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Question 404-13(4): Acknowledging Community Diversity Through Government Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier in regard to the Affirmative Action Policy in relation to my opening statement and also the old question about how a lot of these jobs are being advertised. It seems they are structured in such a way that the individuals they are catered to have to have a master's degree or PhD. The demand for those types of individuals is limited in the Northwest Territories. It disqualifies a lot of northern individuals who may have gone to university or may not have completed a PhD or a master's. I would like to ask the Premier if there is any way they could look at amending that to ensure there is a more equitable way, when they are doing the evaluation process, that they take that into account? We do not have the ability in the north, especially for a lot of people, to go off to university and make a career out of going to university. The human resources that we have in the north are limited so a lot of individuals, once they conclude high school, go off to university in one particular area, then come back home and try to work within that particular field. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Premier.
Return To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As far as qualifications go for jobs within the government, in some cases, we have to ask for certain qualifications whether it be in social care, corrections, justice, school teachers, doctors and lawyers. There are certain qualifications needed. In some cases in government, we can look at what qualifications are being asked for certain jobs. Maybe, from time to time, they are requesting too many qualifications on certain jobs. I will look into that and see if there is a way that we can make sure we have competent people getting those jobs but also we can do it in such a way that it would encourage northerners to be able to get those jobs. Thank you.
Return To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 922
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question is in regard to the overall question of the statistics and percentages of aboriginal people within the departments, especially in light of the information received yesterday regarding the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, where 30 percent of the people are aboriginal yet there is only one person in the managerial area of that department in regards to a deputy minister. Is there any way of increasing those statistics to ensure that it is more spread out in the area that the individual people they represent, especially in the area of wildlife, where it relates to a lot of the aboriginal population when it comes to the wildlife management. Will he ensure to also take a look at that?
Supplementary To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. The Honourable Premier, Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is very clear from the statistics that we do see that, in the lower parts of government and lower jobs, from the director level down, there are a lot more aboriginal people, affirmative action long-term northerners in those jobs, than from that director level up. There are less affirmative action candidates in those jobs. It is an issue that has to be addressed. As I have said previously in this House, Mr. Speaker, we will be writing to the deputies to have them come up with a plan on how to increase those numbers. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Second supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regards to the overall area of training of individuals, could the Premier also advise the House if there is a possibility of individuals who have been in, say the Department of RWED, who may have 15 to 20 years service which are in between the bracket of being at the lower level and looking at giving them the opportunity to take management training as part of their job, so they could move up to that hierarchy in which we seem to be lacking? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Premier.
Further Return To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that is exactly what I am talking about, employee plans and how to increase the affirmative action candidates at the higher end of government and to develop a plan to make that happen. That will also be part of the deputy's evaluation when I evaluate them every year. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Premier keep the House informed as to the time frame we are looking at for this particular initiative and is there a goal set on a particular time of when you expect to see this accomplished or some document in place to ensure that practise will be concluded? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. The Honourable Premier, Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to talk to Cabinet about this to get Cabinet direction but I do not see any reason why the departments, when they present the budget to the committee next year, should not have an employment strategy plan in every individual department. There is ample time. There is ample warning. We as a Cabinet are going to talk about it and then give the direction, but I am sure we can work that out so that by the time you review the next year's budget, they should have a strategy in place for increasing those numbers. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Question 405-13(4): Amending Affirmative Action Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 923
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Hay River, Madam Groenewegen.
Question 406-13(4): Rationale Of Designating Communities By Level
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 26th, 1997
Page 923
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question is for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. I was wondering if Minister Kakfwi could give the House an outline of the rationale of designating communities by level? What precipitated those designation and what is the overall intent of that within Economic Development? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.