Mr. Chairman, if I can be blunt, the reality is that this issue was, unfortunately, in previous governments, put on the back burner. I decided as the Minister of Finance, along with my deputy, that we had to try and find a negotiated, affordable settlement that we are now in a position today to have a fairly accurate costing of what we believe is a fair offer based upon the work that has been done by a Canadian firm, called Hay and Associates, working with our people here in Yellowknife. The Hay and Associates Group are active in this field of job evaluation Canada-wide and are well known within the industry. I think we are in a better position and we are in a very accurate position today to defend publicly and otherwise, what we believe is a fair and affordable settlement with respect to pay equity and job evaluation.
Debates of Jan. 29th, 1998
Topics
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
John Todd Keewatin Central
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Todd. I am on total operations and maintenance, $6,187,000. Mr. Henry.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Minister stated a number of times and just recently while sitting at the table, he has a fair and equitable offer on the table to the UNW. Was that offer predicated on information he has on settlements which are already in place or what the government can afford?
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
It is based upon the fact that we now have, with Hay and Associates, who are renowned in this field across Canada, accurate job evaluation information completed. We have cosseted it accordingly. We have presented it to our partners, the UNW. We hope, that at the end of the day, common sense will prevail and that we will be able to move forward in reaching an arrangement where we can compensate our staff in a manner that does not affect the overall fiscal framework of this government and avoid any future difficult decisions left to be made with respect to the cutting of employees or programs. Thank you.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The group that the Minister has talked about consulting with and advising this government on this pay equity issue, have they worked with other governments in successfully resolving other pay equity issues with other governments?
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
You have heard the term the Hay Plan, which we currently use? Hay and Associates' evaluation system is used by many jurisdictions across the country and we are confident their data and their position and their evaluation and analysis that they have given us will stand up and is defendable. As I said, they do have Canada-wide involvement and are renowned within the field. Thank you.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My question was, this Hay and Associates, have they worked with other governments that have been successful in settling their outstanding pay equity issues?
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Mr. Chairman, I do not have that answer at my fingertips, but Mr. Voytilla does know that the Hay Plan system was used in one jurisdiction where pay equity was resolved. I am just telling you that we believe we have the right level of professional expertise with the right analysis now done that more accurately reflects the new job evaluation which we are now able to cost, and we have put it on the table. It is again, and I will repeat it, I believe it is a fair, affordable negotiated, hopefully, settlement and I look forward to common sense prevailing and getting on with putting money in the hands of our employees. Thank you.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Final question, I know the Minister is committed to resolving this issue before the end of March I think it is important to potentially know the downside. I certainly would like to. A question I have for the Minister, is there any board or judicial body, in the event that the UNW and the Government of the Northwest Territories cannot reach a resolution in this matter, that can come in and impose and say, you shall pay this amount?
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, there is and that is why I keep saying I want a negotiated settlement, northerners should solve northern problems. A human rights tribunal has jurisdiction over this area and if we cannot reach a negotiated settlement it will ultimately go into their lap to make the decision for us.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Todd. I am on page 2-27, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $6,187,000. Agreed?
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 434
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
The Chair Vince Steen
Page 2-28, activity summaries, government accounting, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $11,469,000. Agreed?
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
January 29th, 1998
Page 435
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.