Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would seem that one of the issues here is that there does not appear to be a one-window for this particular function for senior managers, that the Minister of FMBS relies on some other department reviewing things. My suggestion and question to the Minister is, would he consider if it does not exist, putting it in place? I think that a simple administrative process, where every senior manager who leaves the territorial government's employ, is checked off and reviewed for compliance, the same as all other employees are when they leave. I think it would avoid all this kind of discussion in the future. Thank you.
Debates of Dec. 3rd, 1998
This is page numbers 481 - 509 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 6th 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 nunavut.
Topics
Supplementary To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
Supplementary To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
The Speaker
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I want to remind my colleagues that we have an obligation to the individual as well as the collective. If it appears that there is a problem, whether it is perceived or real, then we need to find some way so that we can regain public confidence, so we can bring some confidence to our civil service that leaves and knows full well, thereafter leaves the government, there is a transition from government to the private sector, as other jurisdictions do. Maybe, as my honourable colleague suggests, something of that nature is something that I would certainly be able to be prepared to look at. We certainly have got to find some way where all our employees are comfortable when they know when they leave the government employ and wish to stay in the territories, they can continue to earn a living. I will do the best I can and as quickly as I can.
Further Return To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
The Speaker
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is obviously an issue of significance to many people. I am trying to offer a solution. I cannot change the past, nobody can change the past. Would the Minister commit to letting this House know, in fact, what exists in terms of a process? If it does not exist then, I think, steps should be taken fairly quickly regardless of what has happened with this other committee of deputies to address something that may be an oversight, or at this point, a hole in how government is seen to be transparent and accountable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
The Speaker
The question has already been asked and it has already been answered. Again, just to correct myself, the question has been asked again but the whole purpose of a supplementary is if the question has not been answered. I would like to ask the Minister to respond. Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am well aware of the seriousness of this issue and how important it is, as I said to the House, to public confidence and I will move as quickly as I can to provide the information and to give some clarity to what the rules of engagement are. As I said, we are trying to re-examine them to get back some public confidence. I will try to do that as quickly as I can. I want to remind everybody that we also have an obligation to the individual out there and that is the fine line that we are trying walk right now. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
The Speaker
Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue, of course, is the fine line but it is also the ability of the government to be able to, in fact, speak clearly, concisely and expeditiously to issues of this nature so that it is not coming to this House. I would ask the Minister, I know he said as soon as possible, I am asking if he would try to, in fact, give us a report back while we are still in session so that there is an indication to the public of the positive steps the government intends to take? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
The Speaker
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
John Todd Keewatin Central
Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I have everybody working on this as we speak because I recognize the importance of it and the need for public confidence again. I will endeavour, to the best of my ability and to the staff's ability, to bring forward improvements, if you want, to this policy and guidelines. Hopefully I can then seek the MLAs' direction and support and we will do that prior to the closure of this House.
Further Return To Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Question 246-13(6): Post-employment Policy Administration
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
The Speaker
Thank you. Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 498
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are again for the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the FMBS. In regard to the Minister's Statement that he made yesterday regarding the post-employment policy and I quote, as an individual, the former employee has a right not to be unfairly restricted in his or her ability to earn a living. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Todd has spoken extensively today on how we must balance as a government the rights of an individual, versus the rights of the collective. For the Minister's information, Mr. Speaker, there are more people out there who would like to earn a living and if we want to talk about
restriction, certainly in the case of the Aurora Fund, other people who were out there, who would also like to earn a living besides Mr. Bailey, were restricted from having access to that particular opportunity because of the direct appointment of Mr. Bailey to that position.
How might we rationalize the other interested parties? How might we rationalize to the other interested parties the handling of not only contract awards in violation of the post-employment policy, but also to the exclusion of other interested parties? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
The Speaker
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd. I heard two questions.
Return To Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is an important question my honourable colleague asks and that is another part of the research and the review that we are doing right now. I will endeavour to provide my honourable colleague with as much information as I can and some direction as to where we are going to head in the future. Thank you.
Return To Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
The Speaker
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Return To Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleagues across the House are making sign language at me. I do not understand what they are saying. The clock is running out and I think they would like me to ask, Mr. Speaker, for unanimous consent to extend question period today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
The Speaker
Thank you. The Member for Hay River is seeking unanimous consent to extend question period. Do I have any nays? There is no unanimous consent. Mrs. Groenewegen, your supplementary.
Return To Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no further questions today, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Return To Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 247-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
The Speaker
Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.
Question 248-13(6): Appointment Of Aurora Fund Manager
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
On the Aurora Fund appointment, my question is for the Minister of the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd. My question relates back to earlier questions on the Aurora Fund appointment. I wonder if Mr. Todd could tell us in his knowledge whether anyone else was considered for an appointment as the Aurora Fund Manager? Thank you.
Question 248-13(6): Appointment Of Aurora Fund Manager
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
The Speaker
The Minister Responsible for the Financial Management Board. Question period is over. Mr. Todd.
Return To Question 248-13(6): Appointment Of Aurora Fund Manager
Question 248-13(6): Appointment Of Aurora Fund Manager
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe there was. I will double-check the file, but if my memory serves me correctly, I believe that Avery Cooper was another candidate. There could be others. I will double-check and get back to my honourable colleague.
Return To Question 248-13(6): Appointment Of Aurora Fund Manager
Question 248-13(6): Appointment Of Aurora Fund Manager
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 499
The Speaker
Thank you. Item 7, written questions.
Written Question 8-13(6): Government Contracts With Former Employees
Item 7: Written Questions
Page 499
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is addressed to the Honourable John Todd. Can the Minister get me a number of contracts with former deputy ministers, senior assistant deputy ministers, all forms of management contracts, leases with the government of the Northwest Territories, RFPs and also types of appointments to boards and agencies of the government of the Northwest Territories?