Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Debates of Feb. 20th, 1998
Topics
Return To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Supplementary To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That has been ongoing for some time now. Could the Minister tell us what efforts are being initiated to fill these vacant positions? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, there are 46 full-time positions vacant at this time. Some of these are being advertised and filled at this time. I cannot give the specifics but there is always a turnover, people transferring, promotions being made, so the vacancy rate is probably around the point where a department this size, it would always be about that level. We are trying to fill some of those positions as best we can. We have for instance, four vacancies in the Baffin, five in the Beaufort Delta, about three in the Deh Cho; in forest management there are five positions that need to be filled. We do have quite a bit of work to do in the oil and gas sector. Out of the Yellowknife positions, there are four that need to be filled in the policy and legislation division. We have three, again all Yellowknife, and the community economic development services again in Yellowknife, four. There are 12 positions that need to be filled in those areas, an additional three in fish and wildlife. A good number of these are in the headquarters level. There are about 15 that are vacant positions currently in Yellowknife. We are trying to fill them. In the Keewatin there are four, Kitikmeot two, in the North Slave which is the regional office here there are five full-time positions and two which need to be filled. In Iqaluit, there are five positions that need to be filled. As to what we are currently doing to each of those specific positions, I do not have the details but I would be prepared to get them and share it with the Members. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. This is a very detailed question. You would have been better served asking it as a written question. Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the department no doubt, a number of people have been laid off. Could the Minister tell us if layoff packages have been offered to people within the department?
Supplementary To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
Further Return To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question would
be earlier the Minister mentioned they always have some positions vacant, but of the number that are vacant, 48 I believe you said, are those ones that have been consistently vacant for the last year?
Supplementary To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
If the Minister wishes to respond. It is a detailed question again and he has to make comparisons. Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am here for the whole question period. I am here to answer questions.
--Laughter/Applause
I can go through each of these vacant positions. There are 46 full-time positions. I do not know how many of those are newly created positions that have not yet been filled since the amalgamation of this department. I will get that information for the Member and also provide him the information about how many are positions that have been filled which have since become vacant and what we are doing to fill them. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier in relation to his Minister's statement yesterday regarding the GNWT position on northern diamonds. Recently, the Minister for RWED had come back from a fact-finding mission and indicated this government should not be in the business of buying diamonds. There seems to be a perception to some people from the government's stated position yesterday that perhaps this is the case. Could the Premier elaborate on the point of making diamonds accessible, consistently and reliably to the northern industries?
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Premier.
Return To Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, we made public our position as a government. It is clear that our government is very interested in becoming involved in the diamond industry. Our government has a duty to be involved in the diamond industry, to the people of the Northwest Territories. We have to fundamentally look after the people of the Northwest Territories and people's concerns on the diamond issue. We have concerns that we are not getting a fair share of taxes and royalties. We are working with the federal government on that issue. We want access to rough diamonds so we can develop a diamond cutting and polishing industry for the Northwest Territories people. We also need to have an inroad in the marketing of diamonds, so we know what the end value is, so we get the proper taxes and royalties on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories. That is the position of this government. Thank you.
Return To Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.
Supplementary To Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the government proposing to buy diamonds or set up some type of a committee or board that would actually buy the diamonds to make them accessible to people in the north? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.
Further Return To Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.
Supplementary To Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier had indicated also in his statement the government would be working with the industry to achieve this goal. Would the Premier indicate if there have already been meetings to this end?
Supplementary To Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. BHP Diamonds has publicly stated that they want to make diamonds available for sale in the Northwest Territories. It is our position, as a government, that we will work with them to achieve their public commitment they made to the people of the Northwest Territories, to make diamonds for sale in the Northwest Territories. They being a good corporate citizen and we being a good government will work together to help them to achieve that. Ministers have met previously with BHP, and they will meet with them again next week. From that meeting, knowing that BHP is a good corporate citizen in the Northwest Territories, knowing that my Ministers are very committed to look after the people's interest of the Northwest Territories, I think we will come out with a positive result. If not, then Plan B. Thank you.
--Applause
Further Return To Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Question 392-13(5): Accessibility Of Diamonds To Northern Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 968
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.