Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are going to communicate on an individual basis with each employee. We have tried to communicate on a territorial-wide basis with respect to the pay equity issue and the fact we have allocated $9 million of new money to be added to the pay scale of most of our female employees. It will be done on an individual basis, Mr. Speaker, and I am fairly confident each member of the bureaucracy will fully understand the implications. Again, I want to repeat, anybody who is reclassified down will be what we define as red circled. That means a distinct pay level will stay. Should they leave and we recruit again, it would be recruited again at the reduced pay level. In fact, nobody who is currently in the government will get a reduction in salary because they will either be red circled or be increased, given that we have allocated $9 million which we hope the union and ourselves can come to an agreement with, prior to April 1, 1998. Thank you.
Debates of Feb. 20th, 1998
Topics
Further Return To Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
John Todd Keewatin Central
Further Return To Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, as I indicated in my Member's statement, employees were given the classification of their position, but there was, from what I understand, no accompanying clarification as to what that meant in dollar terms, the fact that red circling would occur, how it would occur, whether they would be going up or down. I would suggest that you have made the first step but there seems to be a gap already, and I am not sure if I am the only Member hearing concerns raised by employees. Could the Minister indicate, given the fact that they have already started this process, how they can ensure the information is out there to prevent any further concern or apprehension? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
John Todd Keewatin Central
Let me say clearly to our employees who are out there doing their best and working very hard. Nobody will have their salary reduced as it currently stands. Most will get increases, particularly in the female gender.
--Applause
Everybody else will be red circled. I will attempt to clarify as well as I can, what that means to each individual employee. I will check that with Mr. Voytilla, my deputy minister, and see how quickly we can do that. Again, I stress, of course, that in the $9 million we have to come to an agreement with the union on pay equity so we can pay this money to our employees. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate, as well at this time, has the union agreed with this new system, I am assuming they have been a full partner at the table or is that still yet to be done? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
John Todd Keewatin Central
We are still in negotiations, Mr. Speaker, with respect to the collective agreement et cetera. There is still some difference of opinion between ourselves and UNW as it relates to the job evaluation system and the compensation both on the retroactive side and the ongoing side. That is as much as I would be prepared to say at this time because there are sensitive negotiations underway. Hopefully, we can get them concluded and we can put some cash in the hands of our employees, conclude a collective agreement that will give people more money, not less and get on with doing the job of government. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Question 389-13(5): Details Of New Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Roland.
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question at this time would be directed to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, much discussion on the quality of health care in the NWT has taken place over the last number of weeks and months. Also, within this discussion, the quality of health care at the hospital within Inuvik has been brought into question. As I brought up earlier with the ever changing programs we have been dealing with, with the Med-Emerg report and with the amalgamation of Health and Social Services, I would like to know if the Minister has received any official or formal complaints to do with the quality of health care provided in Inuvik? Thank you.
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.
Return To Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not that I am aware of. In fact, contrary to that, there are many times the quality of the health and social services boards operations are mentioned versus complaints, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 966
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Within the quality of health care, indeed, our facilities need to receive accreditation. When was the accreditation for the Inuvik hospital last done, by which firm and what were the results? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Inuvik regional health and social services board received a three-year accreditation and that was received from the Canadian Council on Health Facilities accreditation. That happened in February, 1997, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister inform us, were there any problems with this accreditation for the Inuvik hospital?
Supplementary To Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the only issue I believe came out of it was they asked for a review of the strategic directions be undertaken by the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board before the end of January, 1998. The board managed to do that before the end of 1997. In addition to that, I understand the board has also implemented a continuous quality improvement program they expect to put in place this year. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Question 390-13(5): Complaints Re: Quality Of Inuvik Health Care
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for Mr. Kakfwi, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It is in regard to positions within the department. Several months ago there were still a number of vacant positions. The Minister at that time was addressing the issue. Can he update us on what the status of vacant positions in the department is at the moment? Thank you.
Question 391-13(5): Status Of Vacant Positions In Rwed
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 967
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.
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
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Within the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development there are a little over 500 positions. At the present time, of the full-time positions within the department, about ten percent of those positions are vacant. The vacancy rate is at that level. Thank you.