The Standing Committee for Governance and Economic Development reviewed the Department of the Executive. The committee met with the Premier and his staff on March 17, 2000, to review the proposed 2000-2001 interim appropriation for the department. The committee made note of the following issues:
Corporate Human Resources Services
Corporate human resources develops and monitors the government's recruitment policy and affirmative action and other government-wide human resource policies. The committee was concerned that the government does not reflect the population of the Northwest Territories at the management and headquarter levels.
- • The Premier suggested that affirmative action could be a topic of a full Caucus retreat.
- • Further, the Premier agreed to provide the latest affirmative action statistics for the government.
The regional and community affairs division has been established to assist the Government of the Northwest Territories in communicating government wide agendas, goals, strategies and initiatives to communities, the public, regional staff and headquarters employees.
The Premier elaborated that it was important to recognize where the regions are heading and that there must be recognition of self-government agreements.
- • The committee would like to be apprised of the mandate of the regional and community affairs division and other developments related to this initiative.
- • The committee also agreed to send a letter to the Premier confirming its attendance in a "think tank" session in regard to this division.
Proposed Increase in Positions
Committee members noted that $332,000 in additional proposed funding directed towards the Cabinet Secretariat and Ministers' offices activities. The government had explained that in its interim appropriation submission that a significant portion is designated for additional positions.
The committee was concerned that given our current fiscal situation, the proposed addition of more positions to the department may be inappropriate.
- • The Premier, at the request of the committee, agreed to provide an inventory of positions and describe their respective roles within the department.
- • The Premier also agreed to provide salary information on the necessary operations and maintenance for each of the cabinet secretariat's positions, current and proposed.
Mr. Chairman, that is the report on the Department of the Executive by the committee.