Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the chair for the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. Mr. Speaker, members of the committee are concerned about how human resources functions are being undertaken in our government. We will concentrate on this issue today during Members' statements and question period.
Mr. Speaker, we need a representative workforce where our employees are treated fairly and have the opportunity for advancement. The break-up of the Department of Personnel was sold in 1992-93 as a cost-saving measure. However, indications are that we are probably spending more today on personnel functions than we were then.
There has apparently been a 21 percent increase in human resource positions, from 114 in 1991 to 138 in March of 2000. At the same time, there has been a 43 percent decrease in the number of GNWT employees. Our employees have gone down from 6,133 to 3,481 over that same period of time. This means that the Government of the Northwest Territories is spending more money providing services to staff. To do that, we have to be taking money out of programs and services, where it could otherwise be spent.
Mr. Speaker, we are concerned the departments are not following staffing policies and guidelines in the recruitment process, and that there is no monitoring of the process by the government.
We believe that an independent agency may be the only way to ensure hiring practices are fair throughout the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, we are concerned with the lack of commitment and progress in affirmative action hiring. Mr. Speaker, aboriginal representation in the GNWT has not increased in the last five years. Aboriginal representation in management has increased only marginally. There is obviously a need for better coordination of public service career training funding with the government departments. A clear indication of this is that this government has lapsed almost $1 million over the past three years in public service career training, money that could have been used to train and promote affirmative action candidates in the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, to deal with all of these concerns, we need a Public Service Commission. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.