Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members.

WHEREAS it is incumbent upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to provide services and deliver programs to the residents through the establishment and maintenance of a public service;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories, in recruiting and retaining a professional public service, must ensure that it is representative of the diversity of the Northwest Territories population and allows access to all residents to opportunities within the public service;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories, in meeting its obligations to have a professional, non-partisan and representative public service, must ensure that human resource policies and procedures are adhered to;

AND WHEREAS since the dismantling of the Department of Personnel was completed in 1996-97, successive governments have not demonstrated their ability to actively coordinate the human resources needs of the public service;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories statistical information regarding the success of the Affirmative Action Policy, does not appear to reflect the desired representative public service;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories continues to demonstrate that it cannot coordinate and be accountable for its actions in certain aspects of meeting its human resource responsibilities;

AND WHEREAS the human resource function and responsibilities are now delegated to and spread throughout departments and boards of this government;

AND WHEREAS there is a need for adequate reporting, monitoring and accountability by the Government of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS the current public service, and those wishing to become members of the territorial public service, must be satisfied that the hiring process is transparent, fair and accountable;

AND WHEREAS there is a need for an independent agency to ensure that all persons are treated fairly and have access to employment opportunities in the territorial public service;

AND WHEREAS the Northwest Territories is currently the only jurisdiction in Canada, with the exception of Nunavut, which exercises authority over a public service and does not have an impartial or independent body or agency to ensure a representative public service;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that this Legislative Assembly wishes to ensure that the Government of the Northwest Territories has a professional, non-partisan and representative public service;

AND FURTHER requests the Executive Council to bring forward legislation to establish a Public Service Commission for the Northwest Territories;

AND FURTHERMORE that the Executive Council introduce this legislation by February 15, 2001. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.