Mr. Chairman, after Bill 1 was introduced a concern was raised on the ground of family affiliation as it relates to employment. The concern was that the ground might be interpreted to prevent a person who owns a business from hiring a member of his or her family over other applicants. The protection relating to family affiliation and employment was included in the bill to address a concern of the people of the NWT communities. They told the department that when they applied for a job, for example, with a community government or a company, family connections can sometimes prevent them from getting a job.

The concern was that sometimes managers are more ready to give the job to someone they are related to. The people we spoke with believe this is a kind of discrimination.

After the introduction of Bill 1, the Department of Justice heard another concern. The department heard that this section should not prevent the owner of a business from hiring his or her family members. One of the reasons why some people take the risk of starting up a business is so that their family can benefit from it. For that reason, I will be making a motion to add a clause so that the ground of family affiliation will not prevent an owner from hiring a family member.