Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week is Public Service Week. I would like to add my thanks to that expressed by Mr. Handley earlier this week to the many employees who work for the departments, boards and agencies of the Government of the Northwest Territories. It is their efforts that make a difference every day in our communities.
One of the priorities of this government has been to reduce our reliance in the public service on southern hiring and to increase the number of Northerners accessing northern jobs. I would like to talk about three programs that we hope will help us recruit and retain Northerners for careers in the public service.
The Student Summer Employment Program runs every year from April to August. The program allows students to register for summer employment. Any northern employer can access those applications and find students with the background needed for the job to be done. Internally, we also try to find work for about 300 northern post-secondary students. Approximately 250 of those positions have been filled to date. Some of those jobs are summer replacement work. As well, through our progressive experience program, about one third of the jobs provide students with experience that is directly relevant to the education they are pursuing in university or college. One of the goals of the program is to help students better understand the range and scope of GNWT jobs and to encourage them to consider the GNWT as their employer of choice after graduation.
Mr. Speaker, the Northern Graduate Employment Program is in its second year. The purpose of the program is to encourage northern post-secondary graduates to take their first jobs in the North. The results to date have been very positive. Through the Internship and Graduate Transition programs, 52 graduates were placed in one-year internships in government, the private sector or non-profit organizations in 2001-2002. This year, 52 graduates have been offered internships to date, with an additional 50 graduates still registered and looking for opportunities. In the first year, 10 percent of the positions were located outside Yellowknife. This year, over 40 percent of the internships are regional placements. As well, 18 northern teacher graduates and four social work graduates have found jobs over the past two years. Interns from the first year of the program are now starting to complete their internships and almost all have found continuing northern employment.
One of our challenges has been finding effective ways of developing GNWT staff for leadership and management positions. As we look down the road ten years, it is apparent that two thirds of our present management group will be eligible for retirement. We need to have Northerners ready to assume these senior positions. Later this year, we hope to introduce a program to help people gain the skills they need if they want to advance into and within GNWT management.
This Succession Planning Program will be open to any interested staff. Those who apply will be put through an assessment process to determine what their current skill levels are and then a series of training and development opportunities will be put in place to help them improve and enhance their knowledge. As people move through the program, it will greatly increase the pool of individuals ready and able to assume management positions.
Mr. Speaker, each of these programs will strengthen our public service and our ability to effectively serve the people of the Northwest Territories. I look forward to reporting further on the results of these programs in the months ahead. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause