Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to say that we're not not doing anything, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

At the Member's request, we've undertaken and pressed forward with this runway extension study. It's something that we're looking at. We're looking at the 2010 regulations as part of the study to see how much of an impact the requirements of the 2010 will actually have, then, thirdly, to identify which communities will require these extensions and work forward to a plan to move towards it, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Oral questions. Order. Oral questions. The honourable member from Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to bring this up again to the Minister of Human Resources here on the last day of Assembly, because the answers to these questions are so important and so serious to a constituent of mine in Hay River who's going to be wanting to hear the answer. One of the grounds of discrimination covered by the NWT Human Rights Act is family. Family status includes the status of being related to someone who requires your care. An employer's duty to accommodate includes accommodating, including family obligations. Family obligations could include requesting altered scheduling hours of work to accommodate caring for a family member. An employer is expected to look for ways to accommodate family obligations. The other consideration is that the family issues is an obligation, not a preference. Caring for an immediate family member with a disability is considered a family obligation. Does the Minister feel, or can he assure me, that the policy of the GNWT reflects this in the human rights legislation? Thank you.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Honourable Minister responsible for Human Resources, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm obviously not a labour lawyer or qualified to interpret the legislation as it might be done before the courts, but I will assure the Member that we will have a look at the human rights legislation. We'll have a look at what the requirements are and ensure that this government is in compliance. Thank you.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister concur that public servants of the GNWT should not have to take issues such as this to the Human Rights Commission to get a satisfactory solution; that as a leader and a role model in employing people in the public service in the Northwest Territories that this government should be setting that high standard and that it should directly comply with the human rights legislation? Thank you.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in response to a previous question, the Minister did say that he thought the duty to accommodate did not extend beyond the immediate employee of the government. By extension, this is a family obligation; this is a family member with a disability, not the employee themselves. If the existing policy does not include that provision by extension, will the Minister look at a means of revising our policy and legislation or manual that managers are guided by to ensure it does include this? Thank you.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've already committed that we will review the human rights legislation and ensure that our policies are in line with that legislation.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Oral questions. The honourable Member from Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.