Thank you.
Department of Human Resources
The members of the Standing Committee on Government Operations met with the Minister of Human Resources on April 8, 2008, to review the Draft Main Estimates for 2008–2009.
Committee members made note that the Department of Human Resources is proposing spending $32.264 million in operation expenses in
fiscal year 2008–2009. Overall, the committee felt that the proposed reductions focused too much on position cuts and not enough on improving business practices and streamlining efficiencies.
Regional Human Resource Services
The committee made it clear that position cuts should not disproportionately affect the regions. Members were concerned about the overall human resource capacity of the GNWT to service the regions, especially in the field of recruitment and retention for health, social services and education. The committee stated that the government must provide support to the regions, especially during seasonal hiring requirements; for example, teachers in the spring, community nursing pool, and improved physician recruitment for regional and community health facilities.
Affirmative Action Policy
Members pointed to the importance of ensuring that the public service is representative of the population it serves. The committee urged the government to consider the affirmative action status of incumbents when positions are proposed for elimination. The government needs to apply the Affirmative Action Policy and ensure that layoffs of aboriginal employees do not exceed their proportional representation within the GNWT’s workforce.
Some of the priorities Members look forward to discussing with the Minister of Human Resources include the review of the effectiveness of the existing Affirmative Action Policy and the potential for replacing it with a new employment equity policy. Members were particularly concerned about the underrepresentation of aboriginal people in senior management positions.
Medical Travel Assistance and Dental Program Benefits for GNWT Employees
Members were very concerned about the steady increase in expenses for medical travel assistance and dental programs that are part of the benefits of GNWT employees. The committee recognizes that these expenditures are the biggest cost driver of the Department of Human Resources’ budget. An analysis of cost drivers would be the first step. Members look forward to discussing the review undertaken collaboratively between the departments of Human Resources and Health and Social Services with the Minister.
Recommendation
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the government look at alternative and more cost-efficient means to provide medical travel assistance and a dental program as a benefit to GNWT employees.
Maximizing Northern Employment Programs
Committee members were concerned about several reductions to Maximizing Northern Employment programs — in particular, cuts to graduate and summer student programs, the Graduate Transition Program, the Social Work and Teacher Graduate Programs.
Members fear that these reductions will have a disproportionate impact on smaller communities and the regions. The committee questions how the government will succeed in attracting young Northerners in the public service if programs with proven track records of success are being cancelled or reduced.
Given the demographics of the GNWT’s workforce, succession planning and the development of a younger northern workforce are crucial steps toward future sustainability of the GNWT public service.
Capacity and Mandate of the Department of Human Resources
Members also expressed concerns regarding the department’s capacity to fulfill its mandate and functions at the present time. The inherent backlog since the amalgamation of the human resource services of the GNWT is still not completely dealt with, and issues with the implementation of the Human Resource Information System took their toll on staff morale of the department and the overall confidence of GNWT employees.
The committee urges the government to look at ways to improve the everyday operation of the department and its financial and business planning and looks forward to discussing future improvements with the Minister.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the committee’s Chair to continue. Thank you.