I was just trying to follow up on a few questions on that. But I do want to make just an observation, and I think an observation that’s shared by many Members. It’s an observation made in some of the other departments we’ve been going through the last couple of weeks. We passed a motion again — I’ll mention it — the other day on decentralization. I look at this Active Positions — By Region, and I think it’s been pointed out a couple of times: an increase of six, again in headquarters. They show a decrease of one in North Slave, but I’m assuming that’s still in Yellowknife. Then Fort Smith has got a reduction of eight. Deh Cho has a reduction of two. Sahtu has a reduction of two, and the Beaufort-Delta has a reduction of seven.
This doesn’t go over well with us, especially a lot of the Members from outside the capital, to continually see positions going up in headquarters, saying we need specialized positions. As Mr. Krutko said, you get a guy there who’s been a career firefighter and depends on this kind of seasonal employment. We’re doing it backwards, people. We’re going after the little guys constantly, because they put up the least resistance. Then we add specialists to headquarters in every department. I think we’re doing it backwards. We’re going out in the communities, and the guy’s making payments. But no, we’re going to cut you, but we’re going to put six specialists in headquarters. I would encourage this department and the rest of Cabinet to really stand back and have a serious look at that. We’re going to have so many people working in headquarters that they’ll have nobody in the regions to give orders to; there’ll be nobody left. I think it’s something we seriously have to have a look at.
ENR, of all departments.... You know, there’s always a lot of aboriginal content within ENR, and it’s always been a fairly good department. I see the folks who are being let go; that’s why I asked if they were aboriginal. I’m curious to know if they were aboriginal. Who at the end of the day made the decision to let these folks go? Would it have been the regional superintendent? Would it have been the deputy minister? That’s what I’ve been curious about. Who made the ultimate decision? Was the recommendation coming in from the regional office? That’s what I’m having trouble understanding.
Just a few comments, Mr.
Chair, and an
observation and some words of advice for ENR and the rest of Cabinet. We’re going to have to start getting away from being too top-heavy. It’s not a good sign. We can’t be telling people on one hand, We’re letting you go, and then on the other hand it’s coming out that we’re increasing in headquarters. I always go back to the first budget I was ever a part of a few years ago. One of the departments — actually it was the Housing Corporation — had a reduction of $1.2 million in the Beaufort-Delta. Well, I mean, okay; but then, a couple of pages later, the budget in headquarters went up by $1.2 million.
I don’t think I had a question there, but I just wanted to make a few comments. We have to just keep letting them know we’re not happy with this. It’s not acceptable to keep seeing the regions getting nailed and headquarters growing.