With regard to the number of aboriginal individuals who are affected by these layoffs, there are some 60 individuals, basically, from the information I was able to review. We’re not even at 30 per cent in regard to representation in our workforce, but we’re laying 60 aboriginal affirmative 1 individuals off by way of reductions. We’re praising — well, we’re still at 31 per cent, so it’s not really affecting….
I mean, that’s a bad message to be sending. We’re going to lay 60 aboriginal people off. With reductions it balances out with the other numbers, so you’re not less than 31 per cent. If anything, we’re standing. It’s in the paper today. I think it sends the wrong message about how we’re trying to achieve the 50 per cent number. In Nunakput it’s 60 per cent. I think, to have this heart and hoof ahead of government endorsing that type of message, it sends a bad message.
We can look at other government agencies, such as the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, which has a regional office here in Yellowknife. They are doing a lot better than the Government of
the Northwest Territories when it comes to those statistics.
I’d like to ask the Premier exactly what we are doing to enhance those numbers by making sure we are surpassing 31 per cent. If anything, we should be aiming for 40 per cent, and at some point the goal should be 50 per cent. I’d just like to ask, again, to allow that to take place, to be responsible for a policy that definitely had great intentions of trying to reflect the workforce in the Government of the Northwest Territories. Coming from the Department of Executive, I think the message that has to go out is that we are trying to exceed that number, if anything — not taking down barriers by laying people off who basically fall under that category.