Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Yakeleya on March 4, 2010, regarding the implementation of a residential school aftermath advisor.
Mr. Yakeleya asked for an explanation as to why the government has not established the position of a residential school aftermath advisor and what such a full-time position, if it played a role similar to the special advisor to the Minister responsible for the Status of Women position, would cost.
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT remains confident that rather than receiving advice from a single staff advisor, the GNWT’s best option for contribution to this important work is through the NWT Interagency Residential Schools Committee where representatives from both levels of government, NWT aboriginal communities and committed individuals work together on behalf of residential school survivors. Senior staff from several GNWT departments participate through the interagency committee and the GNWT is very interested in any
proposals the committee might offer with regard to how the GNWT’s policies and services could better address issues relating to the impact of the residential school system on northern people, as well as any particular concerns the committee may have with the delivery of GNWT programs as they relate to the committee’s mandate.
With regard to the second part of Mr. Yakeleya question, the special advisor to the Minister responsible for the Status of Women position is rated at pay grid 6 with a salary range of $95,006 to $136,734. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.