Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2011

This is page numbers 6085 - 6142 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Minister’s Statement 114-16(5): Public Service Capacity Initiative
Congratulations To Ms. Siobhan Quigg On Being Selected To Attend French Language Conference In Quebec City
Congratulations To Commission Scolaire Francophone On Achievements
Preventative Maintenance Assistance For Homeowners
Territorial Hotel Tax
Future Of Health Care In The NWT
Public Consultations On Proposed New Wildlife Act
V-Day Campaign To Stop Violence Against Women And Girls
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Homelessness Assistance Fund
Preventative Maintenance Assistance For Homeowners
Territorial Hotel Tax
Proposed New Wildlife Act
Foundation For Change
Family Violence
Planning For Retrofit Of Stanton Territorial Hospital
Written Question 24-16(5): Cost Of Wildlife Act Consultations
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. He has made my day there, Mr. Chairman.

I want to ask another question. When some of the employees that do have to take off some special leave, I think the government has been pretty good with them on some leaves, like family sickness or there is a death in the family and they have some time off and there are some special circumstances that require more than their time off because of whatever they have to deal with in a family situation. So I think that is on a case-by-case basis, so I am not too sure if there is a general wide policy where cultural leave or custom leave would deal with that issue. So, again, that is something that has been brought up in my office on occasions that employees from the government want to help out with the families. So maybe a brief comment by the Minister would be sufficient.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

We do have collective agreements that we are bound to follow, but generally in some of the areas that the Member has mentioned, the deputy heads are designated as the ones that can make the call. I think for the most part we try to be flexible, depending on operational requirements and I guess the severity of the situation. We do try to provide guidelines, but guidelines don’t always apply in every situation. That’s generally the way we operate. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Okay, we’re on page 3-29, activity summary, employee services, operations expenditure summary, $14.099 million.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Moving on to page 3-30, information item, employee services, active positions.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Moving on to page 3-33, activity summary, regional operations, operations expenditure summary, $4.627 million.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Page 3-34, information item, regional operations, active positions. Mr. Ramsay.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a question on page 3-34. The breakdown from ‘10-11 in comparison to the page that appears, this is for regional operations, the regional allocation of employees on page 3-10, when I compare the two the numbers are different for the South Slave and the Beaufort-Delta. They’re out by a couple of employees and I’m just wondering why that is because if you go into the new year they seem to be accurate, but for ‘10-11 the reporting is just off a little bit and I’m just wondering why. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Minister.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to ask Michelle Beard to respond to that.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Ms. Beard.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Beard

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The reason for the difference is the positions that you’re referring to came out of the strategic initiative funding. So originally they were located in the headquarters and then were moved out into the regional positions. So what you’re seeing is internal allocations of positions from headquarters positions into the regional positions.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

That was my question, I was just trying to understand how many actual positions we were increasing regional operations by. Was it the seven or was it five or four? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Beard

We’re actually increasing them by seven.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Okay, page 3-34, information item, regional operations, active positions.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

So if you can turn back to page 3-7, Human Resources, department summary, operations expenditure summary, $42.421 million. Agreed? Mr. Ramsay.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Just one quick question, Mr. Chairman. On the contract services, I’m just wondering why we’ve gone up $1.4 million. Maybe just a quick explanation on that. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Minister McLeod.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That’s because of the 20/20 money and also money for collective bargaining. There are three collective bargaining negotiations that we’re getting ready for. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Let’s do this again. Human Resources, department summary, operations expenditure summary, $42.421 million.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does committee agree that we have concluded the Department of Human Resources? Agreed?