Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Over the last couple of days we heard in this House about many empty jobs in government. This is, of course, concerning to all Members on this side. However, my take on this is that I think we should be filling them.
Of course, we’re asking the Minister to assess them and see where those empty positions are, how many are funded, not funded. There are many mechanics and different definitions about this whole job review and ghost jobs, et cetera. My concern is my people, and in my constituency qualified people are being screened out. P1 Aboriginals and local people are not getting the jobs.
Part of the Minister’s fiscal plan is to increase the population, I think he said by 2,000. I also submit that this plan should also include filling our empty positions so that they have people in them paying taxes that will benefit our Government of the Northwest Territories.
Members are anxious to reduce positions because the day that we see that these jobs are not needed…but I remain cautious about that. Jobs are important to my constituency of Nahendeh. We depend on them. They generate revenue for our economy. So, I like the slow, cautious approach, but we must get answers about what those jobs are and why it looks like they’re so empty. We think that the government is using empty positions to use those approved jobs for other expenditures, which should not happen, but let’s work on the plan, let’s
get them filled and let’s get people back working in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.