Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate my colleague, the Member for Deh Cho, bringing up the history of this because I think the Affirmative Action Policy is a white elephant. A white elephant is a possession that its maintenance is out of proportion to its usefulness. The Affirmative Action Policy, after decades, has failed to deliver on its promises. Indigenous employment remains at 30 percent. Even P2s, which are unconstitutional according to various reports, have not increased. They remain at 12 percent in the GNWT. I think what's happened is: consecutive GNWT governments have looked at this report, seeing that risk of a Charter challenge and gone, better just not touch that. Better leave it there. The reality is: we are open to that Charter challenge any time. Anyone at any time who is not hired by the GNWT and thinks that the Affirmative Action Policy discriminated them can bring a Charter challenge. It's likely a losing case according to the reports.
I believe this Assembly needs to finally address this problem, and it's not a popular solution. I think everyone in this room recognizes there's a value to people born in the North working in a public service. Indigenous people, I think, want to hire Indigenous people born in the North, not just Indigenous people, period, which is likely what the Charter would uphold. There are some unpopular decisions to be made here, but we have to make them. We have to make sure we have an Affirmative Action Policy that actually works because it's not working right now.
I recognize that the labour force and the needs of the GNWT do not align, and in many ways, our Affirmative Action Policy is trying to address a symptom. We must do more to educate our citizens. I believe the work of the polytechnic can make sure we are producing more university degrees. I also recognize we are not the only game in town. Many Indigenous people would prefer to work for their Indigenous government. It's largely more exciting work.
When I hear that, I struggle, because when I look across the GNWT, I see powers and mandates that shouldn't belong in the GNWT, that should be devolved to Indigenous governments. I think there are multiple solutions here. One is building our education capacity. One is setting clear targets. I want to walk away from this Assembly, and if it's 30 percent and we get to 33 percent, at least we made a little progress. We need to set clear targets, and we need to work with our Indigenous governments to once and for all get an Affirmative Action Policy that works and is legal. Thank you, Madam Speaker.