Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So that means I can take extra time today?

Based on the 2020-2021 Public Service Annual Report, the GNWT employs 6,252 employees. Of these employees, Indigenous women represent 21 percent of total workforce while Indigenous men are much less represented at a mere 8 percent.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories population estimates, released in July 2022, show that people that identify as male represent 51.4 percent of the population. And while men represent half of the population of the Northwest Territories, as I said, Indigenous men reflect only 8 percent of GNWT employment.

What is further concerning, Mr. Speaker is the trend in employment rates for Indigenous people. While the labour force activity in the NWT is positive from September 2021 to 2022, the increase was due to the hiring of non-Indigenous persons and those living in Yellowknife. There has been a decline in NWT employment rates for Indigenous people, and it is unclear how this negative trend translates into our public service given the way the data is presented.

The Public Service Annual Report showed that as of March 31, 2021, the GNWT employs 30 percent Indigenous employees. The annual report also shows that Indigenous people only represent 21 percent of senior managers in GNWT departments. Given the low rate of Indigenous men employed by the GNWT, it is fair to say few of these Indigenous senior managers are male.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Indigenous men are not represented as well as Indigenous women and non-Indigenous people in the public service. When we look at mental health triggers for men, a lack of pride or lack of ability to provide adequately for their families is often cited as a reason for poor mental health. Given the unprecedented rate of suicide among young Indigenous men in our territory, it seems to me that this should be an area of priority for the GNWT's HR department. So I ask what is the GNWT doing about this?

There are several programs designed to support the success and development of Indigenous hires including the Indigenous Career Gateway Program, the Indigenous Management Development Training Program, the Regional Recruitment Program, and summer student hires. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. But how are these programs, Mr. Speaker, supporting the full range of needs of Indigenous men to see them get hired and progress within the GNWT? The GNWT needs to recognize that Indigenous men in small communities, many who have faced layoffs and subsequent economic downturn during the pandemic, face significant challenges to employment and career development within the public sector, and it is time that the GNWT take action on this. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Finance at the appropriate time. Thank you.