Charles Dent

Legislative Assembly photo

Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Charles Dent is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly September 2007, as MLA for Frame Lake

Won his last election, in 2003, with 63% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Minister's Statement 30-15(6): Employee Consultation On Whistleblower Protection August 15th, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories, GNWT, strives to create a work environment that recognizes professionalism, leadership, integrity and respect for others. These shared values help public service employees adhere to high standards that maintain and foster public confidence in the government. To ensure continued public confidence in the territorial public service, the government is considering the feasibility of whistleblower protection for employees in the GNWT.

There are a number of different approaches to achieve the goal of whistleblower protection from stand-alone legislation to regulations under an existing act to government policy. It is important to consider which approach would be most practical for the GNWT.

At the appropriate time today, I will be tabling a consultation discussion paper: The Feasibility of Whistleblower Protection in the Government of the Northwest Territories. The paper is designed to encourage employee participation and discussion in the development of whistleblower protection for the territorial public service. The discussion paper is available on the Department of Human Resources website.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, a message was sent to all employees, along with information posters, inviting them to provide comments on the concept of whistleblower protection and what should be included by September 30, 2007. The unions representing GNWT public service employees have also been invited to comment.

---Applause

Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act August 14th, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be moved into Committee of the Whole for tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act August 14th, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Student Financial Assistance Act to raise the maximum aggregate of the principal amounts of all student loans that may be made to one person. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act August 14th, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek consent to deal with second reading of Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act.

Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act August 14th, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 9-15(6): Setting Of Sitting Hours By Speaker, Carried August 14th, 2007

I seek unanimous consent to proceed with first reading of Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act.

Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act August 14th, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, August 17, I will move that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 125-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Management System August 14th, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, not every employee has to enter their time. Positive time reporters and shift workers are the ones who would most often take advantage of the opportunity to do that. If they are not doing it, then it has to be done manually by somebody. If there is an issue around it, that process could be handled at the hospital. But what we find is that most people want to enter their own time to make sure that it is being done accurately. Obviously, when you have somebody else do it, there is a chance that there is a mistake. Thank you.

Question 125-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Management System August 14th, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There will be no changes. The doctors should see no changes from what they were seeing before July 3rd and how the system operates. In fact, all employees should see the same system as what we had in place pretty well before July 3rd. Thank you.

Question 125-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Management System August 14th, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, if they're being paid now, they're already on the system. So the system is actually delivering their cheques to them as we speak. What we're talking about here is upgrading the software and we can't go back to the old software because the old software is not being supported anymore. So we can't get the new tax tables or if the system doesn't work, it's not being supported. So the requirement is to move to a new system. So either its upgrade PeopleSoft or find entirely new software in order to get people paid. The issue that has been has been the Absence Management module that's given us the most problems. The rest of the system appears to be working as it should. Thank you.