Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of lieu time within our government service operations throughout the Northwest Territories has been looked at. We have worked with all departments. All departments are treating this somewhat differently. It goes to show, once again, that the need for a clearer human resource plan was required. We have now tried to bring some consistency back to the table looking at operational requirements, and the funding available to ourselves as a government came up with what we felt at this time was the best solution. So although the Member is requesting...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the previous Minister committed to and I followed up with the commitment, I will be working the Members of the Social Programs committee and I will be coming forward to committee in the very near future with the terms of reference and how we can move forward on this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of bringing employees into the public service has been considered by this government in the past and can be reconsidered. Ultimately, part of the issue is here when we are dealing with one union to another, there are issues that have to be dealt with. It’s not just straightforward taking on employees and bringing them in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been aware for some time, as in the previous question, that it’s been recognized that they have been working without a union since 2003. They have always been encouraged to come together and come to a conclusion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not going to go into details of what options are available. It would be almost like negotiating around the parties that are directly involved. That is not something I intend to do. We are, as a government, looking at all of our other options and the contract that is in place. As well, we are very aware that this involves another union that is at the table. They have agreed to, in the past, a different standard than what we have in place for our own employees. So all of these things have to be weighed very carefully as we proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the process we have entered into for organizations that deliver programs outside of our own staffing situation, there is a process that is used by each department that would look at the services being delivered and if they fit our definition of forced growth and if they would be included, that’s department by department. I am not clear as to the process that was just implemented, if in fact they would fall into it. I know, for example, there was no inclusion for higher wages at this point because there was no agreement in place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the process that is used is maybe I should have gone into a little more detail. Under the Canada Labour Code, certain actions are allowed for where, in this situation, ensuring that the clients themselves get the services they need, that takes priority for us. That is why we moved the clients that were in that facility to another location to continue with their programming. That is where we are at, at this point, and trying to encourage the parties to come together. Ultimately, from the Department of Health and Social Services’ point of view, we are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is the first stage we are at with the situation that is happening on the reserve, is to encourage both parties to get back to the negotiation table and bring a successful conclusion to this process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have to look at the existing cost of providing that level of service in the Northwest Territories with the existing contract in place. Ultimately, if the department is to continue this, we would have to look at other areas where we can come up with our savings or with additional money to continue this. That will have an effect on how we proceed with this as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I had stated earlier, I have signed off a letter going to the parties involved and urging them to get back to the negotiations. I can’t give a commitment in this House, as right now we are monitoring the situation hoping that a successful conclusion can be reached. So giving a timeline at this point is not something that I can commit to. Just for the record, as we have looked at the situation, I don’t believe it is a lockout. It is an arrangement that the employer has made with his existing workload. Thank you.