Glen Abernethy

Once again, the individual departments, boards, and agencies are responsible for hiring summer students. On Friday, the Premier of the Northwest Territories did send a letter to all of the Ministers as well as the deputy ministers, directing them to hire more summer students. Our numbers are a little bit lower than they were last year. Currently, we have 217 summer students hired. Last year at this time, we had 273. By the end of the year, we had about 341. The Premier has already given direction to have all the departments hire more students to try and get us closer to the number where we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd also like to recognize Jim Antoine in the gallery today. Jim is the chair designate of the new Territorial Health and Social and Services Authority and I look forward to continuing to work with Jim over the coming years as we move to one authority. Thank you, Jim. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this is a significant piece of legislation requiring a significant amount of work. It will be done in the life of this government. We don't anticipate getting it in front of the House until 2018, which will allow us the time required to get this act into a modern state. In the meantime, with respect to safe disclosure, we do have the safe disclosure policy that was designed in cooperation with UNW for individuals who wish to disclose information or have concerns about things they see within the public service, so 2018.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, if there was only one P1 candidate, we might actually look at a P2 or P3 as well. However, if the P1 passes, the P1 would be offered the job. That is to save time later should an individual not pass. The priority would still go to the Indigenous Aboriginal candidate who is screened in and passes.

There are a number of reasons, but the reason we think that we've seen the greatest increase is the Harassment Free and Respectful Workplace Policy that we have put in has resulted in a number of files and investigations that we need to do increasing. It's a fairly new policy, new program, and I think we expected some ramp up as we're implementing it and we have seen that.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left is Bronwyn Watters, who is the deputy minister of Human Resources, and on my right, Michelle Simpson, who is the director of corporate affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. Mr. Chair, once again, we have a significant number of students who apply. Last year, we had 612 students apply, and we were able to hire 341 of them by the end of what is considered the summer students hire period. We are committed to hiring as many as we can. We do have money. There is money. It is not all coming from the departments through their vacancies. Through the progressive experience program, we have enough money to fund up to 80 positions. This is exactly what the Member is talking about. Through the progressive experience program, we bring back the same...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this is the division that does investigations and works with the UNW on resolving grievances and whatnot, so there is some travel and there's also a requirement to do some site investigations. Our positions and our employees are throughout the Northwest Territories so these individuals do have to travel. In reviewing the actuals, we did notice that this is one of the areas under travel where are numbers were higher than they were, say, in the directorate, so we've had to increase it accordingly in order to accommodate the investigations and other work that this...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As part of the reduction exercises and looking into how the department is doing or providing services, three positions in total were eliminated; one in the directorate, two in the strategic human resources division, for a total of three positions. The positions within the strategic human resources division were the director of strategic human resources and an admin assistant, strategic human resources, both of which were vacant.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Usually we do take a break, so my witnesses aren't here. I'm happy to take the table and begin the discussions until the witnesses do arrive.