Robert Villeneuve

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to start off with the comments about the Justice’s opening remarks. First and foremost is the new courthouse proposal being built here in Yellowknife. I don’t know if that is a good idea or not. I just want to ask the Minister about one of the programs that Justice rolled out in the 13th Assembly. It was the pilot project on-the-land justice program that was introduced and there were a couple of communities. Fort Resolution was one; I think Aklavik was the other. They were designated as communities where they would carry out the pilot project. I know there is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess as it stands now, the government spends about $7.8 million just to carry out the human resource functions in the various departments of the GNWT. How is the amalgamation and consolidation of the new human resources functions? Is that going to be a higher cost to this government or is it going to be less or is it going to be the same or has that even been visited yet, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat. It’s with regard to the GNWT’s plan to phase out the affirmative action policy through their human resource consolidation. I want to ask the Minister if it is the plan of the new consolidation of the human resource function of this government. Is that an avenue to the eventual elimination of the affirmative action policy, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s statement.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. One question I would have with regard to the program is I don’t know why the department would be marketing the inmates. Why even give them the option or the choice of either on the land or jail? Why not market the judges who are handing down the sentences and say, you are going out to the bush camp whether you like it or not. It is a done deal right there. I think the justice here in the NWT is starting to cater more to the inmates as opposed to the justice system itself, and always seeking more inmate approval for where they want to go, how they want to be sentenced...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess with the new vision of the human resource services for the GNWT, it says connecting our clients to provide leadership and excellence in human resource management. Mr. Speaker, one of the operating principles of that vision is that they will support managers in the recruitment and retention of a capable, competent public service that is representative of the people it serves and that focuses on results. So I’m just wondering, is the Minister going to make a commitment to the residents of the NWT, especially the aboriginal affirmative action candidates in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my brother-in-law Barrett Lenoir, another brother-in-law Vince Halushka, and my sister Cindy Villeneuve.

---Applause

I have to agree with the Minister that they do have some very challenging tasks before them to try and alleviate some of the pressures that we have in our housing crisis in the NWT. I don’t want to talk about a lot of the things that a lot of the other Members have already raised with respect to housing. I’m sure that in every community in the NWT we all have basically the same concerns and issues with housing, and options that probably could be the same options of how we are going to fix the problem. Probably everybody is along the same lines that just the delivery of the housing program...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to reiterate some of the same concerns I have with respect to some government services and why the delivery of these services is not working as effectively as many government officials seem to tell the Ministers. Mr. Speaker, I am talking about the lack of confidence and trust many residents and businesses have in our government. Many people in the NWT have had past dealings with this government and many of its long-term officials in various departments cannot and will not seek assistance or services from that particular government department...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t think that just the fact that they are given government priority in positions is really any kind of peace of mind for anybody. That just goes along the lines of affirmative action. That’s just a loosely termed excuse, as far as I’m concerned, with the whole department. I just want to ask the Minister, does his department foresee any training initiative or cultural enhancement initiatives, that they are going to have to undertake with this whole new restructuring of the young offenders and the remand? As far as Dene K'onia goes, there are many people.