Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We may not have all the stats here, but I will just draw on the deputy minister’s knowledge in that area. Ms. Desjardins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have met with NTCL as a Department of Public Works. A lot of the discussion did spill over into my responsibilities as Minister of Transportation. They had offered some solutions to the problem that occurred this year and we’ve agreed to include them in our multi-modal Transportation Strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As to a bit of a response, I’ll have Nicole provide the majority of the response. What we’re asking for here is just a change in the term. The legislative proposal presented here today is the legislative proposal that is trying to put the least impact possible on an individual that is affected by layoff. Currently, this legislation reads that the individual has to be laid off and everything else is the same. If we’re going to make change in this legislation, that’s not something that we’re proposing, that’s outside of our legislative proposal here today, then we would...

Mr. Chair, we are not aware of the term “layoff” being identified in any of our legislation.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In addition to that, the definition of layoff is clear in the Collective Agreement and we see no ambiguity to the public service.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The UNW was consulted and the NWTTA was not, but they have access to the public consultation process.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would reiterate again the clause that we’re changing, one term, that’s what the legislative proposal is, a term of changing in Section 27(3), changing from a person that is laid off to a person that’s affected by a layoff. This is the reason that we are here. In order to change this overall Public Service, which says “any position” to “vacant position,” we’d have to take this legislation to the union and we would have to consult and we would have to do further in-depth review of the Public Service Act.

What we’re doing here is changing one small clause. This is not...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think I will generally respond to all of the opening comments from the Members, but I will answer the question from Mr. Bromley first. The only change that we’re looking for in the provision where a Minister may direct appoint a person to a position, to any position, is the person would now be affected by layoff, potentially affected by layoff, as opposed to what we’re… Pardon me. Right now in the act, the individual has to be actually laid off and discontinue service. Then I would be in the position to direct appoint that person to any position. What we’re...

We’re not equipped to make changes to the Public Service Act as a whole. These amendments are not contemplated here today. This legislative proposal does not contemplate those amendments. They are in the current Public Service Act.

We agree that there should be a review of the Public Service Act. We have indicated that a review of the Public Service Act would take about two years.

These are amendments within the Public Service Act that we’re looking at and we consider to be minor amendments to streamline, simplify and improve the process for employees. It is all of the other things that need to...

Mr. Chair, I do.