GNWT embraces commission’s models for Nunavut

TODD PHILLIPS

The territorial government wants all GNWT employees now working in Nunavut to keep their jobs when the Nunavut government takes over April 1, 1999.

The GNWT also wants qualified employees based outside Nunavut to be considered for jobs with the Nunavut government.

The Nunavut Implementation Commission released its Footprints 2 report in November and urged the three partners to the Nunavut Political Accord ­ the GNWT, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and Ottawa ­ to respond in a timely manner.

The GNWT’s Deputy Premier Goo Arlooktoo told reporters in Iqaluit this week that the territorial government is “generally pleased” with the “excellent” work of the NIC in its Footprints 2 report.

But the employment guarantees for Nunavut’s current workforce is one area in which the GNWT disagrees with the 10-member commission that advises Ottawa, the GNWT and NTI on the makeup and design of Nunavut’s government.

The commission recommended that all GNWT employees be given a performance evaluation and those who pass keep their jobs.

NTI plan too costly

The GNWT’s position on the hiring of Nunavut’s workforce also differs sharply from the previously stated position of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

In an attempt to boost the number of Inuit in the public service, NTI wants the Nunavut government to open all of their jobs for competition within three years so Inuit can compete for those jobs.

Arlooktoo said the government has considered NTI’s plan, but rejected it because it would be too expensive.

The deputy premier says the government also wants to make sure that competent people continue to work for the new government, and he says people who can speak Inuktitut will be in demand.

The GNWT’s affirmative action policies will be followed, and the GNWT will respect Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, which requires governments to hire more Inuit in the public service, he said.

Liked Footprints 2

The territorial cabinet and members of the Nunavut caucus liked most of what they saw in the NIC’s Footprints 2 document, but here’s a few areas where they differ:

* The GNWT says the commission’s decentralization models may cost too much and make it hard for the future government to function efficiently;

* The territorial government also wants Ottawa to reconsider the amount of money they are prepared to spend on building the infrastructure needed to house Nunavut’s government;

* The government rejects NIC’s recommendation to get rid of regional health boards and to create a single Nunavut board of education;

* Ottawa should pick up the tab for creating and running a Nunavut justice system that will be respected by the people of Nunavut;

Arlooktoo said the government is also concerned about Ottawa’s willingness to pay what is needed to fund and run both territories. He said Finance Minister John Todd was to meet with Paul Martin, the federal finance minister, this week in Toronto to talk about the money.

First out of the gate

The GNWT took so long to respond to the commission’s first Footprints report that the federal cabinet had to make key decisions about Nunavut without knowing exactly what MLAs wanted.

But this time around, Arlooktoo says the territorial government wanted to act quickly.

“Time is very tight,” Arlooktoo said. “The time clock we have there says we have only 813 days before division occurs.”

Arlooktoo said he’s looking forward to hearing the formal response of NTI and the federal government.

Although NTI hasn’t yet formally responded to the NIC report, NTI President Jose Kusugak said when the report was released that he was disappointed that the commission’s designs for Nunavut’s government were like a carbon copy of the GNWT.

He also said the NIC didn’t go far enough in making recommendations to ensure that Inuit fill the ranks of Nunavut’s civil service.