Call for stable GN workforce

Noting that “it’s pretty grim,” Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo rose to speak about “the need for stability in our workforce.”

Tootoo acknowledged the GN’s difficulties in recruiting people for specialized public service positions.

“We know that in order to retain good people we have to provide a degree of certainty and stability in their lives,” he said.

Tootoo said he’s in favour of decentralization and agreed that bringing jobs and opportunities into the smaller communities is “a worthy goal.”

“However, I’m concerned that the actual implementation of decentralization, has in some cases, become a numbers game where some positions are shuffled and lives are disrupted simply to meet the miracle target,” Tootoo said.

He added the lack of full employment within the GN is made worse by a climate of “uncertainty and unpredictability” due to the movement of positions from Iqaluit into the communities.

“I do not believe the decentralization itself will be a success if it is done in a way that it alienates our workforce and makes hasty decisions based on arbitrary targets,” Tootoo said.