The GNWT's new Indigenous Employment Policy, set to come into effect on April 1, has been met with criticism from all angles since it was revealed last December.
Now it appears the territorial government is looking at re-jigging things ahead of the official launch.
, Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek indicated that the GNWT is looking at creating a new tiering system that would put Indigenous Northerners at the top of the priority list. The original plan was to do away with the long-standing Affirmative Action Policy, which was designed to prioritize hiring for local Indigenous people, as well as other groups such as people with disabilities and those who have lived in the North for at least half of their lives.
That policy has been in place since 1989.
"We're trying to be responsive SA国际影视传媒� we went through a huge engagement process and still find ourselves here, and still trying to make some changes, and happy to have the opportunity to talk to folks about it as we do that," Wawzonek told CBC.
Wawzonek also said she had hoped to discuss the change with MLAs last week, but her meeting request was turned down. Since then, she added, she's spoken with a number of them who responded positively to the proposed change.
In a previous interview with SA国际影视传媒, Dettah Chief Ernest Betsina said the territorial government never consulted with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation about the change.
"We are concerned, we feel that it's a negative impact on Indigenous residents here in the Northwest Territories," he said.
Betinsa also felt that the GNWT was neglecting Northern Indigenous people because of this new policy change.
"We're only 15 minutes from the legislative assembly," he said. "It doesn't take much for the right minister to come up and say 'Chiefs, can we have a meeting on this?'"
A letter obtained by SA国际影视传媒 late last month from Premier R.J. Simpson to Denny Rodgers, MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake and chair of the legislative assembly's Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, indicated that the GNWT would be moving ahead with the policy and that there would be no delay.
"We are not supportive of a delay in its implementation," Simpson's letter reads in response to Rodgers' request for a delay. "This approved policy was developed based on widespread public engagement and is directed towards our goal of achieving a representative public service."
Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart had nothing positive to say about the change, either.
"We have been very clear with the Finance Minister and the Premier that the majority of regular members are not in favour of these changes," he said. "Quite frankly, I think this is a bone-headed move."
Testart said he's never seen such an unpopular decision in the government, adding it will exclude people with disabilities and women in non-traditional workplaces.
"I'm baffled by how dug in the minister is, and I think she needs to really think carefully if she wants to continue," he added. "This could have serious consequences for our assembly."
