Almost 50 GNWT employees stepped up to volunteer at isolation facilities in Yellowknife amid the current COVID-19 outbreak among the street-involved population, Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek said on Sept. 11.
In a Facebook post in the evening, Wawzonek said she learned in the morning that 15 GNWT employees responded to a call for volunteers on Sept. 10.
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SA国际影视传媒淭his is among almost 50 government employees who have recently volunteered to support the current COVID-19 response through redeployment,SA国际影视传媒� Wawzonek said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd weSA国际影视传媒檝e had a surge of people putting their names into the SA国际影视传媒榗asual poolSA国际影视传媒� from which these positions are also being filled. I am humbled to be the minister responsible for the public service and proud to be a Northerner.SA国际影视传媒�
Her post came on the same day the NWT Health and Social Services Authority announced the Combined Day and Sobering Centre in Yellowknife was suspending all services due to staff shortages, while the healthcare system and services for the underhoused population come under increased strain.
RELATED REPORTING: All services at Day and Sobering Centre suspended due to staff shortages
RELATED REPORTING: Indoor gatherings limited to 25 for two weeks, NWT health system at SA国际影视传媒榩ivotalSA国际影视传媒� point: minister
GNWT employees interested in helping out and who work in non-essential positions are asked to consider redeployment to an isolation centre, Wawzonek said.
Prospective volunteers apply through the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 online reassignment tool.
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Interested volunteers who donSA国际影视传媒檛 work for the GNWT can apply to be a casual employee by emailing jobsyk@gov.nt.ca.
Role of COVID-19 Secretariat
Isolation centres are under the responsibility of the 150-employee COVID-19 Secretariat, the body formed to coordinate the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 response to the pandemic.
Of the $86 million budgeted for the Secretariat until 2023, most funding goes towards the isolation centres, with $12.8 million allocated in 2020-2021 and just over $17 million for 2021-2022, according to GNWT data.
RELATED REPORTING: Most of Covid Coordinating Secretariat budget to go to staff pay, isolation centre costs
Isolation centres in Yellowknife have at least five employees, with two relief staff members available, according to GNWT information released in September 2020.
READ MORE: COVID-19 Coordinating Secretariat budet and job list
Great Slave MLA Katrina Nokleby, who was among the legislative assembly members that voted against the Secretariat in 2020, said on Sept. 12 that the Secretariat should be able to redeploy their people for the isolation centres.
SA国际影视传媒淚 never thought that adding more bureaucracy was going to improve things,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Rylund Johnson, MLA for Yellowknife North said SA国际影视传媒渋t seems (GNWT) failed to keep positions staffed to make sure we had the back up for this scenario.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒 has reached out to the Secretariat for comment.
