The statement that SA国际影视传媒榮ome businesses will foldSA国际影视传媒� may make the leadership in the GNWT feel they are being open and honest but it could well have the opposite effect on their efforts to revive a severely wounded Northern economy.
This statement was on page five of the released April 29. What it does is tell their staff SA国际影视传媒渨e know businesses are going to fail. So donSA国际影视传媒檛 feel bad when they do. Nothing you can do.SA国际影视传媒� The GNWT didn't take on COVID saying SA国际影视传媒淲e know people will die.SA国际影视传媒�
Economic recovery is where the passionately, oft-repeated cry of SA国际影视传媒淲e are all in this togetherSA国际影视传媒� becomes an empty platitude. When it comes to the economy, we are not in this all together. As I pointed out early on in a column asking the question: Do Northerners have what it takes to defeat COVID-19, GNWT workers got a raise on April 1, at the very same time businesses were laying off, shutting down, wondering what financial calamity means in every future moment.
Are we to begrudge them that raise, those of us on the brink? No, but it would not be mean-spirited to say: SA国际影视传媒淕NWT workers, we need your help to keep our businesses alive and our people employed.SA国际影视传媒�
The fact that the NWT is now COVID-free is an indisputable win for the GNWT leadership, staff and the people they serve. But there is a major element missing in the bureaucracySA国际影视传媒檚 battle to save our economy: EMPATHY. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not difficult, when faced with a deadly disease, to do the right thing, to go the extra mile, to adapt and scramble to get the job done, because you know your family is at as much risk as your neighbourSA国际影视传媒檚. But when it comes to business, when you have a stable income, you lack that stress felt by workers and business owners in the private sector.
Acting quickly to do the right thing wonSA国际影视传媒檛 come naturally, if it comes at all. Not because you are not a good person, but because you donSA国际影视传媒檛 face the same harsh fate.
I am finding first hand in my business dealings with GNWT staff, emails or phone calls may or may not be returned for days or weeks, with no explanation why. I know too, after living in the North for the last three decades, the GNWT has a reputation for this in the business community, pre-COVID. Why? Because they are not in business. Their livelihood depends on satisfying supervisors, directors and managers, not the people or businesses they serve. Public service is not seen the same as customer service.
But now public service is more than customer service, much more. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 helping Northern families stay afloat on stormy economic waters. Spend and buy North must become as passionate and heartfelt a war cry as STAY SAFE. People will be turning to GNWT staff for survival, from loans, to sales, to information, to a roof over their heads, even food. You are our frontline staff, our essential workers, our safety net. Thinking no one cares hurts worse than the fear of whatSA国际影视传媒檚 to come.
So answer phone calls as quickly as you can. Answer emails promptly, even if to tell a person when you can help them. If an application for any service lacks a checked box, contact the person to help them fill it out, donSA国际影视传媒檛 send it back or to the bottom of the pile. If this happens folks, call your MLA for help. The politicians have to set the standard at the top, for the people they lead. Otherwise, eventually we will all be in this together - a shrunken territory with a morally bankrupt government.
Remember, there are 5,000 GNWT employees to serve 45,000 people in 14,760 households. That's one position for every three households. Better not hear anyone in the GNWT say they are too busy to help those two neighbours.
