Now is not the time to replace N.W.T.'s affirmative action hiring policy, say some MLAs

The N.W.T. government's new Indigenous Employment Policy is a step in the wrong direction, according to some MLAs, and they're asking the government to rescind the policy before it comes into effect.

On Tuesday, N.W.T. finance minister Caroline Wawzonek announced the new policy that aims to see more Indigenous employees in the territorial government workforce. It will be introduced in April and replace the territory's Affirmative Action Policy which has been in place since 1989.

One major change in the new policy is that priority will be given to all Indigenous Canadians, regardless of whether they are from the N.W.T. or not. The new policy will also no longer prioritize other groups such as women, people with disabilities, and non-Indigenous people from the N.W.T. 

Wawzonek says this is a step toward furthering Indigenous employment in the government. She hopes the change will better reflect wider cultural ties that exist.

Some MLAs are questioning the new policy, however.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong, MLA for Monfwi, is on the standing committee on government operations. She says the committee wanted further discussion before the new policy went forward.

"We told her [Wawzonek] to put a pause on it, wait until we get some more information," Weyallon Armstrong said. 

She also said she's heard from at least one community leader who wasn't aware that the new policy would apply equally to all Indigenous Canadians, with no priority given to Indigenous people from the territory. 

"He was not aware of that, that's not how it was explained to them. That's the feeling that I got," said Weyallon Armstrong. 

Weyallon Armstrong said she's been in contact with Indigenous leaders, government workers and other MLAs this week and she's heard a lot of uneasiness and disappointment in the new policy. 

A news release from the territory this week says the development of the new policy included "extensive public engagement, consultation with Indigenous governments, organizations, and stakeholders, as well as feedback from [government of N.W.T.] employees and leadership."

Weyallon Armstrong thinks there could have been work done with the old policy instead of getting rid of it completely.

"It could be fixed. We can do something about it, but scrapping it now is not the time," she said.

"We need to clean up in our own backyard," she said, explaining that more resources for all levels of education in communities should have been looked into before a new policy. She added that there needs to be better support and funding for northerners to go down south to receive education, since that also still plays a role in hiring processes.