Most NWT devolution jobs accepted
120 of 123 AANDC employees take GNWT job offers
Laura Busch
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 9, 2013
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
As the territorial government readies itself to take the reins of lands and resources management on April 1, the Department of Human Resources is hard at work recruiting the people who will make the devolution dream a reality.
So far, that recruitment is going very well.
Of the 123 job offers sent out on Oct. 1 by the GNWT to employees of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), 120 have been accepted.
"We're absolutely thrilled at that number of impacted federal employees who will be transferring over," said Sheila Bassi-Kellett, deputy minister of Human Resources. "I, frankly, was (expecting such a high number to transfer). We're a top 100 employer and we have a lot of things to offer."
Not only does the GNWT offer higher salaries than the federal government as a general rule, it gives its employees more paid vacation days, including the highly-coveted "Donny Days" - mandatory leave with pay days - over the Christmas break, and offers differed salary leave where employees can take extended time off.
Of the three impacted AANDC employees who did not accept their offers from the GNWT, two are leaving town and one is transferring to another federal department.
"This was an overwhelmingly positive response and I welcome these dedicated federal staff to the GNWT," stated Premier Bob McLeod in a press release. "Their commitment and experience will help ensure a smooth transition as we responsibly develop the NWT's significant natural resource potential and manage the land and environment according to Northern priorities and values."
Under the devolution final agreement, the GNWT was obligated to make reasonable job offers to all AANDC employees currently working in the NWT whose jobs would be affected by the transfer of power, and to offer those jobs within the employee's home community.
"It was understood in the final agreement that the employees from Ottawa would not be coming," said Bassi-Kellett.
As a result, more than 100 positions remain to be filled before devolution.
Most of these positions are "quite specialized" and technical in nature. Therefore, the GNWT anticipates that most recruits will come from the south.
"We're being quite pointed, quite aggressive in our recruitment," said Bassi-Kellett.
Those looking for devolution job postings on the GNWT website will likely see them shortly after the new year, although some "early hire" positions are currently being recruited, she said.
