Guy Quenneville
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 12, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Older workers in the NWT are prevented from participating in the workforce by a number of bureaucratic red tape measures, a political lobby group for small businesses says.

Janine Halbesma of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, centre, met with Premier Floyd Roland, left, and Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Bob McLeod last week to discuss the impact the skills and labour shortage is having on small businesses in the NWT. - photo courtesy of Janine Halbesma

A policy analyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business met with the premier, the mayor, and several ministers last week to initiate discussion on how the territorial government can encourage workers, particularly those over the age of 60, to keep working.

"When we ask (small business owners) about their high priority issues, the number one ... issue in the NWT is the labor shortage," said Janine Halbesma, the senior policy analyst who met with the local leaders.

"There are a lot of solutions to it, and older workers are part of the solution."

But a number of barriers discourage older workers, said Halbesma.

Foremost among them is the public housing subsidy, which not affects not only older workers but potential workers in general.

"In some cases, that public subsidy can actually serve as a disincentive for people getting a job," said Halbesma. "If you're on this subsidy, you get your rent provided very cheap. But then you get a job, and as soon as that income shows up on your record, you lose the subsidy.

"I'm not saying the subsidy should go on forever, but maybe we should give people some time to get on their feet, so that they an afford the rent and make a go of things."

Halbesma said the effect of the subsidy is then felt by small businesses, which consistently cite older workers as the most loyal employees they have, according to research conducted by the federation's NWT district manager, who oversees some 250 small businesses in the territory.

"Loyalty and sticking with one firm is very common among older workers," said Halbesma. "And with the labour shortage the way it is, that means so much to small business owners - to have someone who will stick with them for a while."

In August 2007, Statistics Canada reported that the number of people aged 55 to 64 who were employed or looking for jobs has doubled in the past 30 years.

The purpose of the trip was to "ask the premier if the territorial government would commit to a comprehensive approach to the labour shortage."

The premier was not available for comment.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem also met with Halbesma and discussed the possibility of the North adopting Bizpal - a still-in-development, one-stop online tool for obtaining business licences.

"I have talked to people who are registering new businesses, and they feel that it would be useful," said Van Tighem.

The GNWT is currently looking into the system, he added.