Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 21, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Whistleblower legislation was just one of the topics of discussion as several MLAs spoke on morale issues within the GNWT during the last sitting of the legislative assembly.

"An unsettling number of employees suffer from what can be called a toxic workplace," said Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley.

He asked what the Department of Human Resources was doing to deal with these sorts of situations. This could include bringing forward whistleblower legislation, which former minister Charles Dent tabled a discussion paper on before the election.

While he said the GNWT takes employee complaints "very seriously," Human Resources Minister Bob McLeod said the whistleblower issue was up in the air.

"This is something that we will consider again as this government goes through establishing its priorities for the next four years."

In an earlier sitting, Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy raised the issue of low morale in the public service.

Questions on daycare

Daycare was a point of contention for two Yellowknife MLAs, as they decried the way funding is doled out.

Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro questioned the per-child funding that Northern daycares receive, which reduces dollars committed when a child is sick or unable to attend.

She said this has resulted in daycares unable to stay open on a consistent schedule.

"A consistent level of funding is necessary to ensure consistent operation of daycares," she said.

Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins, meanwhile, questioned the amount of money being put into daycare, and if it was accessible to working families. In both cases Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jackson Lafferty said his department was reviewing its daycare policies.

"There is consultation that will be taking place with the daycare facilities identifying concerns," he said, and added he would share it with the legislative assembly when it was completed.

Consumer protection

During the last week of the legislative assembly, Yellowknife MLA Robert Hawkins was adamant the government isn't doing enough to protect consumers.

"Current NWT laws do not require disclosure on the integrity of a house or used car and there are no regulations for telemarketing," he said in his member's statement. "Our protection laws are minimal and we are behind the times."

He questioned Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Michael McLeod, who admitted that more needs to be done.

He said the present Real Estate Licensing Act does require salespeople and agents to disclose the status of homes, but that "doesn't trickle down to the private sales."

"We need to improve in that area."