SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder who applied for a manual labour job at Stanton Territorial Hospital was denied the position because the hospital said it couldn't accommodate his disability, according to a Yellowknife MLA.

"His effects (of FASD) are minimal but he does require minimal accommodation to be successful in a job," said Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy in the legislative assembly on Tuesday. "Specifically, clear direction on his role and responsibilities is important. This is required both up front and when significant changes occur in the role."

Abernethy told Yellowknifer the young man wanted to work in the medical field in whatever capacity he could, and had taken a medical terminology course as well as one on equipment.

He also told the assembly that the young man had two glowingly positive references who were called after he passed the interview stage for the job, which would have had him basically "pushing a cart." The MLA says he was ultimately denied the job because the hospital stated its staff were too busy to accommodate his disability.

"This smells of discrimination to me," said Abernethy.

Under the NWT Human Rights Act, an employer has the "duty to accommodate" unless the accommodation would cause undue hardship on the employer.

Calls made to Stanton CEO Kay Lewis were not returned by press time.

Abernethy said the Department of Human Resources was doing a good job trying to increase the GNWT's employment of persons with disabilities - right now 0.5 per cent of the GNWT's workforce have self-declared as disabled - through a strategy called 20/20: A Brilliant North, from which an education campaign and more staff have been hired on to help with disability awareness and accommodation.

As well, according to the department's 2009 public service annual report, NWT residents with disabilities are supposed to be given preference in the hiring process.

Abernethy said a diversity officer with the department helped the young man out with the application process but he was, in the end, not hired, and the position did not end up getting filled.

"How does (the Department of Human Resources) enforce the rules? How are we going to make sure that people understand and implement them as intended?" Abernethy asked Minister Bob McLeod in the assembly.

McLeod responded that a "disability framework" is being created to guide hiring practices across departments.

"This is a process that will not happen overnight," said McLeod.

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