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DEH CHO
Five new government services officers have been hired in remote communities across the NWT to provide residents with better access to territorial and federal government programs.

Kathie Hardisty was recently hired as a government services officer in Fort Liard. Hardisty helps local residents access territorial and federal programs. - Miranda Scotland/NNSL photo

The service was put in place because officials felt residents in smaller areas might be missing out on programs due to a lack of access, said Dan O'Neill, regional director with the NWT Department of Executive.

"In remote places ... there's not a lot of (government) staff so really a lot of work doesn't get done or people can't apply for rebates or financial programs that might be available," he said.

In 2010, the GNWT piloted a program that put government services officers in eight communities. In the first 18 months, the officers saw more than 6,500 people, O'Neill said.

'People in the communities just love this'

"We found that people in the communities just love this," he said. "In the past, if we didn't have somebody there handling our business, then often times the band councils had to do it or whoever was there ... We have taken a lot of that work off their desk."

As a result of the pilot's success, government services officers were hired in Fort Liard, Gameti, Tulita, Tsiigehtchic and Sachs Harbour.

Fort Liard's Kathie Hardisty was given her part-time position in early August. Stationed in the hamlet office, Hardisty said she has had a few people come by and expects more to drop in as word about the service gets out.

Helps clients research information

She helps clients research information on programs, complete applications and assists with other documents and forms. On Thursdays, she visits elders in the community to help them with mail, give them guidance or inform them about government services, among other things.

Hardisty, who grew up in Fort Liard, said she feels she is really making a difference.

"It’s been going really good," she said. "The office definitely comes in handy for a lot of the community members and a lot of them say it’s about time they have something here."

Hardisty got the position in the hamlet by submitting a resume and going through a formal interview. O'Neill said they looked for people who were personable, preferably spoke the local dialect and who had connections with the area.

"We hire local folks who community residents are familiar with and like and are able to help them sort out some of our programs," he said, adding there was a lot of on-site training for new hires.

O'Neill said it would be great to expand the program but he isn't sure if the idea is feasible at this point.

"We would like to put them obviously in more communities but everything has a cost," he said.

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