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Decentralization: 22 vacancies remain
Phase three of initiative gives small communities precedent for all new positions

Meagan Leonard
Northern News Services
Monday, March 30, 2015

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The majority of vacant government positions created after decentralization have been filled according to a GNWT news release issued last week.

Despite previous skepticism from some MLAs about the success of the GNWT's decision to move jobs into the smaller communities, officials state all but 22 of the spaces have already been filled.

"Figures released today show that the Government of the Northwest Territories has successfully filled 108 of 128 positions," the release reads.

Data stating 121 of 150 positions remained vacant was provided to MLAs in the legislative assembly March 9. Cabinet communications officer Roya Grinsted told NWT News/North this was a reflection of vacancies when decentralization was implemented and did not include current statistics.

"The tabled document provided a response to the written question from (Wendy Bisaro) ... 'of the 150 GNWT positions decentralized, advise how many of the positions were vacant at the time the positions were transferred,'" said Grinsted.

In further response to Bisaro's questions the territorial government revealed any new department position will now go through a legislated review to determine if it is ideal for decentralization, if not, substantial rationalization must be provided.

Cabinet spokesperson Shaun Dean said prior to decentralization, the territorial government could consider the best location for new positions, but they were not required.

"Departments looking to establish new positions have to submit their request to the financial management board," Dean explained.

"In those papers they now have specifically say whether or not the position is good for decentralizing, relocating in another community - before it wasn't a requirement."

Dean said factors considered in the process will include who position's frequent contacts are, where they are located and whether it the position provides a service designed to deliver programs to people in communities.

"I think before they would do some thinking about where the position would best be located but with decentralization, the formal commitment from government is we consider every position," he said.

When contacted for her response to the press release and answers provided to her questions, Bisaro said the

numbers are encouraging but she is still wary of the methodology used to decide which positions go to the smaller communities.

"It's how you interpret that language. Presumably every position should be considered, but there's definitely some positions that shouldn't be in a community of 50 people," Bisaro said.

"We are not bending over backward to deal with vacant positions, it seems to me we're telling departments okay, here's your quota, go find jobs that can move."

Although the press release says 85 per cent of the positions have been filled, a detailed breakdown of information outlining the location and department of those jobs will not be available for another few months. Grinsted said it is expected to be tabled in the May/June sitting of the legislative assembly.

When asked why the government needed three months to provide a breakdown, Dean said the numbers were currently unavailable.

"(The finance department) might not have the updated table ready, I don't know what it takes to produce that information," he said, adding the numbers in the news release should be enough to persuade people decentralization is working.

"It said we filled 85 per cent of the positions, it just didn't say where they are."

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