SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Union of Northern Workers is calling on the territorial government to focus on social spending and less on infrastructure such as new highways in its upcoming budget.

Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers, said the territorial government should focus on social spending instead of new highways. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo

Todd Parsons, president of the UNW, said in an interview Monday the organization isn't against infrastructure spending but believes the focus should be on jobs and services.

"The union is very concerned that the current government's priorities are not in line with good social investment and looking after quality social services that residents of the Northwest Territories need," Parsons said.

The comments come as MLAs begin reviewing parts of the budget which is expected to be delivered in the legislative assembly session starting May 31. Cabinet ministers have been hammering an austerity message in interviews and speeches. Finance Minister Robert C. McLeod earlier this year said the GNWT will need to find $150 million through either new revenue or through cuts over the next five years to maintain surpluses.

The union, which includes thousands of GNWT employees, has submitted a document to the government calling on it to not cut jobs and avoid public-private partnership arrangements for large infrastructure projects.

Negotiations resume next week between the GNWT and UNW as they seek to agree on a new collective agreement for unionized workers.

Asked for a response to the UNW submission and comments, cabinet spokesperson Andrew Livingstone wrote in an e-mail that "the GNWT will be reviewing and responding to all the budget submissions through the final report on all submissions received when the current engagement period is over."

The UNW document states there are urgent demands for investment in things like daycare, junior kindergarten, homelessness and addictions issues "spiraling out of control," and climate change.

"Now is not the time to cut and run from our overdue social obligations with severe cuts," it states.

The submission comes as MLAs are reviewing business plans - documents which lay out the proposed spending by department.

At this stage, changes can still be made to department business plans and Parsons said he hopes MLAs will listen.

"We believe the UNW is a respected organization and that the MLAs will take the time to review our particular submission and we'll remain optimistic that we'll be able to influence the MLAs reviewing business plans they're presented," Parsons said.

Groups lobby for community funding

Meanwhile, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce has joined the NWT Association of Communities and the City of Yellowknife in lobbying the government to increase community funding.

A review of the community funding formula by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the association of communities found community governments are underfunded when it comes to infrastructure by up to $40 million per year.

"Chronic under investment by both federal and territorial levels of government threaten to place a financial burden on Yellowknife and other communities, while constraining future development," stated chamber president Renee Comeau in a news release last week. Comeau stated the chamber is urging the government to take immediate action to address the funding shortfall.

Yellowknife would receive $7 million extra per year if the recommended changes were fully implemented.

So far the only firm commitment the government has made is not to cut existing funding levels, according to Livingstone.

"While the review determined a need for an additional $40 million for communities, given the GNWT's current fiscal situation, and the need to complete the business planning process, it's premature to say whether or not the funding will see an increase in the 2016-17 budget," Livingstone wrote in an e-mail last month.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.