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Over 120 decentralized jobs unfilled: GNWT report

Three years into a plan to decentralize 150 jobs across the territory, more than 80 per cent of those positions remain unfilled, according to a report tabled last week in the Legislative Assembly.

Positions remain vacant three years into decentralization plan

CBC News ·
N.W.T. Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger tabled a report on March 9 that shows nearly 80 per cent of the territory's decentralized positions have gone unfilled, three years into the program. (Chantal Dubuc/CBC)

Three years into a plan by the N.W.T. government to decentralize jobs from Yellowknife into smaller communities, 121 of the 150 available positions remain vacant, according to a recently released report.

The report, tabled by finance minister Michael Miltenberger on March 9, shows the majority of positions the government has managed to fill are in larger towns like Hay River and Inuvik. Vacant jobs range from positions like laundry worker and assistant cook to senior lands officer.

The report was issued following a request by MLA Wendy Bisaro on February 16. Bisaro, who represents the Yellowknife riding of Frame Lake, has been openly critical of the territory's decentralization policy in the past, calling it a "numbers game" for the government.

'These are quality jobs'

However, there are defenders of the territory's delay in filling the positions. Sean Whelly, mayor of Fort Simpson, says he's not against it, if it means the jobs go to local residents.

"If there were opportunities to train people who were very close to having the qualifications," he says, "or that need some training to fill the job, I think the territorial government should take the time to do that training. Because I think these are quality jobs within the community."

"It's right under our nose," says Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya, "and that's the young people who are graduating from post secondary school in our small communities, in our regions.

'It's right under our nose,' says Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya of the solution to the decentralization problem. 'That's the young people who are graduating from post secondary school in our small communities, in our regions.' (CBC)

"High school students who are graduating from grade 12 — are we not going into the school right now to prepare them for these decentralized positions? Do we have the proper training programs in Aurora College, saying if you want to apply for this position, this is what you're going to need?"

The number for the total cost of implementing the territorial government's decentralization policy wasn't readily available, but Premier Bob McLeod has said in the past that the government has committed $21 million over three years to support workers who move into smaller communities.

Some of the vacant positions are being filled temporarily until full-time workers can be found.

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