Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Cathy Towtongie today expressed concern over the Government of Nunavut’s decision to eliminate the Department of Human Resources, planned to take effect April 1, 2013. This follows on a previous GN decision to eliminate its Inuit Employment Division, and small declines in Inuit employment levels as reported in GN statistics.

Authorities such as the Auditor General of Canada have repeatedly urged the GN to make improvements to their hiring practices. These reports substantiate NTI’s concern that the elimination of this department will erode the GN’s ability to vigorously and consistently apply its priority hiring policy. The priority hiring policy is intended for the GN to meet its obligations under Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, which requires government to hire a representative workforce.

“I am concerned that the elimination of the department may compromise the government’s ability to ensure there will be priority hiring, the provision of training and development for all employees, and the ability to fulfill the objectives and obligations of Article 23,” said Towtongie.

Almost half of GN jobs are in the professional and managerial categories where Inuit employment remains at about 25 per cent, and it is not increasing. Towtongie said NTI commits to being attentive and vigilant in monitoring the GN’s work in these areas after the department is decentralized to the Finance and Executive departments.