Several Indigenous Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) are advocating for an increased emphasis on hiring Indigenous workers in the region. Some are proposing a potential adjustment in the N.W.T.’s nominee program to accommodate this push.
The nominee program was established in 2009 to facilitate the relocation of immigrants to the territory for employment opportunities with local businesses, while also offering a pathway to citizenship.
While employers have lauded the program for addressing labor shortages, concerns have been raised by individuals like Dene National Chief George Mackenzie about whether the nominee program is impeding opportunities for Indigenous youth in the territory to secure employment and gain valuable work experience.
Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya concurs with the need for increased job prospects for Indigenous youth, highlighting the potential to tackle entrenched issues such as substance abuse in certain communities.
Yakeleya, speaking from Fort Providence to CBC News, noted the prevalent unemployment and reliance on income support in her community, emphasizing the need for a shift towards internal solutions.
When asked about the nominee program, Yakeleya suggested a potential reduction in its scope over time to refocus on supporting local community members.
Executive Director Highlights Program’s Necessity Due to Skill Gap
Others contend that the nominee program is essential due to the skills shortage in the region.
François Afane, the executive director of the Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (CDETNO), emphasized the lack of locally trained individuals in critical areas where skill shortages exist.
Afane acknowledged the challenges faced by Indigenous youth in securing employment and underscored the importance of addressing this issue by enhancing skills training for local youth through collaborative efforts between the N.W.T. government and Indigenous organizations.
Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong reminisced about a time when Indigenous youth had more avenues to develop trade skills and expressed a desire for such opportunities to be revitalized.
While acknowledging the struggles of Indigenous youth in finding employment, Armstrong indicated that these challenges are not solely linked to the nominee program or immigration policies.
Armstrong suggested a potential reduction in the number of applicants accepted into the nominee program, with the recent restoration of the territory’s annual quota to 300 individuals by the federal government. She proposed halving this figure to 150.
Expressing appreciation for Chief Mackenzie’s advocacy on the issue, Armstrong emphasized the importance of prioritizing Indigenous hiring through agreements between the N.W.T. government and private sector entities, akin to existing arrangements with mining companies in the region and the government’s hiring guidelines.
Statistics from the most recent public service annual report indicate that within the N.W.T. government, a majority of employees are non-Indigenous individuals, with Indigenous men comprising less than 10% of the workforce and Indigenous women around 20%.
Since the inception of the N.W.T. nominee program in 2009, the employment rate for Indigenous individuals across various sectors in the territory has increased from approximately 46% to about 52%, fluctuating annually.
In contrast, Nunavut, which lacks a nominee program, has maintained an Indigenous employment rate of around 45% since