A10 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 25, 1999 Quotas not part of new gov't equality strategy — minister A NEW government agency to en- courage aboriginals, visible minorities, people with disabilities and women to join the provincial civil service won't resull in a quota system, says the cabinet minister in charge. Rather, says public service minister Helmut Giesbrecht, the equal op- portunity secretariat will work toward having a public service that reflects as much as possible the population it serves. ; Giesbrecht, the NDP MLA for Skeena, said the new body -~ will monitor the hiring practices of estab- lished public service commission bodies and government ministries, ‘What the secretariat will do is eliminate any of the bartiers,’’ said Giesbrecht, ‘It may be by changing application forms to include other kinds - of criteria such as out-of- country . education or experience which could: help serve the clientele base we now have,’” he said, Glesbrecht conceded that efforts to hire aboriginals; women in manage- ment positions, people with - dis- ‘abilities ‘and. visible minorities over the past nine years haven't worked, — **This is so people can compete on a level playing field,” he continued, “There will be competition but corn- petition inall qualifications.” The. minister. said. the anticipated retirements of large numbers of civil servants who began work in the 1960s and 1970s will provide job openings into which the employment secretariat can have an influence, Most recent public service figures indicate ‘that visible minorities make up 5.8 per cent of the civil service but 18 to 20 per cent of the population. Aborigisals make up five per cent of the population and 1.7 per cent of the civil service, People with disabilitics make up 8.5 per cent of the population and 6 per cent of the civil service, Women are well represented in the civil service bul there are fewer at higher levels of management. The equal opportunity secretariat will have five employees and a budget of $340,000 and will report to Gies- brecht. Planning for it began under Moe Sihota when he was the public service minister. New minister to stick-handle treaty THE NEW federal Indian affairs minister who'll steer the Nisga’a treaty through Parliament this fall began work as a CP train man. Robert Nault, the Liberal MP for the westem Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River, worked bis way up through union and Liberal party ranks, culminating in Nault was named to the federal cabinet Aug. 3, as part of a shuffle which saw five new people brought in and five ministers trans- ferred or demoted. He takes over from Jane Stewart, who was promoted to human resources and de- velopment minister, The Liberal government is Nisga'a treaty for federal ratification this fall, making it a centerpiece of its legis- lative agenda, The other cabinet change which could affect . north- westem B.C. is the moving of David Anderson from fisheries ta environment, A B.C, Liberal MP from Vicloria, Auderson made a career as an crvironmental consultant prior to his politi- cal involvement. | He was hired by BC. in 1989 to give advice on tanker traffic and oil spills along the west coast. — His ministry will be in- volved in any moves by the provincial government to lift an oif and gas drilling moratorium off the north coast. We Buy It All Why Sell For Less? 635-0111 = - WEEKEND SPECIAL RATE | 9” Night - Full Rate - 2” Night - 1/2 Price Rates start from $43 per night Congratulations Goes out to Jelion Piper pictured here with Eric E Durando Phormotist/Manager of Northern Health NORTHERN Care. 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