FORT SMITH: The Union of Northern workers was very disappointed to learn last week that members at the Fort Smith Correctional Complex were told to expect layoff notices and the imminent closure of their facility, with no clear plan for the employees’ or the community’s future.
While our government has talked publicly about supports and programs that might be available to help affected workers transition to other employment, they have yet to present our members with any clear plans or concrete commitments in that regard.
When questioned about the future of this facility and its employees, GNWT ministers defer and deflect. They have made it clear that this government is no longer interested in supporting the workers and residents who will be most impacted by its decision to shutter this facility.
After the overwhelming support these workers and their facility received from the residents of Fort Smith during budget sessions just a few months ago – including local governments and businesses who are rightfully concerned about the social and economic impacts on the community – this is a stab in the back from a government who claims to listen to communities and its employees.
This announcement is further proof that our leadership is not interested in following through on what they hear when they say they are “listening”.
Our members are tired of lip service. They are tired of hearing ministers talk at length about how important their feedback is and then ignore it. They are tired of constantly shifting rhetoric and a lack of transparency and accountability from GNWT leadership.
To quote Minister Wawzonek during the June 2024 sitting of the Legislative Assembly:
“Mr. Chair, funding to maintain the Fort Smith Correctional Centre will be reinstated for Budget 2024-2025. I have spoken more than once about the important role that employee feedback played in the fiscal sustainability work that is underway across the GNWT.”
Not only has this minister failed to live up to her commitment to keep this facility running until the end of the fiscal year, she has the audacity to cite employee feedback as an important part of the fiscal planning process.
The GNWT needs to stop pretending that workers’ and residents’ voices are informing the direction of government, and start making decisions that actually reflect the priorities and concerns of the people they serve.
Gayla Thunstrom
UNW President
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