Government of the Northwest Territories

Diversity and Inclusion

Affirmative Action

What is the GNWT's Affirmative Action Policy?

The GNWT is committed to a competent Public Service that is representative of the people it serves. To achieve this, the GNWT established the Affirmative Action Policy that offers priority hiring to candidates belonging to eligible designated groups that are under-represented within the Public Service.

What are the designated groups under the Affirmative Action Policy?

Designated groups under the Affirmative Action Policy include:

  • Indigenous Aboriginal Persons
  • Indigenous Non-Aboriginal Persons
  • Resident Disabled Persons
  • Resident Women

The merit principle applies among designated groups. The first three designated groups have priority status on all competitions. Resident women have priority status on competitions for management and non-traditional jobs.

Indigenous Aboriginal Persons

means those persons who are descendants of the Dene, Inuit or Metis people, indigenous to the present boundaries of the Northwest Territories and includes any aboriginal persons resident at birth pursuant to Section 23 of the Vital Statistics Act and any Canadian aboriginal persons who have lived more than half of their life in the Northwest Territories.

Indigenous Non-Aboriginal Persons

Are non-Aboriginal persons born in the Northwest Territories or who have lived more than half of their lives in the Northwest Territories.

Resident Disabled Persons

are persons who are living in and have lived in the Northwest Territories for at least one year immediately prior to applying on a competition and who are at a disadvantage because of a medically certified learning, mental, emotional, or physical disability where the disability handicaps the person in taking advantage of employment, training and career advancement opportunities. A person without such a disability would not encounter these difficulties.

Resident Women

are females who are living in and have lived in the Northwest Territories for at least one year immediately prior to applying on a competition.

How do I identify myself as a member of a designated group?

Applicants interested in employment with the GNWT should identify their eligibility in the designated groups at the time of application in order to receive priority consideration under the Affirmative Action Policy. If you are applying online through eRecruit, you will be asked to answer a question on your Affirmative Action status. If you are applying outside of eRecruit, include a statement on the cover letter or resume.

For example, on the cover letter:

I am an Indigenous Aboriginal and wish to be given priority consideration under the Affirmative Action Policy.

Or on the resume:

Affirmative Action Candidate - Indigenous Non-Aboriginal.

When requested, applicants have to provide verification of their affirmative action status. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide proof. Proof may include

  • birth certificate;
  • medical certification for disability;
  • copy of treaty, Métis or beneficiary cards;
  • signed affidavit/statutory declaration confirming applicant is a descendant from Dene, Inuit or Métis people, indigenous to the present boundaries of the Northwest Territories; or
  • proof of residency from utility bills, mortgage statements, bank statements, pay stubs, employment letters from previous/current employers or letters from divisional education councils/school boards indicating where they attended school, etc.

Resources

For more information about the GNWT's Affirmative Action policy, please see: