SA国际影视传媒

The public administrator for the NWT Health and Social Services Authority is looking at hiring attrition as part of his two-year plan to balance its budget.

The authority, a branch of the territorial government that plans and delivers health services across the territory,  on its 2025-26 budget summary which detail a $36 million deficit based on revenue of about $625 million and total expenditures valued at almost $662 million. 

Public administrator Dan Florizone told SA国际影视传媒 on Tuesday that to help balance the budget, he said he's been looking at not filling vacancies in administration as well as vacancies that do not provide direct patient care or health service.

"It could be anything from accounting, to payroll, to administrative clerks to managers to central office. These are largely based on positions that are vacant and I'm using vacancy management to attempt to bring down that budget deficit," said Florizone.

The technical term for this is called hiring attrition and refers to not replacing employees who leave.

Florizone acknowledged it could mean less jobs for people in the NWT - he said part of his challenge is supporting care, so wherever he can find administrative efficiencies, he will seek those out.

"It does mean fewer jobs, but the preserving of jobs that are direct care or service is really the primary driver of this effort," said Florizone.

He also stressed that administration is important and there is still a need for accountants and data analysts. 

"Some of these programs and services and staff are necessary, but I want to see, wherever possible in the non-care facing areas, what efficiencies could be had," he said.

Florizone also said he's in talks with the Union of Northern Workers and there's no plan to do layoffs in this strategy.

"This wouldn't negatively impact anybody who's actually in a position at this time," he noted.

SA国际影视传媒 reached out to the UNW for comment but did not hear back in time for publication. Should they provide comment, we will update this story.