EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I welcome the opportunity to present the 2014-15 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs and the 2014-17 Business Plan.
Today I am accompanied by Mr. David Akeeagok, Deputy Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Mr. David Pealow, Director of Corporate Services.
As a central agency, the department provides support to cabinet in accomplishing objectives set out in Sivumut Abluqta.
It is the lead on the interdepartmental coordination for Government of Nunavut departments and agencies. It is responsible for overall coordination of the work for the public service. It also works to ensure that the Government of Nunavut’s interests are represented in policy discussions, both nationally and internationally.
Within those overarching structure, there are four lines of core businesses. The Directorate, Strategic Planning, Sivumuaqatigiit, and Intergovernmental Affairs.
The Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs remains focused on our commitment to four priorities identified in Sivumut Abluqta.
As I mentioned, the department supports cabinet under the Directorate branch, works interdepartmentally to communicate cabinet direction, provides support to government communications, and manages Government of Nunavut access to information and protection of privacy requirements and acts as the initial government point of contact in every government through our government liaison officers.
Through out Sivumuaqatigiit branch, our objective is to increase beneficiary representation in public service by supporting departments and agencies in the development of our Inuit employment plans, provide learning opportunities with focus on enhancing our public service with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their positions. And also provide leadership and coordination for planning and developing activities at the regional and community levels.
In relation to intergovernmental affairs, we are looking forward to the Western Premier’s Conference which is being held in Iqaluit this year.
We continue bilateral relations with Greenland, with council and federation meetings both scheduled for later this year.
We believe in working closely with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the regional Inuit organizations, as well. We coordinate the Government of Nunavut implementation of the Nunavut Land Claim’s Agreement and negotiation on overlapping land claims.
Through the Strategic Planning Branch we work closely with other departments on current business planning to ensure priorities in the Government of Nunavut Business Plan reflect those of the mandate.
There are a number of other activities, such as the Strategic Planning branch is pursuing, for example, completing the analysis of the Nunavut Food Price Survey and explore the feasibility of an annual survey.
It also supports the government departments on their submissions to cabinet and continues to provide support for reviews of Government of Nunavut programs and services.
The department’s main estimates for the 2014-15 fiscal year total $27,309,000.
This amount is comprised of approximately $17.3 million allocated toward salaries and benefits and $10 million for other operations and maintenance costs.
The department is seeking an increase of approximately $400,000 to cover costs associated with the additional Member of the Executive Council and support staff.
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the departmental main estimates and business plan. I welcome comments and look forward to answering questions.
Does the Chair of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts have opening comments?
Please proceed Mr. Hickes.
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts on its review of the proposed 2014-15 main estimates and 2014-17 business plan of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
The department’s organizational structure, proposed 2014-15 main estimates and proposed 2014-17 business plan reflect the transfer of certain functions and personnel from the Department of Human Resources, which was dissolved as of April 1, 2013, as well as the transfer of the Social Advocacy Office to the new Department of Family Services and the transfer of the Energy Secretariat and Sustainable Development functions to the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee notes that the department’s proposed 2014-15 operations and maintenance budget of $27,309,000 is 1.5 percent higher than the department’s 2013-14 main estimates.
The number of positions in the department has increased from 135.0 PYs in 2013-14 to 136.0 PYs in 2014-15.
The Sivumut Abluqta mandate statement, which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on March 20, 2014, indicates that one of its primary goals of the new government is to “review government programs to determine what is working well, what needs improvement, and what we should stop doing in order to focus our resources on enabling Nunavut’s success; and ensure recipients of Government of Nunavut funds are providing the outcomes we expect from our investment.”
Mr. Chairman, the draft 2014-17 business plan of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs indicates that one of its priorities for the 2014-15 fiscal year is to “co-ordinate, in partnership with the Department of Finance, an external review of government programs to ensure delivery in an effective, efficient and economic manner.”
Mr. Chairman, the draft 2014-17 business plan of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs also indicates that one of the Strategic Planning branch’s priorities for the 2014-15 fiscal year is to “develop capacity to provide an oversight role for program evaluations and undertake quality assurance reviews of external evaluations of government programs.”
Mr. Chairman, these issues have also been the subject of extensive discussion in the Legislative Assembly during the current spring sitting.
The amendments added provisions to allow individuals to request the Information and Privacy Commissioner review the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information, and to require public bodies to notify the Information and Privacy Commissioner where a breach of privacy has occurred.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s 2013-16 business plan indicated that one of its priorities for 2013-14 was to “Work with the municipalities of Nunavut to create best practices for access to information and protection of privacy that are consistent with the ATIPP Act.”
The department’s draft 2014-17 business plan indicates that “It was determined that the City of Iqaluit would be most capable of implementing access and privacy principles.
City Council confirmed their support and commitment in moving toward the creation and implementation of access and privacy principles within the City of Iqaluit.”
The department’s draft 2014-17 business plan also indicates that one of its priorities for the 2016-17 fiscal year is to “Provide support to the municipalities of Nunavut in implementing access and privacy principles based on [their] successful implementation within the City of Iqaluit.”
The 2012-13 report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on September 6, 2013.
The standing committee also notes that the statutorily required 2009-2010, 2010-11, and 2011-12 annual reports of the department’s bureau of statistics were tabled in the Legislative Assembly on October 30, 2012. However, the 2012-13 annual report has not yet been tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Chairman, as I indicated at the beginning of my opening comments, the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs has assumed a number of functions and responsibilities that were previously exercised by the Department of Human Resources, which was dissolved on April 1, 2013.
Other functions have been transferred to the Department of Finance.
It is important to acknowledge the progress that has been made in increasing Inuit employment in the Government of Nunavut. Information contained in the government’s quarterly employment reports indicate that a total of 1,092 beneficiaries were employed by the government in December of 2003. By December of 2013, that number had increased to 1,643.
This constituted an increase of approximately 50 percent over the course of a decade. On average, the government gained approximately 55 new Inuit employees each year.
Mr. Chairman, it is important for the government to develop realistic and achievable timetables for achieving full representativeness across all occupational categories in the government, which is commonly understood to mean a public service that is composed of 85 percent beneficiary employees. This is a significant challenge.
Information contained in the government’s December 2013 quarterly employment report, which is the most recent report to have been tabled in the Legislative Assembly, indicates that there were a total of 4,350 positions across the government’s departments and Crown agencies. 3,309 of these positions were filled, of which 1,643 were filed by beneficiaries.
Assuming that the government could fill all of its positions, it would need to hire 2,055 new beneficiary employees to achieve full representativeness.
The standing committee notes that the government’s proposed 2014-17 business plan indicates that its current government-wide Inuit Employment Plan target is 51 percent Inuit employment by March 31, 2015.
In September of 2010, the Government of Nunavut filed a Statement of Defence in relation to the federal government’s attempt to have the Government of Nunavut named as a co-defendant in the matter of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated’s lawsuit against the federal government.
Mr. Chairman, in its statement of defence, which is a matter of public record, the GN indicated that the federal government “has refused to provide to the Government of Nunavut the necessary funding…to allow it to develop and implement the necessary training and other measures required to increase Inuit participation in government employment to a representative level.
In its response to the standing committee’s report on the 2010 Report of the Auditor General on Human Resource Capacity in the Government of Nunavut, the Government of Nunavut stated that it will “continue to lobby the federal government for funding in regards to obligations under Article 23.”
Mr. Chairman, it is important that the government publicly clarify its current position concerning how much additional federal funding would be required in order to meet its obligations and achieve its objectives.
Mr. Chairman, I would also like to take this opportunity to draw attention to the ongoing gender gap within the public service.
The 2012-13 Public Service Annual Report indicates that approximately 37 percent of the public service is composed of beneficiary women.
The 2012-13 Public Service Annual Report indicates that 739 employees were receiving a bilingual bonus as at March 31, 2013.
The standing committee notes that section 17 of the Inuit Language Protection Act provides that the Inuit Language Authority “may develop, review, recommend or administer surveys or tests that evaluate Inuit Language proficiency.”
Given the importance of complying with the Inuit Language Protection Act, the standing committee encourages the department to develop objective tests for evaluating language proficiency within the public service.
On June 5, 2012, the Government of Nunavut’s Decentralization Action Plan was tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The Decentralization Action Plan states that “the current model can be strengthened by shifting focus on the number of positions and communities they go to and maintaining a commitment to allocating and maintaining over 60% of the public service outside of Iqaluit.”
The department’s draft 2014-17 business plan indicates that “As a result of the government restructuring of departments, the Decentralization Action Plan had to be reviewed and revised to reflect necessary changes.
The revisions will be completed by end of 2014-15.”
On April 20, 2011, a new co-operation protocol between the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated was signed.
Some of the priority areas identified in the protocol were to review the Child and Family Services Act, consult on the NNI Policy, and develop new regulations under the Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s draft 2014-17 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for the 2014-15 fiscal year is to “Renew the protocol with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and continue to work on matters of mutual interest to Nunavummiut.”
Mr. Chairman, it is also incumbent on the government to be clear and candid with MLAs and the general public concerning the rationale for its own position in areas where the two parties may have disagreements on specific issues.
The department’s draft 2014-17 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for the 2014-15 fiscal year is to “Continue efforts on devolution Agreement-in-Principle negotiations with the Government of Canada and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.”
The standing committee looks forward to reviewing progress towards a devolution agreement.
Mr. Chairman, on September 5, 2009, the governments of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon released a joint communiqué announcing the renewal of the Northern Cooperation Accord for a five-year term. The department’s draft 2014-17 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for 2014-15 is to “Work with the governments of the Northwest Territories and Yukon, Inuit Circumpolar Council, Gwich’in Council International and the Arctic Athabascan Council to provide a northern voice to Canada’s 2013-15 chairmanship of the Arctic Council.” Mr. Chairman, the standing committee supports Nunavut having a strong voice concerning such issues as the need to enhance federal search and rescue capacity in the north, as well as standing up for Nunavut’s seal harvesters.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2014-15 main estimates and 2014-17 business plan of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
We’re going to Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Branch Summary.
Directorate. Page B-4.
I would like to ask in regard to access to information and protection of privacy. What kind of methods does the department do to inform Nunavummiut that they can access government information if they wanted to? How do you let Nunavummiut know that there’s such a thing as access to information?
Chairman: Premier Taptuna.
I thank the member for that question. Mr. Chairman, most of the public is aware that there is access to information and through the departments, it’s a well-known fact, including to the municipalities. It’s a well-known fact that there is access to information that any member of the public can try and get more information on.
I would ask members to shut off their cellphones, please.
I would like him to, perhaps, state who can access information from the government.
Any of the member of the public.
Can a Nunavummiuq from Ottawa, let’s say, who lives in Ottawa access information from the government?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Yes.
Ms. Angnakak: Can any member of Canada access information from this government?
How many applications did your office receive last year from the public requesting information from the government using the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act?
We don’t have that detailed information in front of us, but we can certainly make it available to committee members.
Would the minister know what kind of information is a typical request that public are seeking from the government?
From my previous experience as being an economic development minister, I have held that portfolio. There are all different types of requests for information regarding contracts, employment, and various other types of information that the public can request.
Can the minister tell us, is it usually the press that are asking for more information or is it mainly the public that is trying to access information from the government?
We don’t have that information percentage wise of whether it is public, employees, or outside of our jurisdiction including the press.
We don’t have that information in front of us.
I look forward to seeing that information as well. Just to go on to Utility Rates Review Council, their budget of $604,000.
Does that budget include travel costs for board members as well?
Can the minister tell us who makes up the council and how often do they meet?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you for your patience, Mr. Chairman.
There are five board members, including a chair.
Can the minister tell us where the council members come from? Are they all Nunavummiut or are there some from outside as well?
There are two members from Nunavut and three members from outside of our jurisdiction.
How often do they meet?
I don’t believe you answered that question.
The main board meetings of the Utility Rates Review Council take place when the application comes forth from Qulliq Energy Corporation.
I would like to take this opportunity now, perhaps, so we’re all on the same page and people who may not be really aware of the Utility Rates Review Council’s responsibilities are. The minister can just indicate what the process is.
They get a request from Qulliq Energy Corporation, it goes to the Utility Rates Review Council, and then what happens from there?
Once the council gets a request or an application from Qulliq Energy Corporation it is evaluated, assessed, then it goes to public consultation to make a recommendation to the Minister of Qulliq Energy Corporation.
Once the minister has received their recommendation, does the minister go to the cabinet with this recommendation for approval?
The minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation can reject, accept, or modify the recommendation before it goes to the cabinet.
Can the minister tell us then, does cabinet have the final say?
Can the member please clarify that question?
Final say in, I did not get the last part.
Chairman: Ms. Angnakak, the Premier is asking for clarification.
I mean, once the minister has received the recommendation from the Utility Rates Review Council and has decided to or is thinking about accepting, rejecting, or modifying it, does he go to cabinet and get the cabinet’s blessing on what he wants to do?
I would like to go on to speak about your working relationship with NTI.
You know, it’s been in the news over the last few years, really, about the different things going on and I know that you’ve been working jointly with NTI through Aajiiqatigiinniq Working Group.
Can you tell us what types of legislation have you been working on collaboratively with NTI?
We do have a memorandum of understanding with NTI and within that, there is a number of initiatives that we try to do with collaboration with NTI and for the most part, we are in negotiations with regards to the implementation contract with NTI and Canada.
There is a number of initiatives that are ongoing and, Mr. Chairman, one of the key things is that, for the benefit of Nunavummiut residents, Inuit, we try to collaborate on any new initiative that may come up, including the collaboration on the anti-poverty or poverty reduction and the food coalition.
I understand also that you worked, NTI and the GN have worked on the Child and Family Services Act.
What kind of input did NTI put forward in regards to this act?
There has been some back and forth with NTI on specifically on that and I can’t tell you exactly what the input has pertained to but we do collaborate and meet on a regular basis.
Can the minister tell us how often this working group meets and who sits on the working group representing the government?
The working group meets on a monthly basis, including the officials, and I meet with the president quarterly.
Can he tell us if the Article 23 Working Group has been re-established and who is our rep. on the working group?
Yes, that has been re-established and through our Inuit employment plans, we do have officials who sit on the working group.
I want to go speak a little bit about government liaison officers, GLOs. I’m wondering: what kind of an impact is the GLOs having on the community do you feel or is it too early to tell?
In some communities, it’s working out very well. They’re being utilized to the fullest extent, including our officials who need to relay or coordinate some event or program into the communities. They’re doing a very good job.
Hopefully, before the end of the summer, we will have all communities filled with the positions of GLOs.
Can the minister tell us how many communities don’t have a GLO and which communities don’t have one?
The communities without GLOs are Kugluktuk, Cambridge Bay, Clyde River, and Baker Lake.
Can the minister tell us why those positions haven’t been filled yet?
In Baker Lake, the position has been re-advertised. There were no successful applicants.
In Kugluktuk, we are still in discussions with the municipality.
In Cambridge Bay, there’s lack of office space.
In Clyde River, we’re still discussing that with the municipality.
Can the minister tell us if every GLO works through the hamlet or are there different agreements in place, depending on the community?
There are several agreements with the municipality when it comes to providing office space, but coordination of work is done through here with the GLO coordinator who is here in Iqaluit.
There have been some training programs that were held in February and we intend to do a little more of that going into the future.
Your department’s annual business plan has indicated that GLO positions will serve as delivery agents for searching government services.
What specific government services are being delivered by GLOs?
In the past, we utilized their services in delivering the driver’s licensing and general identification process with the help of municipalities and the government liaison officers. We continue to use them for referrals.
There are a lot of members of the public that need direction on where to go, how to deal with their unemployment insurance, and various other things that may pertain to Canada.
It’s a useful resource for all of the communities of Nunavut.
Can the minister tell us how long the government liaison officer has been in place now?
That program has been in place since 2010.
We have had a few years of this now in place. Can you tell us what is the most common request for help coming from a community?
The majority of requests are for drivers’ licensing and assistance on that, including general identification.
Does Iqaluit have a government liaison officer position here?
No, but we do have a government liaison officer coordinator that assists in dealing with the public.
Can the public from Iqaluit go to his or her office and get the same kind of help?
Have you informed the public in Iqaluit that they have an office that they can go to?
Not specifically. We’re hoping that the number of Members of the Legislative Assembly that are within Iqaluit can help us out on that through their constituency offices.
We would be more than welcome to that.
We would love to do that. We just need the information. If you can make sure that the information comes to our offices then we can make sure it gets passed on.
But I also think it’s good to do some radio advertisements or posters around town.
Thank you. That’s all I have for now.
Chairman: Thank you. Just a comment.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon.
Mr. Chairman, before I start asking questions can you please direct me in regards to my questions about the use of the Inuktitut language by the government and the bilingual bonus that people can get extra pay out of.
Mr. Chairman, if you can direct me, I believe we’re on B-4. If I can ask those questions now while we’re on B-4 or would you like me to wait until we get to B-8 and then I can ask my questions. Please direct me either way.
Chairman: You should be able to ask on B-4.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): I want to ask some questions about language.
These days, people can make more money if they are bilingual.