EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Government Estimates and Operations on its review of the proposed 2017-18 main estimates and 2017-2020 business plan of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
The department’s proposed 2017-18 operations and maintenance budget of $27,886,000 has remained unchanged since the introduction of the department’s 2016-17 main estimates.
The number of positions in the department has remained unchanged.
However, the standing committee notes that a number of positions in the department appear to have been re-categorized and/or reclassified.
The government’s March 31, 2016 quarterly employment report indicated that the department had 46 paraprofessional positions and 7 administrative support positions.
The government’s December 31, 2016 quarterly employment report indicated that the department had 6 paraprofessional positions and 36 administrative support positions.
The standing committee encourages the minister to publicly clarify the rationale for this change.
The government’s mandate statement, which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly by the Premier on March 20 of 2014, indicates that one of the primary goals of the 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.”
In 2015 the government awarded a contract for its “operational audit” initiative.
On March 16 of 2016 the Summary Report on Phase 1 of the Operational Audit was tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The department’s proposed 2017-2020 business plan indicates that “Phase one of the operational review has been completed.
Recommendations were provided to all departments on areas where improvements can be made in short, medium, and long term.
A comprehensive review is underway with regard to shared services, as well as policy structure within the Government of Nunavut.”
The standing committee urges the government to ensure that the final report from the operational review exercise is tabled prior to the dissolution of the current Legislative Assembly so that its recommendations can be considered by the incoming Members of the Fifth Legislative Assembly.
The department’s 2016-19 business plan indicated that it had been “working with the Deputy Ministers Committee on Quality of Life to coordinate Government of Nunavut services to Seniors provided by all departments.”
The department’s proposed 2017-2020 business plan indicates that “A Senior’s Handbook has been developed, with plans for distribution to Nunavut communities.
The department monitored the assessment of current and future long-term care needs in Nunavut...The department has participated in meetings with representatives from the Nunavut Seniors Society to discuss areas of joint interest pertaining to Seniors in Nunavut.”
The department’s proposed 2017-2020 business plan also indicates that one of its priorities for the 2017-18 fiscal year is to “Continue [its] working relationship with the Nunavut Seniors Society on areas of joint interest pertaining to Seniors in Nunavut.”
The standing committee notes that the department’s main estimates include proposed contribution funding of $150,000 to the Nunavut Seniors Society.
The department’s 2016-19 business plan indicated that one of its priorities in the 2016-17 fiscal year was to “Conduct a 360’ evaluation of the Government Liaison Officer Program with the intent of improving service level expectations.”
The department’s draft 2017-2020 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for the 2017-18 fiscal year is to “Enhance services to all Nunavummiut based on the results of the 360° evaluation of the Government Liaison Officer Program.”
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 of 2013.
Information that is contained in the government’s quarterly employment reports indicate that a total of 924 Nunavut Inuit were employed by the government in September of 2001.
By December of 2016 that number had increased to 1,762.
This represented an increase of approximately 90 percent over the 15-year period.
On average the government gained approximately 55 new Inuit employees each year.
It is important for the government to develop realistic and achievable timetables for achieving full representativeness across all occupational categories in the government.
Information contained in the government’s December 2016 quarterly employment report indicates that there were a total of 4,773 positions across the government’s departments and Crown agencies. 3,537 of these positions were filled, of which 1,762 were filled by Nunavut Inuit.
Assuming that the government could fill all of its positions, it would need to hire 2,294 new Nunavut Inuit employees to achieve a fully representative public service.
The 2015-16 Public Service Annual Report indicates that 2,416 employees were receiving a bilingual bonus.
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.”
The department’s proposed 2017-2020 business plan indicates that “The Government of Canada appointed a new Chief Federal Negotiator in July 2016 and a new federal negotiating mandate was approved in October 2016.
Tri-partite negotiations of an agreement-in-principle have resumed.”
The standing committee continues to encourage the government to publicly clarify the number of federal positions that are envisioned to be transferred to the territorial public service as part of the devolution process.
The standing committee notes that on January 27 of 2017 the governments of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon announced that the three jurisdictions will be working to develop a “new Pan-Territorial Northern Policy.”
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2017-18 main estimates and 2017-2020 business plan of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Before we proceed to the page-by-page review of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, we will take a 20-minute break.
>>Committee recessed at 17:29 and resumed at 17:53
In Committee of the Whole we have Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Directorate on page B-4.
Welcome, Premier and your officials.
I’m not sure which page my question will fall under. It’s about the Nunavut Seniors Society, Ilagiit.
If I can ask a question about that, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Rumbolt, in his opening comments, said that you want to give the society $150,000.
Can you clarify to us what that $150,000 would be used for?
I know it would be for different programs and services.
Mr. Chairman, the $150,000 is not yet approved.
We’re looking forward to the approval of that for the fiscal year 2017-18.
I did mention that we gave them $100,000 for core operations and to develop some official by-laws, including some office spaces.
That’s for the $150,000 that’s still yet to be approved.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): I guess the $100,000 that we approved would be to set it up.
Can you say now what the $150,000 would be used for? I’m sure they were set up with the $100,000.
What would the extra $150,000 be used for?
I look forward to the $150,000 being approved at 2017-18.
The $150,000 would be for core operation, training, travel and honoraria for meetings, and other things that pertain to administrations and operations.
I’ll move on to something else. On March 16 last year in 2016 you tabled a report in the Legislative Assembly on the first phase of the operational audit of Government of Nunavut programs. That was the first phase.
The second phase of the operational audit was to have been undertaken between January 2016 and October 2016. That’s the second phase.
As of today what is the status of that?
We did finish the first phase of the audit.
In that first phase the audit included the finer detailed evaluations for the second phase.
At this point we’re looking at some ways of dealing with the refining of some of the shared responsibilities we have between departments and corporations. One of the things that we’re looking at of course is how to process a business plan between the departments. Of course we also did the transfer of some of the things that were in Family Services.
We’re initiating the move for seniors’ care from Family Services into Health where it has a better fit, where it could be more effective and efficient for our seniors.
Overall the second phase continues.
We will be looking at that with our other departmental partners, especially with Finance; again, business plans, as I had mentioned; how the grants are delivered through Finance; and policy development. Those are the things we want to concentrate on where it becomes more effective for the government and the people of Nunavut.
For the second phase of the operational audit, will you be able to give us a report before the end of this government?
Yes, we intend to have that completed before the dissolution of this government.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) And in this House?
Can the committee member repeat that question, please?
There must have been some glitch in the audio.
Maybe it was my audio.
Are you contemplating tabling the second phase report in this House before the end of the term of this government?
While we’re on this topic, you already answered part of my question and, if that’s the case, I apologize right away.
Is there anything really obvious after the first phase? Is there something really obvious in terms of employment positions or in the expenditures? Has there been anything moved as a result of the first phase of the operational audit?
You sort of said something already about this.
Mr. Chairman, if I can, I want to ask you to have my deputy minister clarify that in detail.
I think the first clarification is that I should caution members that there is not some overall report that is going to be produced.
The first phase of the audit was done by a consulting firm. The second phase is parcelled out to representative departments.
The parts that the Premier was specifically speaking to are being performed by both the Department of Finance and by the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
As the Premier said, we will bring a report into this House before the dissolution of the government, but it is not going to another consulting report like phase 2.
With respect to how things are going, certainly phase 1, as we have reported into the House before, did not suggest that we should be changing any of the programs per se or finding any ways to particularly save dollars or program dollars in particular, but the second phases that are being looked at in the Department of Finance with respect to centralizing more functions or having a shared services model may produce some economies of scale.
In the department of the executive we are looking at the business planning process, although that’s in its infancy. We’re just getting started on that.
In particular we’re looking at policy development in terms of committee structures and how we start and create a policy and bring it all the way through to approval at cabinet and all of the committees that go along there.
We’re hoping that we can find some good economies of scale there as well.
Mr. Chairman, I apologize if I’m speaking a bit too quickly.
Also, when we agreed on Sivumut Abluqta, which was tabled here in the House on March 20, 2014, all the MLAs agreed on the review of all government programs to determine what is working well, what needs improvement, and what we should stop doing.
The final question I have is: during this review, what specific programs or services have the government identified that should be removed because they no longer serve an adequate purpose?
Is there anything like that?
Mr. Chairman, the first phase identified that there are no programs that should be discontinued.
We did move over the Family Services’ division for seniors care into Health, but at this time there are no programs.
We may refine some in our contribution agreements. We certainly want to make sure that they’re all relevant to the departments and to the purpose of what the intention is to do for the people of Nunavut.
There is no program per se that is going to be discontinued at this time.
First of all, I mistakenly asked the Department of Economic Development and Transportation about the GLO position unintentionally.
Welcome, Mr. Premier along with your officials.
I have a question that I wish to raise regarding the issue stemming from our community last year and prior to that. When we have to travel outside of Canada, we require a passport identifying our citizenship.
Passport photos require a specialized camera to take a photo that is specifically designed for the passport photo size.
A person who required a passport had their photo taken with the camera used by the RCMP, but when they submitted it, they were told it was not the right type of photo and that their passport was declined.
As a result they were not able to attend the event outside of the country.
Now, in consideration of the smaller communities needing to keep up with current technological needs, specifically with respect to passport photos, and because of the fact we have antiquated equipment, I wonder if this has been taken into consideration about future cameras purchased for driver’s licences and have them include the parameters specific for passports.
The camera for driver’s licences is used just for that purpose. I wonder if a better type of camera can be used to be able to do both types of photos.
I would like to understand, which is why I am asking the question.
The GLOs are all trained up in processing passport photos. They have new equipment and new cameras. They qualify to sign the photos as legitimate.
Again, GLOs do a lot of that work and they’re the first point of contact for the government and the community. They are trained and qualified. They do have new cameras in all of our communities.
The GLOs have been doing that. Going into the future, I’m sure that the passport photo issue has been resolved.
They have new cameras, new equipment, and they’re all trained in administrating that type of photograph.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. Mr. Qirngnuq.
Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): I thank our Premier for giving me a very clear answer to that.
When I get home, I’ll help them understand it.
I don’t really have any other questions other than that, so I will just thank you.
If I’m not on the right page, please let know. I can only look at the Inuktitut copy.
On page 46 in Inuktitut, around the middle of the page, there’s a really long paragraph, but somewhere in the middle of that paragraph, I’m looking at the Inuktitut business plan on page 46.
It’s around the middle of the page and it states that in Nunavut the RCMP is going on the radio every month in all the communities and reporting on what the police had been doing the previous month.
Is this part of their responsibility for the communities, reporting back to the community as to what they do in the community, or am I asking the question at the wrong time? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I understood the committee member’s question. Although it’s not within our business plan here, it’s probably in Justice.
I do know, having been a past councillor and deputy mayor, that yes, the RCMP does report their activities monthly to the hamlet and the hamlet council.
Chairman (interpretation): Yes, it’s clear that this is a Department of Justice matter.
I will ask it to the appropriate department, so that’s it for now.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Directorate. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $3,706,000.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Strategic Planning. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted.
I just have one question in this particular area, but we will see what kind of answer we get.
Your department’s draft 2017-2020 business plan indicates that one of its priorities is to “Revise the annual Nunavut Food Price Survey and examine the possibility of conducting a reduced version of the survey on a quarterly basis.”
To what extend is your department working with the federal Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs on its review of the Nutrition North Canada Program?
I wasn’t reading off any particular page. It was just a question I had for myself. I was just hoping he would have an answer.
If he doesn’t, that’s fine.
Of course that’s one of the priorities that we have identified.
In the past I have written letters of INAC responsible for Nutrition North Canada.
I believe that we have made at least 17 different recommendations on how to improve that.
Also, through the surveys we have conducted in partnership with the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics and the departments, we intend to make sure that we come up with data that’s usable, that reflects what we’re trying to do here.
We want to make sure that we want to have data that we can use quarterly rather than annually.
If I can, Mr. Chairman, I’ll have the deputy minister elaborate more on that.
I can’t add much more than what the Premier has already suggested.
We have certainly worked within all areas of the administration to provide suggestions for improvement to the Nutrition North program. We continue to liaise with INAC and the assistant deputy minister responsible for the north through the department of the executive, but nothing further to report.
Chairman: Thank you. Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Strategic Planning.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $3,303,000.
On page B-6.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Nunavut Cabinet. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $4,403,000.
Onto page B-7.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Commissioner of Nunavut. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $299,000.
Chairman: Page B-8. Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Intergovernmental Affairs.
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This particular section deals with GLOs, so I’ll just ask a couple of questions in that area.
Just for the record, I wonder if the Premier can update us today as to which communities do not have a government liaison officer in place at this time.
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The last information I have is that all the positions have been filled. All the communities have GLOs with the exception of Iqaluit, where we do have the executive director stationed within this city.
He acts as the liaison and supervises the regional managers, who in turn manage community government liaison officers. At this point we have all positions filled.
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s good to know that they finally filled all these positions; it has been a long time.
Also, your department’s draft 2017-2020 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for the 2017-18 year is to “Enhance services to all Nunavummiut based on the results of the 360° evaluation of the Government Liaison Officer Program.” What specific service enhancements are being planned? Thank you.
At this point evaluation has not been completed.
Once that’s done, we want to ensure that we establish our priority areas for implementation of that particular task to ensure that the GLO positions be more effective and efficient in dealing with our people in the communities for services and programs that we deliver as a government.
Realizing that this report is not yet complete, I’m just wondering if, at this point in time, there are any specific services that will no longer be provided by government liaison officers.
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, we aim to enhance the delivery of programs through our GLOs, not take away some of these programs and services. This is to enhance the ability for them to provide timely and effective services to our people in the communities.
Premier and staff, good afternoon.
My questions are in the seniors’ area.
Your department’s draft 2017-2020 business plan indicates that “A Senior’s Handbook has been developed, with plans for distribution to Nunavut communities.”
As of today what is the status of this initiative?
I appreciate the question from the committee member. Absolutely the handbook is completed.
It’s complete. I intend to table that on Monday. That should be distributed throughout all our communities in all official languages.
After that’s done, we’re going to distribute big-font documents where the visually impaired can have access to reading all the programs in all official languages.
Again, that certainly will enhance and make the programs more effective and have all the seniors at least understand that there are programs out there within the government.
There are many programs in many departments. Through this handbook, with the help of GLOs and the hamlets, they will certainly be able to understand what programs they qualify for.
Is the government currently reviewing the issue of harmonizing the age at which residents are considered to be “seniors” for the purpose of eligibility for certain government programs and services?
We quickly looked at that and realized that it will be very difficult to harmonize the age.
As the committee member well knows, in Canada the federal government is 65; probably going to be 67 within a few short years.
In NTI it’s 55.
In our government here 65 is a senior and an elder, but the eligibility criteria in the programs would state at what age you qualify for a senior for the seniors’ programs.
Most programs have an eligibility age requirement of 60.
It will clearly state in these programs where seniors may qualify is at age 60, but age 65 is the federal number, which may at one point change going into the future to 67.
At this point we’re not going to harmonize the age because we do have eligibility criteria built into our programs.
On March 16 of 2016 the Legislative Assembly passed a formal motion which recommended that the Government of Nunavut “develop an updated and comprehensive strategy and action plan to address the needs of Nunavut’s elders...” When will this be ready for tabling in the Legislative Assembly?
I appreciate the committee member’s question on that.
Again, on Monday I’ll be tabling the strategic framework which will initiate the process of coming up with a strategy for the territory.
We intend to consult with our partners to ensure that the strategy is going to be something that’s workable.
We’re going to have action plans and implementation plans in it. I’ll be tabling the framework this coming Monday.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Intergovernmental Affairs. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $5,982,000.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Page B-9.
Sivumuaqatigiit. Total Operations and Maintenance. Mr. Joanasie.
Welcome, Premier, Mr. D’Arcy, and Ms. Mearns.
I’m going to start off on… . I asked the Minister of Finance on the Language Incentive Program. As I recall, I asked the minister questions I think it was last year too on the same topic. (interpretation) Now where is it?
(interpretation ends) I’ll start off with this, the government’s staffing division.
It’s located in the Department of Finance, we know, and the government’s Inuit employment initiatives are located under your department, EIA.
How often do your two departments meet on Inuit employment targets or to coordinate initiatives?
Mr. Chairman, there are many partners that we do have with the federal government, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and our agency partners.
Mr. Chairman, if I can have Ms. Mearns respond to that question in detail.
Ms. Mearns.
Ms. Mearns: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs works with all departments and agencies across the Government of Nunavut and in particular the Department of Finance on employment initiatives.