EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I don’t know if that’s something that they have a subcontractor coming in to do and they’re having to wait until that subcontract work is completed before the local crews start again, but I will commit to looking into it and letting the member know.
Question 093 – 3(2): Former Deputy Minister of Justice (Okalik)
I would like to again direct my question to the Premier.
Just recently, when we were reading the legislative requirements for drafting a bill, we found out that the Deputy Minister of Justice is no longer with the department.
When senior positions are vacated, the news is generally announced in territorial news, which is the practice of most governments.
Why was this done secretly? Why was the deputy released without the usual procedures being followed?
I know that he is totally aware of the usual procedures followed when dealing with human resource issues at the government levels and what has to be undertaken when handling these types of employee issues.
Since I took on this portfolio, I had set up the Senior Personnel Secretariat.
I meet with them to discuss staff issues and the members of this Senior Personnel Secretariat. Government House Leader Louis Tapardjuk and the Minister of Finance are also members of this secretariat.
In regard to dealing with staff issues, the information about staff is confidential. I know that the member understands all of this.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Madam Premier.
I know that it’s very terrible to deal with these issues, but we do need to let our constituencies know why we acted in such a manner.
I didn’t get a response as to why this was done secretly. We need to be open to the public and to our government partners who need to go through this office.
There was no answer provided on why they had to change the deputy minister. Why did you not conduct yourself in a transparent manner that would have allowed people to know?
When you are in the role of the Premier, you need to deal with these types of public issues.
I believe that we did the work properly.
I also stated earlier that when we deal with personnel issues, it’s confidential and not public information.
Mr. Speaker, I also would like to say that we have an interim deputy minister for the time being. The position will be open to the public through job ads. Once this process is completed, we will be able to announce the successful candidate.
It is not complete yet.
I just wanted to ask why this was done in secrecy when we continue to push for transparency about how the government operates.
We had to find out through different channels about this deputy minister who no longer holds their job. Why did the government conduct itself in this manner?
This should not be the practice of the government, as we ought to inform the public when senior management positions, such as ADMs and DMs, are released. We should provide a press release to inform the public as to what the reasons were for their release.
These are my questions. Why did you conduct yourself in secrecy? Why was this practice abandoned?
I don’t believe that we changed anything as we are still conducting the daily government business.
I don’t make choices unilaterally in these cases, as I have informed him about the Senior Personnel Secretariat that provides advice.
If the member remembers, there were six or seven different deputy ministers of Health and Social Services that were removed under his watch. It’s likewise with this position. I know that the member understands all of this.
I also know that it’s not good to move deputy ministers too frequently for the sake of continuity.
So therefore, we just follow the guidelines and we will announce who will be getting that job.
In the past, many deputy ministers were removed from their positions and I cannot go back to them, but I had to make a report as to why we had done that, why they had to be removed, or why they removed themselves from the position.
I had to announce and make a report to the public any time we needed to change our deputy ministers.
This was done secretly, so my question is why this was done secretly.
Yes, we had to deal with many individuals like that, but we did it in an open forum.
Why was this done secretly?
As I said earlier, when we deal with staff, there is personal information that we cannot disclose.
If I say it in English, (interpretation ends) it’s confidential information.
(interpretation) I know that the member removed the Deputy Minister of Justice too and he never announced why he had removed Nora from the deputy minister’s position for the Department of Justice.
He knows exactly what is to be done.
I would also like to state again that we dealt with it along with the Senior Personnel Secretariat; I didn’t deal with it personally. We dealt with this following all of the guidelines.
If there are no more Oral Questions, (interpretation ends) Item 7. Written Questions.
Return to Written Question 001 – 3(2): Employment of Agency Nurses (Deputy Clerk)
Deputy Clerk (Ms. Tupik): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am tabling the Return to Written Question 1 – 3(2) filed with the Office of the Clerk by the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Tabled Document 046 – 3(2): Response to Petition 1 – 3(2) Proposed Sylvia Grinnell Bridge (Deputy Clerk)
Deputy Clerk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a response to Petition 1 – 3(2) filed with the Office of the Clerk by the Minister of Environment.
Tabled Document 047 – 3(2): Qulliq Energy Corporation Inuit Employment Plan (Okalik)
I would like to table a document on the report of the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s Inuit Employment *See Appendix for full text of Return to Written Question 1 – 3(2) filed with the Clerk.
Plan for 2009-2013. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you. Can I have the document brought forward, please.
Tabled Document 048 – 3(2): 2007-2008 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services (Curley)
Tabled Document 049 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services (Curley)
I wish to table the 2007-08 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to table the 2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services.
Tabled Document 050 – 3(2): Deputy Minister of Justice Resigns (Okalik)
I would like to table a document from May 2004 in regard to the reasons why the Deputy Minister of Justice was released.
This is an example of how the government dealt with past deputy ministers and how the press release ought to look like. They may use it in the future.
Bill 06 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 5, 2007-2008 – Notice
Bill 07 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2008-2009 – Notice
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Notice
Bill 09 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2009-2010 – Notice
Bill 10 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010 – Notice
Bill 13 – An Act to Amend the Retirement Plan Beneficiaries Act – Notice
I have a number of items to read and I will read them all at the same time.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 26, 2009, that Bill 6, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 5, 2007-2008, be read for the first time.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 26, 2009, that Bill 7, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 4, 2008-2009, be read for the first time.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 26, 2009, that Bill 8, Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011, be read for the first time.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 26, 2009, that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 1, 2009-2010, be read for the first time.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 26, 2009, that Bill 10, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010, be read for the first time.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 26, 2009, that Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Retirement Plan Beneficiaries Act, be read for the first time.
Item 17. First Reading of Bills. Minister of Finance, Hon. Keith Peterson.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 6, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 5, 2007-2008.
The minister is seeking consent to waive the two-day waiting rule so that Bill 6 can be read today for the first time.
Bill 06 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 5, 2007-2008 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 6, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 5, 2007-2008, be read for the first time.
Question has been called. All those in favour, raise your hand. Opposed.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 7, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 4, 2008-2009.
The minister is seeking consent to waive the two-day waiting rule so that Bill 7 can be read today for the first time.
Minister, please proceed.
Bill 07 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2008-2009 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 7, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 4, 2008-2009, be read for the first time.
I’m getting a workout today.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 8, Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011.
The minister is seeking consent to waive the two-day waiting rule so that Bill 8 can be read for the first time.
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 8, Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011, be read for the first time.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 1, 2009-2010.
The minister is seeking consent to waive the two-day waiting rule so that Bill 9 can be read for the first time.
Bill 09 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2009-2010 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 1, 2009-2010, be read for the first time.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 10, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010.
The minister is seeking consent to waive the two-day waiting rule so that Bill 10 can be read for the first time today.
Bill 10 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010 – First Reading
I thank my colleagues for helping with this.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 10, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010, be read for the first time.
Item 18. Second Reading of Bills. Minister of Finance, Hon. Keith Peterson.
Bill 06 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 5, 2007-2008 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 6, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 5, 2007-2008, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the operations and maintenance expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Second Reading of Bills. Minister of Finance, Hon. Keith Peterson.
Bill 07 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2008-2009 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 7, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 4, 2008-2009, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the operations and maintenance expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.
Opposed. The motion is carried. Bills 6 and 7 are referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 8, Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of Nunavut to make capital expenditures for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. The motion is in order.
The motion is carried and Bill 8 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 09 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2009-2010 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 1, 2009-2010, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of Nunavut and reduces certain appropriations to defray the operations and maintenance expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010.
The motion is carried and Bill 9 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 10 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010 – Second Reading
This is my last time standing up today.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 10, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of Nunavut and reduces certain appropriations to defray the capital expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010.
The motion is carried. Bill 10 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Motion 008 – 3(2): Early Adjournment (Pauloosie)
Mr. Pauloosie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pursuant to Rule 46, I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Amittuq, that the House adjourn for the day.
Speaker: Thank you, Member. The motion is in order.
We will now proceed directly to Item 22 on the order paper.
I have meeting announcements for tomorrow, Wednesday, November 25: chairs of standing committees meeting at 8:45 a.m. in the Nanuq Room, Regular Members’ Caucus at 9:00 a.m. in the Nanuq Room and another one at 10:00 a.m. in the Nanuq Room with the Minister of Finance.
Orders of the Day for November 25:
This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, November 25, at 1:30 p.m. Thank you.
>>House adjourned at 14:47 Appendix – November 24, 2009  Return to Written Question 001 – 3(2): Employment of Agency Nurses
Asked by: Moses Aupaluktuq, MLA (Baker Lake)
Asked of: Hon. Tagak Curley, Minister of Health and Social Services
Date: June 9, 2009
The Department does not track the number of individual agency nurses contracted.
However, an annual estimate of agency nurse employment based on person years is available.
In order to estimate the number of person years for agency nurses, the Department estimated the average daily costs per agency nurse, using some assumptions, and applied it to the known total costs of agency nurses.
The 2008/09 estimate may be subject to change, as the departmental year end reconciliation is in progress.
Fiscal Year
# of Person Years for Agency Nurses
00-01
04-05
06-07
The chart below reflects the amount spent by the Department on agency nurses.
The 2008/09 totals are estimates as the departmental year end reconciliation is in progress.
Total Agency Nurse Costs
4,319,100
4,115,500
6,585,400
7,478,200
13,579,800
18,200,700
16,840,400
20,404,500
The Department does not pay bonuses to Agency Nurses.
The charts below represent the number of vacant full-time nursing positions for each fiscal year from 1999/00 to 2008/09.
Community statistics on the number of vacant positions from 1999 to fiscal year 2007/08 are not available.
The information for those time frames is available by region, with the exception of 1999 and 2000 where no data is available.
Statistics on the number of vacant positions for fiscal year 2007/08 and 2008/09 are provided by community.
Nursing Vacancies by Region
Baffin (incl. Iqaluit)
Nursing Vacancies by Community
Arctic Bay
Resolute Bay
The Department is undertaking an evaluation of the Nunavut Nursing  Recruitment and Retention Strategy to get a better understanding of the cost
effectiveness of the investments made, in order to make changes and
improvements.  As part of the evaluation, the Department is collecting and analyzing data in key areas such as the number of indeterminate nurse hires from August 2008 to August 2009.
The Department is reviewing all recruitment and promotion initiatives undertaken such as the new website, brochures, advertisements, job and career fairs, and classroom presentations. Additional initiatives, such as the Professional Development Initiative, and education and training delivered by Nunavut Arctic College will be examined to assess impact.
Trends in the use of agency nurses will be also reviewed, and recommendations made to reduce costs in this area.
Finally, barriers to the attainment of the goals and recommendations contained in the Nunavut Nursing Recruitment and Retention Strategy will be identified and recommendations on overcoming these challenges will be presented.
As the Collective Agreement between the Government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Employees Union was ratified by its members in June 2008, the Strategy did not really start its implementation until early August 2008 therefore, the evaluation will cover the period from August 2008 to August 2009.
It should also be noted that not all anticipated benefits from the Strategy will be fully realized as a result.
The evaluation should be completed in the fall of 2009.
The attached charts break down, by fiscal year and community, where data is available, the number of family physicians and specialists days.
Family Physicians Days
3,160
2,756
3,481
2,731
1,384
Specialist Days– Psychiatrists, Internal Medicine, etc.
1,010
The following efforts are being undertaken by the Department for the recruitment and retention of Physicians in Nunavut:
A Physician Recruitment Website has been established to recruit physicians. The website contains information regarding qualifications and licensing, opportunities, as well as testimonials from other physicians.
The website can be viewed at www.nunavut-physicians.gov.nu.ca;
The Department runs ads in major national medical publications: Canadian Medical Association Journal, Canadian Family Physician, and the Medical Post;
Word of mouth through current and previous physicians in the territory to friends and colleagues;
A testimonial campaign;
Recruitment flyers were sent to all of the faculties of medicine across the country, in French and English;
The Department funds attendance of recruiters at physician conferences in many parts of Canada;  The Department offers financial support to physicians who present papers and workshops on medical care in Nunavut at important national and international conferences;
The Department currently has return of service contracts in which physicians in training are committed to provide 3-6 years of service in Nunavut once they have completed their programs;
Introduction of flexible physician contracts which permit some freedom in scheduling, as well as competitive compensation.
Staffing requirements for nurses in Nunavut’s communities were originally determined by the federal government’s nurse staffing model that the Government of Nunavut adopted from the GNWT.
This model has been in use for many years.
Over the coming year, the Department will be conducting an analysis of nursing service staffing levels in the territory, as well as the mix and staffing levels of other health professionals to determine an appropriate staffing model for use throughout the territory.
Staffing requirements for family physicians in Iqaluit are dependant on the number of physicians required to provide all emergency services available at the Qikiqtani General Hospital (i.e. emergency department, obstetrics, inpatient care anesthesia), plus the number needed to run the clinic at the hospital.
In Iqaluit family physicians provide primary care.
For all other communities, where primary care is provided by Community Health Nurses, staffing levels are determined by the size of the population. For instance, a community with a population of 1,000 will get 65 days of service per year (1 Doctor X 5 days X 13 weeks).
This model is employed widely across northern Canada when planning for physician services.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Pages 564 – 620
Opening Prayer 564
Ministers’ Statements 564
Members’ Statements 568
Returns to Oral Questions 573
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 574
Oral Questions 575
Petitions 593
Tabling of Documents 593
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 594
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 595
Report of the Committee of the Whole 619
Orders of the Day 620
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 564
040 – 3(2): Update on Fiscal Status and Capital Estimates (Peterson) 564
041 – 3(2): Education Act Implementation Workshop (Tapardjuk) 565
042 – 3(2): H1N1 Flu Virus (Curley) 566
043 – 3(2): Ministers Announce Funding for Cyber Infrastructure Project (Shewchuk) 567
044 – 3(2): Qulliq Energy Corporation Accomplishment: Apprenticeship Boot Camp (Tootoo) 568
066 – 3(2): Escorts for Patients (Ningark) 568
067 – 3(2): Pond Inlet Sports Arena Announcement (Arvaluk) 569
068 – 3(2): Sport and Recreation: Ensuring Equal Opportunity (Elliott) 570
069 – 3(2): A Warm Welcome to Air Canada Jazz (Okalik) 571
070 – 3(2): Update on the New School for Coral Harbour (Ningeongan) 572
071 – 3(2): Opening of the Gjoa Haven Continuing Care Facility (Pauloosie) 572
072 – 3(2): Passing of Mrs. Ukpik Patiq (Kusugak) 573
Return to Oral Question 093 – 3(2): Former Deputy Minister of Justice (Aariak) 573
094 – 3(2): Qulliq Energy Corporation’s Inuit Employment Plan (Okalik) 575
095 – 3(2): Escorts for Patients (Ningark) 578
096 – 3(2): Inuit Employment Plan (Elliott) 581
097 – 3(2): Inuit Employment Plan (Arvaluk) 584
098 – 3(2): Fuel Delivery Situation in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt) 586
099 – 3(2): Confirmed New Cases of H1N1 (Elliott) 588
100 – 3(2): Faulty New Holland Equipment (Schell) 588
101 – 3(2): Inuit Employment Plan (Okalik) 589
102 – 3(2): Garage for New Grader in Chesterfield Inlet (Ningeongan) 591
002 – 3(2): Resolute Bay Utilidor (Elliott) 593
051 – 3(2): Transcript of the September 30, 2009, Meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (Aupaluktuq) 593
052 – 3(2): FPT Ministers of Health Meeting (Curley) 593
053 – 3(2): 2007-2008 Grants and Contribution Report (Peterson) 594
054 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Grants and Contribution Report (Peterson) 594
055 – 3(2): Letter from Hamlet of Resolute Bay Supporting Utilidor Petition (Elliott) 594
056 – 3(2): 2007-2008 Public Accounts (Peterson) 594
057 – 3(2): Aerial Photograph of the New Arctic Bay Airport (Elliott) 594
Bill 12 – Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan Protection Act – Notice 594
Bill 21 – An Act to Amend the Utility Rates Review Council Act – Notice 594
Bill 14 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2009, No. 2 – Notice 595
Bill 18 – Language Statutes Amendment Act – Notice 595
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Community and Government Services – Consideration in Committee 595
Speaker (Hon. James Arreak) (interpretation): Thank you. Before we proceed, I would like to ask Mr. Ningark to say the opening prayer.
A very good afternoon, Premier, Ministers, and Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I wish our guests a wonderful afternoon. I send my regards to Nunavummiut and the people of Qikiqtarjuaq.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Keith Peterson.
Minister’s Statement 040 – 3(2): Update on Fiscal Status and Capital Estimates (Peterson)
This past year has been challenging for the global economy.
Throughout this economic uncertainty, our government continues to provide programs and services to Nunavummiut while carefully monitoring the fiscal situation.
Mr. Speaker, we are currently projecting a deficit of $30.1 million based on October 31 results.
This amount is slightly higher than the projected deficit of $29.1 million detailed in the main estimates tabled in June.