EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Potential protocols will take into account relevant legislation such as the Communicable Diseases Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act as well as Nunavut’s unique needs.
Once approved by the Executive Council, the Government of Nunavut will table the protocols in the Legislative Assembly.”
The standing committee recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services ensure that establishing an information system to track and report on the health status of Nunavummiut is a departmental priority.
As noted during the Auditor General’s appearance, having current data on health and social indicators will not only allow the government to identify emerging trends and be more proactive, but will also promote, through education and awareness, the ability to make better lifestyle choices amongst the population.
Program Coordination
Mr. Speaker, although the Auditor General’s report focused primarily on services delivered by the Department of Health and Social Services, there was also discussion of the coordination of programs, services, and resources with the departments of Education, Justice and Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
The primary observation made in the Auditor General’s report is that “a formal coordinated approach to children, youth and family programming is lacking.”
Mr. Speaker, given the limited resources available to the Government of Nunavut as a whole, it is important that efforts be made to maximize what is available to deliver services in the most efficient, effective, and economical manner.
The standing committee recognizes that a number of committees and working groups have been established by the government in recent years to address common concerns across departmental mandates.
However, it is not always clear whether these entities have made measurable progress in achieving results.
The Auditor General’s report also discusses steps that have been taken to address issues with respect to such matters as working relationships between the divisions of the Department of Health and Social Services.
In light of the government’s recent announcement in the 2011 Budget Address that it will be reviewing its organizational structure, the standing committee recommends that that the benefits of dividing Health and Social Services into two distinct departments will be taken into consideration.
The standing committee notes that the Department of Health and Social Services has already made a number of significant efforts to address shortcomings with regard to interdepartmental communications.
Members of the standing committee were further pleased to note that efforts to improve communication and coordination between the four departments have been renewed.
It was also noted that the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, with its Social Advocacy Office, and the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, with its Anti-Poverty Secretariat, should both be involved in any comprehensive policy shifts which relate to services provided to children, youth, and families across Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, during her appearance before the standing committee, the Auditor General made an important observation when she stated that “Nunavut faces many challenges that the other provinces and territories have to a lesser degree, issues like overcrowding in housing; issues of poverty.
We talk in here about the number of families that have challenges with adequate supply of food.
We see as well, a large incidence of substance abuse.
All of these, I think, are related issues and questions of protection of children obviously come into that.”
Mr. Speaker, the standing committee strongly agrees that the need for services for children, youth, and families in Nunavut are affected and, in some cases, driven by a number of differing social factors.
Committee members recognize that government as a whole needs to collaborate on addressing all of these issues to ensure a more safe, secure, and healthy society.
Accordingly, the standing committee recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services address the following areas for action:
The importance of responding to the standing committee’s specific recommendations noted above.
The importance of resolving capacity issues.
The standing committee recognizes that the severe shortage of personnel for providing child and family services has an impact on the practice of delivering those services.
A number of aspects related to the hiring of social workers should be taken into account, such as reviewing the hiring criteria and workload pressures on current staff.
The importance of making training and supports available and accessible to staff.
Adequate resources and funding must to be allocated to this objective.
The importance of recording and collecting accurate and detailed information, analyzing it, and identifying potential areas for proactive interventions, either at the individual, community, or territorial level.
The importance of investing in appropriate information management and reporting systems, and providing the training to manage those systems.
The importance of encouraging and supporting communities, families, and individuals to take on more responsibility for providing children with safe, secure, and healthy homes.
The importance of setting short-, medium-, and long-term objectives, including establishing the means to measure progress in achieving those objectives.
Mr. Speaker, I will now conclude by noting that the standing committee, pursuant to Rule 91(5), formally requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days.
The member has moved that the report of the standing committee be received by the House. Do members agree?
Speaker: It has been agreed to.
The report has been and will be received by the House.
Tabled Document 066 – 3(3): Uranium in Nunavut Review - February 2011 (Aariak)
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to table the Uranium in Nunavut Review - February 2011. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 067 – 3(3): Excerpt from 2011-2014 Business Plan of the Nunavut Housing Corporation (Rumbolt)
Yesterday both the Minister of Housing and I clearly proved that nobody is perfect, even MLAs.
In my questions to the minister and his responses to me, we both referred to the Nunavut Housing Corporation completing its review of the public housing rent scale by September of 2011.
In reviewing the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s business plan, I note that the corporation actually indicates that it “expects to have the review completed by Spring 2011,” which ends within the next two weeks.
To clarify the record, I am tabling a short extract from the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s business plan.
Tabled Document 068 – 3(3): FrontLine Defence Magazine - Northwest Passage Unguarded: Thinking Outside the Igloo (Elliott)
Tabled Document 069 – 3(3): Article from Saturday Sun on “Best Before Dates” (Elliott)
I would like to table this article from FrontLine Defence Magazine written by Col. Pierre Leblanc, retired.
The article is an opinion piece on expanding the important role of the Canadian Rangers. I am sure all members will appreciate reading this piece.
As well, for the benefit of all members, I wish to table an article concerning the issue of best-before dates. As members will recall, this was an issue that was raised during the recent hearings on the Nutrition North Canada Program.
Please have one of the pages bring those documents to the front.
Tabled Document 070 – 3(3): Nunavut Liquor Commission Annual Report 2008-2009 (Peterson)
I am pleased to table the Nunavut Liquor Commission Annual Report for 2008-2009.
Minister of Culture, Language, Elders, and Youth, Minister Arreak.
Tabled Document 071 – 3(3): 2008-2009 Annual Report under the Inuit Language Protection Act (Arreak)
Tabled Document 072 – 3(3): 2009-2010 Annual Report under the Inuit Language Protection Act (Arreak)
Tabled Document 073 – 3(3): Uqausivut, the Proposed Comprehensive Plan Pursuant to the Languages Acts, 2011-2014 (Arreak)
Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Languages, I am pleased to table the 2008-2009 Annual Report under the Inuit Language Protection Act.
Also, Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Languages, I am pleased to table the 2009-2010 Annual Report under the Inuit Language Protection Act.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to table Uqausivut, the Proposed Comprehensive Plan Pursuant to the Languages Acts, 2011-2014.
Tabled Document 074 – 3(3): Dry Cargo Resupply Program, Activity Summary, Shipping Year 2010 (Kusugak)
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to table the Dry Cargo Resupply Program, Activity Summary, Shipping Year 2010.
Item 13. Tabling of Documents. Minister of Environment, Minister Shewchuk.
Tabled Document 075 – 3(3): Upagiaqtavut, Setting the Course, Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in Nunavut (Shewchuk)
I am pleased to table the Upagiaqtavut¸ Setting the Course, Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in Nunavut.
Tabled Document 076 – 3(3): Proposed Family Support Orders Enforcement Act (Peterson)
I am pleased to table the proposed Family Support Orders Enforcement Act.
Tabling of Documents. I have a couple of documents that I would like to table.
Tabled Document 077 – 3(3): Report on Members’ Attendance - January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 078 – 3(3): Language Plan of the Office of the Legislative Assembly (Speaker)
I wish to table the record of members’ absences from the sitting of the House and meetings of committees and caucuses for the period of January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011 to Members of the Third Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
I would also like to table the Language Plan of the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
Motion 009 – 3(3): Appointment of a Ministerial Member of the Management and Services Board (Aariak)
(interpretation ends) WHEREAS section 38 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides that the Management and Services Board shall be composed of the Speaker, one minister, and three members other than the Deputy Speaker;
AND WHEREAS there is presently a vacancy in the Management and Services Board;
It looks like it’s passed unanimously.
Motion 010 – 3(3): Appointment of an Alternate Ministerial Member of the Management and Services Board (Aariak)
WHEREAS section 38 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides for the appointment of an alternate ministerial member of the Management and Services Board;
There could be interesting meetings of the Management and Services Board now in the springtime of the year with those two members at the table.
Congratulations, gentlemen.
Bills 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 with Mr. Tapardjuk in the Chair.
Before we proceed to the Committee of the Whole, we will take a 25-minute break.
>>House recessed at 15:43 and Committee resumed at 16:17
Chairman (Mr. Tapardjuk) (interpretation): Thank you for coming to the committee meeting.
My colleagues, before we begin, we have two pages from Igloolik, Emily Qattalik, who is elsewhere right now, and Paul Silas Uyarak. They have been excellent pages this week and I wanted to acknowledge them while I was Chair of the Committee of the Whole. Thank you for doing such a great job.
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bill 6, Bill 7, Bill 8, Bill 9, and Bill 10. What is the wish of the committee?
Today we wish to commence our review of Bills 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Are we agreed that we first deal with Bill 6, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital)?
Bill 06 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2011-2012 – Consideration in Committee
Mr. Peterson, Minister of Finance, you may begin with your opening comments.
I am pleased to present Bill 6, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2011-2012.
Bill 6 appropriates $113,210,000 of additional capital funding in 2011-12. Some of the key line items consist of:
$77,620,000 for departmental 2010-11 capital carryovers to 2011-12;
$24 million for the Nunavut Housing Corporation to fund a portion of the projected cost overrun on the Affordable Housing Initiative;
$4,190,000 for the Government of Nunavut’s 2011-12 funding for the Building Canada Fund initiatives;
$3,200,000 for the Department of Community and Government Services to fund the installation and completion of the WAN-LAN-MAN networking infrastructure project;
$3 million for the Department of Community and Government Services for the Arviat Emergency Water Supply project; and
$1,200,000 for the Department of Community and Government Services for the acquisition of eight mobile gravel screeners from the Public Transit Capital Trust.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Yes, Mr. Chairman, I would.
To my right is Chris D’Arcy, Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance, and to my left is Jeff Chown, Comptroller General.
Welcome, Deputy Minister D’Arcy and Mr. Chown.
We will move on to questions. If you have any questions, please ask the questions in the appropriate pages. That would be much appreciated.
Before we begin the page-by-page review, are there any general comments?
No one has their hand up for general comments, so we will start with page 4.
Nunavut government’s 2011-12 supplementary appropriation. The first item is the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
Capital. $1,683,000.
Not Previously Authorized. Do you agree?
Total Capital. Legislative Assembly. $1,683,000.
Moving on to page 5.
Department of Finance. Capital.
Total Centrally Administered Funds. $1,751,000.
Total Finance. $1,751,000.
Turn to page 6. Capital. Justice.
Directorate. Not Previously Authorized. $133,000.
Justice. Corrections. Capital.
Not Previously Authorized. $10,995,000.
Total Justice. Capital.
Not Previously Authorized. $11,128,000.
Directorate. $318,000.
Total Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Not Previously Authorized. $318,000.
Go on to the next page. Page 8.
Education. Capital.
Total Corporate Services. $3,911,000.
Education. Total Capital. $3,911,000.
Turn to page 9. Health and Social Services. Capital.
Total Directorate. $3,472,000. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Health and Social Services. Capital. $3,472,000.
Turn to page 10.
Environment. Capital. Total Program Management. $1,136,000.
Total Environment. Capital. $1,136,000.
Turn to page 13.
Total Capital Planning. $45,850,000. Not Previously Authorized.
Petroleum Products Division. Total Petroleum Products. Not Previously Authorized. $3,461,000.
Total Community and Government Services. $49,311,000.
Turn to page 14.
While we’re on page 14, my questions concern the Chesterfield Inlet Airport Equipment Shelter project.
As the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation will recall, I asked him questions on the status of this project at our sitting of March 2, 2011. At that time, he indicated that the bids received for this project were over budget and that the department would be issuing a new tender for the project, which would close on March 8, 2011.
Can the minister update me on the results of the new tender for the Chesterfield Inlet Airport Equipment Shelter project?
I have asked all of the ministers to be present if there are some detailed questions on their items in this bill.
I defer that question to Minister Taptuna.
At the last question at one of the standing committee meetings that we did, I indicated that yes, the process of tendering out the bid was retracted and I had indicated that the bids were all over budget. Since that time, we have amended and changed the scope of that tender and that has been awarded at this time.
In English, (interpretation ends) “… revise the scope of this project” (interpretation) is how it’s worded.
Regarding the planned airport equipment shelter, was its construction going to be changed because its original estimate was too high?
Should the Chesterfield Inlet people expect a new scope of work or is it going to remain the same?
The revised scope of a contract usually means that the building of the infrastructure is usually broken down into other manageable components of the building. So the revision of a contract is more or less separated from the actual building of the contract. There could be different components of it, such as electrical or plumbing, and that has been broken down, and usually that’s the meaning of the revision of the scope of the infrastructure.
For the benefit of my colleagues and those council members who may be tuned into this Committee of the Whole sitting, earlier this year, I made a Member’s Statement in the Legislative Assembly in which I expressed my frustrations about how the government communicates with MLAs and communities when changes are made to the timeline and scope of capital projects. Can the minister explain the process by which his department works with the Department of Community and Government Services when major changes are made to his capital projects, and can he explain how the government is working to provide more timely information to MLAs and municipalities?
Minister Taptuna, it’s up to you if you wish to respond.
Yes, the department works very closely with CGS in delivering these contracts, managing these contracts, and whatnot. At times, there are revisions and timelines change when the bids are over budget.
As you know, Mr. Chairman, most are approved through the House here for some of the contracts that do go out there.
It’s one of those things where the departments work very closely to make sure that the contracts do stay within budget.
I understand the frustrations of the member there, but in most cases, the contract is looked at by both departments to try and come up with an alternative timeframe.
Usually it’s within the same shipping season.
Yes, I agree, some of these decisions that are made have to be communicated to the hamlets on a more expedient basis.
I also want to express to Minister Peterson and his officials my thanks for appearing before the committee.
Mr. Chairman, I have a question I want directed to and hopefully answered by the Minister for Economic Development and Transportation. I want the residents of Baker Lake, including the local organizations, to hear directly from the minister about the planned renovation of our airport.
Will renovations be done at our local airport and, if so, what will be renovated?
As I stated yesterday, we managed to obtain $5 million from the Building Canada Fund to upgrade the airstrip in Baker Lake. That’s mainly to do with access ways and taxiways to provide for safer operations of that.
Are there any further questions? If there are none, we will go to page 14. Transportation.
Capital. Total Transportation. $11,081,000. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Transportation. Capital. $11,081,000.
Nunavut Housing Corporation. Total Nunavut Housing Corporation. Not Previously Authorized. $24 million.
Chairman (interpretation): Total Nunavut Housing Corporation. $24 million. Do you agree?
Detail of expenditures. Total Supplementary Appropriation. $110,791,000.
Go to Bill 6 in your white legislation binder. (interpretation ends) Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1 in your white binder. (interpretation) I will wait until you find it. Bill 6 in your white legislation binder.
I’m sure you have found it. (interpretation ends) Clause 1. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Schedule. Total Supplementary Appropriation. $110,791,000.
There are 10 items in there. Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Clause 6. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Does the committee agree to Bill 6 as a whole?
Pursuant to Rule 62(2), are you agreed that Bill 6 can immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
This bill is ready for third reading.
Minister Peterson, Minister of Finance, if you have opening comments on Bill 7, the floor is yours.
Bill 07 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 5, 2010-2011 – Consideration in Committee
I am here to present Bill 7, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 5, 2010-2011.
Bill 7 appropriates $13,120,000 in additional operations and maintenance funding for 2010-11.
This $13,120,000 is being appropriated to the Department of Finance to enable the Qulliq Energy Corporation to offset the revenue shortfall for the 2010-11 General Rate Application test year.
Are there any general comments before we review the bill clause by clause?
We will go to (interpretation ends) page 4. Bill 7. (interpretation) Finance.
Operations and Maintenance. 2010-11 Supplementary Appropriation, Operations and Maintenance, No. 5.
Total Qulliq Energy Corporation.
Not Previously Authorized. $13,120,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Total Department. $13,120,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Go back to page 2. 2010-11 Supplementary Appropriation, Operations and Maintenance, No. 5.
There are 13 items on Schedule 1. $13,120,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Bill 7 in your white binder. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) Clause 1. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 2. (interpretation): Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Also on page 2. Schedule.
Supplementary Amounts Appropriated for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2011. $13,120,000.
Do you agree to Bill 7 as a whole?
Chairman (interpretation): Pursuant to Rule 62(2), do we agree that Bill 7 can immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
This bill is ready for third reading and it will be placed on the orders of the day.
Minister Peterson, if you have opening comments for Bill 8, the floor is yours.
Bill 08 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2011-2012 – Consideration in Committee
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Members again.
I am pleased to present Bill 8, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No.1, 2011-2012.
Bill 8 appropriates $19,570,000 in additional operations and maintenance funding for 2011-12.
Some of the key line items consist of:
$7,320,000 for the departments and territorial corporations to mitigate the financial impact of the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s 18.88 percent base rate increase effective April 1, 2011;
$5,711,000 to the Department of Education to provide funding for base wage increases as a result of a new four-year collective agreement with the Nunavut Teachers Association;
$2,289,000 to the Department of Justice to fund a shortfall in the law enforcement contract for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police;
$2,210,000 to the Department of Economic Development and Transportation and the Department of Environment for various community and economic initiatives;
$1,805,000 for the Nunavut Housing Corporation to fund various initiatives related to governance, staffing, reorganization, and municipal services; and
$235,000 to the Department of Education to provide funding for a future daycare facility in Igloolik.
Are there any general comments before we begin the page-by-page review?
We will start off on page 4. Page 4.
Bill 8. 2011-12 Supplementary Appropriation, Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized. Operations and Maintenance, No.1.
Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized. Total Operations and Maintenance. $1,177,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Total Department. $1,177,000.
Turn to page 5. Justice. Operations and Maintenance.
Yesterday in Committee of the Whole, I was a bit ahead of myself and the finance minister indicated that this was a question for the appropriate minister, for the Department of Justice.
Since both ministers are here, I would like to ask: with the amount of $2,289,000 in the shortfall in the law enforcement contract, what does that entail and why would this be needed?
Mr. Chairman, the funding is required to assist the RCMP with their additional policing costs related to recruitment, wages, benefits, and transporting RCMP officers and their families between communities when they transfer.