EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
One of the members wanted to say something.
I would point out that EIA has 18% in the directorate so each department is organized in a way that it feels it is most efficient that works for them.
So each department varies in the directorate.
So the comparison with other departments, I just don’t want to compare Executive & Intergovernmental Affairs or other departments that are higher or lower.
I'll go back to Mr. Arvaluk.
Maybe the comparison was wrong.
But I guess what I am saying is that Executive & Intergovernmental Affairs has a very small staff and that the Department of Health and Social Services is very big.
But it is percentage wise a very big department.
That directorate is at 14%.
It is very high. It is in the neighbourhood of 8 million 693 thousand dollars.
I guess it is efficiencies but to me it is little bit top heavy.
But it is just a concern that we can look at in future.
The grants and contribution we talked about earlier for example.
Not just the Headquarters function but it is the functions that are directed from the Headquarters.
So as an example, the Nunavut Nursing Program, the CHR training, Community Council funding, Information Technology, Information systems contract, our Director of Finance and Operations, Recruitment would also be in the Directorate.
Health insurance programs would be there.
So there is a group of different contracts and so on that are also included in the directorate.
It shows a higher percentage in comparison probably to some of the other directorate functions in government.
I'll go back to Health and Social Services.
Total operations and maintenance, 119 million 164 thousand agreed.
Total expenditures, 123 million 364 thousand.
We have completed the main estimates for Health and Social Services.
I’d like to thank the minister and his officials for appearing in front of the Committee.
If you have any closing remarks.
Mr. Chairman, I’d just like to thank the Committee and the members.
Mr. Chairman, when the Premier asked me to take over this department two years ago I didn't know what I was getting in myself for.
I think Mr. Chairman, over the last years we have done some excellent work in this department.
We brought our deficit down.
We’ve integrated the Health Boards, we got the new travel policy.
We have set up the decentralized offices in Kugluktuk.
Some of the things that Ms. Williams that had asked about earlier and some of the other members I didn't have a chance to speak to them.
I know we want to finish but what I want to say is that a lot of the problems with misdiagnoses and so on that they’ve brought forward into this House, that is why we have set up a best practices unit with Dr. Best in Kugluktuk so we can start making sure that the standards and practices of health care in Nunavut are second to none.
That is our goal and I also want to point out as I said earlier that we are almost at 80 to 90% right now of our nursing positions full. They're staffed. We are at 70% with our social workers which is not acceptable we need to get higher.
With that I would thank the committee and I would thank my staff and ask for Contact C. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
You spoke under three minutes and Mr. Nutarak I would just like to tell the Minister of Health and Social Services to go to the health centre after he leaves tonight to get healthy.
I have other items to deal with.
We have to, we still have the Legislative Assembly to deal with.
What's the wish of the committee at this time.
I will be stepping down from my chair.
I will have to be making my comments as the chair of this standing committee.
We'll take a five-minute break.
>>Committee recessed at 8.01 p.m. and resumed at 8.11 p.m.
We can now begin with the Legislative Assembly.
Our Speaker can then go up to the witness table.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. O'Brien you can start with your opening comments.
Hon. Kevin O'Brien: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, maybe at this point I could bring in our staff, the Clerk and Mr. Pollock to join me.
Go ahead. Sergeant-At-Arms, please help them in.
If you would introduce your officials please. Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Chairman, to my right Mr. John Quirke, the Clerk of the Assembly and to my left is Mr. Steven Pollock, the Director of Finances and many other things from the second floor. Third floor.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Legislative Assembly, I am pleased to have the opportunity today to present to you the 2001-2002 estimates of the Assembly, and to respond to any questions that you may have.
I would like to begin by thanking the Members of the Standing Committee of Ajauqtiit for the comments and recommendations that they presented to me during the course of the Committee's review of the Assembly's draft business plan and estimates.
I would like to highlight for Members today some of our accomplishments made to date, and some upcoming initiatives in the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
During the 4th Session, the Legislative Assembly completed all of its statutory tabling requirements.
In addition, the annual reports of the Assembly's independent officers have also been tabled within the timeframes provided by law.
Amendments were also passed during the 4th Session to a number of statutes that fall under the jurisdiction of the Assembly, including the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.
Under the direction of the Management and Services Board, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner of Nunavut, the Honourable Robert Stanbury, has undertaken a major review of Part III of the Act.
New legislation will be introduced during the current Session.
Under the direction of the Management and Services Board, we will be proceeding with amendments to the Elections Act.
This follows on the major report tabled last fall by the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit.
Over the coming months, we will also be providing support to the Committee as it undertakes efforts to recruit a full-time Chief Electoral Officer for Nunavut.
This also follows on recommendations made to move forward towards establishing a central elections office in Nunavut, in co-operation with NTI and other partners.
The Special Committee to Review the Official Languages Act has been struck, and will be undertaking its work over the coming 24 months.
The Assembly's business plan reflects the need to provide appropriate support services to this important work.
In the area of public affairs, we continue to work to ensure that the public is aware and informed of the proceedings of this House.
Our website provides a comprehensive range of Assembly documents in both Inuktitut and English.
We have co-operated with the Department of the Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs to include questions in the upcoming Nunavut Household Survey on the public's awareness and language preferences in relationship to the television broadcasting of Assembly proceedings.
This is the first time that a northern legislature has attempted to gather hard data on viewership, and will assist us in our broadcasting plans.
Beginning this fall, we plan to have the proceedings of the Assembly broadcast on radio during Session.
Residents of Iqaluit will be able to listen to the proceedings in either Inuktitut or English.
And over time, we are optimistic that residents in communities outside of the capital will be able to listen to the re-broadcast signal.
Over 1,100 people from Canada and abroad have taken advantage of our Chamber tours, special events and outreach programs over the past several months, and we look forward to again offering an expanded summer tour schedule.
We continue to work enthusiastically with such bodies as the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association to host art exhibitions and displays throughout the year.
I am pleased to inform Members that the Legislative Library is in the process of implementing the Nunavut Library Automation System (NLAS).
We are working in co-operation with the Court Library and Nunavut Arctic College Library on this system, which will ultimately give everyone or anyone with an Internet connection access to the catalogue of holdings in these institutions.
We are also working to ensure that the system is accessible and relevant to Inuktitut-readers.
This includes developing Inuktitut records for our cataloguing database that follow international standards -- something that has never been done before.
This initiative is being followed closely by the National Library of Canada and DIAND's departmental library in Ottawa; two institutions which hold materials in Inuktitut.
Mr. Chairman, you and Members will note that our planned expenditures for 2001-2002 remain steady at approximately 9.9 million dollars.
This accounts for just 1% of total GN spending.
One of the three capital projects for the upcoming fiscal year is landscaping to the Assembly grounds.
We will be working with an Iqaluit-based landscape architect to enhance the grounds, improve our exterior signage and improve safety through better control of traffic flows.
Work will commence this summer, and I look forward to being able to invite all Members and the public to an unveiling ceremony this fall.
I would also like to express my appreciation to NCC for contributing to the costs of this project.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening remarks, and I welcome any comments or questions from the members.
Thank you. Ma’na.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to finally be able to give my opening remarks as we begin debate on the Main Estimates for the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, being last on the list for Committee of the Whole appearances.
As the new Chair of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit, I thank my colleague Mr. Hunter Tootoo for his past work with this Standing Committee.
He was a good chair and I am confident that he will be just as productive as the new Chair of the Standing Committee of Government Operations.
He will stay on as a member of the committee.
The committee was pleased that the Legislative Assembly has tabled its Business Plans and has taken into consideration the recommendations made by the Standing Committee.
Even this seems so long ago now.
Mr. Chairman, it will be almost two years that we have been in the new Legislative Assembly building and everything is operating and functioning smoothly, with only a few minor improvements that need to be made such as the improved chamber lighting and landscaping outside the Assembly.
I believe that the design with the Ulu stage was chosen and we look forward to this landscaping development.
We remain concerned however, about the position of the Facilities Manager.
This position should be taken over by the Legislative Assembly, as was discussed during our review of the Draft Main Estimates.
Public Works & Services currently hold this position. A similar concern was expressed regarding the Janitorial and Security Services. These are also controlled by the Department of Public Works and Services.
The committee felt that because they are performing duties for the Assembly, they should also be reporting to the Assembly, not to Public Works and Services.
Mr. Chairman, as our previous chair suggested, our committee should try and do what it can to support the authority, responsibility and the resources to take care of our own House.
Hopefully, these issues will be resolved in the near future. Mr. Chairman, I can use an example of where, if the Chair told him to get dressed for the Assembly, he would have to because he's in the union.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee has worked hard on Elections issues and did consult communities on how elections should be run in Nunavut.
The committee tabled the report called “Review of the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut: Election of the First Legislative Assembly of Nunavut – 1999: A New Beginning”.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee has received direction from the Management and Services Board to start the process of hiring a Chief Electoral Officer for Nunavut.
As the new Chair of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit, I would like to assure the House that this committee will conduct a very thorough selection process for this position and report back with recommendations to the Legislative Assembly.
The role of the Chief Electoral Officer will be an important one for Nunavut and I am sure it will be a busy one.
One of the first tasks of the new CEO will be to review the 65 recommendations that this committee put forth in our report.
Our committee looks forward to working on this important selection process of a CEO for Nunavut.
In talking about Elections, I am very pleased to say once again that Ms. Rebekah Uqi Williams was the successful candidate in the Quttiktuq by-election and she is now a member of this Standing Committee.
We are very proud to have her with us.
The Finance Minister tabled the incremental costs of the Rankin Inlet session on February 28, 2001 and the Legislative Assembly tabled its incremental costs on October 27, 2000.
The total cost of the Rankin Inlet session last February totals approximately 553 thousand 669 dollars It was very expensive.
Mr. Chairman, with the 5th session of the Legislative Assembly resuming in Cambridge Bay from May 14 – 30, 2001, the committee was concerned that this session will cost even more than the Rankin Inlet session.
Having said that, the travel budget this year for the Legislative Assembly is 77 thousand dollars less than the previous year. Mr. Chairman, we will need to reflect on whether the budget for this session is adequate to meet the needs.
Mr. Chairman, the Special Committee to Review the Official Languages Act will begin its work in the coming months, once the review of this year’s budget has calmed down.
As members are aware, Ms. Rebekah Uqi Williams was selected as Chair and Mr. Donald Havioyak as Co-Chair.
Terms of Reference were tabled and I am confident that this Special Committee will do an outstanding job while they review this important Act.
Again, we will need to make sure that the activities of this Committee are accounted for in the budget.
Members were impressed with the permanent display of the Official Symbols of Nunavut.
A crowd of people came to see the unveiling of these symbols.
Members are pleased with regular exhibits of artwork.
At the moment, we are pleased to see the excellent artwork of Ms. Germaine Arnatauyak in the foyer of the Assembly.
Nineteen pieces are currently being displayed and can be purchased by anyone who wishes to buy them.
Her biography is also available in the entrance for anyone to read.
Mr. Chairman, a report should be completed in the very near future by Mr. Robert Stanbury, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner on new conflict of interest legislation.
This report will be called, “For a Culture of Integrity”.
And it's written in English. Mr. Stanbury is working hard to incorporate Inuit Values into this legislation because Inuit expect their elected representatives to reflect their deepest values, this report is founded on an assumption of their integrity and commitment to the primacy of the common good.
We look forward to reviewing the recommendations made by Mr. Stanbury in our Cambridge Bay sitting.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to quote our Finance Minister in his budget address, “We have all learned much in our first two years.
Yet, we also have found out there are tremendous responsibilities that come with this opportunity.”
Mr. Chairman, these thoughts were well spoken and we have seen them to be true over these past weeks through the review of the Government’s main estimates. Those are my comments.
Capital estimates. Page 1-6.
Legislative Assembly, branch summary.
Office of the Clerk.
We will move to page 1-7. 170 thousand.
I don't have a question.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Premier you had your hand up.
Mr. Ng. I thought everybody was going to be asking questions for a minute. 170 thousand.
Equipment acquisition, 170 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Equipment acquisition. 10 thousand.
Total Capital expenditures, 180 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): We will then go to the details of expenditures. Total Capital expenditures, 180 thousand.
Main estimates 2001-2002 Legislative Assembly, branch summary.
Total operations and maintenance, 5 million 179 thousand.
Total expenditures, 5 million 359 thousand.
Expenditures on behalf of Members.
Total operations and maintenance, 3 million 834 thousand.
Total expenditures, 3 million 834 thousand.
Legislative Assembly on page 1-8.
Total operations and maintenance, 177 thousand.
Questions. Agreed.
Total expenditures, 177 thousand.
Turning over to 1-9.
Office of the Legislative Assembly, branch summary.
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer.
Total operations and maintenance, 72 thousand.
Total expenditures, 72 thousand. Agreed.
Total expenditures, 72 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Legislative Assembly, branch summary.
Office of the Independent Commissioners.
Total operations and maintenance, 489 thousand.
Total expenditures, 489 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): We will go back to 1-5.
Legislative Assembly, program summary.
Total operations and maintenance, 9 million 751 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Total expenditures, 9 million 931 thousand.
Do you agree that these are done.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do you have closing comments.
I don't have any prepared text or closing comments.
Members would appreciate that.
I just want to thank the members and of course the staff for putting this together.
A special thanks to the members for trusting in me without having any major concerns with our budget or questions.
Hopefully we can get back to our ridings in the next few days.
Chairperson (interpretation): What is the wish of the Committee.
Do you want to deal with Bill 1.
Chairperson (interpretation): Bill 1.
Do members have any questions to Bill 1.
Bill 1 2001-2002.
Bill as a Whole.
Does the Committee agree that Bill 1 is ready for Third Reading.
Chairperson (interpretation): We don't have any more items on the Orders of the Day.
The Speaker could come in.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): I move that we report progress.
The Speaker can come back to the Chambers.
Mr. Speaker, your Committee has been considering Bill 6 and Bill 1 and would like report that Bill 6 and Bill 1 are ready for Third Reading.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Irqittuq. There is a motion on the floor. Is there a seconder for the motion.
Is there a seconder for the motion. Mr. Ng. The motion is in order.
Orders of the Day for Thursday March 29, 2001:
The House stands adjourned until March 29, 2001 at 10 a.m. Just a reminder we will have a number of elders visiting the Chamber and watching the proceedings.
They'll be joining us for lunch in the Great Hall.
>>House adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Thursday March 29, 2001
Pages 1305 - 1343
Ruling From the Chair 4
Assent To Bills 4
Thursday March 29, 2001 4
059 – 1(5): Nunavut Power Corporation (Picco) 4
060 – 1(5): Wildlife Research in Nunavut (Akesuk) 4
061 – 1(5): National Nutrition Month: March 2001 (Picco) 4
062 – 1(5): Elder Involvement in Nunavut Schools (Kilabuk) 4
063 – 1(5): Iqaluit Mental Health Services – Drop-In Day Services (Picco) 4
064 – 1(5): Nunavut Film Symposium (Akesuk) 4
164– 1(5): Consensus Government (Ng) 4
165 - 1(5): Youth and Children of Gjoa Haven (Puqiqnak) 4
166 - 1(5): Builders of Nunavut, Baker Lake Caucus, Bathurst Mandate (Arvaluk) 4
167 – 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and the Nunavut Government (Irqittuq) 4
168 - 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in Nunavut (Alakannuark) 4
169 – 1(5): Contributions of Mariano Aupilarjuk & Rebecca Williams (Anawak) 4
170 – 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Nutarak) 4
171 – 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit & the Nunavut Government (Iqaqrialu) 4
172 – 1(5): Gratitude to Members and Pages (Williams) 4
173 – 1(5): Support for Rankin Inlet Delegation (Thompson) 4
174 – 1(5): Pangnirtung Elders (Kilabuk) 4
175 – 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in Government (Akesuk) 4
Return to OQ 035 – 1(5): Seniors’ Discounts (Kattuk) 4
Return to OQ 190 – 1(5): Language Use in Publications (Kattuk) 4
Return to OQ 207 – 1(5): Wildlife Officer Trainee Position (Akesuk) 4
209 - 1(5): Funding for Women’s Shelter (Puqiqnak) 4
210 – 1(5): Nunavut Development Corporation Performance Measures (McLean) 4
211 – 1(5): Capital of Nunavut & Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Nutarak) 4
212 - 1(5): Premier’s Visit to Qikiqtarjuaq (Iqaqrialu) 4
Report 005 – 1(5): Review of Bill 3 4
021– 1(5): A Field Guide to Common Wildlife Diseases and Parasites in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (Akesuk) 4
Bill 3 – Utility Rates Review Council Act – Consideration in Committee 4
Bill 1 – Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 – Third Reading (Ng) 4
Bill 3 – Utilities Rates Review Council Act – Third Reading (Okalik) 4
Bill 6 – Nunavut Power Corporation Utilities Assets Transfer Confirmation Act – Third Reading (Picco) 4
Bill 1- Appropriations Act 2001-2002 - Assent 4
Bill 2- Supplementary Appropriations Act 2000-2001 - Assent 4
Bill 3- Utility Rates Review Council Act - Assent 4
Bill 4- An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act, Time Zones - Assent 4
Bill 6- Nunavut Power Corporation Utility Assets Transfer Confirmation Act - Assent 4
Thursday March 29, 2001  Nunavut Hansard
Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Honourable Jack Anawak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker (Mr. O’Brien): I would like to call on Mr. Puqiqnak to say the prayer.
Speaker: Ullaakkut. Good morning, Mr. Premier, members and all the visitors in the gallery.
This will be the last day of this particular session, so let’s have a good day.
Minister’s Statement 059 – 1(5): Nunavut Power Corporation
Hon. Ed Picco: Ullaakkut Uqaqti. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to announce today that on April 1st, this coming Sunday, another dream of Nunavummiut will become a reality.
On April 1st, the Nunavut Power Corporation comes on-line as a Government of Nunavut Crown Corporation responsible for the generation and distribution of power in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Power Corporation, owned, managed and operated by Nunavummiut, will be the principal supplier of safe, reliable and affordable power in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Power Corporation is our company, yours, mine, Nunavummiut, and all residents of Nunavut can take pride in the fact that we now own and control this very essential service for the generation and distribution of power within Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, to get us to where we are today, it has taken some very hard work and dedication from a great number of Nunavummiut, starting with the NIC, NTI, the Office of the Interim Commissioner, staff at EIA and the Power Corporation staff here in Nunavut.
I would be amiss not to mention the work of Laura Gauthier who started working on the Power Corporation file when she was with NTI and continued to carry this portfolio with the OIC and as the ADM with Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Laura was passionate about the Power Corporation and worked endless hours on making the Nunavut Power Corporation a reality.
In recognition of her hard work, vision and dedication, the Nunavut Power Corporation has announced the creation of a special educational fund in her name and memory.
It is now time for Nunavummiut to celebrate the realization of another dream and vision for Nunavut.
Our land, our government and now Mr. Speaker, our own Power Corporation.
Minister’s Statement 060 – 1(5): Wildlife Research in Nunavut
Good morning members and all the visitors in the gallery.
Today I will be making two ministers’ statements and also tabling documents on wildlife research in Inuktitut and English.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling two publications that will be released to Nunavummiut this week, relating to my Department’s work in wildlife research.
For the second year in a row we are releasing A Summary of Wildlife Research Projects which provides a brief outline of each wildlife research project currently undertaken by our Department scientists.