EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Since my deputy minister has been involved in direct discussions on this matter, with your permission, I would like him to respond to that question. (interpretation) Thank you.
I certainly want to confirm to the member that we are not going to let opportunities for improved technology fall through the cracks.
That’s one of the reasons why we’re developing a strategy, so that we can have the expertise in the industry to make us aware of what technologies are out there so that we can take advantage of them when they arrive in the planning horizon.
At the same time, we will continue to work with Industry Canada.
I think this is what I mentioned earlier about the discussions that we had in February with Quebec, Newfoundland, and Nunavut.
The support that we’ve gotten from Industry Canada is they would kind of like to see those partnership arrangements.
They feel that it’s easier to invest in those types of arrangements because with those partnerships, it kind of shares the cost and allows all the different jurisdictions to find ways to improve their technology, such as exploring the fibre-optic cable from Greenland to Nunavut and Northern Quebec and Newfoundland.
Mr. Green touched on my next question. He spoke about the strategy. On page 165 of the business plan, in the priorities under 2014-15, the current fiscal year, it talks about the review of the GN informatics program, that the first phase of the review will be completed by the end of the current fiscal year.
Is that still the schedule?
Yes, that is correct. (interpretation) Thank you.
I promised I wouldn’t be as long-winded in this section, so I’ll keep to that.
It also speaks in the priorities of 2014-15 that “A consultant has been hired to conduct a comprehensive review of emerging technologies” with the development of the plan to be occurring in this fiscal year.
How is that project progressing?
If I may again, with your permission, I’ll ask my deputy minister to elaborate.
We hired a consultant, we finalized the contract in November, and we started our first meeting with the consultant in December.
This is going to take at least three years to develop the long-term strategy.
Our first approach with the consultant is to develop a structure there for the new bandwidth that is going to be required for the service providers.
By the time we get all the details and the strategy developed, we’re looking at least a three-year timeframe.
I’m just planning the words out in my head and they still may not come out correctly.
When we’re talking a lifespan of developing a strategy over that extensive period of time, one of the concerns that I specifically have with bandwidth access is for education.
Education is continually adapting and there is more and more online availability. I’m not speaking just for our young students, but for our mature students as well as even staff training opportunities.
I have participated in some online programs in the past and they are more and more going to video or teleconferencing, which really puts a strain on the system and just being able to really utilize those services properly. You’re always buffering and phasing in and out, kicking in and out.
I have a concern that the length of time it is going to take us to, not even catch up with the rest of Canada, but just to get to a stage where we can utilize all available services, especially within education. Obviously, I have other concerns with health care and other components of bandwidth, but education, to me, is what this government is focusing on through Sivumut Abluqta. Just specifically from an education standpoint, is there anything the Department of Community and Government Services can do to increase the bandwidth availability for education purposes?
As we indicated earlier, (interpretation ends) we mentioned that we are in discussions with our service providers and we are also in discussion with Industry Canada on how we can make these improvements.
However, so that we are able to provide the answer that the member is looking for, again if I may, I will defer to my deputy minister.
We do have some bandwidth that we put aside for each case in terms of bandwidth so as to allow them to get on the Internet and do their research at some of the schools.
We do have some programs in place for that.
What we are trying to do now in the short term is to take away how we can best schedule our use of the existing bandwidth because we think we have the opportunity that we can increase teleconferencing.
Basically, we are working within our staff to see… . Right now, we only have one casual position that handles teleconferencing. We’ve had discussions and we will be looking at recruiting more PYs to allow us to be able to… .
There is quite a bit of work when you are trying to reschedule the bandwidth for teleconferencing, so we are basically looking to recruit staff so that we can expand teleconferencing on the existing bandwidth that we have now.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister and his official for that response.
I know that it’s challenging. I truly do understand.
I don’t want to say it’s insurmountable because you guys do have to keep this file moving forward. I also understand that when you are dealing with communication providers, such as the example I used with NorthwesTel, but they are not alone in this, Nunavut pays the highest rates for usage than anywhere else in Canada and probably most places around the world for that matter.
I would like to see, maybe in your discussions with some of these providers, a little bit more, again we have used the word, “thinking outside the box,” a little bit, of sharing resources to maximize the infrastructure that is in place on as much of a cost-effective basis as possible.
I guess that’s more of a statement. I don’t really have a question along that line, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to really encourage the minister and let him know that he has my full support in whatever he and his department can do to better our infrastructure base here in Nunavut.
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I thank the member for that statement. I’ll just take it as that.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Community and Government Services. Branch Summary. Informatics Planning Services.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to clearly understand the issue we are reviewing. I believe we are on page J-6.
If that is the right page, in the English version, it speaks about other expenses. The amount I believe that is listed amounts to $4 million.
Last year in 2014-15, that was the same figure and it lists the same amount again.
This is a large fund, if it is indeed $4 million and not just $4,000.
If, indeed, it is set at that amount, what are the funds to be used for?
It only states, “Other Expenses.”
Yes, I concur with the member’s statement that it is a large amount of money. The fund is used to purchase computer programming because they require a (interpretation ends) licence (interpretation) to extend the software. It is also for purchasing actual computers as well as the various Internet services, including other various computer-related expenses.
I was done.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) We are on Community and Government Services.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Go to the next page. (interpretation ends) Branch Summary. Community and Government Services.
Infrastructure. (interpretation) It’s on page J-7. (interpretation ends) Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted.
I think this is the place to ask it, but if I’m wrong, then you can rule me out. This is about the employees under Building Maintenance. In the June 30, 2014 HR stats sheets, I guess it’s called, or summary, it states that there are three employees in Arviat and as far back as I can remember, there have always only been two.
Can I just get an explanation?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok: We’re not sure. Can the member indicate which page he is on?
Please indicate which page you are on, Mr. Savikataaq.
On page 166 under Building Maintenance, but what I’m reading out is the employment stats.
This is from June 30, 2014, saying that there are three employees for CG&S in Arviat.
The maintenance department in Arviat has only always had two.
I just want clarification of whether there are supposed to be three people working in the maintenance department in Arviat.
I believe it’s clear now. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister, Mr. Sammurtok.
The issue raised by the member in his question isn’t detailed out in the comments.
However, we will have to look into this situation and provide the information to the member when we find out.
That’s all for now.
Chairman: Thank you. We are on Branch Summary. Community and Government Services.
Infrastructure. J-7. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $105,938,000.
Within this category for construction of buildings, I want to ask about the (interpretation ends) building code (interpretation) legislation.
In following the requirements of the building code, a committee had to be struck which is an (interpretation ends) advisory (interpretation) body, and I’m not sure of an equivalent Inuktitut term.
I believe they would be the source of expertise, or is the committee the one we have to request information from? The committee will be comprised of representatives from various organizations.
What I want to ask about relates to the Nunavut Association of Municipalities or others mentioned here. Have they provided a name of their prospective representatives?
Yes, there are representatives sitting on the committee, but as to the actual names, we can’t recall the names of the members of the advisory committee.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): The other question relating to the issue is: are all the appointments made? As there was a process to appoint representatives, have all the appointments been completed for this committee?
We have two vacant seats.
Even though there are two vacant seats, have they had meetings and how many times have they met to date?
Chairman: Thank you. Hon. Minister, Mr. Sammurtok.
They met in March 2014 and they are slated to have another meeting this coming spring.
I want to move to another matter within the same category. Your business plan for 2015-18 indicates that “Fire Safety Planning Guidelines for School Facilities have been developed and will be implemented in the new fiscal year.”
In English, it’s the (interpretation ends) Fire Safety Planning Guidelines for School Facilities. (interpretation) The language indicates that you have developed the guidelines that are to be implemented in the future.
Can you inform the members how the Department of Education will work to implement this throughout Nunavut’s schools?
Yes, this is being worked on. The schools have been given reading material about it. The fire department has been visiting the schools, working with the teachers, staff, and students.
With regard to the Fire Planning Guidelines for School Facilities, will you commit to tabling your department’s guidelines in the Legislative Assembly?
Yes, we can table them.
Community and Government Services. Infrastructure.
I believe I just have a couple of quick questions here.
On page 167 of the business plan under the 2014-15 priorities, it talks about the continuation to gather facility condition assessment information under the long-term infrastructure plan, yet it still carries over into 2015-16 on page 169.
The second bullet under 2015-16 is, “Continue the development of a long-term infrastructure plan…” When is this plan expected to be completed and when will it be tabled in the Legislative Assembly?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) It is a work in progress.
With your permission, I would like the deputy minister to respond to that.
The condition assessments of all municipal and GN assets have been completed. We are currently populating all of this information into our asset management software program.
It’s quite a bit of work, so we expect that it will take at least another six months to finalize the population and then we can use this information to develop the long-term infrastructure plan.
Last year, on May 30, I asked the minister if he would commit to tabling an annual report on the activities of the Nunavut Building Advisory Committee. I understand that Mr. Enook had a couple of questions regarding that committee.
How often does that committee meet and when can we anticipate seeing an annual report developed by that committee?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) They have met only once up to now. With regard to the other part of your question, I would like my deputy minister to respond to that, please.
The first meeting was more of an introductory meeting for all of the new members to become familiar with the general review of the new building code.
They will be meeting again in, I think, April of 2015.
Actually, we are going to provide training to all the advisory committee members based on their responsibility under the Building Code Regulations of the Building Code Act.
We are currently in the status of developing the regulations and we are hoping to have the regulations completed by the end of the next fiscal year.
Once we get the regulations in, the advisory committee should probably be looking at meeting at least quarterly.
I believe I have just one final question.
When it talks about representation of the advisory committee, I had asked a question last year on some of the components and I appreciate the detail that was provided last year, that it is to include an architect, an engineer, a representative of the chief building official’s office, the fire marshal’s office, the Nunavut Housing Corporation, NTI, Nunavummi Disabilities Society, a person with experience as a private developer of residential, commercial, or institutional building, NNWT Construction Association, and NAM.
I understand my colleague asked a question that the NAM representative hasn’t been nominated yet and up to three additional members.
What capacity is that committee at right now, and when can we anticipate it being up to its either capacity or to a number that the minister is comfortable with?
Chairman: (interpretation) Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister, Mr. Sammurtok.
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I would be happy to provide that information to the member once we put it together. (interpretation) Thank you.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) We are on Branch Summary. Community and Government Services.
Infrastructure. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted.
I would like to question on building maintenance.
My colleagues had touched up on it, but (interpretation) I want to ask this question. (interpretation ends) One PY person in a community works 24/7, 365 days a [year].
Do you have any plans of increasing the one PY communities to one and a half or two?
At this time, (interpretation ends) we are doing a program review now on this matter and we expect to have something out in the new year. (interpretation) Thank you.
Mr. Sammurtok: The reason I’m asking this is that more buildings are being built in the smaller communities and this has been going on for years.
It has been more than 26 years.
I believe that it’s about time that this department looks at adding more PYs to smaller communities.
Going on to another topic, Inspection Services, for all the regions, Baffin, Kivalliq, and Kitikmeot, do you have all the inspectors in place now?
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Good question. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister, Mr. Sammurtok.
Right now, these positions aren’t filled.
When do you plan to fill these vacant inspector positions?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister, Mr. Sammurtok
Right now, we have started this process and when the rollout happens, we will let you know.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) We are on Branch Summary. Community and Government Services. Infrastructure.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $105,938,000.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Go to the next page. (interpretation ends) Community and Government Services.
Page J-8 is an information item only and covers the Petroleum Products Division.
It seems like a lot of people got questions.
Mr. Chairman, I’m going to base my questions on a copy of an RFP that I have here with me. It’s the RFP for the upcoming contract. I would hope that the same provisions are in the previous contracts or RFPs.
If my questions are out of line, I’m sure the minister will correct me.
In the RFP, there’s a section about drivers having valid driver’s licences and proper airside vehicle operations permits.
It goes on to say that PPD is not responsible for providing this training to contract employees.
How is PPD monitoring or will they monitor to ensure that the proper training is provided to contract employees?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) With your permission, I would like my petroleum expert to respond to that.
When PPD recruits the fuel delivery drivers, they are supposed to get a copy of the appropriate documentation for the driver’s licence that they have acquired through the motor registration before they are allowed to be hired as fuel delivery truck drivers.
How does PPD monitor this with a change of staffing throughout Nunavut?
With the contractors, there’s always a staff turnover.
I’m just wondering if there’s any mechanism that PPD has in place to ensure that the requirements are kept up to date.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) As the minister has already indicated, Mr. Green will respond.
The member raises a good point. What I would like to do is get back to the member because it’s my understanding that it is the responsibility of the fuel distribution contractors to make sure that they get the appropriate documentation when they recruit drivers. I want to follow up with PPD and see exactly what they do in terms of making sure that they work with the contractors that we have certified drivers on the roads.
I will get back to the member with a response to that.
For the record, I’m not insinuating or accusing any community or even my own community of drivers not having the proper credentials. I’m just wondering what the reporting requirements are to make sure that people are certified.
To move on, also another requirement in your RFP is that fuel delivery service contractors shall provide all maintenance to the full satisfaction of PPD, proper operation, storage, and maintenance records for all fuel delivery vehicles, including the backup vehicles.
I know I have asked this question in the House and maybe there are more details that his officials can provide us, but how is this provision of the contract monitored by PPD to ensure that proper maintenance records and whatnot is carried out by the contractors?
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) As the minister has again already indicated, Mr. Green will respond.
The responsibility of the contract management rests with the PPD regional office staff. Basically, in Rankin Inlet, Pond Inlet, and Cambridge Bay, there are between three and four staff in each region and their responsibilities are to work and manage the contract with the local fuel distributors.
With respect to the issue of vehicles in Sanikiluaq, there was an assessment done on all the vehicles, I think it was in 2013. I’m trying to get a copy of this report.
What I have instructed the PPD division to do, based on what came to my attention in Sanikiluaq, is that I want all the staff visiting those communities at least on a quarterly basis and I want at least inspections done on the vehicles so that we don’t find ourselves in a situation that occurred over this weekend.
I appreciate that. It’s good to see that you will be instructing your department to ensure that all communities are up to date with their equipment because that is an essential service to all of our communities.
You just mentioned about the issue that we had in Sanikiluaq. Also in the contract or RFPs, considering what happened in Sanikiluaq, it probably cost quite a few dollars because, I think, you had to charter mechanics in and the cost of repairs.
I’m just wondering: who will be held responsible for the costs associated with this issue?
Will it be PPD or will it be directed back to the contractor?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) As with all fuel delivery contracts, it’s the responsibility of the contractor, so the costs associated with the situation at this time will be charged back to the contractor. (interpretation) Thank you.
A few months ago, I wrote a letter to the minister concerning the upcoming RFP.
One of my questions was why they were moving from five-year to ten-year contracts for PPD services in communities.  I know, in the response letter that the minister did, he explained to me the reasoning.
I’m just wondering, for the use of the listening public, if they could explain why they are moving from five-year to ten-year contracts with contractors for PPD services in communities.
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) One of the reasons that the department decided to go from a five-year contract to a ten-year contract is because whoever is trying to become a contractor will have the opportunity or will have that length of time to build up their own assets.
Every contract stipulates that the contractor will provide storage space like parking space for their vehicles. (interpretation) Thank you.
I thank the minister for his description. Another reason for going from five to ten years that you stated to me was that there would be a desire for local business to have equal opportunity, if not better ability than larger southern companies, to participate in fuel delivery contracts.
Now that the RFP has closed, I think it closed in the middle of last month, did PPD find that more local companies have come forward in wanting to provide fuel delivery services throughout Nunavut?
Although I can respond to the question, for clarification, through you Mr. Chairman, I will have the deputy minister respond.
Currently, the RFPs are staggered over the three regions.
They are currently in the process of doing some evaluations of the… . I’m not sure which region it is, if it’s the Baffin region, but what they are actually doing is the evaluation of the contracts. I don’t know at this point in time how many bids were placed for each one.
Certainly, once we have all of this information compiled and the contracts have been evaluated, I would certainly have no issue providing the member with a list of the businesses that applied in each community.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Community and Government Services. Information Item. Petroleum Products Division.
I would just like to ask the minister on something that doesn’t seem to be in here at all under PPD and that is the inspection of bulk storage tanks.
As we all know, most storage tanks in the communities are getting older.
I imagine quite a few of them were built in the ‘60s and they must be getting close to the end of their life because some are pretty old now. For an example, when we buy a fuel tank for a house, we are told that that fuel tank has a 10-year lifespan.
I believe some of these bulk storage fuel tanks are quite old now. Do they have any schedule on when they inspect bulk storage tanks?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I will defer that question to my deputy minister, if I may.
The typical useful life of tank farms is 30 years. There are annual inspections done every year before resupply to check for any maintenance issues with the tank farms. Tank cleanings are supposed to be done every five years.
As the tanks get older, there are integrity tests done on the walls of the tank to test the thickness of the walls to make sure that there are no issues.
In most cases, we try to upgrade and expand tank farms with 20 years or less.