EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I do know that communities outside of Iqaluit have more wind, but I’m also aware that Iqaluit tides are one of the strongest in Canada.
Down south tidal energy is utilized to provide energy. Perhaps they can study that instead because tides occur every day and can be used in Nunavut. I’m asking the minister if they can start a study into that.
The energy corporation board is responsible for that on either tidal, wind, or solar energy and using clean energy.
I don’t know if a study has been done, but I know that it has been discussed.
I haven’t been informed whether a study will be initiated or not by the energy corporation.
The federal government seems to be looking more towards using less fossil fuel. Perhaps we can encourage the study of tidal energy because tides will never disappear and it could be used forever.
Perhaps the minister can look into that through the federal government to see if they can start doing things such as that.
Yes, we know that tides are really strong in Iqaluit. I know that the federal government’s budget for energy production that doesn’t use fossil fuels will be identified.
The Canadian government, as we know, has this as one of their priorities.
As I’m responsible for the energy corporation, I don’t know how much money they will set aside, but if there’s money available, they can study cleaner energy projects that don’t pollute the environment. I can look into what’s available out there.
Question 688 – 4(3): Air Quality Testing (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Environment.
In the past years after we were elected, the Department of Environment was studying air quality with testing equipment. Will they be doing this in the upcoming summer and, if so, in which communities will they study for air quality?
Hon. Joe Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently the only air quality testing that is up and operational is up in Iqaluit.
I believe there’s one in Arviat that should be going up.
I’m not fully aware; I can find out shortly. Those are the two, but there is only one operational right now.
It’s obvious that Baker Lake has the most elders and the community is growing because of the mine nearby. I have many constituents and we are one of the larger communities. With the dust problem during the summer, will the Department of Environment be doing a study on that?
We have no plans to do any air quality testing in Baker Lake right now, but we are in the process of... . We would like to get baseline air quality assessments done and eventually we would like to do that Nunavut-wide just so that we could get a baseline of air quality. Currently right now we have nothing in the plans for Baker Lake.
It’s clear from the minister’s response, but we are a part of Nunavut and mining is really developing in Nunavut.
The air quality studies and how it would impact a community is something the government needs to understand.
I would appreciate being written to by the Department of Environment. I’m asking the minister if they shouldn’t be conducting an air quality study in Baker Lake this coming summer, since it has the highest population of elders.
There are also many residents with respiratory illnesses, which is the more reason to carry out that air quality study.
Baker Lake is also one of the warmest communities in the summer. Can the department do a study?
My answer is still the same. We don’t have any plans to do any air quality testing in Baker Lake now.
The three communities that are going up next are Arviat, Kugluktuk, and Pond Inlet.
Those are the next three communities that will have air quality testing.
Baker Lake would be in the same category as all the other communities. When the time comes to expand, we will think about which communities will be next.
Currently we are starting it off at the regional centres for the Department of Environment.
That’s how the communities were picked.
The time question period has expired. Moving on.
Committee Report 023 – 4(3): Bill 31, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act (Sammurtok, T)
I wish to report that Bill 31, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Bill 31 will appear on the order paper on Saturday, March 11.
Committee Report 024 – 4(3): Bill 38, Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Implementation Act (Sammurtok, T)
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report that Bill 38, Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Implementation Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Bill 38 will appear on the order paper on Saturday, March 11.
Committee Report 025 – 4(3): Bill 42, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act (Sammurtok, T)
I wish to report that Bill 42, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Speaker: Thank you. Bill 42 will appear on the order paper on Saturday, March 11.
Tabled Document 278 – 4(3): Report on the Administration of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1990 for 2014 (Ell-Kanayuk)
Tabled Document 279 – 4(3): Report on the Administration of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1990 for 2015 (Ell-Kanayuk)
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to table today the Report of the Administration of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1990, for 2014 and 2015.
The Hon. Minister of Family Services, Hon. Johnny Mike.
Tabled Document 280 – 4(3): Biannual Update to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Independent Officers and Other Entities on the Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut “2015 Follow-up Report on Child and Family Services in Nunavut” (Mike)
Today I am tabling the Biannual Update to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Independent Officers and Other Entities on the Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut titled, “2015 Follow-up Report on Child and Family Services in Nunavut.”
Tabled Document 281 – 4(3): Getting Ready for Employment Training Program – Evaluation of Round 2 of the Program Delivery, January to April 2016 (February 2017) (Mike)
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to table today the Getting Ready for Employment and Training Program Evaluation of Round 2 Program Delivery, January to April 2016.
Tabled Document 282 – 4(3): Report on Members’ Absences October 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 283 – 4(3): Pension Administration Report – Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act (Speaker)
The first document is the Report on Members’ Absences from Sittings of the House and Meetings of Committees and Caucuses for the Period October 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.
The second document is the 2015-16 Pension Administration Report – Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act. (interpretation) Thank you.
Motion 045 – 4(3): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Mikkungwak)
I give notice that on Monday, March 13, 2017, I will move the following motion:
I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Aggu, that pursuant to the provisions of Rule 3, that when the House concludes its present sitting, it shall be adjourned until May 30, 2017.
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. The Hon. Member for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, Ms. Pat Angnakak.
Bill 41 – An Act to Amend Certain Acts Respecting Annual Reports Provided to the Speaker – Notice
I give notice that on Friday, March 10, 2017, I will move that Bill 41, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Respecting Annual Reports Provided to the Speaker, be read for the first time.
At the appropriate time I will seek consent to deal with my motion today.
Hon. Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Allan Rumbolt.
Bill 43 – An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act – Notice
I give notice that on Friday, March 10, 2017, I will move that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the first time.
Motions. (interpretation ends) Hon. Member for Baker Lake, Mr. Mikkungwak.
Motion 045 – 4(3): Extended Adjournment (Mikkungwak)
I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Aggu, that pursuant to the provisions of Rule 3, that when the House concludes its present sitting, it shall be adjourned until May 30, 2016.
An Hon. Member: 2017.
Mr. Mikkungwak: 2017, Mr. Speaker.
First Reading of Bills. (interpretation) Member for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, Ms. Pat Angnakak.
I seek the consent of the House to waive the notice period so that Bill 41, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Respecting Annual Reports Provided to the Speaker, can be read for the first time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking unanimous consent to deal with Bill 41 so that it can receive first reading today.
Bill 41 – An Act to Amend Certain Acts Respecting Annual Reports Provided to the Speaker – First Reading
I move, seconded by Hon. Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 41, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Respecting Annual Reports Provided to the Speaker, be read for the first time.
I seek the consent of the House to waive the notice period so that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, can be read for the first time.
Speaker: The member is seeking consent to deal with Bill 43 so that it can receive first reading today.
Bill 43 – An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act – First Reading
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, members.
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 37 – An Act to Amend the Education Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat North, that Bill 37, An Act to Amend the Education Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Education Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act in response to the Report of the Special Committee of the Legislative Assembly on the Education Act and subsequent consultations with stakeholders, including designated Inuit organizations, district education authorities, and the community at large.
The motion is carried and Bill 37 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
Bill 40 – Corrections Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 40, Corrections Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill provides for a modern corrections system for Nunavut.
In particular it provides for robust appeals and grievance mechanisms for inmates, introduces an independent investigations officer, and establishes an Inuit societal values committee.
The motion is carried and Bill 40 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
I seek the consent of the House to waive the notice period so that Bill 41, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Respecting Annual Reports Provided to the Speaker, can be read for the second time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking consent to deal with Bill 41 so that it can receive second reading today.
Bill 41 – An Act to Amend Certain Acts Respecting Annual Reports Provided to the Speaker – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 41, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Respecting Annual Reports Provided to the Speaker, be read for the second time.
The motion is carried and as Bill 41 is a House Bill, it is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
I seek the consent of the House to waive the notice period so that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, can be read for the second time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking consent to deal with Bill 43 so that it can receive second reading today.
Bill 43 – An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act – Second Reading
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members.
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the second time.
The motion is carried and as Bill 43 is a House Bill, it is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
[Consideration in] Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 19, 26, 27, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41, and 43 with Mr. Enook in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:51 and Committee resumed at 16:18
I say “good day” to my fellow residents of Pond Inlet.
Members, in Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: Bills 19, 26, 27, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41, and 43.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with Bill 34 and continue with the review of the main estimates of the Department of Finance, followed by the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
If time permits, we will proceed to the review of Nunavut Arctic College.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Peterson, do you have officials that you would like to join you at the witness table?
I would like to have two witnesses join me at the table.
To my right is Jeff Chown, Deputy Minister, and to my left is Alma Power, Associate Deputy Minister.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. Mr. Chown and Ms. Powers, welcome to the House.
We’re on Finance. Human Resources.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $20,700,000.
It seemed like we were going to agree right away.
I put up my hand to ask a question on human resources.
I think it was last spring we were advised that Human Resources took 90 to 95 days to recruit employees.
Is that still the case today?
If anyone applies for a job within the government, does it still take 90 to 95 days to fill a position?
It fluctuates from year to year depending on the number of competitions and paperwork involved, if it’s complete or not.
I think I answered last summer, under a perfect scenario from to start to finish with all the paperwork completed, it would be 70, but it fluctuates from year to year between 95 and over 100 days.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Okalik, do you have another question? Please indicate if you want to ask another question so that I don’t have to wait.
The Auditor General’s report was just tabled on filling the positions within the Department of Health.
It’s a fairly new report.
On page 18 in English, paragraph 87 states that “For the 25 staffing actions that were successfully completed...it took an average of 562 calendar days to hire a new employee...” If that’s the case, what have you done to have those positions filled at a faster pace?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If he’s referring to the OAG report that was tabled the day before yesterday, I think those 500 days were referring mostly to nursing positions.
In the report it doesn’t specifically mention nurses. It seems like it’s for all the staff positions in the Department of Health.
That’s a bit long to fill a position. It says they wait approximately 90 days.
That seems to be the norm.
What have you done to make it shorter than 562 days?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Chairman, I met personally with the auditors, three members of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, and they told me that those positions were primarily for nurses.
Of course, as Mr. Okalik knows, in the letters we delegated hiring authorities several years ago to the health department to hire nurses and last year in February we delegated the firing authorities, as Mr. Okalik knows, being the former Minister of Health.
Our involvement in the recruitment of positions begins with the advertisement part.
Whatever is done up to that point, it would be the Department of Health that is responsible.
I am told that I should know about this, but the report doesn’t say whether it’s nursing positions or what types of positions they’re trying to fill.
The report just says 25 positions within the Department of Health.
I wanted a good response. Were those 25 positions all for nurses?
Hon. Keith Peterson: I’m sorry, Mr. Chairman.
I don’t know what those specific positions he’s referring to are.
I’m not at that level of detail. When I met with the OAG officials, I think it was yesterday morning or the morning before, they didn’t give me the breakdown. They told me that their primary concern with the 500 days was with nurses.
It states at the top of the paragraph that on average it took 222 days to fill a position at the Department of Health.
I know that it’s not just for nurses.
What have you done to reduce the number of days to fill the positions?
We’re looking at the targets set back in 1995 for filling vacancies.
I’m afraid I’m at a loss to where Mr. Okalik is coming from. The OAG report was primarily concerned about the time it takes to hire nurses and that’s what my conversation with them was. As Mr. Okalik knows, again I’ll repeat that we delegated those hiring authorities to the health department many years ago.
It’s a specific responsibility that in the last year we delegated at Mr. Okalik’s request, following the inquest, the firing authorities for nurses. It’s primarily with nurses.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I am referring to recommendation 87, “Based on information the Department of Health and the Department of Finance provided, we found that the Department of Health took an average of 222 calendar days to start a staffing action after a position became vacant.” It’s for all staffing actions.
Nurses form part of the Department of Health.
All the other staff are not nurses and they are support staff, so they should be in there. The department says that they now have new standards of allowing for only 90 to 95 days on average. I’m asking: when will this be improved for other staffers in the Department of Health which are hired by the Department of Finance?
If Mr. Okalik is so concerned about that part, as I said, if we get a complete file from any department, it goes to job eval. and then from the time of the advertisement, if you go through all the steps and processes, as you remember you’ve got to advertise the positions, you would have to do the screening and you’ve got to do the interviews, and then you’ve got to make the offers and you could do it by email or by letter. There are time lags there, and then you have to go a long time for the appeal process.
Like I said, in a perfect scenario, if Finance HR gets all the paperwork and there’s nothing missing, and there are no appeals and a whole bunch of other stuff, like I said, we can turn the competition around in a minimum of 70 days.
If we know that you’re going to have problems and there are likely going to be appeals, there may not even be any applications or there may be applications where the people who apply are not screened in or they’re not qualified for the job, and then you’ve got to go to another competition, up to a maximum of, I think, three times.
In a perfect scenario, it is 70 days if everything is in order, but if it’s not in order, it could take from 95 to over 110 days.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m not trying to argue; I’m just following the report and recommendations that are based on this report mentioning 90 days.
We find that it takes over 200 days before the job is filled. What are you going to do to improve the system in your department?
It would be nice if he would respond to my question. I’m basing my questions on the report and recommendations. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Chairman, again, those 220 days is primarily for nurses. We have delegated the authorities to the health department. If there are other job competitions, then our processes kick in and that’s why I’m saying they’re 95 to 110 to 112 days.
Based on experience, we have agreed with the Auditor General of Canada that we will work with the Department of Health to improve some of the internal processes to reduce the 222 days and then go to competition.
A lot of the delay is in the front end. If the paperwork is complete, then it shouldn’t take that long. From the time the job becomes vacant to the time it gets to the Department of Finance, that’s the issue with the 222 days.
The issue is not what happens after we get the paperwork. We can turn around on that pretty quick.
When I met with the Auditor General the other day, they indicated to me that there’s no concern on that part; it’s the upfront part and getting all the proper paperwork. From the time the job is declared vacant to the time that they complete the paperwork and get it to the finance department, that’s the real concern.
I would like to turn our attention to the quarterly Inuit employment reports. This one is from December 31, 2016. I believe that’s the latest quarterly report.
They state that right now there are 1,762.71 Inuit employed.
We know and we hear that when the government is trying to fill its positions, some of them take quite a long time.
However, something that I really noticed too is the vacant positions on page 3 of the report.
The vacant positions government-wide are 1,236.11. If we think about all the communities in Nunavut and average it out to the number of the communities, that’s almost the same number as the population of a small town like Clyde River.
We’re aware that some jobs are filled by casuals or through temporary positions. Even though that’s the case, there are still a lot of vacant positions.
How have you tried to speed up the hiring process to fill these vacant positions in the finance department?
We are improving our standard of service in the Department of Finance.
A lot of the process begins when a job is declared vacant. We need to get the request all complete before we can go to competition.
As Mr. Joanasie said, if it’s a vacant position, they are filled in a lot of cases with casuals who are attached to the job. They fulfill a certain amount of the duties and responsibilities of that job, not 100 percent, and their pay is adjusted accordingly. We also use relief workers.
Through competitions such as last year, we went through a new directive for restricted competitions.
They look at a position and the department can tell us if it’s a position that there’s a local pool of qualified Inuit and beneficiaries who are Nunavut Inuit, which is a new term, in the community or if it’s a geographical location or if it’s a GN-only position. They tell us and that seems to have had some success.
The departments are using that more and more.
We also encourage departments, if a person has been in a casual position for a year or longer, especially for two years or longer, and they can do the job, we will process the paperwork for direct appointments and that goes through cabinet. We are trying to speed up the process, but oftentimes it comes down to: if there is any competition in the community, are there any qualified applicants?
There’s a whole process, not simply you run one competition and then you’re lucky and fortunate enough to find a candidate.
Sometimes you can make an offer to a candidate and we have seen this many times, and then they decide that they don’t want that job, that they’re not interested now. We run into those things.
Like I said, in a perfect scenario you can fill those positions, but there are a lot of variables that come into play.
Of course housing is also an issue. I think I said yesterday or in the last couple of days, we have a shortage of 900 staff housing units across Nunavut that we need for positions.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On what you just said about placing job ads, for beneficiaries of the land claims agreement, you have started creating competitions just for them through a new directive.
Do you have a number on how many job ads have been placed just for beneficiaries in the past year?
Mr. Patterson.