EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So we will work with the officials. We will need advice from the departmental education officials as well as the EIAs throughout.
Once the departmental officials have worked out the consultation as well as establishing a program, it will be widely circulated to communities.
In the answers to the last two questions that I have raised, the minister has mentioned EIA.
Are you referring to the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs?
Well, in some ways, we do, but just a moment.
My reference may have confused the member; I’m trying to talk about our local education committees that are also an important part.
Also, the departmental allocation that the committee approved the other day was a component of the Quality of Life Committee that the Department of Health and Social Services commit itself to contribute that as a whole.
EIA, along with all of the other departmental committees, made the recommendation to all of us and therefore, their advice has been useful, mainly to set some priorities for the department.
Our contribution towards that is to continue to provide a school breakfast program in some small way.
To be correct, Mr. Speaker, I was referring to DEAs. We will be sending notice, no doubt, about the kinds of programs that the department is working on at this time.
Thank you for that clarification because that does help.
My final question in terms of the rollout and the way it is rolled out: who actually makes the decisions on the program?
Is it the Department of Health’s decision?
You had mentioned EIA and you also mentioned the Quality of Life Committee. Is it a combined effort decision or is it your department’s decision?
This government has made a number of commitments through the Tamapta program and Qanukkanniq, subsequently laying out more detailed initiatives of all of the departments.
I said that the Quality of Life Committee that was established through the mandate by our cabinet recommended that the school breakfast program is important and that it should be enhanced, as my deputy minister indicated the other day to the Committee of the Whole. Therefore, the department is responsible for administering and rolling out the program.
The deputy minister had not long ago indicated that we have until likely the fall to work out the details of the program.
I assure the member once again that in doing that, we will be seeking advice of the Department of Education, who were very helpful.
I’m sure that they have already been talking to each other because they are also members of the Quality of Life Committee, amongst other departmental officials.
Question 081 – 3(3): Capital Projects for Repulse Bay (Ningark)
First I wish to thank him, Mr. Speaker, for the facility that was long requested, which was a community hall/recreation centre and skating arena. I tagged along on the trip to Repulse Bay when they opened the facility.
With respect to what they call capital projects in English, I would like to thank the minister for the facility that was provided to the community.
What about the rock crusher, as well as the capital project item list at the hamlet?
Can the minister look back on the previous capital item requests and provide a report, perhaps not immediately but to have his officials respond to where these projects are at? The hockey arena is completed and I know that, but I would appreciate a report to the residents of Repulse Bay about the status of these projects.
I also thank you for raising that question.
It was quite an honour to open that new facility in Repulse Bay.
From what we heard, the residents told us that there were clouds of mosquitoes, but while there for the opening ceremonies, I believe I saw only three mosquitoes.
Yes, if you or the hamlet representatives would like to find out more about the capital projects that they have previously requested, that is possible but it may take a bit of work. We will look at the prior correspondence from the municipality.
When the time is right after we have completed the review, we will send correspondence with an explanation.
The only mosquito that I saw in Repulse Bay I swatted because it landed on my face.
When the minister submits his response to the Hamlet of Repulse Bay, will he commit to including a copy for my records?
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Chairman?
That’s okay.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): I apologize on the member’s behalf for his inadvertent mistake of calling you Chairman when he tried to call you the Speaker. I know for a fact that it was unintentional.
Mr. Speaker, when I reply to the hamlet, I will ensure that I copy the member.
I don’t know if the member is expecting a response tomorrow, but I will respond when I have the time.
Speaker (interpretation): That is acceptable because everybody makes mistakes.
I will not forget the term.
Question 082 – 3(3): NunaFam Program (Elliott)
In his Minister’s Statement about the NunaFam, it’s great and wonderful that the federal government is making a commitment of $4.9 million to the Nunavut Family Physicians Resident Project.
I was just wondering: when will this project start and when will these residents start training?
The announcement jointly made not long ago, last month, indicated that the program would start this summer by July.
The information that I have is there would be at least six students who will begin to take advantage of the program.
The good news is that that will carry on for a number of years, which is really quite crucial to us, and I try to assure the federal member that we would like to have it permanently in place rather than the short-term one.
With the possibility of six new physicians in the territory, I think that’s amazing.
Hopefully they will be bringing families with them too and potentially stay for a long period.
As well, one of the concerns I had with the program, as with any of the programs and positions that we have across the territory: is housing going to be a problem for these eight individuals and their families?
At the moment, the department has a number of units in place, particularly assigned to the medical doctors in place.
To date, that has not been raised as an issue, and Iqaluit has been a pretty good market for housing supplies.
I’m sure the level of commitment made by the federal government, $4.9 million over six fiscal years, no doubt will be part of that funding to cover that.
Again it’s just great having new physicians and hopefully they will stay.
I think with what we have been promoting with the Language Act and the new Inuit Language Protection Act, will there be Inuit language training provided for the positions as well if they are interested in learning the Inuit language?
I personally don’t know that.
We would have to consult with Memorial University.
They have a very committed professor, a doctor involved in supervising the program.
We can communicate that, but it would likely be an extra expense if that were to take place.
At the moment, our only contribution towards the program is to make use of the space available for the students and doctors, and that is what we have committed to the federal government.
Thank you for committing to speaking with Memorial University about including that.
I’m sure unilingual medical clients would appreciate some level of service in Inuktitut or the Inuit language.
My final question, Mr. Speaker, is in regard to the return of service. How many years of return of service will they provide to the Territory of Nunavut?
That is specifically alluding to exactly how many years they committed to. It’s not in my briefing notes, but I will somehow get back to the member on that.
Question 083 – 3(3): Remainder of Housing Trust Units (Schell)
Have all of the remaining housing units in the housing trust and the incentive program been tendered out and awarded?
The information I currently have is that about 90 percent or so of them are committed. There were some outstanding contractual bids that were still being finalized.
Due to the fact that there were some bids that were high, there are still discussions going on that.
I can only indicate to the member that they will likely be finalized before the June session, but at this time, I don’t have the detailed information.
There were not many contracts that were sort of gone above the budget, so the department went back and tried to ensure that they come in within the budget allocated.
My next question is: what is the status on the two experimental units that were delivered to Arviat?
I would have to get back to the member on that and provide the details.
Assuming that the other 10 percent will be awarded in June, what is the expected final date for completing these two projects?
If he’s talking about the SIP units, they won’t take very long to complete if they are SIP units.
The main delay last year was that some materials were coming in late, but I think we will have a pretty good starting date this spring.
I would assume that if they are SIP units, it won’t be long before they are completed.
No doubt about it, they will be in place before the end of the summer.
No, I’m speaking in regard to all of the units and that includes the five-plexes and duplexes, and whatever that has been involved in these two programs.
Hon. Tagak Curley: Mr. Speaker, I will get back to the member on that, but the target dates that have been negotiated with both projects, housing trust remaining houses as well as the Affordable Housing Initiative, hopefully by the end of the year or early next year, we would like to definitely have them completed.
Question 084 – 3(3): Auditor General’s Report on Children, Youth and Family Programs (Elliott)
I wanted to ask a question in regard to the report of the Auditor General of Canada that you had tabled on March 8 in regard to children, youth, and family programs and services in Nunavut.
I was wondering if the minister could briefly describe what his department is doing to address some of the deficiencies found in the report.
This is a very timely report of the Auditor General, which is a very important subject.
The report was tabled by the Speaker of this House.
The department is responding and has responded to all of the recommendations also contained in the report.
The department is ready to respond to every action required.
We will have an action plan in place before too long and there is an interdepartmental committee that is working with us, with the departmental staff, which involves Education, Justice, and so on, because they are overlapping some of the services for the youth programs throughout Nunavut.
We are taking this report seriously and we are prepared to deal with it.
As I said, we will have a clearly set out action plan.
We are also probably ahead in some ways with respect to the review of the legislation with regard to family and child services. That’s progressing well and the final report will likely be submitted to me as the minister shortly.
The cabinet is prepared to see the legislation change.
I know we are working with the Department of Justice to deal with the actual details of the changes required, but the consultations with all of the groups throughout Nunavut have been completed, particularly 12 communities. As well, we have been consulting with the Inuit organizations. They have been actively involved.
So I think that we are ahead in some ways, but what is contained in the Auditor General’s report is really quite serious and the department has established a working committee to respond, to formulate an action plan.
In regard to the community consultation that the minister was speaking about and changes with legislation and speaking with the Department of Justice, he didn’t specifically say it but is he referring to the review of the Child and Family Services Act?
Yes, that’s correct, the Child and Family Services Act has been a concern to many Nunavutmiut and we are responding.
The project managers that I introduced in the House near the end of the month have concluded their report pretty well and we are now awaiting the final recommendations.
Once they are in place, the drafting of changes will be made with the help of the Department of Justice.
I know we will probably get more detailed information when the Office of the Auditor General and your department’s officials are here in April when we review this.
In particular, one of my concerns that I have raised in a number of occasions, either by oral questions or through Members’ Statements, and I know other MLAs have raised it as well, is the concern of social workers.
I have three communities at this time that do not have social workers living within the community.
I’m wondering: what’s your department doing to get social workers in the communities?
That’s a very good and important question.
The department is preparing an action plan, which will include advertising and trying to fill the remaining vacant positions.
At the moment, I can say to the member that we are working with Human Resources. They have already indicated the screening out number of applications for the various locations and social workers.
That will not be the end of it.
They actually have a multi-year plan to continue to advertise the positions that are vacant because the positions become vacant almost every month throughout or whatnot.
In terms of the broader plans, we have a plan to engage within our department that we need to establish better training programs for our social workers because they do work in a very complex and isolated location.
So these are the kinds of things that we are looking at right now.
Again I just want to ask the question specifically: when do you actually anticipate or when does your department actually anticipate having the positions filled?
With the help of Human Resources, I believe there are about 18 or 19 social worker vacant positions throughout Nunavut.
Our plan is that it will be a multi-year step because, like I said before, sometimes the social workers retire and they leave, so it’s never permanently 100 percent filled in any given year, but we are working hard to address the very importance of filling these positions.
It is urgent that we do so.
Right now, as we speak, there are position applications that are being screened by our friends from Human Resources and we will respond to them. No doubt about it, some of the offers and final offers after screening the interviews will begin as early as next month.
Question 085 – 3(3): Bonus Payments to Senior Managers (Elliott)
I wanted to thank the Premier for quickly tabling the document that I had asked oral questions about.
In viewing the tabled document from yesterday, one of the questions that came up with me is in terms of the way the division of how performance based salary bonuses or merit pay is not totally clear to me.
Well, the document actually had a backgrounder in it and it talks about how the government is trying to bring down the… .
With the fiscal restraints and as the minister had mentioned last year in terms of prudence, these senior officials were held back to 4 percent. I guess there are deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers, and then there are senior managers.
My understanding is there are three levels of payment that go out.
In the document, it talks about a cutback of a cap at 4 percent.
I was just wondering if the Premier could clarify: was that 4 percent for all of them?
In terms of deputy ministers, assistant deputy ministers, and senior managers, were they all at 4 percent?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) In the background, it states what the senior managers are and it is applied to senior managers.
So is a deputy minister a senior manager?
There are no more hands up. (interpretation ends) Item 7. (interpretation) Written Questions.
There are no hands up. (interpretation ends) Item 8. (interpretation) Returns to Written Questions. (interpretation ends) Item 9. (interpretation) Replies to Opening Address. (interpretation ends) Item 10. (interpretation) Petitions. (interpretation ends) Item 11. (interpretation) Reponses to Petitions. (interpretation ends) Item 12. (interpretation) Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters. (interpretation ends) Item 13. (interpretation) Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 034 – 3(3): Family Abuse Intervention Act Implementation Evaluation (Peterson)
I am pleased to table the Family Abuse Intervention Act Implementation Evaluation done by the Genesis Group, February 2010.
Tabled Document 035 – 3(3): Editorial Kivalliq News (Elliott)
Tabled Document 036 – 3(3): INAC News Release on Nutrition North (Elliott)
I have two documents to table, so I’ll do them at the same time.
I rise to table the copy of Darrell Greer’s editorial from the Kivalliq News posted yesterday. It is in regard to the new Nutrition North Canada Program.
Mr. Speaker, the editorial strongly encourages people in Kivalliq communities to take the time to keep food prices in the region up to date on Tony Rose’s Nutrition North review website.
Mr. Speaker, this is excellent advice and I encourage all Nunavummiut across the territory to closely monitor food prices over the coming months.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a copy of yesterday’s press release from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada entitled, “Ministers Duncan and Aglukkaq Take Action to Ensure Successful Transition to Nutrition North Canada.”
Mr. Speaker, I would like acknowledge the very positive step forward that has been taken by the federal government.
It is important, however, that we continue to keep careful watch on the progress of this program and ensure that we continue to provide input and feedback to the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Council on the program’s effectiveness.
Tabled Document 037 – 3(3): Nunavut Emergency Management Annual Report for 2008 (Kusugak)
I am pleased to table the Nunavut Emergency Management Annual Report for 2008.
Tabled Document 038 – 3(3): 96th Advisory Committee of Deputy Ministers of Education and the 98th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education (Tootoo)
I am pleased to table the 96th Advisory Committee of Deputy Ministers of Education and the 98th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education. The meeting was held in Winnipeg Manitoba, September 22 to 24, 2010.
There are no more hands up. (interpretation ends) Item 14. (interpretation) Notices of Motions.
Motion 004 – 3(3): Suspension of the Member for Pangnirtung from Sittings of the Legislative Assembly and Meetings of its Committees and Caucuses – Notice (Ningeongan)
I give notice that on Monday, March 14, 2011, I will move the following motion:
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for South Baffin, that Mr. Adamee Komoartok, Member for Pangnirtung, be suspended from sittings of the House and meetings of its committees and caucuses until such time as the House reviews the status of this matter at the spring 2011 sitting of the Legislative Assembly and makes a determination as to whether it should extend the suspension, end the suspension, or take other action.
Notices of Motions. (interpretation ends) Item 15. (interpretation) Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Item 16. (interpretation) Motions.
You may proceed, Member.
Motion 004 – 3(3): Suspension of the Member for Pangnirtung from Sittings of the Legislative Assembly and Meetings of its Committees and Caucuses (Ningeongan)
Mr. Ningeongan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues.
WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, by virtue of parliamentary privilege, enjoys the sole prerogative to regulate its own proceedings and internal affairs, including the discipline of members;
AND WHEREAS section 18 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides that the Legislative Assembly has the power to discipline its members;
AND WHEREAS the Member for Pangnirtung has been charged with an offence contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada;
AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly has adopted a motion stating that domestic violence in our homes and communities is unacceptable;
AND WHEREAS the Member for Pangnirtung has already been censured by the House on one occasion for his conduct;
AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly affirms the right of a member charged with a criminal offence to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law;
AND WHEREAS it is the judgment of this House that public trust and confidence in the Legislative Assembly and the dignity and reputation of the institution are best served if the Member for Pangnirtung does not take part in its proceedings;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for South Baffin, that Mr. Adamee Komoartok, Member for Pangnirtung, be suspended from sittings of the House and meetings of its committees and caucuses until such time as the House reviews the status of this matter at the spring 2011 sitting of the Legislative Assembly and makes a determination as to whether it should extend the suspension, end the suspension, or take other action;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that the Management and Services Board of the Legislative Assembly impose such deductions on the member’s indemnities and recoveries of his allowances as it deems appropriate as a consequence of his non-attendance at sittings of the House and meetings of its committees and caucuses;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that the Management and Services Board of the Legislative Assembly impose such restrictions on the member’s use of his constituency budget and Legislative Assembly funds as it deems appropriate during the member’s suspension.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that a recorded vote be taken on this motion.
The member asked for a recorded vote.
We will start off with those in favour of the motion.
(interpretation ends) It is a unanimous vote, so the motion is carried. (interpretation) Thank you.
Motions. (interpretation ends) Item 17. (interpretation) First Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Item 18. (interpretation) Second Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Item 19. (interpretation) Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters.
The committee will deal with Bills 1, 3, 4, and 5, and Tabled Documents 248 – 3(2), 249 – 3(2), 251 – 3(2), 274 – 3(2), and 275 – 3(2) with the Member for Amittuq in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:04 and Committee resumed at 15:38
Chairman (Mr. Tapardjuk) (interpretation): It’s good to see you come back. In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 1, 3, 4, and 5, and Tabled Documents 248 – 3(2), 249 – 3(2), 251 – 3(2), 274 – 3(2), and 275 – 3(2).
We wish to continue with the review of Bill 1 and commence with the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, followed by the Legislative Assembly, and then we will commence the review of Bills 3, 4, and 5.
Are we in agreement that we will deal with those items?
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2011-2012 – Consideration in Committee – Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs
I would now like to ask the Premier to make her opening remarks.
I am pleased to have this opportunity to present to Committee of the Whole the budget for the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs for 2011-12.
Mr. Chairman, the role of the department includes providing support to cabinet and overall coordination of the work of the public service, including the implementation of the priorities we, as Full Caucus, set out under Tamapta: Building Our Future Together. In addition, the department coordinates intergovernmental, circumpolar and aboriginal relations.
The department’s main estimates total for fiscal year 2011-12 is about $20 million.
This amount is comprised of approximately $14.1 million for salaries and benefits and $5.9 million for other operations and maintenance costs.
It is an increase of $2,364,000 from 2010-11.
The most significant change to the department’s budget is an increase of $1,880,000 for the Government Liaison program.
This will be used to ensure that all of the government liaison offices are established and functioning across the territory.
The staffing of that division has now begun.
A director is now in place and actively working on staffing regional supervisor and the first government liaison officer positions.