EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I want to highlight some additional priorities from among those listed in the 2008-09 business plan.
In the coming year, Mr. Chairman, the department, working in cooperation with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, will undertake a comprehensive review of the NNI Policy.
With the Report of the Office of the Auditor General to the Legislative Assembly last November, plans have been made to implement improvements in the coming year to the regulations, policies and reporting requirements for our territorial corporations and our partners in the business development centres.
The department will prepare a new strategy for development of the tourism industry and consult communities on proposed changes to the Travel and Tourism Act.
Promotion of Nunavut’s interests in obtaining quota from arctic char, inshore turbot and other fish species will continue in 2008-09, and public communication on sealing for local, national and international audiences will be increased.
The department will conduct an interagency workshop to implement improvements in permitting and regulation for large-scale development projects, such as mines
Implementation of a new Motor Vehicle license and licensing system that will be compliant with the Canadian Driver License Agreement.
In addition, Mr. Chairman, the department will continue to work on improvements to transportation infrastructure as one of the foundations for development of the Nunavut economy.
This work in 2008-09 will include:
Implementation of the recommendations of the Iqaluit Airport Master Plan;
Assistance in the development of the Bathurst Inlet Port and Road project;
Undertaking an economic benefit analysis and beginning the environmental impact studies for the Manitoba-Nunavut Highway project;
Completing construction of the Arctic Bay Airport; and,
Implementing major federally-funded runway projects in Taloyoak and Rankin Inlet.
In addition, in 2008-09, the department will complete its legislative review of the Motor Vehicles Act.
I want to say in conclusion that the Department of Economic Development and Transportation faces a very challenging year in 2008-09.
We have a lot of new work to do and many improvements to make in key program areas.
I am confident that with this budget and with this plan, we can meet the challenges ahead.
I welcome comments and questions from committee members on the 2008-09 Main Estimates and Business Plan for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Does the Chair of the Infrastructure Standing Committee have any opening comments?
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Can I start my opening comments now?
I’m happy to say that the department is very important to Nunavummiut.
I am pleased to provide you with opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Housing and Economic Development on its review of the 2008-09 Main Estimates and Business Plan of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
The standing committee notes that the department’s proposed 2008-09 operations and maintenance budget of $55,131,000 has increased approximately 48 percent since the 2004-05 fiscal year.
The number of PYs in the department has increased from 105.5 in 2004-05 to 144 in 2008-09.
The GN’s annual reports on departmental contracting, procurement and leasing activities have not included information on the activities of Crown corporations and agencies.
The standing committee was pleased to receive a commitment from the minister that the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation will publicly report their activities in these areas regarding our issues and concerns.
Annual reports for the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation are required by law to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Recent annual reports for these Crown corporations have not been tabled within the timelines provided by law.
It is important that these reports be tabled in a timely manner.
The department’s proposed budget for 2008-09 includes over $21 million in grants and contributions expenditures.
A number of the department’s own policies require the minister to table detailed annual reports in the Legislative Assembly on the department’s grants and contributions spending.
The standing committee urges the minister to table these reports at the earliest opportunity so that all MLAs may review the department’s actual spending.
The department issued a Request for Proposals in September of 2006 for an operational review of the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
This contract was awarded to an Ontario-based company.
The final report from the study was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on March 12, 2008.
Members had the opportunity to exchange views with the minister on the future of these Crown corporations.
The standing committee recognizes that the present location of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation has been a significant contributing factor in the Crown corporation’s management problems and would support a decision to relocate its offices.
However, Mr. Chairman, the standing committee is not convinced that amalgamating the two entities into a single organization would be a strategically sound decision, given the different mandates of the two corporations.
The standing committee recommends that the department consult with Nunavut’s regional chambers of commerce to obtain a business community perspective on this issue.
The department’s business plan indicates that one of its priorities is to undertake the second five-year comprehensive review of the NNI Policy in cooperation with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
The standing committee notes that the 2008-09 Corporate Plan for the Nunavut Development Corporation raises the concern that “NDC’s subsidiaries are often not given preferential treatment under the Government of Nunavut’s NNI Policy. This reality has hindered the development of some subsidiary companies as they do not receive the bid preferences as stipulated in the policy when bidding on government contracts.”
(interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, the department’s main estimates include proposed funding of $800,000 for contributions to Nunavut’s three regional Business Development Centres.
On October 29, 2007, a Minister’s Statement announced that the department has initiated a review of these centres “to identify and to recommend the standards and best practices to ensure that all Nunavummiut have access to good quality business services.”
The standing committee urges the minister to table the final report from this review at the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly and again recommends that the department consult with Nunavut’s regional chambers of commerce to obtain a business community perspective on this issue.
The GN’s Fuel Tax Rebate Program, which was announced in the 2006 Budget, requires companies to enter into a Development Partnership Agreement in order to qualify for the rebate.
The department’s Development Partnership Program Policy requires the minister to “table annually in the Legislative Assembly a summary of each active Development Partnership Agreement, detail of activities related to implementation of the agreement, and impact on hub communities.”
The standing committee looks forward to the tabling of these annual reports.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s business plan indicates that a priority for 2008-09 is to “support the Department of Education in the development of a mine training facility in Nunavut.”
The standing committee encourages the ministers involved in this initiative to clarify which communities are being considered for this facility.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s main estimates reflect an increase in the number of positions in its fisheries and sealing division and its minerals and petroleum resources division.
Over 10 PYs are being added.
The standing committee looks forward to the development and tabling of the department’s new sealing strategy.
The standing committee has been a strong proponent of measures to reduce unnecessary regulatory red tape that impedes the economic development of the territory, especially in the mining sector.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee supports the department’s initiative to develop “a new mechanism for reviewing regulations, licensing and permitting processes that may impede business development.”
The standing committee looks forward to regular updates on the actual success of this initiative, in addition to progress in the development of a uranium mining management plan.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee notes that the department recently completed a review of the tourism industry that assessed the status of tourism and recommended strategic and legislative changes.
The standing committee looks forward to the minister resuming the practice of tabling Nunavut Tourism’s annual reports, which will help enable all members to evaluate the success of the government’s investments in the tourism sector of the economy.
Mr. Chairman, on November 21, 2006, the Legislative Assembly passed a formal motion which recommended that the Government of Nunavut “work with the airline industry to bring forward an action plan to improve the availability of affordable, reliable air service to Nunavut’s smaller, under-served communities.”
The department’s business plan indicates that one of the department’s objectives is the “development and implementation of effective transportation infrastructure strategies for Nunavut.”
The department’s business plan indicates that “a transportation blueprint developed by the three territories will be completed” and that the “Nunavut Transportation Strategy will be complete.” The standing committee looks forward to these documents being tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the 2008-09 Main Estimates and Business Plan of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
We will now take a break and return to Chambers at seven o’clock.
The swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected Member of Cabinet, Mr. Barnabas, will take place in the Chambers at six o’clock.
After the ceremony, members and staff can proceed to the upstairs committee rooms for refreshments.
>>Committee recessed at 17:53 and resumed at 19:05
Before we proceed, I would like to recognize some visitors who have just arrived at the Chambers.
Solomon Mickey, who is sitting down there, was really instrumental in the search and rescue efforts this spring in Igloolik for Inookie Kunuk and he was one of those indispensable searchers.
As well, we have David Matoo and Jimmy Haniliak.
Minister Netser, do you have witnesses you would like to bring to the witness table?
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Yes, I do.
Does the committee agree to bring in the minister’s officials?
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the officials in.
To my right is my Deputy Minister, Rosemary Keenainak, and to my left is Methuselah Kunuk, the Assistant Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Also sitting in the Gallery is John Graham, who is our Director of the Iqaluit Airport, and Eric Prosh, (interpretation ends) the Manager of Mineral Resources (interpretation) and he is also working with the board. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Before we proceed, I would like to remind members of the following: according to Rule 77(1), you have ten minutes to speak, and according to Rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of the Chair, a member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion but not until every member wishing to speak has spoken.
Since there are none, we will go to the main estimates on page K-4. (interpretation ends) Branch Summary.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): My light wasn’t turning on.
I would like to welcome the minister and his officials, Ms. Keenainak and Mr. Kunuk.
We would really like to get more details on the statement you made regarding the NBCC and in regard to the issue of NBCC being moved out of Cape Dorset for many reasons.
And what you said earlier, I think I spoke about the consultants yesterday or today and it’s nice I guess for the consultants to be thought about when we’re thinking about communities’ concerns.
Also, in the Government Operations Committee during the fall, we said that the chamber of commerce should be at least asked or contacted because it would be nice to know what decisions are made.
Have you written to the chamber of commerce if NBCC would be moved out of Cape Dorset to another place?
Hon. Patter Netser: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) I agree with the member concerning the consultants. They tell us what we should do and we are in control of the decisions.
We don’t even have to follow what they recommend to us.
The chamber of commerce was not consulted concerning the NBCC moving from Cape Dorset to Iqaluit. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Perhaps if you could speak to or contact the chamber of commerce in the future and show our wish to be open to them because this would have a positive impact.
One idea is not going to be enough, so you need as many ideas as possible.
I’m sure the Cabinet will make a decision concerning the move of NBCC and we sort of heard that it will be moved to Iqaluit. Does your office have any idea when the NBCC office in Cape Dorset will be moved to Iqaluit?
Hon. Patter Netser: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) We’re not sure because we haven’t found an office for NBCC to be placed in Iqaluit due to shortage of office space, but we are in the preparation stages. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Last fall, when we met, it looked like it was an opportunity for the people in the public.
We are being broadcast live and the new CEO is in place, so for the benefit of the viewing public, can the minister explain to us as to what’s happening with the new CEO? Is he in Iqaluit or still in Cape Dorset?
It looked like he had pretty good plans to run the office of NBCC in Cape Dorset.
Is he still planning and working towards what he’s going to do?
If you could explain more, I would appreciate it if it was on record. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Hon. Patter Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We are quite pleased with the new Chief Executive Officer for NBCC.
He is in Cape Dorset and he has been preparing for a while. I spoke to him before he was hired about wanting to become the CEO for NBCC. I know he’s happy to be moving to Iqaluit because he will have more opportunities to do things directly with our department and within the City of Iqaluit.
Also last fall, we were informed that the board had vacant positions at NBCC. What’s happening with those positions?
Are they filled yet?
The deputy ministers are temporarily in place and were appointed for a year.
We’re thinking of putting out the advertisement through the media either in May or June. We will be seeking for names for submission that would fill in the positions and we will know then.
I would like to be informed from you for the people that are applying for loans when you review them and when we hold public hearings. Some of the previous loans didn’t have any securities and large amounts were involved.
For that reason, some of them were pretty slow in getting to work on the applications for loans.
Perhaps the NBCC Board is addressing the issues as there are many applications and loans piling up.
Can you answer that these issues will be dealt with? There was one individual who wanted to hear what the status of his application is, but I won’t say his name.
What’s happening with loan applications which were halted? What’s happening with some of the work being done for the applications?
Yes, it’s in a much better operation and smoother now for those that are applying for loans and they are being carefully reviewed, and the board had meetings already. (interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, due diligence is being done by the board and I have utmost confidence in operations of the NBCC.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) It’s good to hear there’s progress, especially with some of the information on the securities for the loans. It will be much easier to work with them. If they are informed, that would be great.
When we met, we had quite a few requests and recommendations. Those that we wanted to see are not visible yet.
Would they go before the committee first?
For example, I requested who had loans, but not the amount. They were approved by the government and the funds were disbursed.
The borrowers received the loans and not too long, it fell through, so we requested the information concerning these.
Have they been given to the standing committee or are you just about to give the information to the committee?
Since the Economic Development and Transportation portfolio was given to me, I have not been informed of that whole fiasco - who had borrowed and who had been approved or not. I said that I didn’t want to hear who wasn’t paying their loans.
At this time, I have no idea as to what’s happening to date. Perhaps my deputy can elaborate on that. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We’ve had no response to the questions that we asked but we’re anticipating a reply by next week. The staff in Cape Dorset have to get the information together and then it will be given to the committee.
We look forward to the responses. We want them to know that the minister cannot be bypassed since he is accountable to the Assembly, so we hope to get a response to the questions that we had.
We would also like to know the names and the companies that applied for loans. I think that we, as a government, have to make sure that we abide by the provisions for confidentiality in the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and some of them were not kept confidential.
I just wanted to mention the need to conform to the Act’s confidentiality provisions. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Yes, we will make sure. The Interim Chair of NBCC, Peter Ma, and my deputy had a meeting with the standing committee but I haven’t heard anything yet.
I’m sure things are going to start progressing. I have another question. I’m not sure when it was but I think it was last year that NBCC and the Crown corporations got a directive from the minister and I’m sure the minister had written a directive.
Have you written Letters of Expectation to NBCC or is it too early to ask that question at this time?
We are going to be writing a Letter of Expectation to NBCC shortly. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
When the Letters of Expectation are ready in the spring, is it possible for your department to table the documents in the May session?
I believe in being transparent and I commit to the member’s request. We will table the Letter of Expectation come this spring session.
In your opening comments, when I was reading my opening comments, again, there has to be an annual report tabled at the Legislative Assembly, but NDC and NBCC’s reports have not been tabled in the House since 2006-07.
When are you going to be tabling those annual reports to the Legislative Assembly?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) As soon as they’re available, I will table them after they have been approved by the Cabinet.
My staff are currently overloaded with work but the NDC annual reports for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are being prepared.
We are currently working on the 2007-08 annual report and it has not been completed yet.
First off, I want to say that I commend the minister.
I think it’s high time this government listened to what came out in our hearings on NBCC.
Someone sitting on the board was suggesting that they move out of Cape Dorset.
I’m glad that they took that move to hopefully enable some stability and that with the corporation, but I’m just wondering if the minister could outline exactly how. Is it still going to be a standalone Crown corporation or will it be worked in within the existing structure of the department?
There will be further evaluations on the NBCC obviously and at the end of the day, it will be the call of the Cabinet as to what they want to do with the Crown corporations.
Other than moving them here for now, are there any other options that the department is looking at for the corporation?
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The activity report recommends the possibility of amalgamating the two corporations, which are NDC and NBCC, but our main focus right now is to get the NBCC back on its feet and running functionally.
So we will just base our concentration on that corporation at the moment.
I know I said it earlier I think during our public hearings and possibly even in session before, I had pointed out that basically out of all the regional Business Development Corporations, the Baffin Business Development Centre is the only one that seems to be operating fairly well. They have the entire infrastructure in place and the system is in place.
Would the minister commit to at least approaching them to see if they would be interested in taking over that service to provide the services that are currently provided by the corporation? They have the system set up already, they have the people there, they may need a few extra people, but I’m just wondering if that would be an approach that the minister would commit to looking at.
Obviously, there will be a lot of work to do in terms of if we are going to merge these two corporations together but we will do public consultations and everything will be consulted, and MLAs will be part of the process.
Again, I want to say that we are mainly concentrating on the NBCC at the moment but we will definitely, if we get on the road, do consultations on the project.
I wasn’t specifically talking about NBCC.
The Baffin Business Development Centre delivers a lot of other smaller programs for the department already, they seem to be very successful, they have good staff, and they have the system and everything set up and in place.
What I was asking is: would the minister commit to approaching them to see if taking over the portfolio of the NBCC would be something that they would be interested in?
Obviously, we will have to have teamwork in the future of the NBCC. We’re open to ideas from the MLAs and we will see what happens down the road.
Would the minister commit to looking into that approach with them? Maybe they will all say, “No, way we don’t want it,” but you know, there’s an organization that’s operating well and they have the systems in place.
Would the minister commit to at least approaching them to see if that’s even an option for them to look at? That’s all I’m asking for.
The activity report… (interpretation) one moment. (interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, I would like my DM to answer that question.
In regard to your question regarding RT & Associates, the first report that was given to our department indicated that they would like this idea entertained. It’s now in the report and we could possibly include it in the options that we can deliver it on.
As the minister said earlier, the final decision is made by Cabinet.
The deputy indicated that they could possibly look at it.
What I’m asking the minister is if that would be an option, I mean even approach them to see if they would be interested; maybe they don’t want it.
Would he at least approach them and ask them if they would be interested in looking at ways if that was a possibility, and if it was, to look at that option?
Yes, we can approach the body and ask them that question.
I appreciate the commitment from the minister.
The next question I have on here is, I guess there’s still only $450,000 allocated for the NBCC, I’m just wondering if there’s going to be any additional costs associated with the relocation of the office to Iqaluit from Cape Dorset and if that’s included in the $450,000 that they have in the budget right now.
The line item he’s referring to is for the Business Corporation. Obviously, there would be costs incurred in moving the office here but it’s not included in this line item.
Has the department costed out any preliminary numbers of what they’re looking at would be the cost for the relocation?