EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
(interpretation ends) Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs is developing, in co-operation with the Department of Finance and Administration, an intensive process for the review of Nunavut's programs.
In the Opening Address to this Session, and in the Budget Speech, our government has indicated its intention to examine the financial and program experience of the first two years of Nunavut's operations, through a process of Program Review.
Today, the focus of our presentation is the Main Estimates for the Department 2001/02.
At the outset, it is important to note that the Department has no capital expenditures in this budget.
The total budget for operating and maintenance allotment for Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs in 2001/02 is 8.64 million dollars which represents a decrease of 2.66 million from the 11.3 million budgeted for 2000/2001.
The reduction is related primarily to the transfer of responsibilities for the supply and delivery of electrical energy in Nunavut to the new Nunavut Power Corporation on April 1, 2001.
The department's new initiatives include: 1) Access to Information and Protection of Privacy.
The department has budgeted 154 thousand dollars for a position and support to co-ordinate and manage the government's responsibilities under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
That priority was noted in a response to our November 27 presentation to the standing committee, in reference to the first annual report of the information and privacy commissioner of Nunavut.
(interpretation) 2) Maligarnik Qimirujiit funding is renewed for the balance of their term, to December 31, 2001.
Their work has been allotted a budget of 329 thousand dollars.
The commissioners appeared before the committee on February 6, 2001 and there was an excellent opportunity for the committee to do reviews with the commissioners both on their first report and their current work plan.
As a government, we received the recommendations in the first report and the relevant departments, primarily health and social services and justice at this time, have begun to look at ways to review programs and statutes in order to respond.
(interpretation ends) 3) The utility rate review council. The Council replaces the former public utilities board and assumes responsibility for the regulation of the utilities in Nunavut.
The legislative proposal is currently before this session of the Legislative Assembly, and has tentatively been allotted a budget of 244 thousand dollars for the year 2001/2002.
(interpretation) Mr. Chairman, these are the highlights of EIAs budget for 2001/2002.
I would be pleased to answer any questions or address the comments of my fellow colleagues.
Thank you again for the opportunity to meet with you today.
Does the committee chair have opening comments.
Mr. Tootoo: Always Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, thank you.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services has carefully reviewed the budget estimates and business plan of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs for the upcoming fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Standing Committee, I am pleased to be able to provide the Committee's opening comments as we begin the review of the department's 2001-2002 budget.
The Committee notes that the department's spending is returning to the level that it was prior to the creation of the Nunavut Power Corporation Implementation Secretariat.
The Committee has discussed a number of issues with the Premier during the course of its business plan review.
the need for effective co-ordination of such government-wide initiatives as Program Review and I should say, program expenditure review now, and the introduction of departmental performance indicators;
the need to vigorously represent Nunavut's interests and priorities at the intergovernmental level;
the importance of a communications strategy that effectively reaches the residents of smaller communities;
continuing to move forward with decentralization; and
ensuring that the Government of Nunavut's land claims obligations are met and that its relationship with NTI is harmonious;
The Committee will be interested in following progress and results over the coming months in such areas under the department's jurisdiction as follow-through on the recommendations made by the Nunavut Law Review Commission, as well as the results of the Nunavut Household Survey.
The Committee recognizes the important leadership responsibilities that the department has with respect to ensuring that the GN is a transparent government.
Members were pleased to note that the department plans to move forward with implementing access to information processes in the coming fiscal year, and ensuring that the policies of our government are available to the public in Inuktitut and English.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments.
I would anticipate that the members may raise additional comments and concerns as we proceed.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo, chairman of the standing committee.
We seem to be losing our quorum.
I'd like to ask Mr. Okalik if he could be seated at the witness table.
During oral questions, I am able to ask three questions and we have procedures that we need to follow.
When we're meeting here, we have to have 10 members in the House to be able to proceed.
So I'd like to take a ten-minute break and come back with a quorum.
Following our rules, we have procedures, rules that we have to follow.
We have to have 10 members in the House in order to continue.
In Nunavut, we have to make sure that we work well together and members should be in the House.
I'll ask Mr. Irqittuq if he would like to take, or Chair the meeting from here on.
Chairperson (Mr. Irqittuq) (interpretation): Mr. Minister, could you take your seat at the witness table.
If your officials could be seated at the witness table.
Will you have your officials joining you.
During the committee of the whole, we often start to lose members and I think the ministers already know about the main estimates but I think members should be in the House during general comments.
I'd like to take a break if it's okay.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Point of Order.  Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Ng.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Chairman, my point of order is that all members are responsible for their own actions and accountable for their own constituents.
I don't believe any other member should be dictating whether a member should or shouldn't be in the House.
They are elected by their constituents and are able to make their own decisions based on that representation.
Chairperson (interpretation): I will now ask Mr. Iqaqrialu.
We have a quorum. So did you make a motion.
I know we have a quorum now.
But I'd like to make a motion to report progress.
Chairperson (interpretation): The member has made a motion to report progress.
One member abstained.
We are on Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Directorate, 1 million 543 thousand.
Some members: Agreed.
Chairperson (interpretation): Total expenditures, 1 million 543 thousand.
Evaluation and statistical services.
Total operations and maintenance, 629 thousand.
Under evaluation and statistical services.
This has been one of my biggest concerns is getting a complete and accurate set of statistics in regards to unemployment.
Unemployment rates.
Does the minister responsible see a new set of statistics coming forward that really reflect what is happening in Nunavut.
Chairperson (interpretation): Premier Okalik.
Currently we are undertaking a Nunavut household survey and updating that.
When does the minister think that the results will be brought into the House and tabled.
The figures should be done this summer.
We should be able to table the final results by the fall session.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are on page 2-7.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, branch summary. Evaluation and statistical services.
Total expenditures, 629 thousand.
Turning on to the next page.
Communications. Policy and planning.
Total operations and maintenance, 1 million 345 thousand.
Mr. Chairman if you recall my opening comments had indicated you know, that one of the concerns that is always out there and is always a problem or a challenge I should say in any organization and that's being able to adequately communicate.
I'm just wondering if the minister can elaborate on any communication strategy that the department has developed to ensure that the communities and the people of Nunavut are aware or have the ability to be aware of the programs and services and going ons of the government.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Qujannamiik Itsivautaq.
We are trying to do a number of things; the website, we're hoping to update that very shortly, it's out of date right now, it's up but we want to update it with the latest information.
Further in this budget, we're trying to get materials for recording our own audio messages to the communities so we will be able to ship those tapes to the communities so they can be broadcast in each of the communities.
So we're trying a number of ways but, there's always ways of improving it and we'll continually try to look for ways to have effective communications with our constituents.
We are on page 2-8.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, branch summary. Communications, policy and planning.
Last year there was 15 thousand dollars for purchased services and this has now been increased to 133 thousand, which is a huge increase.
Could you let me know why there has been a huge increase in these numbers.
If you look at the line item, there's 310 thousand dollars that was there and it's now only 85 thousand.
It used to be, they were re-allocated to purchased services from contract services.
It's just moving from one line to another.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): One million 345 thousand total expenditures under communications policy and planning.
When we're talking about communications what are we talking about here.
We are talking about all the communication systems and the information that goes out to the communities.
We put all the information that is required by the communities together.
We put out booklets and documents.
To date we are making tapes that will be sent out to communities and we will be producing more taped announcements.
When we are talking about communication, does all this information goes out to all the Nunavut communities.
Especially to the government departments that have been decentralized to the smaller communities.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Well that is not only to the Hamlet Councils.
That includes all the information and the Press Releases and everything else that have to be sent out and we also put together information that can be accessed by computer.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, how is the communication system.
Has it improved.
Thank you. Mr. Chairman.
Well the communication system is always updated.
We’re always looking at new ideas that we can use.
For this year we are going to be ordering tapes so that we can send them out to the local radio stations.
We also use the e-mail system that can be accessed by anyone out there and we do keep sending out information to the Hamlet Councils.
There is always room for improvement when we are talking about communications.
I don't believe there are questions.
Intergovernmental affairs, branch summary.
Communications, policy and planning.
Total expenditures, 1 million 345 thousand.
Total operations and maintenance, 861 thousand.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Just for further clarification.
When we are talking about Intergovernmental Affairs. Exactly what does that mean.
Could you clarify that point.
It is dealing with the governments outside of Nunavut.
We have to work together with the other governments for example the federal government and we are also talking about the governments from the other Territories and Provinces.
They also have Intergovernmental Affairs and they work with the other governments.
So that is what it means.
This is information.
Please note that. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
This 861 thousand.
Do you use this money to visit other governments outside of Nunavut.
Is that for travel for the Premier and for the staff.
This is for the staff because of course we need staff that can work with the other governments.
That's only for the staff.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are on page 2-9.
On page 2-10, it says intergovernmental affairs.
It's the same thing as on page 2-9.
Can I ask a question on page 2-10.
Chairperson (interpretation): This is information only.
I will let you ask that question.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes, it's part of 2-9, it's also in regards to the Inuit Circumpolar Conference that now have an office here in Iqaluit and we'll be working with them.
The ICC is funded by different countries and we also help support the ICC.
We have a very close working relationship with the Inuit Circumpolar Conference and then if you can recall, last year ICC took the initiative and attended meetings on POP.
The ICC are the ones who were very instrumental on environmental issues.
We support them every year because of course they help us as a government.
Every year, I guess the prices increase but the 90 thousand dollars has remained the same over the years.
Do you take the cost of living increases into consideration when you are putting in the numbers.
Yes, the money comes from us and it's to help support this organization and they do get other pots of money, for example, from the federal government.
It is our contribution for this organization.
But they do get more money from the federal government and other countries.
Any further questions on page 2-9.
Intergovernmental affairs.
Following the Inuktitut, you stated that you work with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated in regards to the gun legislation.
Is it also included on this particular page.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): In regards to intergovernmental affairs and working with other organizations, there has to be improvement with the relationship with the various departments.
When Nunavut is working on the gun legislation, and in regards to the articles outlined in the NLCA, do you think that it's going to improve our system in the future.
It has been 2 or 3 years now.
Do you think that things are going to improve in 2 or 3 years down the line.
I cannot tell you what it's going to be like in the future.
But today, we have had a good working relationship with Nunavut Tunngavik and of course, at times we disagree, but we do want to work together and we have worked closely to date.
Today, we're working on various projects and it's very good to have a close working relationship with an organization like that.
In regards to the government legislation, we heard that Nunavut Tunngavik was working on it.
Have you set aside some money that will be used by for the government legislation.
The reason why I'm asking that is on the next page in the information we have the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, where you make a contribution.
That's okay with me, because of course it's a circumpolar issue and the people of Nunavut were opposed to the gun legislation and we heard the NTI and Government of Nunavut were going to work together.
Are you going to make a contribution to NTI so they can work on the gun legislation.
We've worked together and also with the Department of Justice.
We are using money from these two and because we are going through the court system we are using our own employees which is a contribution in kind and Nunavut Tunngavik, we support Nunavut Tunngavik in their endeavours and they are trying to resolve this gun legislation issue.
I think it's going to start progressing faster in the summer.
Chairperson (interpretation): We're on page 2-9.
Comments. If there are no further questions or comments.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Total operations and maintenance, 861 thousand.
Total expenditures, 861 thousand.
Turning the page, the other page from Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, branch summary.
Total, 3 million 514 thousand.
Under Nunavut Cabinet.
Mr, Nutarak (interpretation): Yes.
They too had members.
How many members were there.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes, the ministers are the executive. My office and the rest of the ministers’ offices and the ministers each have two support people along with their Deputy and Assistant Deputy Minister. This is what that page is.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): They must have, the ministers must have their own budget that they expend themselves for travel and other items.