EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The data includes the following GN departments, agencies, and Crown corporations:
Community and Government Services (CGS)
Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (CLEY)
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs (EIA)
Finance (includes Nunavut Liquor Commission and Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board)
Health and Social Services (HSS)
Human Resources (HR)
Economic Development and Transportation (EDT) (includes Nunavut Business Credit Corporation)
Nunavut Arctic College (NAC)
Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC)
Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC)
Nunavut Development Corporation (NDC)
From April 1, 1999 to September 30, 2006, how many Government of Nunavut departmental, board, agency, and Crown corporation positions (broken down by entity) were decentralized from Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, or Cambridge Bay to another community (broken down by community)?
Response to Question 1:
Attached is the list of Cabinet approved decentralized positions by employing entity and community as of September 30, 2006.
EIA  ED
NDC
QEC
Arviat
As of September 2006, how many of these positions were filled on an indeterminate or term basis with employees considered as members of the Public Service?
Response to Question 2:
Attached are the numbers of indeterminate versus term positions as of September 30, 2006.
Indeterminate 313
Term 22
Total 335
Vacant 124
As of September 30, 2006, how many of these positions were filled with beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and how many were filled with non-beneficiaries?
Response to Question 3:
The response considers how the position was filled on September 30, 2006 and not as of the date of decentralization.
Below are the numbers of NLCA Beneficiaries versus Non-Beneficiaries as of September 30, 2006.
NLCA Beneficiaries Non-Beneficiaries Total
Indeterminate 187 126 313
Term 2 20 22
Total 189 146 335
Question 4:
As of September 30, 2006, how many of these positions were filled with persons who were previously living in the decentralized community and how many were filled with persons relocating from: Iqaluit; Rankin Inlet; Cambridge Bay; and Southern Canada?
Response to Question 4:
It considers where the individual who filled the position came from most recently (immediately prior to occupying this position) and not where the individual originally came from when first hired by the GN.
Attached are the number of persons living in the decentralized community versus the number relocating from elsewhere to decentralized positions as of September 2006 was:
Question 5:
As of September 2006, how many of these positions were having their functions performed by persons engaged on a casual, contractual, or consultancy basis?
How many of those persons were deemed to be residents of Nunavut for Federal Income Tax purposes and how many were non-residents?
Response to Question 5:
The first part of this response compiles the information provided by the departments regarding the number of positions within each department being performed on a casual, contractual, or consultancy basis and excludes any secondments or transfer assignments.
Attached is the number of persons in the decentralized positions engaged on a casual, contractual, or consultancy basis as of September 30, 2006.
Casuals 2
Contracts 1
Consultants 0
They were deemed residents of Nunavut as of September 30, 2006.
(Note: HR cannot yet report, through P2K, on a casual employee’s relation to a position number.
As of September 30, 2006, complete information on casuals is not available.)
Question 6:
As of September 30, 2006, how many decentralized positions were vacant (broken down by employing entity and community)?
Question 7:
As of September 30, 2006, how many positions had been vacant for more than six (6) months (broken down by employing entity and community)?
Response to Questions 6 & 7:
Positions are considered vacant until filled by an indeterminate or term employee.
Positions that have been only filled on a contractual or casual basis are still deemed vacant.
The response to Question 7 includes positions that were vacant as of September 30, 2006.
The vacancy by employing entity and by community as of March 31, 2006 (left hand column for each community) and September 30, 2006 (right hand column for each community) was:  Community
30-Sep-05
31-Mar-06
30-Sep-06
Question 8:
As of September 30, 2006, how much has the government spent on settlements for employees who declined to accept offers of employment for decentralized positions, and who subsequently departed the Public Service?
Clarifications for Question 8:
This includes all individuals who selected option (c) within 90 days of receipt of their letter on the decentralization initiative and who had departed the public service as of September 30, 2006.
It would not include individuals who formally declined to accept offers of employment but deferred their actual departure dates and had not departed the Public Service as of September 30, 2006.
This amount also includes removal costs.
Response to Question 8:
The total amount spent by the GN on settlements for employees who declined to accept offers of employment for decentralized positions, and who departed the Public Service by September 30, 2006 was $612,201.
Question 9:
As of September 30, 2006, what has been the total cost to the Government of Nunavut for the decentralization initiative, including, but not limited to, the following areas of expenditure:
Infrastructure, office renovations, and other capital expenditures, including all costs associated with the construction, provision, and furnishing of staff housing in decentralized communities; and
Administrative and miscellaneous costs, including expenditures incurred by the Decentralization Secretariat of the EIA?
Response to Question 9:
Costs include all relocation expenditures for new GN employees to fill decentralized positions, relocation costs to move existing employees who moved with the decentralized position [option (a)], and all costs (including relocation and severance) for individuals who declined the offer to continue their position in the decentralized community [option (c)].
Please also note that the Capital and Operations and Maintenance (O & M) costs do reflect the costs attributable to decentralization, however, significant expenditures under these headings would have been incurred anyways from filling the positions in Iqaluit.
Therefore, the costs presented are not necessarily the incremental costs of decentralization.
The total cost to the GN for the decentralization has been:
O & M $12,050,145
Capital $20,312,078
Total (includes Capital and O & M) $32,362,223
Deputy Speaker, Chair of the Committee of the Whole
Chair, Full Caucus; Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole
Striking Committee
Co-Chair, Full Caucus
Government House Leader; Minister of Education; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for Multiculturalism, Homelessness and Immigration
Minister of Finance, Chair of the Financial Management Board; Minister of Economic Development and Transportation
Decentralized Communities
Non-Decentralized Communities
Southern Canada
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Pages 35 – 67
Budget Address 35
Members’ Statements 42
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 45
Oral Questions 46
Tabling of Documents 64
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 65
First Reading of Bills 65
Second Reading of Bills 65
Orders of the Day 66
Wednesday, March 7, 2007 35
003 – 2(4): Budget Address (Simailak) 35
007 – 2(4): Thanks to Everyone During Recovery (Curley) 42
008 – 2(4): Welcome Back to the House (Peterson) 43
009 – 2(4): Canada Winter Games Medal Winners (Barnabas) 44
010 – 2(4): Congratulations on Performance of Beauty and the Beast (Tootoo) 44
007 – 2(4): Fiscal Framework – Budget Address (Tootoo) 46
008 – 2(4): Plans for Inuit Employment in the Mining Sector (Alagalak) 49
009 – 2(4): Tax Relief for Homeowners (Curley) 51
010 – 2(4): Government of Nunavut’s Recommendations to the Federal Minister of Finance (Peterson) 53
011 – 2(4): Nursing Program Funding (Arvaluk) 55
012 – 2(4): Development Partnership Agreements and Inuit Impact Benefit Agreements (Peterson) 57
013 – 2(4): Plans for Funding Three Regional Health Centres (Mapsalak) 60
014 – 2(4): Government of Nunavut’s Response to Motion Concerning Airline Service (Barnabas) 62
012 – 2(4): Beauty and the Beast: A Musical at Inuksuk High School February 11 and 12, 2007 - Program (Tootoo) 64
001 – 2(4): Adjournment for the Day (Peterson) 66
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Notice 65
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – First Reading 65
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Second Reading 65
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (Hon. Peter Kilabuk)(interpretation): Thank you.
I would like to welcome the members who are just arriving today; who were delayed because of the weather.
Visitors; welcome everybody.
Item 2. (interpretation ends) Budget Address.
Minister’s Statement 003 – 2(4): Budget Address (Simailak)
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and residents of Nunavut.
We are happy to be here at this session and I will be giving my budget address.
I am especially happy that my son is here.
Mr. Speaker, the rest of Canada is coming to discover what Nunavummiut already know. Our territory is the place to be in the 21st century. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, thanks to the current ‘Look Up North’ TV advertising campaign, Canadians are finding out that Nunavut is a place with incredible opportunity; a place where the possibilities are as limitless as our beautiful land.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut is increasingly a part of Canadian consciousness.
Whether because of last week’s launch of the International Polar Year; growing recognition of our territory’s important role in asserting Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic; or because of the excitement over burgeoning economic opportunities in mining, tourism, and the commercial fishery, Nunavut is experiencing unprecedented economic activity and is attracting savvy investors and creating new opportunities and well-paying jobs for Nunavummiut.
More Nunavummiut today are working than in previous years.
Our population is healthier and achieving higher levels of education.
Our communities are becoming stronger as we begin to fulfill our territory’s vast potential.
Mr. Speaker, as a result of the 2007 Canada Winter Games, Canadians also recognize that Nunavummiut have tremendous talent.
I recently returned from Whitehorse, along with the Premier and the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, where we had a chance to showcase our exceptional athletes and the unique Nunavut culture.
Congratulations to Team Nunavut for their fine performances and thank you for making us all so proud.
Mr. Speaker, this winning combination of accomplished people and Nunavut’s wealth of natural resources, put us clearly on the path to a promising future.
As bright as that future may be, however, we cannot be blind to the challenges that face our territory as we work our way toward a better tomorrow.
Members of this Assembly are fully aware that our government faces enormous difficulty in meeting the day to day needs of Nunavummiut.
We are confronted by a range of difficult challenges that require equally difficult decisions by a responsive and responsible government.
It is in this spirit that I present to you the 2007-08 Main Estimates.
While our government’s focus is on achieving a bright and promising future, this year’s budget is firmly grounded in ensuring that we make responsible decisions today that will make it possible to achieve our dreams for tomorrow.
That means we must continue to live within our means.
As I explained in my Economic Statement last November, our government’s pattern of overspending is not sustainable.
A growing gap between our revenues and expenditures leads to deficits, which will eventually limit our ability to deliver the services and programs that Nunavummiut need.
To continue on this track would be irresponsible.
We need to break out of this vicious cycle to ensure we can continue to provide the government services Nunavummiut deserve.
That is why this budget will build on our earlier efforts to secure and strengthen the financial health of Nunavut.
In the coming fiscal year, we will improve our internal management practices to make sure we eliminate any unnecessary spending and free up all available funds to deliver essential programs and benefits to our constituents.
While this may be a tough message for many to hear, it is vitally important that our government be open and honest with the constituents we serve.
We are determined to be transparent and accountable to Nunavummiut, to the Legislative Assembly, and to the Government of Canada that provides us with over 90 percent of all of our income.
The Auditor General of Canada has made it clear to us that this is what she expects.
With the new financial management practices contained in this budget, we are sending a strong signal to Ottawa that we are making every effort to comply.
Before I describe these new measures, let me first outline our spending plans for the coming year.
In 2007-08, our government will spend $895 million to deliver programs and services that are a priority to Nunavut.
We will also invest $92 million on capital projects right across our territory.
We are projecting to spend approximately $22 million more on operations and maintenance expenditures than we forecast in last year’s budget.
While on the surface this is a large amount, it does not adequately meet the expenditure needs of our territory.
Because of this we are projecting a shortfall of $6.6 million for 2007-08.
Although we are expecting a deficit, we can take comfort from the knowledge that we are at least moving in the right direction.
When I tabled our government’s November Economic Statement we forecasted a deficit of $8.7 million for the current fiscal year.
Even thought the anticipated deficit for 2007-08 is still high, we are clearly making headway in reducing the gap between our income and expenditures.
This reinforces the benefits of earlier restraint measures.
On another encouraging note, I am pleased that my federal colleague, Minister Flaherty, has guaranteed Nunavut the maximum transfer payment under current federal legislation.
Of course, while this will help, it is simply not enough to meet our needs.
For this reason, we will take more aggressive steps to strengthen financial management across government.
One of the key ways we will do this is by acting on the Auditor General’s recommendations to strengthen the accountability and transparency of the budget development process.
In the past the Government of Nunavut’s budget development process was mainly prepared using a cash-based budgeting method. Under this system income and expenses are recognized only when cash is received or paid out.
The 2007-08 budget marks a fundamental change in the way this reporting is done. Effective this year, we’re introducing an accrual-based budget.
Under this method, receivables and payables are recognized when a sale is agreed to, even though as yet no cash may have been received or paid out.
The advantage to the accrual-based method is that it provides us with an accurate picture of our government’s finances, making it easier to stay on top of spending. With the funds committed for bills we will need to pay eventually, we will be less likely to spend beyond our means.
This is the first time that our budget has been presented to the Assembly using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles that are widely used in financial reporting.
This change will make it easier to compare our budget to our public accounts, which already use accrual accounting.
As well, it will allow for more accurate comparisons with other governments, since this practice is becoming a standard throughout the public sector.
Another first for this year’s budget is that it starts to integrate the estimates for our territorial corporations and statutory bodies making it the most transparent and open budget that has ever been presented to this Assembly.
We will go even further with next year’s main estimates when we will consolidate all government spending in one budget, including each of our public agencies.
Mr. Speaker, just as important as knowing where we stand financially, is knowing how well our money is being spent and this is another area where we will make improvements.
In any organization the ability to measure the outcomes of programs is an important tool in the budget planning process. We need to know if we are getting value for our money.
Are our programs effective? Are we getting the results we desire?
These are questions that we need to ask ourselves on an on-going basis.
This is the only way we can be sure we are maximizing our investments and actually meeting Nunavummiut’s needs.
With this in mind, starting this year, the Government of Nunavut will begin developing performance measurement standards so that program operations can be measured in terms of their efficiencies, effectiveness, and economy.
This will form the basis for on-going program review to ensure that Nunavut’s scarce financial resources are spent efficiently.
But, Mr. Speaker, we will not stop there. To further strengthen financial management, our government will be announcing during this session additional measures to start reorganizing our financial processes across government departments and public agencies.
We are serious about achieving efficiencies across government and our need for clearer lines of reporting.
Having said that, Mr. Speaker, we all know that these improvements are only part of the solution for while we can and will do our part to ensure we stretch every dollar as far as possible, the fact remains that there’s simply not enough dollars to go around.
It is common knowledge in Nunavut that our government has been working from a position of disadvantage since its creation.
The initial grant to establish our territory was completely inadequate to meet the most basic needs of the citizens of Nunavut in areas such as housing, health, education, and infrastructure.
Over the last year, our government has made a strong and consistent case for an increase to our territorial formula financing agreement. Helping a great deal last year was the release of two reports on TFF that supports our case and call on Ottawa to reform the Territorial Formula Financing Agreement.
As of today, the Government of Canada has not announced its plans to act on the recommendations put forward by either the Council of the Federation Advisory Panel or the Government of Canada’s own expert panel.
I was pleased Mr. Speaker, that the federal Minister of Finance assured finance ministers in our December meeting that a return to a principle based TFF arrangement would be announced in the Federal Budget on March 19.
In line with the federal expert panel, we believe the gross expenditure base for the territory needs to be increased as part of a catch up effort and to enable us to make strategic investments to further develop Nunavut’s economic potential.
We are optimistic this matter will be resolved within the federal government’s commitment to restoring fiscal balance.
We are encouraged that the federal government acknowledges the problem.  We remain hopeful that additional monies will flow to the territory under an improved transfer agreement; however, we must remain practical, particularly given the enormous pressures that face our government.
Members of this Legislative Assembly know that Nunavut is heavily reliant on the Government of Canada for the bulk of our revenues for everything our government does.
Our annual grant from Ottawa is the backbone of this budget, accounting for over 80 percent of all of our revenue.
It would not be responsible to spend beyond these current levels and we will not.
Mr. Speaker, keeping a steady hand on government expenditures is a priority for our government because we know it produces results.
Just look at our recent progress. In last year’s budget, our government charted a new course for our territory.
We set out to invest in Nunavummiut, in growing our economy, in building healthy communities, in meeting our infrastructure needs, and in protecting our culture. And, look at what we have achieved by working together.
In terms of growing the economy, the recent signing of a development partnership agreement with Cumberland Resources is a clear example of how the initiatives that we brought forward last year are benefiting Nunavummiut, and Nunavut.
Another of those initiatives was the Off-Road Fuel Tax Rebate Program. We are confident that this initiative will bring many more development partnership agreements.
Mr. Speaker, we remain committed to building healthy communities. The construction of continuing care facilities in the communities of Igloolik, and Gjoa Haven will enter its second year of construction.
The completion of these facilities will provide care that is more culturally relevant to our citizens. In addition, the Qikiqtani General Hospital will be opening in the upcoming year. The completion of this hospital is the result of a partnership between industry and government, which provided opportunities for Nunavummiut to learn new skills and investment in people.
Graduates of our nursing program will be employed at the Qikiqtani General Hospital which is a clear demonstration that investing in people has now moved beyond traditional trades people.
Mr. Speaker, we have also succeeded in creating new housing and, in the process, training opportunities for Nunavummiut as we implement the Northern Housing Trust.
With the support of the federal government’s $200 million investment, we are building 725 affordable housing units across the territory over the next three years.
Not only will these new homes help to address serious overcrowding problems and housing shortages, this massive construction project is also creating opportunities for local employment, training, apprenticeship, and business development.
This valuable initiative will advance our government’s long-term goal of securing healthy communities, building self-reliance, and continuing learning.
To further secure these goals, we are making important progress in creating a trade’s school in Rankin Inlet that will serve as the primary location for trades training in Nunavut. As well, we have set aside funding to renovate and expand our existing training facilities in Cambridge Bay and here in Iqaluit.
These are just a few examples of our investments in infrastructure that are creating positive conditions for economic growth and social progress.
Working in partnership with the federal government through the municipal rural infrastructure fund as well as the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, we have been able to allocate more than $130 million over the next five years for community infrastructure projects.
These funds will be put to work to construct projects such as community centres and sports arenas.
While our government is firmly focused on the growing economy, we are also committed to protecting our culture.
The building of Piqqusilirivvik, Nunavut’s cultural school in Clyde River will ensure the continued preservation of Inuit culture and knowledge.
With satellite campuses in Baker Lake and Igloolik we will create a greater diversity of programming and access for Nunavummiut. In fact, it will provide the opportunity for Inuit culture and knowledge to grow and prosper.
Equally important to Members of the Legislative Assembly and the constituents we represent, we will continue to live up to our commitments to give a helping hand to those in society who need a hand up.
We will table legislation during this sitting of the assembly to provide tax relief to single parents across Nunavut who shoulder an overwhelming tax burden as they provide for their families.