EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Total $1 million, 125 thousand.
Chairman (interpretation): Total Department. $1 million, 125 thousand.
On 7, Health and Social Services. $675 thousand.
Chairman (interpretation): Total Department, $675 thousand.
Chairman (interpretation): Go back to page 2.
Total Supplementary Appropriation. Operations and Maintenance, $6 million, 345 thousand.
Chairman (interpretation): Bill 52.
Chairman (interpretation): Do you agree that the Bill 52, the Supplementary Appropriations Operations and Maintenance Act 2, 2003-2004.
Chairman (interpretation): Does the Committee agree that Bill 52 as a whole is now ready for Third Reading?
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Ng. Do you have any Opening Comments?
Hon. Kelvin Ng: I would like to make Opening Comments for Bill 53, if I may?
Chairman (interpretation): There were still some more.
I did not see them.
Do you have any Opening Comments on Bill 53?
But first, for the record, to my right now is Sherry Rowe, the Director of Government Accounts in the Department of Finance.
Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to appear before you to speak to Bill 53, The Write-off of Assets and Debts Act, 2003-2004.
The Financial Administration Act requires that all debts that individually exceed $20,000 be written off through a specific write-off Act.
This Act has two components; the first is the write-down of inventory for the Nunavut Development Corporation.
As part of its retail and wholesale operations, the Corporation has to reduce prices periodically to sell slow- moving items.
For accounting purposes and to satisfy the needs of the Auditor General, this reduction in price is reflected in the value of investory in the amount of $49 thousand,097 for the fiscal year 2002-2003.
The second component is the write-off of debts that cannot reasonably be collected.
Before a debt is written off, every effort must have been made to collect the amount owing.
The total amount being written off is $458 thousand, 562 for accounts owing to the Government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Arctic College.
Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to answer any questions from Committee Members on this.
Chairman (interpretation): Questions?
The Government Operation was able to review Bill 53, Write Off of Assets and Debts Act, 2003-3004.
Mr. Chairman, although Members recognize that in its ability of bad debts occurring from time to time for any organization as large as the Government, it is nonetheless a matter of concern.
Mr. Chairman, the Committee noted that four specific proposed write offs are in relation to debts owing to Nunavut Arctic College.
Earlier this year, during its public review of the Auditor General’s report, Members posed questions to Nunavut Arctic College officials with respect to the financial management practises of the college.
Members wish to see further improvements made to the financial management practises of the college and other crown entities.
Mr. Chairman, the Committee also had concerns about the write off of debts of District Education Authorities stemming from deficits and would raise the related questions of whether the resources provided to District Education Authorities are adequate to meet their needs.
The Standing Committee recommends the passage of Bill 53 to all Members.
Chairman (interpretation): Any comments, questions?
Do you want to go to Bill 53 Clause-by-Clause?
Bill 53.
Chairman (interpretation): Does the Committee agree to Bill 53 as a whole. Agreed, Bill as a whole?
Ms. Williams (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question in the following page under schedule.
These debtors have their names written on the numbers from 1 to 11.
Under Item #5 or debtor #5, it says that the Métis Development Corporation, I do not have the Inuktitut part.
Métis Development Corporation, rental arrears, do I understand that is there, do I understand that there is some houses that are being rented by Public Works, is it an office or a house that we are, is it being rented by the Government of Nunavut at this time?
They were, there was a 21 plex building here in Iqaluit, Mr. Chairman, and the circumstances that surround this is that is Public Works deemed that they overpaid while operating the maintenance charges to the Métis Development Corporation.
I sent them an invoice for that, which they subsequently ignored because the Métis Development Corporation contested that invoice and in addition, their position was that the Government for the Northwest Territories at that time just happened in ’91 to ’93, Mr. Chairman.
The Government of the Northwest Territories, at that time, owed them $50 thousand dollars.
So, there was, really a difference of opinion here.
We assumed that it was account receivables on the establishment of Nunavut on April 1st of 1999.
There was an allowance for doubtful accounts set up for this and this is the form of procedure, Mr. Chairman, for writing off this un-collectible receivable.
Ms. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, for the background information.
My question was that: Is this still existing?
Is Government still using this building right now?
I don’t have an answer to that question Mr. Chairman.
The Public Works Minister, I understand maybe the Housing code authority, I understand now has the responsibility for that unit so I would take it that it is not Housing Corporation or Public Works issue.
In the standing committee we had advised the Minister to have people that might be able to answer these questions.
Unfortunately they are not here. $458 thousand, 562 dollars is a lot of money and I know that we are aware, the standing committee is aware that a lot of these are from the Government of the NWT.
I just want to make sure on the record that when people can’t pay, or agencies or universities cannot or they are contesting to pay, the government ends up paying for it.
A lot of it is Arctic College and there are individual people, DEAs and other agencies, University of Saskatchewan, so I just wanted to make sure that everybody knows and understands that when people can’t pay or agencies can’t pay we end up paying for it and it’s a lot of money.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Ng.
Mr. Chairman, every government tries as best as possible to collect all the debts, the receivables that are owing to it.
Some circumstances unfortunately, that is not the case.
We have situations that are outside of the government’s control, for example, in some of these societies here dissolved so there is nothing to collect from.
Some of the agencies, they didn’t finalize their contribution agreements for whatever reasons so the money was deemed to be un-collectible.
But all reasonable efforts are made to collect outstanding money to this government and agencies of this government.
Hopefully the next government will have a better system in place so that we don’t wait six years, ten years later to try to pay for it.
I know that the Department really tried very hard every month to collect these, but there must be a system in place and maybe the government leader or Minister can elaborate on what is in place now so that we don’t end up paying for something that happened ten years ago.
Mr. Chairman, I can assure the Member and all Members of this House that procedures have been put in place and are in the process of being implemented in respect of ensuring that the possibility of this happening is minimized.
Having said that, there are situations, like I said, that are outside of the government’s control; there has been a review of all accounts receivables, for example, in the Nunavut Arctic College they’ve put in procedures through the new financial officer that was hired this past fall.
They monitor all their accounts receivables and follow up on those that are greater than 30 days.
There have been as a result of some of these incidents new procedures put in place.
Bill 53. Write Off of Assets and Debts Act. 2003/2004.
Chairman (interpretation): Does the committee agree to Bill 53 as a whole?
Chairman (interpretation): Does the committee agree that Bill 53 is ready for third reading?
Chairman (interpretation): Moving onto Bill 54.
Does the Minister have any Opening Comments?
Mr. Chairman, I do at my other desk, but it does not relate to finance.
But before I get to that, Mr. Chairman, I would like to recognize and thank Ms. Rose, Mr. Vardy, Mr. Akeagok and Mr. Arkaid, today’s witnesses and certainly some of the others who have appeared on my behalf with me over this.
Are we on now?
Sorry, Mr. Chairman, just to repeat then, I would like to say that for Bill 54, at the desk, the comments, they are at my other desk and I will go there shortly.
I would like to thank and recognize Ms. Rose, Mr. Vardy, Mr. Akeeagok who have been here with me today with the Department of Finance.
And over the years since I sat at this Table in respect of Finance, Mr. Vardy, Mr. Steve, Mr. Victor Tootoo, Mr. Roger Perchard, Mr. Dingo, and maybe there might have been others who I may have missed, but I certainly thank them for all their support that they have provided to me and, of course, all the patience and understanding of my Colleagues here, Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I will go to my desk now and deal with Bill 54.
On behalf of the Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Chairman, failure to enact Bill 20, an Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Related Statutes, creates a need to delay the coming into effect, which would be December 31st, 2003 of subsection 4(2) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Subsection 4(2) would make the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act prevail over any other Act where there is an inconsistency or conflict, unless the other Act expressly provides that it will prevail over the ATIPP Act.
Mr. Chairman, Bill 54, that we have now, delays the coming into effect of Subsection 4(2) and prevents the ATIPP Act from prevailing.
Chairman (interpretation): Does the Committee, Mr. Iqaqrialu, do you have Opening Comments?
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services had the opportunity to review Bill 54, an Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act change of precedence.
Mr. Chairman, the passage of this Bill is the responsible measure.
The next Assembly will have the opportunity to consider Legislation to fully address issues associated with the Act.
The Standing Committee recommends the passage of Bill 54 to all Members.
Individual Members may also raise their own comments and questions as we proceed.
Mr. Minister, if you could go back to the Witness Table or can you deliver it right there?
Does the Committee agree that we continue on with Bill 54?
Bill 54, an Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, change of precedence.
Chairman (interpretation): Does the committee agree to Bill 54 as a whole and that is can be read for the third time?
There is motion on the floor to report progress.
We did have a request to extend question period but it was denied.
So we’ll continue on with Item 20.
Report of Committee of the Whole with Mr. Irqittuq.
Chairman (Mr. Irqittuq) (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Today is the last day.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 50, Bill 51, Bill 52, Bill 53, Bill 54, and would like to report that Bill 51, Bill 52, Bill 53 and Bill 54 are ready for third reading.
And Mr. Speaker, we move that the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with.
Is there a Seconder, for the last time, is there a Seconder?
A question has been called, all in favour, all in favour, all opposed, the Motion is carried.
Bill 50 – Interim Appropriation Act April 1st to June 30th 2004 – Third Reading
Bill 51 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act No. 3, 2003/2004 – Third Reading
Bill 52 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act No. 2, 2003/2004 – Third Reading
Bill 53 – Write Off of Assets and Debts Act 2003/2004 – Third Reading
Bill 54 – An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act – Third Reading
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baffin South that Bill 50, Interim Appropriation Act April 1st to June 30th 2004, Bill 51, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3 2003-2004, Bill 52, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act #2 2003-2004, Bill 53, Write Off of Assets and Debts Act 2003-2004 and Bill 54, an Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act be read for the third time.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ng. The Motion is in order. All those in favour. All those in favour.
All those opposed. The Motion is carried and the Bills have had Third Reading.
Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Quirke, would you please ascertain it. The Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut is prepared to enter the Chamber to give assent to the following Bills.
Bill 35 – Wildlife Act – Assent
Bill 49 – An Act to Amend the Safety Act – Assent
Bill 50 – Interim Appropriation Act, April 1 – June 30, 2004 – Assent
Bill 51 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2003/2004 – Assent
Bill 52 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2003/2004 – Assent
Bill 53 – Write-off Assets and Debts Act, 2003/2004 – Assent
Bill 54 - An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Change of Precedence) - Assent
Deputy Commissioner (Leena Metuq): Mr. Speaker, Deputy Premier, Members of the Legislative Assembly, honoured guest and elders.
As you prepare to return to your communities and homes for the Christmas season, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate all the Members of this House on the work undertaken since April 1, 1999.
As Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut, I am pleased to assent to the following Bills:
Bill 35 – Wildlife Act
Bill 49 – An Act to Amend the Safety Act
Bill 50 – Interim Appropriation Act, April 1 – June 30, 2004
Bill 51 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2003/2004
Bill 52 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act No. 2, 2003/2004
Bill 53 – Write Off of Assets and Debts Act, 2003/2004
Bill 54 - An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Change of Precedence)
I wish to advise Members that the Commissioner of Nunavut has received instructions from the Executive Council, consistent with Section 17 of the Nunavut Act, that a general election is to be held on February 16, 2004.
The First Legislative Assembly is to be dissolved on Friday, January 9, 2004.
A Proclamation of Election will be issued on January 12, 2004, and writs of election will be issued on that day.
Dissolution Guidelines for Members of the Legislative Assembly have been tabled by the Honourable Speaker of this House.
As Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut, I hereby prorogue the Sixth Session of the First Legislative Assembly.
I extend to all Members, staff and their families and communities my warmest wishes for a safe and joyous Christmas season.
Speaker: Well Members, we have come to the last hour, the last minute, the last day of this term.
And Mr. Picco I would ask that you just be quiet…
I know you are my good friend, you are always trying to help, but just for a few minutes try to be quiet.
I have a few closing comments to make before we close the session and close the end of this term.
I’d like to take a moment to express my thanks to every Member of the Assembly for their support and cooperation during my time as Speaker.
I know it hasn’t always been fun; it’s been a lot of hard work.
There have been some decisions that have been made that were not very popular, but that is part of the political world that we live in.
As Members know, this is a place where passions and emotions often run high.
And Mr. Ng can readily agree.
And Mr. Tootoo knows of it here, and Mr. Picco.
This is a place where Members work long hours doing the work of the people.
Being an MLA is not often easy.
It can be very stressful, and for the most part, most Members are away from their homes, away from their families and their children and their loved ones for days at a time, for weeks at a time and in some cases, for months at a time.
Our business is not only in this House, but it takes us around the country, the various provinces and in some cases, outside the country.
A complaint that I hear, or a concern I should say that I hear very often is that Members are not in their ridings enough.
Again, that is part of the job of being an MLA.
The bottom line is that the real decisions for this Government are made in this House, in this Chamber.
This is where decisions take place, the dialogue, that debate, the solutions and the agreements.
I would just like to point out that although most of us, or all of us would like to be home with our families, with our friends, with the constituents, that is not the case; it’s not the way it is, being an MLA here in Nunavut.
It may be different down south where people live in their ridings, they live close to their families, they can drive to work.
For people like David and Jobie, Enoki, Kelvin, all the Members, Peter, most Members have to travel back to their constituencies to be home.
As Speaker I consider myself to be very fortunate and very honoured to have served this chamber, this Assembly for the past four and half years.
It has been an honour.
Before I close off I would just like to thank all the Members for their support and encouragement, their understanding, I know I may somewhat of a…I don’t know how to say this, but, somewhat of a different character, I’m not your most traditional person, but that is just the way God made me, as he’s made the rest of you.
For the time that I’ve been late, I do apologize.
But I can assure you it was always for a good reason, some I can’t tell you about.
I’d like to wish all the constituents back home in Arviat a Merry Christmas, and again I’m sorry for not being home as often as I would have liked to have been.
But again, the decisions that are made for the good people in all of Nunavut are made here in this House.
I’ve heard one Member tell me a few months ago that he had not been home to his riding for three months, and that is the work of a Minister.
For the people who are back home in Arviat, I want to thank them for supporting me and I hope to be home in the next week for Christmas with my daughter, spending that time in my community.
Once again I thank them for all their support and understanding.
I want to wish all Members of the House a safe journey home and God’s speed and best wishes in the future for whatever road you may take whether you decide to run again and take up the challenge to be an MLA or take another direction, whether that be private business or just plain retirement like some Members, not to mention any names.
I’d just like to thank all the Members for their support.
It has been a great four and half years and all the Members that are re-entering in the next election, I wish you all the best.
A special thank you to all the media that have covered us for the last four and a half years; ladies and gentlemen, and also interpreters that we could not get by without them; ladies and gentlemen.
And of course, the pages who have been here throughout the years, the last five years, four and a half years, we could not do without them, we would not have any more water or we could not take our notes around, those very secret notes that some people write that we have to destroy.
And especially the staff, I guess, the staff who make this building and this Chamber work, without them, all of our EAs and CAs and right down to the janitorial staff, we owe them great many thanks and I know I share that with all the Members.
Once again, thank you and good luck in your future endeavours.
I would be remiss if I did not thank my CA, who is no longer with us, Kate Atwood and a special thanks to our table staff, Clerks Nancy and Kooyoo and at that, we will close off the last day of our term by calling the Sergeant-of-Arms, my good friend, to come forward.
>>House adjourned at 15:31  Nunavut Canada
2nd Assembly
Tuesday, March 9, 2004
Pages 1 – 34
Speaker: The Honourable Jobie Nutarak, M.L.A. Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Hon. Jobie Nutarak
(Pond Inlet, Tunnuniq)
Lighting of Qulliq 1
Opening Address of the Commissioner of Nunavut 3
Members’ Statements 5
Recognition of Visitors on the Gallery 21
Tabling of Documents 26
Notices of Motions 26
Motions 28
Orders of the Day 33
Tuesday, March 9, 2004 1
001 – 2(1): Gratitude to Constituents and Voters (Tootoo) 5
002 – 2(1): Challenges Ahead for Second Assembly (Kattuk) 6
003 – 2(1): Infrastructure Needs in Nunavut (Peterson) 7
004 – 2(1): Gratitude to Constituents, Voters and Leadership of Nunavut (Tapardjuk) 9
005 – 2(1): Family Support During Election (Picco) 10
006 – 2(1): 2004 AWG Participants from Baker Lake (Simailak) 11
007 – 2(1): Gratitude to Constituents and Family (Curley) 11
008 – 2(1): Focus on Non-Decentralized Communities (Arreak) 13
009 – 2(1): Gratitude to Constituents and Executive Council Nomination (Akesuk) 14
010 – 2(1): Representation of Quttiktuq Riding (Barnabas) 14
011 – 2(1): Gratitude to Campaign Team (Aglukkaq) 15
012 – 2(1): Gratitude to Family and Campaign Team (Mapsalak) 16
013 – 2(1): Gratitude to Residents of Kugluktuk (Evyagotailak) 16
014 – 2(1): Gratitude to Supporters (Alagalak) 17
015 – 2(1): Gratitude to Campaign Supporters (Brown) 18
016 – 2(1): Gratitude to Supporters (Netser) 20
017 – 2(1): Gratitude to Supporters (Kilabuk) 20
001 – 2(1): Arviat’s Interest in Hosting the First Nunavut Ministers Retreat - Letter from MLA (Alagalak) 26
002 – 2(1): Appointment of Premier – Notice (Evyagotailak) 26
003 – 2(1): Appointments of Executive Council – Notice (Tootoo) 26
004 – 2(1): Appointment of Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairs of Committee of the Whole – Notice (Kilabuk) 27
005 – 2(1): Appointments to the Management Services Board – Notice (Mapsalak) 27
006 – 2(1): Appointments to the Striking Committee – Notice (Barnabas) 27
007 – 2(1): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Peterson) 28
008 – 2(1): Working Together for a Stronger Nunavut – Notice (Curley) 28
001 – 2(1): Appointment of Speaker (Tootoo) 1
002 – 2(1): Appointment of Premier (Evyagotailak) 28
003 – 2(1): Appointments to the Executive Council (Tootoo) 29
004 – 2(1): Appointments of Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairs of the Committee of the Whole (Kilabuk) 30
005 – 2(1): Appointments to the Management Services Board (Mapsalak) 31
006 – 2(1): Appointments to the Striking Committee (Barnabas) 31
007 – 2(1): Extended Adjournment (Peterson) 32
008 – 2(1): Working Together for a Stronger Nunavut (Curley) 32
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allan Evyagotailak, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Mr. Patterk Netser, Honourable Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Honourable David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Clerk (Mr. Quirke): Thank you. Please remain standing.
I will now call on Ms. Jeannie Simailak to say the prayer please.
Clerk: Members, it is my duty to inform you that the Commissioner of Nunavut, the Honourable Peter Irniq, is not prepared to address this House until such time as you have selected a Speaker.
I would now like to call for a motion to elect a Speaker.
The Honourable Member for Iqaluit Centre.
Motion 001 – 2(1): Appointment of Speaker (Tootoo)
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member from Kugluktuk, that the Honourable Member for Tununiq, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, take the Chair of this House as the Speaker.
Clerk: Do members agree with the motion?
Clerk: Will the mover and the seconder please escort Mr. Nutarak, the Speaker for the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, to his Chair.
Speaker (Hon. Jobie Nutarak)(interpretation): Please be seated.
Before I make any opening comments and proceed to the Orders of the Day, I would like to call upon an elder from Iqaluit, Ms. Sami Qaumariaq, to light the Qulliq.
Ms. Sami Qaumariaq (interpretation): I am very happy today.
I thank our ancestors.
The reason why we are here today is because of our ancestors.
We all know that as Inuit, we are traditional people and I am happy today that we are able to receive support.