EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The reason why I was asking the question is because we’re still in this fiscal year. My understanding was the money that was the $2 million was actually supposed to be for financial management training. I guess that’s not the case.
Chairman: Okay, Mr. Elliott. Minister Shewchuk.
No, I don’t think that it was supposed to be just for financial management. It was split up into two different programs there.
I must have a misunderstanding because I seem to remember that the Minister of Finance was promoting this program as filling some of the deficiencies that the Auditor General’s report was saying with the problems within Finance and within the government in terms of managing the financial dollars within our government.
The training for the $2 million was to go to help straighten out and teach people bookwork and record keeping skills so that money is managed better, but I must be misunderstanding.
My next question is: in terms of this training, this is for GN employees, correct?
One of the questions that a lot of the regular members keep bringing up is the fair distribution of sports activities and whatnot. So was this training done all across Nunavut? Training was done was in Arctic Bay, Grise Fjord, and Resolute?
Was it just in decentralized communities? Was it just the big communities, like Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay? Thank you.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll just get Aluki to respond to that. Thank you.
Chairman: Ms. Rojas.
I would like to respond to your previous comment about it being used for financial management.
I think when we first got the money at the Department of Human Resources, we were already into the fiscal year, so we had to figure out, “How are we going to spend the $2 million within the fiscal year and not surplus it,” because that will come back to bite you, as you probably know.
So we talked in the Building Capacity Committee with the deputy ministers about how are we going to allocate this $2 million and we decided at the time that $1 million could be used for specialized training and $1 million could be used for program development.
Currently, in this fiscal year, we have committed $72,000 in program development for the Canadian Payroll Association training which will be working towards some finance training and the intention is, in the coming years, to develop program development with the Department of Finance for a financial management program.
Because we haven’t spent a lot of the portion of the $2 million this year, it doesn’t mean that we won’t be spending more money on it in the coming years. But at the time, it seemed like we could get a bigger bang for the buck, so to speak, because we had already started work on other areas.
So you may understand with program development, it takes quite a while to develop any programming.
To the other point in terms of… Mr. Chairman, if you could remind me what the other part of the question was, please.
The question was: where was the money spent? Was it just in Iqaluit or was it scattered throughout the territory in the little communities and just decentralized communities? That was the other question.
Ms. Rojas, you have the floor.
Looking at this list, we didn’t get it outlined which communities they were going to be held in, but I can see that there was the community care workers orientation held in Gjoa Haven and in Igloolik.
In terms of other programs that HR has developed, such as the HR Diploma and administrative professionals, those are being offered in the regional centres of Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet, and Iqaluit.
Government of Nunavut employees from other communities can fly in to participate in that.
I would like to reiterate that because it was the first year and we were trying to get these monies out to departments, I think this coming year, we will probably have much more interest and people will become aware of it with the word of mouth that there is this specialized training fund at the Department of Human Resources and we will probably start getting more and more proposals.
It’s getting late, so I had to think for a minute there too, “What was the second part of my question?”
I guess I’m going to have to start getting some questions to the Minister of Finance too about how they are managing and teaching some of their employees’ financial management because he’s gone a year without answering them.
I was under the impression that this was the auditor’s way of helping with some of the deficiencies in the Auditor General’s report for financial management for his department.
My next question is actually geared towards more of what Mr. Arvaluk was talking about in terms of a lot of people in the community having different skills and different skill sets that aren’t really recognized by formal certificates and whatnot. That’s the Prior Learning Assessment Recognition Program. What is your department doing with sort of implementing that?
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Minister Shewchuk.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the member.
The member brings up a very good point with PLAR and I know he has been part of that program for quite some time. We are very much interested in that.
We will use the PLAR system in regard to competitions in the workforce. In fact, it’s going to be more incorporated. Now we ask for relevant experience and equivalencies in a competition, but with the PLAR process and the documentation of individuals, it’s going to be very helpful in the competition process and we will use it.
We are also working with Nunavut Arctic College in the development of this too.
Just in keeping with that, has your department thought about… again right now, an employee or someone applying for a job or whatnot could actually have their portfolio and try to apply for a position with that. Thanks for explaining that.
In terms of training and development of employees who are already GN employees, if they want to actually take some time to do this as part of their professional development, is your department willing to maybe give groups of, let’s say, office staff and CLEY wants to do this, they could take that time and do it as an office thing or Finance… I’m not sure what all of the decentralized ones are, but is that possible? Is that something your department is thinking about?
Yes, it’s something that we would be very interested in. I think that the way you’re outlining it is it could be coordinated and what it really is it’s almost similar to a job evaluation or a performance appraisal that’s being done to understand what your needs are and what your training needs are in your career development and your enhancement. So I could see those two meshing up together, but we are interested in pursuing that.
Are there any further questions on Training and Development?
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $6,952,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Human Resources. Employee Relations. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $2,128,000.
Chairman (interpretation): You can now go back to D-3.
Human Resources. Detail of Expenditures. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $22,830,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Are you in agreement that the Department of Human Resources is concluded?
Minister Shewchuk, if you have any closing comments, you have the floor.
I do have closing statements.
First of all, I would just like to thank all of the public servants out in Nunavut who have contributed to this territory and worked very hard to come to where we are and to continue to work very hard to develop our territory moving forward in the future.
I would like to thank all of my colleagues here for their effort and their contribution today. I think that all of us understand that Human Resources has some very big challenges ahead, but we are up to that challenge.
We just had an Auditor General’s report tabled the other day.
It’s going to be in-depth and we’re all going to have a chance to review that and go through that report with the Auditor General.
Out of all of these processes, I hope that we can come up with a stronger Department of Human Resources and stronger departments in the government and all of the departments to deliver the services to all of our population in a better fashion.
I would like to thank Aluki and Melinda for being here with me today and their hard work and effort into providing us this information.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Shewchuk and your officials. (interpretation ends) Aluki Rojas, I understand that you are moving on to another department.
Congratulations and all the best in your new responsibilities.
(interpretation) We have concluded this department. We will then move on to the Department of Environment, again with the same minister. He will have to get prepared.
(interpretation ends) We can now go on to the Department of Environment, and I think the minister is just catching his breath.
You can now put on your other hat and do your other responsibilities.
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Environment – Consideration in Committee
I am pleased to be here today in front of the committee to present the Department of Environment’s business plan and main estimates for 2010-11.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Environment’s proposed budget for 2010-11 is $20,139,000.
This is a net increase of $141,000 from our 2009-2010 budget due to the changes in employee compensation and benefits.
By partnering with other organizations and institutions wherever possible, the department has been very successful in maximizing the impact of our dollars.
In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, we were able to obtain an additional $2,712,000 from outside organizations for various projects administered by the department.
We expect that we will be equally successful in leveraging funds for 2010-11.
In order to ensure that the funding we have provides real benefits to Nunavutmiut, the Department of Environment’s business plan and corresponding main estimates are based on the priorities and goals outlined in Tamapta, with a particular focus on environmental stewardship and supporting sustainable economies.
We will also continue to uphold the specific obligations and areas of responsibility under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement that are directly related to the management of resources, as well as a number of territorial, national, and international obligations and commitments.
As you see, a significant portion of our overall budget goes to ensuring that we meet those obligations.
Stewardship of Nunavut’s environment wildlife are key areas of responsibility for the department.
We work in partnership on the co-management of terrestrial wildlife in Nunavut.
We also have environmental protection responsibilities, which include inspection and enforcement under the Environmental Protection Act and pollution prevention.
We are also the GN lead for land use planning in Nunavut and provide input on the environmental assessment of potential developmental projects.
In 2009, my department worked on close to 200 requests from the Nunavut Impact Review Board and the Nunavut Water Board for minor and major environmental screening and assessment on industrial and other proposed activities in Nunavut.
The Department of Environment is also responsible for ensuring that any spills of hazardous materials in Nunavut are cleaned up according to acceptable standards.
In 2009, my department responded to 146 hazardous materials spill incidences. Of these, 127, or 87 percent, were from petroleum product spills which collectively amounted to 54,000 litres.
Mr. Chairman, few people would have heard about these incidences because my staff responded quickly and professionally and before they became newsworthy events.
It is due to the diligence and professionalism of my staff that much work of the work they perform on behalf of all Nunavutmiut goes largely unnoticed.
Mr. Chairman, my department is in the process of developing an overarching strategy to provide guidance on the consistent and comprehensive management of what may well be Nunavut’s most valuable resource – caribou. One of the department’s top priorities for 2010-11 will be to finalize the Caribou Strategy and begin implementation.
For the past several years, the Department of Environment has been working to help Nunavutmiut adjust to the potential changes caused by climate change.
We have been working with our partners to develop community-specific adaptation plans. We also expect to finalize a Nunavut Climate Change Adaptation Plan in the very near future.
Mr. Chairman, our parks and special places contribute to a number of the basic needs identified in Tamapta, including stewardship of our environment, access to the land for personal growth, opportunities for fun, recreation and cultural activities, and pride in our culture and who we are.
In the 2010-11 fiscal year, we will advance our development plans for potential parks in the non-decentralized communities of Kugaaruk and Clyde River and commence feasibility studies for a possible park in Sanikiluaq.
In addition, we will look at the potential of having the Back River nominated as a candidate Canadian Heritage River.
The Department of Environment supports community-based sustainable economies through parks and the tourism opportunities associated with them, as well as through our support for the development of viable and sustainable fisheries, sealing, and fur sectors.
We will continue to work closely with our partners to lobby for greater access to fishery resources and greater investment in fisheries infrastructure, and to support the rapid development of this important sector of our economy.
In 2010-11, we will focus on implementing offshore and inshore fisheries research priorities outlined under the Nunavut Fisheries Science and Research Agenda.
We will also continue to work with harvesters and the fur industry to support hunters, develop markets, and actively represent Nunavut’s interests at national and international levels.
Mr. Chairman, Tamapta encourages education and training opportunities for Nunavutmiut.
In the 2010-11 fiscal year, DOE will implement modifications to our In-house Field Officer Trainee Program in order to encourage recruitment of more beneficiaries as enforcement officers in conservation, parks, or environmental protection.
Based on what was said during the GN Report Card exercise, we will be redeveloping our communication approach, including the development of an updated communications strategy and environmental education plan, as well as a comprehensive approach to national and international messaging on environmental issues.
Mr. Chairman, my department’s 2010-11 main estimates and business plan support the delivery and achievement of the department’s mandate and the vision of Tamapta.
Our plan is centred on providing support to strategic and important areas within our operations and in doing so we ensure the funding provided to the department provides real benefits to all Nunavutmiut.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Shewchuk. (interpretation ends) I think you need a lesson from your seatmate on how to cough properly in this day in age.
In recognition of the clock, I would like to report progress at this time, please.
Carried. (interpretation) Thank you.
Speaker (interpretation): Going back to our orders of the day. (interpretation ends) Item 20.
Report of the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Okalik.
There is a motion on the floor. Is there a seconder? Mr. Schell.
The motion is in order. All those in favour of the motion, raise your hand.
Tabled Document 13 – 3(2)
Tabled Document 66 – 3(2)
Tabled Document 99 – 3(2)
Tabled Document 100 – 3(2)
This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, March 23, at 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Pages 1866 – 1960
Opening Prayer 1866
Ministers’ Statements 1866
Members’ Statements 1871
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1877
Oral Questions 1880
Point of Order 1891
Point of Order 1892
Written Questions 1892
Tabling of Documents 1897
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1898
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1957
Third Reading of Bills 1957
Assent to Bills 1959
Orders of the Day 1959
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 1866
141 – 3(2): Sivuliqtiksat Program Graduate (Peterson) 1866
142 – 3(2): Improving Communications (Aariak) 1866
143 – 3(2): 2009 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Award (Tapardjuk) 1867
144 – 3(2): Nunavut Sivuniksavut Support (Shewchuk) 1868
145 – 3(2): Update on Progress of Capacity Upgrades from CanNor Funding (Tootoo) 1869
146 – 3(2): World Tuberculosis (TB) Day (Curley) 1870
147 – 3(2): NHC Updated LHO Board Manual (Tootoo) 1870
204 – 3(2): Update to Constituents (Elliott) 1871
205 – 3(2): Johnny Kuuk Memorial in Whale Cove (Kusugak) 1871
206 – 3(2): Appreciation for Elders (Arvaluk) 1872
207 – 3(2): Appreciation for Interpreter Support (Ningeongan) 1872
208 – 3(2): Child Mauled to Death by Dogs in Pangnirtung (Komoartok) 1873
209 – 3(2): Update on Constituency Affairs (Curley) 1873
210 – 3(2): Update to Constituents (Peterson) 1874
211 – 3(2): Message to Arviat Residents (Shewchuk) 1875
212 – 3(2): Appreciation for Staff and Constituents (Aariak) 1875
213 – 3(2): Appreciation to everyone in the House (Tootoo) 1876
214 – 3(2): Appreciation to Staff and Constituents (Taptuna) 1877
341 – 3(2): Heating Oil Tank Replacement Program (Schell) 1880
342 – 3(2): Needs of People with Disabilities (Elliott) 1883
343 – 3(2): Human Rights Tribunal (Elliott) 1884
344 – 3(2): Cape Dorset School Project Cost (Schell) 1885
345 – 3(2): Recentralization of Decentralized GN Positions (Komoartok) 1886
346 – 3(2): Dialysis Machine for Kivalliq Hospital (Ningeongan) 1887
347 – 3(2): Definition of Poverty (Elliott) 1889
015 – 3(2): Foster Care (Elliott) 1893
016 – 3(2): Status of Integrated Community Sustainability Plans and Infrastructure in Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, and Resolute Bay (Elliott) 1894
017 – 3(2): Patient/Client Complaints Procedure of the Department of Health and Social Services (Ningeongan) 1895
153 – 3(2): Article on Air Canada from the National Post: “Canada’s Flying Moose in the headlights” (Schell) 1897
154 – 3(2): Towards a Representative Public Service – Statistics as of December 31, 2009 (Shewchuk) 1897
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Environment – Consideration in Committee 1898
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Legislative Assembly – Consideration in Committee 1909
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs – Consideration in Committee 1915
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Consideration in Committee 1942
Bill 23 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010 – Consideration in Committee 1943
Bill 14 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2009, No. 2 – Consideration in Committee 1948
Bill 25 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – Consideration in Committee 1951
Bill 21– An Act to Amend the Utility Rates Review Council Act – Consideration in Committee 1954
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Third Reading 1957
Bill 14 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2009, No. 2 – Third Reading 1958
Bill 21 – An Act to Amend the Utility Rates Review Council Act – Third Reading 1958
Bill 23 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010 – Third Reading 1958
Bill 25 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – Third Reading 1958
Bill 14 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2009, No. 2 – Assent 1959
Bill 21 – An Act to Amend the Utility Rates Review Council Act – Assent 1959
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Assent 1959
Bill 23 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010 – Assent 1959
Bill 24 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – Assent 1959
Bill 25 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – Assent 1959
Honourable Eva Aariak, Honourable James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Moses Aupaluktuq, Honourable Tagak Curley, Mr. Ron Elliott, Mr. Adamee Komoartok, Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Mr. Johnny Ningeongan, Honourable Keith Peterson, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Fred Schell, Honourable Daniel Shewchuk, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Honourable Peter Taptuna, Honourable Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (Hon. James Arreak): Thank you. I would like to ask Mr. Elliott to say the opening prayer. Mr. Elliott.
A very good morning, elders, visitors in the Gallery, Premier, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and all Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 141 – 3(2): Sivuliqtiksat Program Graduate (Peterson)
I rise today to congratulate Dwayne Twerdin for recently graduating from the Sivuliqtiksat Internship Program.
Dwayne is the Manager of the Maintenance Enforcement program within our Department of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, Dwayne has demonstrated leadership skills and a genuine desire to ensure that Nunavummiut receive access to high quality programs and services.
He has successfully met the challenge of managing today’s public service and is a role model for our youth.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to express my appreciation to the Department of Human Resources for sponsoring the Sivuliqtiksat Internship Program.
This program promotes Inuit employment in management and strengthening of public service.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in congratulating Dwayne Twerdin on his most recent accomplishment. Mr. Speaker, I believe Mr. Twerdin is in the House today.
Here he is right here, so congratulate him.
Minister’s Statement 142 – 3(2): Improving Communications (Aariak)
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
In our mandate Tamapta/ᑕᒪᑦᑕ: Building Our Future Together, my colleagues and I have outlined improving communications as one of our key priorities.
Today, I am very pleased to inform Members of the House and Nunavummiut across the territory that we are tackling our commitment to improve communications head-on.
Mr. Speaker, today, my office has launched the Premier’s website at www.premier.gov.nu.ca.
Here you will find the latest news from the Government of Nunavut, speeches I have made when invited to certain occasions, statements I have made in the House as a minister, as well as photos, audio, and video.
I am also pleased to launch the inaugural edition of the Premier’s e-newsletter, a monthly electronic publication which anyone can sign up for and receive by email.
Finally, I have been told by many Nunavummiut that community radio is one of the most powerful vehicles of communication.
I am proud to say that since September 2009, long-time radio broadcaster Jonah Kelly has been busy interviewing cabinet ministers on the latest issues affecting Nunavummiut.
Each of these interviews is broadcast on community radio stations throughout the territory and then archived on my new website.
Mr. Speaker, these improvements to communication are only the beginning.
In the coming year, we will be outlining many other improvements to the way our government transmits and receives information with Nunavummiut.
Two-way communications is very important for this government.
We encourage people to share their ideas, thoughts, and recommendations.
Not only do we want to report our government’s progress and how it will affect Nunavummiut, we would also appreciate receiving feedback from Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, our government is here to represent Nunavummiut and improving our communications will continue to be a priority for us.
Minister’s Statement 143 – 3(2): 2009 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Award (Tapardjuk)
I rise today to announce that the Kivalliq Science Educators’ Community… or I can say, “Qallunaat Qaujimajatuqangit.”
The Kivalliq Science Educators’ Community has been awarded the prestigious 2009 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s Award for Science Promotion in the group category.
The NSERC awards were established in 1994 to honour individuals and groups who make outstanding contributions to the promotion of science in Canada through activities that encourage popular interest in science.