EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
This is a support letter for the Manitoba Road study application from the Kivalliq Inuit Association.
It was signed by all the mayors of the Keewatin and also, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Cathy Towtongie, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
Are there any further Tabling of Documents.
Motion 021 – 1(6): Extended Adjournment - Notice
It gives me great delight today do this Notices of motions.
It’s not very often I get up here with great news for this assembly in the city of Iqaluit that I’ve been coming to for the last four years.
But my motion today and I know my colleague from Iqaluit centre is behind me 100 percent that I give notice that on Friday, March 28, I will move the following motion.
I move, seconded by my Honourable colleague from Cambridge Bay, that notwithstanding rule 4, that when the house concludes it’s present sitting in Iqaluit, the great city, it shall be adjourned until June 2, 2003, in my home community of Baker Lake.
Item 15: Notices of Motions for the First Reading of Bills
Bill 34 – An Act to Amend the International Sale of Goods Act – Notice
I give notice that on Friday, March 28, 2003, I shall move that Bill 34, an Act to amend the International Sale of Goods Act, be read for the first time.
Speaker: Thank you. Item 15.
Bill 30, Bill 31, Bill 32, Minister’s Statement 126-1(6), with Mr. Irqittuq in the chair.
In accordance to the authority provided to me by Motion 002-1(6), the Committee of the Whole will stay in session until it reports itself out.
Before we proceed to Committee of the Whole, we will take our usual 20 minute break.
>>Committee recessed at 15:04 p.m. and resumed at 15:38
Chairperson (Mr. Irqittuq) (interpretation): Welcome all.
In the Committee of the Whole we will be dealing with, Bill 30, Bill 31, Bill 32, and Ministers’ Statement 126-1(6).
We wish to continue with the review of Bill 30 and commence with the review of the Main Estimates for the Department of Community Government and Transportation.
And after this we would proceed to review the Department of Public Works and Services.
We will start with the Minister of Community Government and Transportation.
I will try to speed up my comments.
I apologize; my Opening Comments are quite lengthy.
Mr. Chairman, and Members of the Legislative Assembly. I would like to highlight some of the key initiatives of my department as outlined in the 2003-2004 Business Plan and Main Estimates.
I would like to address some issues that have emerged since the estimates were prepared and presented to the Standing Committee.
First, on a positive note, I was very proud of our young people who represented Nunavut for the first time, at the Canada Winter Games in New Brunswick.
They, assisted by their coaches, volunteer mission and Community Government and Transportation staff, did well and in many instances, achieved personal bests.
While at the games, Territorial Sports Ministers reached an agreement with the Federal Minister, which calls on both levels of government to contribute increased funding to sport development.
It included that all of the Territorial Governments, for Nunavut, we received $72,000, which will be matched by my Department.
Third Party funding will also be accessed to develop the program.
With this new funding, we can help develop our athletes by establishing a number of new initiatives and incorporating northern and traditional sports into our program.
The funds will be targeted towards the achievement and enhancement of training initiatives like a Nunavut Youth Olympic Academy and our Aim High program.
I also managed to secure a commitment from the Secretary of State, the Honourable Paul Devilliers, to increase the funding over the next several years in order to support similar programs.
The second issue that has emerged since the estimates were prepared is the unexpected financial impact of the two fires in the communities of Repulse Bay and Clyde River, which occurred in the late December and early January.
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries but both communities and the Government of Nunavut sustained multi-million dollar capital building and equipment losses.
Replacement building design is underway in both communities and a new fire truck has already been delivered to Clyde River.
I must advise the Members that as a result of these fires, all communities and the Government of Nunavut are facing dramatically increased insurance premiums estimated for next year alone to be between 4 million and 6 million dollars.
My departmental officials are working with the Department of Finance, insurance industry representatives and Nunavut Association of Municipalities to address this urgent situation and to develop a new insurance coverage plan.
We are currently negotiating various aspects of this issue at this point.
This will involve new partnerships and different approaches to securing insurance coverage.
At a later date, I will advise the Members of the Legislature as to how this issue has been addressed.
Finally, I have asked my Department to redouble their efforts in fire prevention.
Senior Officials are developing a Nunavut Fire Prevention Strategy, which will address shortcomings in the current ability of community fire departments to adequately respond to fire situations and it will aggressively carry out assessments in all communities regarding maintenance routines and the “fire safety” status of all buildings.
The strategy will include training for community volunteers; it will accelerate the replacement and improvement of equipment; and develop community awareness campaigns.
At the appropriate time, I will table the new Strategy in the House.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, and colleagues, as I have noted before, community empowerment is a priority for me and my department.
Over the next year and beyond, Community Government and Transportation will be focusing on training and skills upgrading for Municipal and Departmental employees.
The new Municipal Training Organization is a partnership with the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators (NAMA).
With them, we are developing a training course schedule based on community-identified needs, which will no doubt include administration, finance, Municipal operations, fire prevention and building and equipment.
(interpretation) We are very pleased that our proposed budget includes increased funding for the Municipal Operating Assistance contribution program (MOAP) some money for improved pensions for all municipal workers.
These are modest increases and they don’t all address all the forecasted increased insurance premiums.
This year, my department will also be bringing forward for government approval, funding policy changes recommended in the Municipal Finance Review.
Sport Nunavut and the Recreation Division continues to work hard to develop a strong base for sports activities that can grow as we do.
Our “first time” participation at the Canada Winter Games and the athletes’ success there is indicative of recreation activities program to support community based activities such as dog team races and fishing derbies.
Mr. Chairman, I am sure that you are very pleased with this announcement.
(interpretation ends) With respect to transportation issues and funding, work is progressing on a Nunavut Air Service Study.
My Senior Officials are reviewing a report on community and industry consultations and an airline network study.
I hope to review the documents soon with my Cabinet Colleagues and then release it to the Members of this House.
Community Aerodrome Radio Stations (CARS) operation and funding continues to be a concern for all communities.
My Department, in partnership with NAM, has met with NAV Canada to press for more funding.
NAV Canada has recently indicated that funding will remain as it is for the next two years.
My staff will also continue to work with communities and Federal Government Transportation Agencies to increase O and M dollars and capital investment for all transportation infrastructure needs including air, marine and roads.
(interpretation) I will be concluding soon, Mr. Chairman.
(Interpretation ends) The Emergency Management Division has been working with communities to prepare and equip them to deal with emergencies.
With the assistance of federal funding, training manuals have been developed in consultations with community-based search organizations and the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
In conjunction with other agencies and community organizations, Nunavut Emergency Management is helping organize the first Territorial Search and Rescue (SAR) Conference.
This will be held next week in conjunction with Canadian Coast Guard Marine Instructor Training Program.
Participants will be members from communities and regional organizations.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Community Government and Transportation is faced with many challenges to accomplish its mandate and work in partnership with municipal governments and the transportation sector to enhance social and economic opportunities in self governing and sustained communities.
One is the budgetary challenge of “Living within our means.”
Staffed within the Department, in consultation with stakeholders, has had to prioritize activities, programs, and policies.
Funding emphasis has been placed in those areas where the need is greatest, such as community training and development and capital planning.
I am pleased to say that there have been no cuts to programs, services and contributions that my department will manage “within” the proposed budget through prudent staffing decisions and reductions to discretionary items such as travel and other expenses.
I am getting sleepy reading this book.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and the Members of the Committee.
This concludes my Opening Remarks and I am now ready to respond to Members’ questions on the 2003-2004 Business Plans and Main Estimates.
In regards to the dog team and fishing derbies, that was just for me.
We have to smile once in a while.
Does the Standing Committee have any opening comments?
They are not as lengthy and as detailed.
I have my great staff upstairs trained to make them short and sweet like me and Donald.
As Chairman of the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development, I am pleased to be able to provide opening comments as we begin the review of the 2003-2004 Main Estimates and the 2003-2004 Business Plan of the Department of Community Government and Transportation.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee has had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Community Government and Transportation and has carefully reviewed the Department’s Main Estimates and Business Plan.
Mr. Chairman, Members were pleased to hear that the department will be focusing on training and skills upgrading for municipal and departmental employees.
The recent announcement of the new Municipal Training Organization is a step in the right direction the provision of adequate training to the communities will go a long way to fulfilling our goal of local empowerment.
Mr. Chairman, Members continue to be concerned that the resources allocated for Community Aerodrome Radio Stations is not sufficient to meet the needs of the communities.
The Standing Committee urges the department to continue working with NAM to secure increased CARS funding.
In addition, Members would like to see CARS training, and we have asked this for five years in a row to provide it in Nunavut.
Thanks to NAV Canada never listening to us up here, we do not know if we will ever that.
I just added that in myself.
Mr. Chairman, Members noted that Nunavut was well-represented at the Canada Winter Games this year.
And I think it was historical, that was the first time we were there.
And it’s nice to see our youth go down there.
The Committee has stressed the importance of initiatives geared towards youth and continues to stress that organized, healthy activities for youth serve to combat such problems as substance abuse and suicide.
The Standing Committee looks forward to a revitalized Sport Nunavut that focuses on community-based events to encourage youth to become active participants within the community.
Mr. Chairman, Members are concerned that important positions within the department are remaining vacant for long periods of time.
And Baker Lake is a prime example of that. The Committee urges the department to work to keep positions filled and to ensure that important responsibilities are not neglected simply because the position is vacant.
Mr. Chairman, the Committee looks forward to hearing the Minister announce what projects will benefit from Airport Capital Assistance Program funding.
Air travel is integral to daily life in Nunavut.
The Standing Committee looks forward to the tabling of the air transportation study, and reviewing its recommendations.
Mr. Chairman, Members received the Nunavut Transportation Strategy 2001, nearly two years ago.
The technical document indicates support for the creation of intercommunity roads.
The Committee urges the department to move forward on plans for the Kimmirut, Kivalliq and Bathurst road projects.
Mr. Chairman, it is no secret that many municipalities are in a deficit situation.
Members noted that one of the department's priorities for 2003-2004 is to implement the new financial reporting, evaluation and monitoring system in at least five communities.
Members are hopeful that this will go some way in helping hamlets better manage their debt and track payables and receivables.
Mr. Chairman, Members were pleased to see a 3.8 million dollar increase in funding for the Municipal Operating Assistance Program.
Members also noted that the grants for municipal insurance premiums and fuel price adjustment were one-time grants in 2002-2003.
The Committee urges the department to ensure that municipalities are assisted in the event that these rates increase again in 2003-2004.
The Committee is looking forward to the implementation of the recommendations of the Municipal Finance Review.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Community Government is the funding agency for transfers from other government departments to municipalities.
Members noted that these transfers are budgeted to amount to more than $3.8 million in 2003-2004 and would like to see a detailed accounting of these funds.
In addition, the Committee would like to see the department act as an advocate for hamlets.
Some hamlets have a shortage of resources and qualified staff to adequately review agreements and ensure that appropriate resources are being provided to fulfill their new responsibilities.
The Committee urges the department to protect the best interests of all the hamlets in those agreements.
Individual Members may wish to raise questions or make comments as we proceed.
Mr. McLean: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I would like to make comments of my own after my speaking notes.
I’m pleased to see the Department of Community Government & Transportation’s direction in the couple of years under the Minister and the present deputy and his capable staff.
I’m very pleased with where the department is going now.
Some of the issues that we brought up in standing committee in regards to issue that affect community are being implemented now.
We know the success of having good municipal government is a department taking care of the hamlets and I Community Government & Transportation is a role model in that department.
Where they should be monitoring is the community empowerment agreements and I’m not taking shots at other departments out there but I don’t think other departments are being very honest some times on the community empowerment agreements with following up and assisting the municipalities in performing these duties the best that they can.
I’m very pleased to see that the department is being one of the authors for training at municipal governments because I don’t think at this time, in this tenure with this new Government of Nunavut that there are other outside agencies that are capable of delivering the training programs to the municipalities like their Community Government & Transportation department is at this point.
And it’s no offence to the Department of Education or Arctic College but if this tenure, I fully support and I encourage the Minister not to get off track and train municipal employees because at the end of the day, Community Government & Transportation are the ones that have to make the decisions on whether the municipal governments be taken out or given assistance, or whatever.
And we know what those results are.
So I continue to support the Minister in her endeavours to make sure that municipalities are on strong financial ground and that they don’t continue to get into deficit.
I’d also like to say that I'm very pleased with the community volunteer strategy that this department has taken up because for 4 years in a row and it went deaf for the first three years that nothing in this government was being done to recognise volunteers in communities.
There are people out there that toil endlessly for hours whether it’s coaching minor hockey, refereeing, search and rescue people, just general all around people out there volunteering tons of hours and never being recognized.
I want to bring this up again and I hope that under the community volunteers strategy that you’re going to help people out there but also recognize the people that go for hours volunteering and no recognition being given to them.
That’s my opening comments.
You have the opportunity to speak on general comments for 10 minutes and a member may speak more than once to that under discussion.
I wonder if the Minister is ready to proceed to the witness table with her officials.
Minister, if you could introduce your officials.
To my right is John Walsh, my Deputy Minister.
On my left is Mike Rafter our Finance Controller.
Very simple, Walsh and Rafter.
The first one to speak will be Arvaluk.
Welcome Minister and your officials.
What I wanted to make a general comment on is to first of all congratulate the people that were elected by the people in the communities.
The people in the communities believe in running their own affairs at the community level.
However, the Department of Community Government & Transportation, under their budget, they only receive half of the money in the amount of $40 million and that is their operating budget.
The operating budget of the Department is $72 million.
It’s kind of ironic why the Hamlets don’t receive as much money and half of the budget is for the total operation of the department and for the Hamlets.
At the appropriate time, I will be asking questions on those issues.
The money that is going to be used for the Department of Community Government and Transportation is $13 million, 291 thousand.
The $13 million is just for this department alone, while they are trying to look after the Hamlets in the communities.
While there are twenty-six communities in Nunavut, and Iqaluit is the biggest one.
Some of the communities are smaller.
Looking at the $13 million dollars, there is half a million dollars allotted for Compensation and Benefits, for the operations at the Hamlet and the Airports.
Under the Minister’s Statements, she stated to us on page 3 in English, she stated that they are trying to get the communities empowerment.
It is their priority of her department.
We are pleased to hear that and we expect that the employees of the Government could be pulled out a little bit and then given to more operations of the Hamlets.
There is a lot of money being spent by Community Government and Transportation, together with the capital funding and operations funding.
For instance, the Hamlets have to run their services in the communities.
It just seems like they are not giving out the money evenly, between her department and the Hamlets.
Why am I saying this, Mr. Chairman?
The communities vote for their Mayor and their Councillors because they want to operate their own government.
I will have some questions later on Mr. Chairman, about the money that is allotted for the department and the various programs, in the amount of $50 million dollars, that are run by their department.
The $40 million dollars of that is given to the communities.
Those people that were elected by the people in the communities to operate their own communities and their services.
Under page 3, of the Minister’s Comment, the Minister stated that she would like to give the communities empowerment and that is her priority.
With the little bit if funding that is allotted for the municipalities, it does not seem to be enough.
The Hamlet’s portion would be smaller than the portion of the department.
What I am trying to say, Mr. Chairman, is the money that should be given to the communities is in the hands of the department, if we look at the telephone book, if we open up the telephone book, you could see the Department employees and the divisions that they have.
It just seems like the hamlet does not get as much as they should be getting from your department.
And lastly Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a comment, is that during the program review, your department can get a little bit smaller, so that way you will be able to get more funding for operations of the communities or municipalities in Nunavut.
As well as, we must refrain from taking some programs such as the C.A.R.S. program, because C.A.R.S. does not have very much funding allotted to them.
It is important that sufficient funds go along with the empowerment of the communities.
If you don’t give the resources when you transfer C.A.R.S. to the communities, they will be, if you don’t give them funding, they will have a difficult time operating because the hamlet has to pay for their overhead whether it’s C.A.R.S. or whatever program is given empowerment.  During the program review, you are going to have to make sure that whatever program is transferred to the communities, that the resources come along with it.
I’ll be asking questions later on.
The Community Government & Transportation Minister and staff, I’d like to commend your efforts regarding this very difficult task.
I do have some concerns that I will be talking about regarding the handling of hamlets who are also elected into their seats.
First of all I would like to say that during the Government of the Northwest Territories, the hamlets were created so that they could run their own affairs through the Northwest Territories initiative.
When the municipal governments were set up, there were a lot of staff at the headquarters and the funding for operating within the community was much less than the operating budget of the headquarters.
The conclusion I’ve come to is that at the time, the operating budget for municipal governments was much lower and a lot more staff were created at the headquarters level.
And here we’re saying we want the communities to run their own affairs.
Instead, more staff were brought up at the headquarters stage and it is still like that today, right from the beginning.
When the Government of Nunavut was set up, a lot of communities had come into a deficit situation and are in a crisis situation.
Here, the government has a whole lot of staff at their headquarters.
We have all stated that these communities will be given the power to run their own affairs.
That is where we should be putting the money, where our mouth is.
We did not expect to see so many employees set up with in government.
We wanted those resources to go to the communities.
For instance, when it was set up in Yellowknife, quite a few staff with in the municipal and community affairs division, some of them were in Yellowknife, some of them were in Iqaluit and some were in Cambridge Bay.
Looking at all these situations the municipal government operating funding is just like giving it to dogs and letting them run their own affairs with no resources.
The resources, the funding was never adequate.
A lot of them have run into deficit situations and some have even been taken over by the administration.
With those in mind, it seems that they’re just using those Hamlets to take on their own funding for their department because employees at the local level are not benefiting.