EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would like to direct my question to the Premier, who is the Chair of our Cabinet.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Economic Development announced some pretty drastic measures in relation to the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
My question to the Premier: as the minister indicated yesterday that this government found out a year ago about the seriousness of some of these issues, I would like to ask the Premier why this government didn’t take any action, or didn’t take the steps prior to it being made public.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I think my minister was quite clear that we took steps from last year to this year. So it was incremental steps with more information being provided to us as a government.
So, the steps that we took were the final ones after looking at the report provided by the Auditor General. So I think the steps had to be made in order to address the concerns outlined by the Auditor General. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker...
I understand what the minister said yesterday that they knew about these issues a year ago and steps were taken, as the minister indicated yesterday. I could only assume that the government, as a whole, was made aware of these issues and steps, and again, not until after the report was made public that these drastic measures were taken.
Again, I would like to ask why this government waited until it became a public document, why did it wait until after that.
I could only assume that they were well aware of the contents of the report much earlier than that, then why did this government wait until after it became public to take these steps?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I did not see the report from the Auditor General until it was tabled by the House.
So I’m not going to prejudge the findings of the Auditor General. So to assume that we saw it is a misnomer. So we acted on the basis of the findings of the Auditor General. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Some very concerning comments made by the Premier there that this government hadn’t seen this report until it was tabled.
The report itself contains the government’s responses.
Was the Premier indicating that any of this information in this report, including the government responses, is information that was withheld from Cabinet?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Our officials do work with the Auditor General, but as Cabinet, we did not see the report until it was tabled. So our officials worked with the Auditor General up to that point.
We were never provided with the Auditor General’s Report until it was tabled in this House. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Maybe this is an indication of more problems within this government: the fact that we have an issue as substantial as this and the Cabinet is surprised by it just as much as we are.
Maybe I would like to ask the Premier to explain how something like this, as substantial as this, it is embarrassing for the government and for all of us, could have escaped being brought to the attention of this government and of the Cabinet.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I think we took steps as we found out about them, and I want to assure the member that we don’t prejudge findings of the Auditor General, we act on them. So I think the minister was quite clear in the steps that we have taken over the last year or year and a half.
As we found more information, we acted. So it’s not just yesterday that we acted on trying to do something about this institution.
So I want to assure the member that we’ll do whatever is necessary to respond to the issues raised by the Auditor General. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Premier. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions.
Question 340 – 2(4): Audit of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (Curley)
Mr. Curley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re not dealing with an isolated issue here.
These problems have been known for a while.  My questions, Mr. Speaker, are directed to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation as well, concerning the audit of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
The Auditor General’s Report states and I quote, “We do not have our usual degree of assurance with regard to the completeness of the record of events, nor were we able to conclude whether or not fraudulent acts had taken place.”
Yesterday, the minister informed the House, and I quote, “... the Comptroller General of Nunavut has referred matters of financial records and controls to the RCMP for consideration.”
Mr. Speaker, when the federal sponsorship scandal occurred, the Auditor General’s Report ultimately led to arrests and prison sentences because theft and fraud took place.
Can the minister indicate to the House whether the government has evidence that theft or fraud has taken place at the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation?
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That matter has been referred to the RCMP. The Auditor General’s Report indicated that laws and regulations had been broken.
So that’s why we referred the matter to the RCMP to see exactly what was going on; whether there was fraud, or not; whether there was theft or not, etcetera. All of that has been referred to the RCMP. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Can the minister indicate to the House how much public money may have gone missing or have been misappropriated?
We won’t know that until after the RCMP’s investigation.
Mr. Curley: Mr. Speaker, I’ll give you a chance to settle down.
Mr. Speaker, it’s incredible. The RCMP is not a manager, nor do they normally just go on to see if they can find any fish like that particularly.
These are management issues.  My second supplementary is: can the minister confirm that former employees or board members of the corporation are under suspicion, and if they are, does the government know where they can be located?
Again, the matter has been referred to the RCMP.
This question about whether we know where the board members and that are, we know where the board members are.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Your final supplementary, Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that the members of the public, as well as the people who were involved, surely must know their rights as well.
So it’s important that the government has evidence and not just suspicion.
Mr. Speaker, when does the minister expect the RCMP to begin and conclude its investigation?
The matter has been referred to the RCMP.
We are yet to have a response from the RCMP, so I don’t have that information at this time.
Question 341 – 2(4): Update on Monitoring of Medications (Barnabas)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Peterson for bringing up the concerns of many people during the opening.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, a number of my constituents have come to me with concerns about the medications that are being prescribed for them.
Can the minister update this House on what systems are in place to monitor medications that are being given to patients and what is being done to make sure that the patients understand what they are for and what to expect?
When a patient goes to the health centre and sees a nurse or a doctor, the doctors or nurses would treat the patient, and based on the person’s illness, would then prescribe medication.  Through that process, the nurses or the doctors would explain what that medication is for.
At the same time, if they require translators, there are interpreter/translators at every health centre that also are responsible for translating that information to that patient.
During the time when the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit were doing a hearing for language, we heard in the media that our elders go shopping at the store for the pharmacy, they don’t know what they’re buying.
(interpretation ends) Some my constituents which are elders have noticed that the inhalers that they received are defective.
Can the minister advise this House on systems that are in place to ensure the quality of medical supplies that are purchased by her department?
Medical equipments or supplies that are purchased are purchased through our director of pharmacies, and we have a supplier that provides us with products that are needed in our health centres.
When the inhaler, as an example, is given to the patient at the health centre and it’s defective, then the nurse should be notified and a new one that works would be given to that patient. The systems are in place that we purchase and ensure that the products that we do receive are in good condition and, in fact, are what we ordered and so on.
If there are concerns with inhalers and/or they are broken, then the practitioners at the community level should be notified immediately.
Earlier this year, there was a national announcement on the re-call of cold medicines for children.
This announcement caused a lot of concern among the parents in my constituency.
Can the minister update this House on what kind of public information campaigns are organized by the Department of Health and Social Services to help inform people of these kinds of situations?
The Department of Health purchases medication that’s approved at the national level. There is a listing of medication that is approved through an organization that would ensure that proper testing and so on is done on a medication before it’s ready for distribution or sales through the stores.
Through legislation, we have that same process in place in the territory. In cases where there’s a re-call, the director of pharmacy would check to make sure that that product is not on our approved listing to our formulary for medication.
So if that is the case, then the director of pharmacy would then contact every health centre and make sure that that product is removed from distribution through the regional centres and/or the health centres.
Question 342 – 2(4): Qualification of Umingmaktok as Community Status (Peterson)
Mr. Speaker, when the minister attended the Kitikmeot Inuit Association AGM a few weeks ago, one of the delegates from Bay Chimo asked her for help to get funding for his community. The minister mentioned that they had to be a community to get help.
The Government of Nunavut have used them as an outpost camp, despite the fact that they have houses, a fuel tank farm, a school, a Hunters and Trappers Organization building, and an airstrip.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House how Bay Chimo can qualify for community funding from her department?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Peterson. (interpretation) Minister of Community and Government Services, Minister Brown.
This subject, I agree, it was brought up in the KIA meeting. As I had stated that I would look further into this item, because it does need more researching. The Community and Government Services already deliver fuel there and other programs.
I’m not sure how it’s going to be met at this time.
The community does need help.
Mr. Speaker, in the Government of the Northwest Territories days there was dedicated funding for unorganized communities to help Bay Chimo and Bathurst Inlet.
It’s interesting that in those days they were referred to as communities but now, under the Government of Nunavut, they’re called outpost camps. In the Kitikmeot we still think of them as communities and they have an equal voice at the Kitikmeot Inuit Association annual general meetings and they have a board representative.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell me if there’s any funding within her department or the Government of Nunavut to help unorganized communities meet their needs?
I’ll be very candid in this area because there are many outpost camps throughout Nunavut and if we start funding those two, as the member mentioned, then we have to look at the other areas, too.
There are quite a lot of them and this government is unable to provide those funds.
It’s too much and too huge.
As I mentioned earlier, under the Government of the Northwest Territories days, they were referred to as unorganized communities.
I’m not sure how they suddenly became known as outpost camps.
In the Kitikmeot they are not known as outpost camps; they’re known as communities. Despite the fact that they don’t fall into some special category and the Government of Nunavut rules them ineligible for funding, they are communities and we support them as communities.
So my question for the minister: can the minister tell the House what level of assistance the two communities of Bay Chimo and Bathurst Inlet currently receive from all of the departments of the Government of Nunavut?
Yes, we would really like to help those outpost camps but when there are so many outpost camps we have to view them equally and provide proper services, rather than just supporting one or two.
When we start providing support for one or two communities, the other outpost camps will want to get help. So I can look into what kind of services or programs there are for those two communities, but I know that there’s fuel delivery for those two communities.
Bay Chimo, I say it’s a bit more than an outpost camp. It has a school there that goes up to grade three, it has a Hunters and Trappers Organization, it has a store and a health centre, it has an airstrip, and it has a tank farm. To me, that seems like it’s more than an outpost camp.
Nevertheless, people are moving because of the lack of services being provided to him. I don’t believe that people should have to move from their communities or their homes because the government provides them with diminished level of programs and services. However, Mr. Speaker, that’s the case.
Can the minister tell the House how the Government of Nunavut helps people move from their communities if they choose and assist them to find adequate housing elsewhere with the resources allocated to help them move?
I thank the member for his questions and for providing that information.  I am unable to address those concerns as they are the responsibilities of other ministers.
So if there’s a school, it’s the responsibility of the Minister of Education, and in regard to health, the Minister of Health and Social Services would have that responsibility. In regard to fuel tanks, the fuel is delivered by our department.
It is evident that they lack other services or programs.
We’re not going to try and tell everybody what to do because it’s up to people where they want to live or reside, but we try to provide services such as fuel.
Question 343 – 2(4): Reports on Sealift Activities (Tootoo)
Before I ask my question, I just want to say I had a great lunch today with Brian and the customers down at the Grind & Brew, and I thank them for that. I know he watches these proceedings here quite diligently.
Mr. Speaker, last year, in response to questions I raised to the minister, the minister took it upon herself to table in the Assembly a report on the sealift season for last year.
I know the annual re-supply sealift season for this year is just finishing, or not quite finished in some areas.
I would like to ask the minister if she would be willing to provide a report for this year’s sealift season that would include a summary of activities, the incidents, any breakdowns, or complaints of damaged goods and things like that, by region for the Members of the House.
Last year my department did table a report.
For this summer’s sealift, they were delayed by a week in some of the communities and one ship was late for three weeks because some of the communities had ice along the shipping routes and the ice did not go away for quite some time.
For the year 2007 season, we found out that there were more materials going to the communities than previously expected, and it seems like it’s the first time this has occurred with a lot of materials being shipped to the communities.
With regards to his question, I can table the report so that all the members can see it.
I know that this year, I think, was the record year for stuff that was shipped throughout the territory. I think that’s an indication that, in some ways, things are going well up here.
My question to follow up on what the minister... in that report, because she also included, and I know that there were some issues with housing materials left behind, but if the minister could provide in that review or report, if there are any other cargo that have been left behind or is undelivered by carrier and by region. Could she include that in the report as well?
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just this past summer and fall, the ships tried to do their jobs properly, and if there were any materials left behind, they will be reported.
I expect the report to be full.
I know, as a result of having that report tabled last year and I think having a report this year, the only way that things get better is, for instance, if we look at what happened and review it. I think that’s a good thing. There have been improvements made over last year.
As you review things, you learn from your mistakes or things that happened.
I also know, Mr. Speaker; it’s not always just looking for the things that went wrong. There are some good news stories in there as well.
The minister indicated the volumes going to the North this year were much higher than other years, and I would assume that there are Inuit employment numbers and things like that may be good news stories as well.
Would she include those in the report as well?
Of course, we look for improving services to Nunavut.
(interpretation ends) NTCL and NSSI has visited all communities and met contractual obligations.
NSSI and NEAS, those two ships, they visited all communities and met all their contractual obligations.
(interpretation) As I stated earlier, they have been doing an excellent job and they did all they could to provide the services that were required.
One of the companies acquired an additional ship which made an improvement to the services that were provided to the Keewatin.
I apologize. Member for Rankin Inlet North, Mr. Curley.
Question 344 – 2(4): Audit of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (Curley)
My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation concerning the audit of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
Yesterday, the minister informed the House that he has directed that the corporation’s lending activities be temporarily suspended.
While I recognize that a brief pause may be necessary to get the NBCC in order, it is absolutely essential that this suspension not be indefinite or used an excuse to stop providing services altogether.
I would like to ask the minister to clarify whether this suspension means a period of one week, or one month, or a year.
I’m sorry, I have a sore throat and I have a very manly voice this afternoon.
In following the NBCC laws, there is a requirement to have seven members sitting on the board, but this week, there have been some resignations and we will have to appoint additional board members.
The suspension will be lifted next week.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): The minister’s announcement of yesterday indicated that “clients of the corporation will not be affected by these measures and the impact on the business community in terms of access to capital will be short-term.”
Can he clarify exactly what he means by “short-term”?
I stated that, this coming week, NBCC will be back in order.
They will be lending out loans and the board will be back to meetings.
The suspension will be lifted by next week.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the minister, and we have been told already, could the minister commit to me that he will direct his officials to meet with the regional chamber of commerce to explain the situation and answer their questions?
It’s a very excellent question. I will be writing a letter to their regional chamber of commerce to give them a full explanation of the situation.
Question Period is now over. I apologize.
Committee Report 002 – 2(4): Report on the Review of the 2007 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut on the Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS) Program (Tootoo)
I have the honour today of presenting the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability’s report on its review of the 2007 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut on the Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students Program.
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, the Auditor General’s Report on the FANS Program was tabled in the House on June 6, 2007.
The standing committee held its hearings on the report on June 13 and 14 of this year.
As is the practice of the standing committee, the standing committee hearings were open to the public and media to observe.
In the interest of maximum public transparency, the transcripts from the standing committee’s hearings were subsequently posted to the Legislative Assembly’s website in both Inuktitut and English.
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General’s 2006 Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly made important observations concerning the need for education and training programs to develop our future accountants and financial management professionals.
The standing committee viewed her report on the FANS Program as being timely.
The report on the FANS Program constituted the Auditor General’s first stand-alone report to our Legislative Assembly that provides a performance audit of a specific GN program.
The standing committee was pleased to have had the opportunity to scrutinize the Auditor General’s findings and recommendations concerning this important program.
The standing committee looks forward to holding public hearings on the reports of the Auditor General on her office’s performance audits of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation and the Department of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General’s 2007 Report on the FANS Program contained thirteen specific recommendations for improvements to the management of the program.
These recommendations addressed the following areas:
Program governance;
Assessment of applications and issuing of benefits;
Financial and management controls;
Information and management systems;
Management of student loans; and
Measurement, reporting and use of program results.
The standing committee was pleased to note that the Department of Education agreed with all of the Auditor General’s recommendations. No surprise.
Mr. Speaker, every report of the Auditor General to the Legislative Assembly has been referred to a standing committee for review.
Witnesses from appropriate GN departments have been invited to appear in public before the committee to account for the government’s responses to the Auditor General’s recommendations and the concerns of MLAs.
The quality of the government’s responses has varied considerably over the years, as has its performance in taking action to address the recommendations of both the Auditor General and the standing committee.
As a result, the standing committee, in its 2006 report to the Legislative Assembly, began the practice of providing a detailed status report on the government’s actions in response to outstanding issues.
This practice will continue.
Mr. Speaker, members of the standing committee were pleased with the Department of Education’s willingness to acknowledge the need for improvements to the administration of the FANS Program and to present a detailed action plan to address the issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report.
At the appropriate time, I will be formally tabling copies of the materials provided by the department at the request of the standing committee, including follow-up information that members received in August of this year.
I would also add that the standing committee has taken careful note of the Minister of Education’s Statement to the House of October 29, 2007, on progress achieved by the department in addressing the recommendations contained in the performance audit.
Mr. Speaker, a number of themes and priorities for future action have emerged during the standing committee’s review of the issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report.