EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The government has been undertaking a review of its procurement practices.
One of the recommendations that were made last year in relation to the NNI Policy was that the Department of Community and Government Services should work with the Nunavut Housing Corporation, NTI, and the business community to “discuss current Inuit labour availability and skill set and the planned project in the community and surrounding communities.”
Can the minister indicate if the government will follow this recommendation?
As the member may be aware, the Department of Economic Development and Transportation has the responsibility for the NNI Policy through their NNI Secretariat. However, as a department, we do follow the rules and regulations as stipulated in the policy.
Yes, we are in discussions with the interest parties. (interpretation) Thank you.
The government is supposed to award bonuses to companies that exceed the minimum prescribed Inuit labour content and the government is supposed to impose penalties on companies that do not meet the minimum prescribed Inuit labour content.
Can the minister clearly describe how his department works the NNI Secretariat to monitor the performance of contractors in meeting their Inuit labour requirements?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Although my department has the lead in ensuring that the NNI Policy is in place and followed by the contractors, our client departments also have project officers and we communicate with them to ensure that these contracts are being adhered to. (interpretation) Thank you.
Question 119 – 4(2): Capital Planning (Angnakak)
The government’s 2015-16 capital estimates will be introduced in the Legislative Assembly within the next six months, during our fall sitting.
The government’s current Capital Planning Process Handbook indicates that there are three primary criteria for ranking or rating projects: “health and safety,” “mandated programs and services,” and “sustainability, economic and benefits.”
Can the minister indicate if this approach to establishing capital priorities will be changing before the 2015-16 capital estimates are introduced?
We’re always monitoring capital projects and if their terms and conditions needed to be changed, we have the discretion to do so.
Throughout this year, numerous questions have been raised in the Legislative Assembly concerning the crisis that many of our communities face in the area of waste management.
We know that many communities are not able to meet the terms and conditions of their water licences, and we know that it will cost significant amounts to achieve modern waste management infrastructure, which has a direct impact on the health of people and the environment.
Can the minister indicate if the government’s capital planning process for the 2015-16 capital estimates will place a higher priority on projects in these areas rather than projects for new recreational and leisure facilities?
In Nunavut, (interpretation ends) we have 25 communities that we work with and each and every community has their own priorities.
Based on the priorities that we receive from the communities for their own communities, our capital planning process is based on the input that we receive from the communities. (interpretation) Thank you.
Yesterday, my colleague from Baker Lake noted that projects which address drinking water and wastewater may be eligible for financing under the federal government’s renewed Building Canada Fund. The minister indicated to the House that he is “in the process of finalizing that agreement.”
Will the minister commit to ensuring that the GN’s applications for funding from the Building Canada Fund focus on capital projects that are intended to address Nunavut’s crisis in waste management?
As with everything that we do as a department, public safety comes first.
Should funding be required to ensure that public safety is a priority, then that’s where the money would go towards. (interpretation) Thank you.
Question 120 – 4(2): Canadian Heritage Rivers in Nunavut (Mikkungwak)
My questions today are for the Minister of Environment.
As the minister is aware, projects to develop campsites and other improvements for the Thelon and Kazan Heritage Rivers have been included in Department of Environment’s capital budgets since the 2011-12 fiscal year.
These improvements are needed to reduce the environmental impact on the rivers. (interpretation ends) Without the campsites, the rivers will deteriorate and could be de-designated from the Canadian Heritage River system.
This could result in fewer tourists visiting Baker Lake and less income for local guides and outfitters.
Can the minister provide an update on his department’s projects to develop improvements for the Thelon and Kazan Heritage Rivers?
I thank the Member for Baker Lake for that question.
The discussions on the benefits negotiations have been halted and have not continued.
Regarding the proposal to the federal government, NTI has rejected the process.
They have stated that they will start a new process.
It is just in limbo as we are waiting on the Inuit organizations, as they were going to start a renewed process in the benefits negotiations.
Currently, the governments are waiting for that.
The minister’s reply gives me a smile.
For over a decade, the Department of Environment has been involved in negotiations for an (interpretation ends) umbrella Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement for the Canadian Heritage Rivers in Nunavut. (interpretation) Can the minister provide an update on the status of those negotiations?
My apologies for mispronouncing your name.
Mr. Speaker, all I can respond is that the Baker Lake residents have concerns about the benefits package for Heritage River designation.
There is a process in that my department is responsible for Heritage Rivers within the Nunavut settlement area that we are discussing.
They have that responsibility.
However, for designated Heritage Rivers, I’m sorry, the rivers have been designated and the process for impact and benefits negotiations are the federal government’s responsibility.
We have tried to move along on the process to date.
As I said earlier, the benefits package has been considered.
We are waiting on the Inuit organizations at this time, as they have stated that they will respond to the issue. To date, there has been no response regarding the benefits.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Shooyook. My apologies. Mr. Mikkungwak.
My name is Simeon Mikkungwak. You made me smile.
An Hon. Member (interpretation): Don’t smile.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): As the minister is aware, his department has been consulting with the Kivalliq Inuit Association concerning the designation of Back River as a Canadian Heritage River.
For example, in the Third Legislative Assembly, they were referring to the wrong rivers, but I know they corrected it.
Hanningajuq is known in English as the Back River.
Can the minister update the House today on the status of his department’s consultations with the Kivalliq Inuit Association? I would like to know what your department has been doing on the matter.
The Kivalliq Inuit Association is involved. Without the benefits agreement, it is not sufficient to designate it.
Once the benefits agreement is in place, the talks could continue, as I understand it, and then at that time, the response would be possible to his questions. Mr. Speaker, once the benefits agreement is in place, it will be more appropriate to respond to his question.
Pursuant to Rule 39(7), I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Hudson Bay, that the time for question period be extended.
Back to (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 121 – 4(2): Definition of Homelessness (Enook)
Mr. Enook: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Thank you to the rest of the Members of the Legislative Assembly who want to go ahead.
Mr. Speaker, I have some questions today to the Minister responsible for Homelessness. I want some clarifications as well.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I was asking questions or trying to ask questions to find out what the Nunavut government’s position is on homelessness.
Mr. Speaker, let me base my question on the Hansard from June 3, 2014, page 23.
Mr. Speaker, I know this is not the final copy.
However, when I asked the hon. minister this question, she stated, “We have memorandums of understanding with Inuit organizations, such as Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, in terms of how to define who is homeless.”
According to the hon. minister, the memorandum of understanding has been signed. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, (interpretation) I would like to ask the designation of homelessness according to how they define it with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
Is it different from the federal government’s description of a homeless person?
I thank the Member for Tununiq for asking that question.
I know he is asking for clarification from yesterday’s debate.
We did not have any statistics about people who have to stay in tents and shacks.
They are different from other homeless people who can stay with relatives or parents.
These are people on the outside. They don’t have an actual home that they can sleep in, a house they can sleep in that is considered a home.
Mr. Enook: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Perhaps sometimes our different dialects prevent us from understanding each other properly, so our questions are not responded to properly.
Let me speak in English.
I’m just going to ask the same question in English.
(interpretation ends) When I asked the question as to what the Government of Nunavut’s definition of homelessness was, the answer came back and I will quote from the unedited version of the Hansard, or the Blues, as we call them, Hansard of Tuesday, June 3, 2014, page 23.
I will quote the minister. “We have memorandums of understanding with Inuit organizations, such as Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, in terms of how to define who is homeless.”
My question today is, Mr. Speaker: is this definition that apparently is in the memorandum of understanding different from the definition of the Government of Nunavut’s position on what the definition is of homelessness?
I would like to take the question as notice.
I will continue. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 122 – 4(2): Staff Housing (Angnakak)
The Government of Nunavut’s Long-term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy indicates that one of the problems with the government’s current approach to staff housing is that, and I quote, “Another challenge arises from the discrepancy between staff housing tenants and those in private homes or apartments.
This is about $14,000 less than the value of the staff housing subsidy.”
Can the minister indicate what actions the government is taking to address this inequality?
Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk.
Mr. Kuksuk: Thank you, Uqaqtittijii. (interpretation) I will take the question as notice and I’ll get back to the member at a later date. (interpretation ends) I’ll take that as notice.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The minister has taken the question as notice and I will move to the next member on my list. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions.
Question 123 – 4(2): Human Resources Management (Hickes)
I’m hoping the minister will be able to answer this question. I’m looking to ask the Minister of Finance a question today.
I would like to follow up on what my hon. colleague, Mr. Savikataaq, brought up earlier regarding vacancies and how fast the government is filling positions through advertising.
The minister, in his response to Mr. Savikataaq, stated, if I recall the number correctly, that there are over 1,200 vacant positions across the Government of Nunavut.
I would like a little bit more detail on what specifically his department is doing to fill these vacant positions.
I wish I could make it a hat trick, but I won’t today.
Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated earlier, I’m stressing to my department, to all ministers, and to all departments to review their casual employees, to convert them to term or go to competition.
Of course, that requires the departments to update job descriptions and that has to go through the Department of Finance.
Our job evaluation people are working closely and diligently to review job descriptions to ensure that they meet the qualifications and duties meet the requirements for the job.
Of course, they would also review who reports to the position because you can’t go to competition until the job description is updated and we would have to identify the position is within the current organizational chart.
I would like to go a little bit further with it.
Mr. Speaker, out of the casuals that are listed in the annual report tabled recently ending March 31, 2013, there were 1,742 casuals across the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, also in that report, in 2012-13, there were 25 direct appointments made and in previous years, that number has been as high as 132 direct appointments being made.
What is this government’s policy on direct appointments?
Mr. Hickes, we have no problems at all considering direct appointments if it’s a position that is desperately needed within the government and there’s a qualified beneficiary or an individual out there. If there has been a competition, for example, and nobody is qualified or applied or there’s a person in a position who is doing quite well for a number of years, we will certainly consider them.
I don’t think there is ever been any hesitancy from our government to consider people for direct appointments, but again, there are policies and procedures in place for departments to follow process.
We’re not just going to direct appoint an individual and put them in a position that they’re not qualified for or don’t have a good chance at succeeding in that position.
Mr. Speaker, one of his comments during that response piqued my interest where, if you’ve got a beneficiary in a position for, in some cases, up to six or seven years, I would like to think that that person would be qualified to do that job.
Mr. Speaker, a lot of money expended advertising for positions and if there has been no movement forward from a department on advertising a position because they’ve got a CSA in there for such a long, extended period of time, I am a little unclear as to what the policy would be on bypassing that step and saving the government some serious dollars in advertising and direct appointing some of these long-term or, in my opinion, what should be long-term employees of the Government of Nunavut if they have been in their position for an extended period of time.
I would like to get the minister’s response to that.
I’m not sure if I understood Mr. Hickes’ question, but again, as I have indicated earlier, we are stressing to the departments, if they have casual employees, to take the necessary steps to convert them to term positions or put them out to competition.
Again, if there is a person in a position and it follows proper steps and it warrants a direct appointment, we will consider it. Again, we’re not going to direct appoint people just for the sake of direct appointing them. The departments will have to follow the established policies and procedures and go through those steps before it comes to cabinet for consideration.
Question 124 – 4(2): Firearms Licence Application Process (Mikkungwak)
A few days ago, I asked a question in regard to this issue, but I would like to direct my question to the (interpretation ends) Minister of Justice.
(interpretation) I know that it’s very difficult to get a firearms acquisition certificate from the government and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I know that the Department of Justice is responsible for that. It’s very difficult to obtain those firearms certificates.
I also would like the department to consider that it is springtime now and many Inuit are hunting for game. They are hunting for the food that they like to eat. They are going to make dry meat.
They will prepare meat the way they like it.
However, they need firearms acquisition certificates and they have to wait a long time for their certificates. Sometimes they need to be assisted in filling out the forms.
We have to abide by all legislation and policies in order to avoid charges. People would like to feed their fellow Inuit and provide nutritional food to the public in their communities. How are you going to provide support to the people who are still waiting for their firearms acquisition certificates and need assistance?
We are aware that this is a stumbling block that we all encounter. I met with the federal government minister and discussed this matter. We looked for ways as to how we can have a better deal with this.
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated is still responsible for this issue, but through Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and through the close deliberation and talks, we would like to resolve this issue in the future. I was very pleased that the federal government did not deny our request to look into this further so that we can work closely together to resolve this.
I would also like to thank the minister for his response. I know that for many months, they can negotiate and have discussions on that. As a Member of the Legislative Assembly and as an experienced board member, it’s evident that they have been dealing with this issue for quite some time.
As the minister had stated, he has a close working relationship and he will have to work and discuss this issue with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. How is your department discussing this matter with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated so that the beneficiaries can provide game and support their fellow Inuit while we are reviewing this hunters’ support program?
Yes, we have to involve Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and we have to discuss this if we are going to complete this issue.
We will encourage Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to find alternate ways of dealing with firearms. We need to abide by the land claims agreement. We have to find a better solution for this issue.
Therefore, I can’t provide a concrete response as to when this will be concluded, but we will need to resolve it for our future.
Yes, there are many Inuit out in the communities since it is springtime. They will be harvesting for food, whether it is in their local community or outside of their community.
They will be harvesting or hunting for food. Can the minister inform us of whether he can report to us as to how or what they have been dealing with? How can they provide support to the harvesters?
Yes, I will need to discuss the matter with the federal minister. I would like to hear their position first.
I was very pleased to hear from the federal minister that they are open for talks and he does want to see a better solution for this. I know that we will be able to resolve this issue some time in the future. It will be for the best interest for the beneficiaries of Nunavut.
Question 125 – 4(2): Long-term Casual Employees (Hickes)
I would like to follow up a little bit along my lines of questions to the Minister of Finance but to the Minister responsible for Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, which has the employee training and development under its responsibilities.
Mr. Speaker, out of the long-term casual employees that I was talking about with Minister Peterson, approximately three-quarters of them are Inuit.
One of the concerns is technical qualifications.
Are long-term casual employees being identified for training opportunities through Mr. Premier’s Office?
There are a number of initiatives and a number of programs that we deliver through the executive and intergovernmental affairs department.
We work with the Department of Finance to identify how we can progress and get more trained employees, especially into the managerial senior positions.
It’s one of those things that we continually try to improve and we do have a number of programs that we follow through on.
Of course, with our Inuit employment coordinator, we do have a number of other initiatives that involve all Nunavummiut and all employees. That’s one of the things we are trying to do, especially try and fulfill Article 23 of the land claims agreement. It’s one of the obligations that this government has.
As you know, Mr. Speaker, there are ongoing initiatives with the federal government in Inuit development training programs and with our partner, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
I’m also going back to the 2012-13 Public Service Annual Report.
In the employee development section, it quotes that a needs assessment is conducted annually across the GN in the first quarter of each fiscal year to identify current training needs.
Mr. Speaker, I’m going to go back to the casual employees again.
Are departments being directed to look at current casual employees to coordinate a lot of the great training opportunities that are available through the Premier’s Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs? Are those employees specifically being targeted to access some of those training programs?
For some of these training programs, they’re application-based and irregardless of whether the person is employed by the government or as a casual, these applications are reviewed and based on merit, they’re either accepted or encouraged to apply into another program.
One of the things that we try to do as a government is to try and meet this obligation of Article 23 and we encourage all of our young people of Nunavut to stay in school so that they can get employed within government.
These training programs that exist are specifically for GN employees, especially the managerial and senior personnel, even specialized positions that we do have in some of our departments.
Of course, when we talk like that, there are the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles that we use.
As I indicated the other day, we do have four approved mentors and trainers in one specific program, the Sivuliqtiksavut Internship Program.
We do have trainers identified, supervisors identified, and it is not only being held in Iqaluit; it’s in Cape Dorset, Rankin Inlet, Pangnirtung, and I believe it’s in Gjoa Haven.
The training programs aren’t only being held in Iqaluit here; it’s throughout Nunavut and we hope to increase those numbers, especially for that specific program.
We encourage other employees, whether they’re within the government system already or casuals, to make applications to the government. It’s one of those things that we do want to see more Nunavummiut participate within the employ of the government.
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated before too, there are a lot of folks out there that, once they get trained up, pursue other careers within other organizations or industry.
Mr. Premier, that leads me to my next question and I’ll preamble it with a little bit of a comment. I had asked him questions on the intern program earlier this week and I hope to see double or maybe even triple digits involved in that program at some date down the road.
Mr. Speaker, one of the concerns of this government is employee retention. Although this government has made some substantial increases in that category over the last few years, I still think that when we’ve got good employees that we have hired under a casual basis and we provide them with the opportunity, I think some of those people will respect that opportunity that was provided to them and will stay with the Government of Nunavut and, hopefully, have a long and distinguished career within the government and may not even search out outside opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to get the minister’s, I want to say opinion, but I can’t ask that.
I would like to hear from the minister how his department is moving forward to increase retention of employees.
It’s very difficult to answer that question because there are a number of partners that are involved; NEU, the Nunavut Employees Union.
The main retention tool is, of course, salary and it’s one of the things that we do have to pay attention to. With the help and collaboration of all departments, it’s one of those things that we hope to improve. It’s ongoing.