EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
However, it is important that when we invite elders to participate in conferences and working groups and share their expertise with us, we accord them the utmost respect and attention.
Let me first ask the minister: can you clearly explain what support and assistance is provided to our elders when they are invited and flown in to contribute to conferences and other such events?
The Acting Minister of Culture and Heritage, Mr. Johnny Mike.
Yes, elders today are travelling to other places outside of their communities, especially when there are gatherings discussing culture.
They have to be properly cared for if their travelling on behalf of the Department of Culture and Heritage.
I don’t think my question was really responded to.
Maybe I’ll try again.
Mr. Speaker, I was recently approached by a constituent who was shocked to come across a group of elders who had been invited to a Government of Nunavut conference in Iqaluit but had been left stranded at a local hotel.
They had apparently tried to leave, but due to bad weather, they had to turn back and they had no idea what to do next.
They were unable to communicate with the staff and they had no means to get a meal. I would like to thank my constituent for taking care of them.
I want to ask the minister: how can our elders we hold so highly be expected to travel and participate in conferences when they do not receive adequate care and support during their travel?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Acting Minister of Culture and Heritage, Mr. Mike.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you for informing me about that.
I can look into that to see what actually happened.
As I stated earlier, the elders must be properly taken care of by the Department of Culture and Heritage when they’re travelling on our behalf, not just elders but anybody, including youth.
I can check into this to see why that happened. I thank Member Enook for asking this question and telling me that this happened.
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the interventions of passers-by, this group of stranded elders were finally taken care of.
However, this kind of situation must never happen again.
We call them our foundation and we can’t even take proper care of them when they are travelling.
Mr. Speaker, will the minister commit to ensuring that the elders have someone with them making sure that they are safe and in good hands?
The Acting Minister of Culture and Heritage, Minister Mike.
I will look into it to see why this happened. I have no idea right now, but I will get my staff to look into this to see why that happened because it’s not supposed to happen.
I will advise my staff to check into this. It is very unfortunate news and if somebody did something that they’re not supposed to do, I will look into it and take care of it.
Tabled Document 109 – 4(3): Response to Standing Committee OGOPA’s Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (Taptuna)
I am pleased to table the Response to the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts’ Report on the Review of the 2014-15 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut.
Hon. Minister of Family Services, Mr. Mike.
Tabled Document 110 – 4(3): FPT Forum of Labour Market Ministers’ Meeting in Toronto, Ontario November 20 and 21, 2014 (Mike)
Tabled Document 111 – 4(3): FPT Forum of Labour Market Ministers’ Meeting, Quebec, July 7 and 8, 2015 (Mike)
I am pleased to table in the House the FPT Forum of Labour Market Ministers’ Meeting in Toronto, Ontario from November 20 to 21, 2014, and I am pleased to table the FPT Forum of Labour Market Ministers’ Meeting in Quebec, July 7 and 8, 2015.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents. (interpretation) Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Savikataaq.
Tabled Document 112 – 4(3): Nunavut Emergency Management Annual Report 2014-2015 (Savikataaq)
I am pleased to table the Nunavut Emergency Management Annual Report for 2014-15.
Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Taptuna.
Tabled Document 113 – 4(3): Nunavummit Kiglisiniartiit’s Annual Report 2013-2014 (Taptuna)
Tabled Document 114 – 4(3): Nunavummit Kiglisiniartiit’s Annual Report 2014-2015 (Taptuna)
I am pleased to table the following annuals reports:  Nunavummit Kiglisiniartiit’s annual report for April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 and the annual report for April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015.
(interpretation ends) I wish to correct an error made yesterday in the tabling of document I made yesterday.
The title of the first document I read, “TD 106 – 4(3),” was incorrect.
The document was read as the Annual Report of Members’ Indemnities, Expenses, Benefits, and Allowances for the Period July to September 2015 when, in fact, the title should have been read as, “Record of Members Absences from Sittings of the House and Meetings of Committees and Caucuses for the Period July to September 2015.”
The table apologizes for this error.
Notices of Motions. (interpretation) Member for South Baffin, Mr. David Joanasie.
Motion 024 – 4(3): Appointments to Standing Committee – Notice (Joanasie)
I give notice that on Thursday, March 17, 2016, I will move the following motion:
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Uqqummiut, that the Member for Netsilik be appointed a member of the Standing Committee on Legislation, a member of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts, and a member of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness.
The Hon. Member for South Baffin, Mr. David Joanasie.
Motion 024 – 4(3): Appointments to Standing Committee (Joanasie)
AND WHEREAS the Member for Netsilik has taken office;
AND WHEREAS vacancies have arisen on a number of standing committees;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Uqqummiut, that the Member for Netsilik be appointed a member of the Standing Committee on Legislation, a member of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts, and a member of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that the Member for Iqaluit-Sinaa be appointed a member of the Standing Committee on Legislation, a member of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts, and a member of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that the Member for Gjoa Haven be appointed an alternate member of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness.
Bills 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 and Tabled Documents 73 – 4(2), 116 – 4(2), 140 – 4(2), 149 – 4(2), and 70 – 4(3) with Mr. Mikkungwak in the Chair.
Before we proceed with the Committee of the Whole, we will break for lunch and report back at 1:30.
>>House recessed at 11:31 and Committee resumed at 13:30
We wish to continue with the review of the 2016-17 Main Estimates of the Department of Culture and Heritage, followed by the Department of Justice, the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, and the Department of Environment.
If time permits, we will commence the review of Bill 10, Bill 11, Bill 12, and Bill 15.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Are we in agreement that we continue with the main estimates for the Department of Culture and Heritage?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Is the committee agreed that Minister Mike’s staff go to the witness table.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Sergeant-At-Arms, please escort the minister’s officials in.
(interpretation ends) Minister Mike, please introduce your staff for the record. Minister Mike.
We have the Acting Deputy Minister, Stéphane Cloutier, and Director of Corporate Services, Regilee Adla.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Turn to page F-5. Official Languages.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, Minister.
I believe you have a translation bureau in your department for Inuktitut and I’m sure it’s for other languages too.
I would first of all like to ask how many staff members you have there.
My Acting Deputy Minister, Stéphane Cloutier, will respond.
Mr. Cloutier (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Under the Translation Bureau, we have 25 employees located in three different offices: Igloolik, Iqaluit, and Kugluktuk.
We have about eight employees under the Translation Bureau in Kugluktuk to work with respecting Inuinnaqtun; in Igloolik, we have six translators for Inuktitut; and in the Iqaluit office, we have about, I think, 11 employees.
That includes translators but also support staff. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
There are quite a few employees and you provide services to the government offices and departments.
Do you feel there is an adequate number of interpreters or do you need additional support with translators outside of the ones you currently have?
Mr. Cloutier will respond.
Right now, it is adequate, but (interpretation ends) over time, if I can compare with one fiscal year to the next one, from 2013-14 and 2014-15, just to give you an example, the demand for translation services from departments and public agencies has increased.
As an example, in 2013-14, we processed roughly around 4.3 million words. That means requests from English to either Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, and French all combined.
The following fiscal year, there was an increase of about nearly one million more words. It went to 5.2 million words that we processed last year.
For this year, we don’t have the final stats, but we do get increased demands for translation services.
This is the first year that all our translator positions are fully staffed and, hopefully, this will improve how we deliver services to departments and public agencies and be able to meet their translations needs more effectively. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Also in the 2016-19 business plan, you indicate that “The Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit is now integrated as a service provider under Culture and Heritage’s Translation Project Management System.”
Can you explain what this system involves?
Yes, (interpretation ends) we implemented our translation management system. It is a computer software program that we implemented as of 2012.
This is to help coordinate and manage all the translation requests that we receive from departments and public agencies and then for us to actually dispatch the requests to service providers, translators, reviewers, or terminologists.
As of this year, we included the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit as a service provider.
When we get requests from departments or public agencies for terminology, either a name of a program, job title, or a slogan, we can actually dispatch the request directly to Taiguusiliuqtiit to provide assistance to our Translation Bureau and also GN departments. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In your department’s Translation Bureau, do you maintain a list of certified interpreter/translators?
Mr. Cloutier will elaborate further on that.
Yes, (interpretation ends) with respect to all the translators we hire, we ensure they are qualified and certified. At the interview process, we administer a written test and the written test is evaluated to ensure that they use proper spelling, proper terminology, and so on.
That’s part of the hiring process. All of our translators go through that test. Also, it’s either a requirement that they have the education, the training, or a number of years in experience in the field of translation.
With respect to freelancers that we sometimes use, it’s also a requirement that they are certified or qualified or have a certain number of years of experience in that field and the work that is being produced is also being reviewed on a regular basis.
With respect to the certification process, I believe the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit has a priority to develop an assessment tool to assess the level of proficiency of either GN employees, but I think they are going to work down the road.
I don’t know if it’s for next year or the following year, but they have in their plans as a priority to also do assessments of translators and interpreters to ensure that they are using the highest quality of Inuktitut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
For example, if I want to work for you tomorrow as an interpreter/translator, what do you use as your foundation to determine if I am qualified, such as “Joe Enook is not qualified to be an interpreter/translator”?
What do you base the qualifications on?
I was almost laughing.
My Deputy Minister, Mr. Cloutier, will respond.
Mr. Cloutier (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) When we first put a job ad out, a requirement is to have a post-secondary diploma in translation or a related field.
We usually look at ensuring that they are certified or trained. If you do not have the training or the education, we look at the equivalency. In terms of equivalency, in some of the job ads we had out, it would be two or three years of experience in translation.
If you do have experience in translation as a freelancer or in your professional career, then we consider that as well. Part of the hiring process also involves a written test.
That is part of the hiring process. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
For the assessment tools for written assessments, either in Inuktitut or English, if I wanted to get a job, who would look after the written assessment?
Would you be looking at the tests or would it be the deputy minister?
Mr. Cloutier (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) For every position that is open for competition, we have a panel with members.
There’s always a member from the Department of Finance with staffing consultants, but we also have panel members from the department.
In the case of a translator position, we usually have translators and most often, it is the senior translator. We have three senior translators working for the department, one here in Iqaluit, one in Kugluktuk as well as in Igloolik.
We also have managers for the Translation Bureau. Usually, they are part of the panel members and they would be the ones doing the review of the written assessment and evaluate. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Again in the draft 2016-19 business plan, your department indicates that one of its priorities for the 2016-17 fiscal year is to “Support the provision of quality translation services in French and Inuktitut, through the development and establishment of an effective quality controlled process.”
Can you explain what this effective quality control process means?
I will refer this question to my Deputy Minister, Mr. Cloutier.
Mr. Cloutier (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Thank you for your question, a very good one.
Until recently, we did not have positions dedicated to editing and reviewing. In the last few months, we have filled those positions. We have one for Inuinnaqtun in Kugluktuk as well as one here in Iqaluit for Inuktitut.
These are new positions.
What we’re planning to do throughout this fiscal year is to establish a clear process for editing and reviewing the work of translators in terms of guidelines or a checklist for the editor/reviewers to ensure that proper names of departments are used, the proper terminology is used, proper spellings, doing an ongoing review of spelling in the translation work, place names, personal names, a proper use of grammar, and so on.
This is what we intend to do.
These are new positions and we are going to provide support to those editor/reviewers to ensure that they follow a clear process for their editing and reviewing work. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This is going to be my last question. You know, Mr. Minister, that I’m very protective of the Inuit language.
I may not be as proficient as I should be, but it is something that I feel very protective of and it should be used properly, as I try to do myself.
I have a question regarding the papers, not the bible, but government documents like these, for example.
Are these documents translated into Inuktitut by your department?
I will refer this question to Mr. Cloutier.
Mr. Cloutier (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We have translated the business plan since 1999. We translate those documents on a yearly basis.
I must admit that in the last few years, we had shorter timelines to produce the business plan in Inuktitut. Part of our priority for the upcoming business year is to do a thorough review of the Inuktitut translation of the business plan, and also work in collaboration with the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit to ensure that proper and correct terminology is used throughout the business plan.
Part of our translation management system allows us to input pre-approved or pre-defined terminology in our system that will indicate or signal to our translators that this is the preferred terminology to be used for that particular translation. This is something that we have as a priority.
We do translate the business plan, but part of our priorities is to also do a thorough review in the upcoming month. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): This might not be a question, but I would like to urge the minister and, as Chair of the Committee of the Whole, it is something that I have said repeatedly and I will say it again.
On more than one occasion as the Chairman, I have said, “I am just reading and if it’s wrong, it’s not my fault,” because I see a lot of errors in the business plan.
On more than one occasion, I say, “Don’t blame me because I am just reading what’s written here.”
For example, if I am a unilingual Inuk and can’t read English, sometimes what I read here is very wrong.
Why is it that the translations are not edited or proofread before they put out the publication?
Maybe you’re not given enough time to do it properly and you can’t have them proofread.
I see a lot of errors in the business plan.
Yes, the Department of Culture and Heritage will make sure that they’re done properly.
We have already indicated that we do not have proofreaders and quality control. There are three main official languages here in Nunavut and when these translations are done in Inuktitut especially, I will make sure that quality control is exercised.
Yes, it’s good to hear that you will exercise your authority.
I haven’t been a Member of the Legislative Assembly for very long, but every year, I have seen the errors and I repeatedly say that these should be corrected.
Sometimes it seems like they are written in First Nations syllabics.
We have noticed that as members here. It looks like First Nations syllabics sometimes because the translations don’t make any sense.
I’m not talking about simple errors. Sometimes there are sentences that don’t make any sense at all, but I am very pleased that quality control is going to be exercised.
Chairman (interpretation): I didn’t hear a question.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): As I indicated earlier, we will make sure that they are proofread.
I agree with you because it seems like that has been an ongoing concern.
I have been the minister for a very short time for this department, but I will make sure that my colleague’s concern is addressed.
Good afternoon, Minister Mike and your officials.
With regard to official languages, I would first like to ask if there are enough interpreter/translators. Have you done an assessment to see if you have enough interpreter/translators or do you think you require additional staff in that department?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you. I would like to thank my colleague for welcoming us. I would like to refer this question to Mr. Cloutier.
Mr. Cloutier (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We currently have 25 employees under the Translation Bureau. This is the first year that we are fully staffed. Last year and a couple of years before, it was a struggle, especially due to a lack of office space or housing.
We are very proud this year that we are fully staffed in terms of our translator positions.
I think we are good with respect to Inuktitut. For French, we only have two translators and we use external resources as well.
I think, at some point, this is an area that we will need to look at to see if we can increase capacity.
With respect to Inuinnaqtun, we have slightly less translators than for Inuktitut, but we try to work with the Kitikmeot region and the stakeholders to identify priorities or translations that are relevant for the Inuinnaqtun-speaking communities.
At some point, I think we will need to look at increasing capacity in that area, especially for Inuinnaqtun in the future.
For now, we pretty much have all the staff. We are also going to implement a different process for editing and reviewing, as well as continue training for our translators in different areas, including the use of ICI, the dual standardized writing system, but also ongoing training in different translation tools that we use at the Translation Bureau. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank him for his response.
When using freelancers and other resources outside of the government, do you monitor that? With the Inuit Language Protection Act and the requirement to have translators, does your department conduct assessments of their work right now?
Mr. Cloutier will respond to that question.
Mr. Cloutier (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) With respect to the use of freelancers, we have a standing offer agreement.
We follow the CGS process for awarding contracts. There was a call for proposals for vendors to provide translation services to be added to a standing offer agreement that our department can use as well as other GN departments.
Part of the selection process for awarding a vendor to be on the standing offer agreement is that they must submit a portfolio, resumés, and a demonstration of their experience, so if they have a diploma or certificate in translation or their years of experience in the translation field.
Once we have a list of vendors on the standing offer agreement, this is on an as-needed basis.
It is not a guarantee of work, but they can be used as needed.
When we do use their freelancer services and we receive their translation back, if we identify issues with some translations, we usually communicate to the freelancers or to the vendor our concerns about the quality of the translation.
If we are not satisfied with the ongoing work of that particular vendor, then we simply do not award any more work to that vendor. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Can he state how many freelancers are under the standing offer agreement?
Mr. Cloutier will elaborate on that.
Mr. Cloutier (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I don’t have the list of vendors on the standing agreement in front of me, but I was passed a note here.
With respect to Inuinnaqtun, we have a couple of vendors on the list. With Inuktitut, we have five vendors. With respect to French, we have four as well.
This is all reserved without having the full list in front of me.
The standing offer agreement is available on the procurement website managed by CGS. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Moving on, in your business plan on page 72, Inuktut Affairs, can they indicate how many employees are under that division?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Yes, there are six employees.
Which communities do they work in? Is it only in Iqaluit or are they in the regions?
I hope that is understandable. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Adla will respond to my colleague’s question.
Right now, even though there are six positions, three positions are filled, two in Iqaluit and one in Kugluktuk.
The three vacant positions would be in Iqaluit.
Why aren’t the three positions filled? I’m sure there are a large number of translators. If he can respond to that.