EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It’s already been tabled at the House.
Just following on Jobie’s question on the NNI policy I noted the report has been tabled and recommendations have gone on this.
But one of them that the department and NTI have been negotiating is on the NNI, especially on the part of appeals court.
Is there appeals court today or are there ongoing negotiations with NTI?
Our Deputy Minister has been having meetings with NTI on the NNI policy review; he could give you a full update on the NNI policy review if you would wish.
No the terms of reference for the appeal board has not been finalized within the Government of Nunavut and NTI.
Mr. Havioyak: Any sign of agreeing on the appeal board because it’s been an issue in my community not having an appeals board.
So, is there any sign you can agree to this issue?
I wish I can be a little bit more specific but I can’t and there have been number of meetings with NTI but resolution of that has never been done yet.
To the same issue and just for further clarification there was a time in Clyde River, there was the Clyde River Protocol, can you give us an update on what’s been happening with that.
Chairperson (interpretation): I would like to ask the member which specific issues he’s asking questions to.
I’m talking about the NNI policy.
As was stated earlier the appeals board’s terms of reference are not completed yet, but everything else is done except the terms of reference.
In response to your question we are almost completed except for that portion.
Chairperson (interpretation): Anything else? Mr. Nutarak.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Just for further information in regards to the NNI policy, did you say that there was going to be another review on that policy?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): It is in place.
But there are some small details that we still have to work on.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): You said that it’s in place but there are little details that still have to be ironed out.
Which specifically are those?
The contractors and the terms of reference that are used for the NNI policy, there are little things to iron out in there yet.
As Mr. Havioyak, it’s the same response as I gave to Mr. Havioyak.
Anything else Mr. Nutarak?
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I was just waiting for the little light to go on.
I guess we’re getting a little tired here.
I wanted to know what parts of it were in place.
Is the NNI policy being used in the smaller communities?
As I responded earlier, the NNI policy is used when we do a call for proposals and in regards to the appeals board, the only outstanding issue that we still have to deal with are the terms of reference.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): This policy is in place at the smaller communities and it’s not being used in the larger communities?
As I responded, it’s in place except the one that Mr. Havioyak referred to.
It’s used by our communities.
Mr. McLean: I am getting tired and grumpy to but I’m going to ask a question and I don’t know if anybody can answer it.
All members understand the scope of contracts in any government, whether it’s the Government of Nunavut, provincial government or the British Government.
Sure, there are talks about a contracts appeals board and I’m a little hesitant on what the appeals board is for.
If we’ve got a contract appeals board and if somebody appeals the contract, and it’s given to them, you know; for instance, you’ve got six companies, six Inuit companies bidding on a contract in a certain community.
Say it’s a janitorial contract for 30 thousand dollars.
Six Inuit firms bid on it and one Inuit firm gets it, and then the other five appeal it.
How do you settle something like that?
If you’re going to start doing that and set up groups of people to have a contracts appeals board, or a group, we’ll never get a contract let in this country.
So, I know you have to have it because it’s in the Land Claims.
Is there an easier solution to it or I’m just being a little, it’s like how do you come to some kind of solution on the economy, you know, if you’re going to have a contract appeals board does that mean that every contract that’s given out, if somebody decides they’re going to appeal it, it’s not going to be awarded.
Or it’s going to be awarded and half way through the contract to doing these, the contract that was awarded to, the appellant gets it, it’s like where is this going?
Can somebody answer that question for me?
Like it’s okay to award contracts but it’s holding everything up.
It’ll hold housing contracts up.
It’ll hold school contracts up.
It’ll hold everything up.
So, if there is an appeals board and the Government of Nunavut and NTI agree to it, is there ramifications on contracts even ever getting awarded because everybody want to appeal them.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Kattuk, oh Mr. Mrazek.
This may sound complicated but it’s actually not.
The stuff which we are not be able to resolve with NTI is that appeal board will be set up and will hear company who may have a problem that they didn’t get the award okay and the reason for the appeal board is to review if the government awarded the contract properly according to the evaluation criteria and also, taking into the consideration, NNI bonuses and they’re all the things we should do, giving them potential benefits, local Inuit company and everything else; those two items only.
And this is the problem which we are not able to resolve yet.
So, it will not open the door for everything else as you potentially thought.
Well I was getting e-mails from various parts of Nunavut and the e-mails that I was getting from various parts of Nunavut on certain contracts. That was the understanding that they had.
That the appeals process would hold up the awarding of the contract to somebody else and that’s the e-mail that I got and I got quite a few of them on that issue.
So, you’re saying that’s not what the contract appeals are all about.
So, there are a lot of misinformed people out there about this.
That’s more a statement than anything.
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): On what Mr. McLean saying, he just making comments about that misunderstanding.
Reading on in the middle, I’m starting from the middle, in Inuktitut.
The branch in consultation with clients’ developments implements and monitors contracting policies and procedures including the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Policy, as well to develop contracting guidelines and procedures.
Can you clarify this a little bit more please?
I’m going to let my finance person answer this question.
I’m not sure if I fully understand the question, if he’s referring to specifically the contracting guidelines and procedures Public Works administers, we do administer those contracts on procedures and guidelines; we put on workshops for the rest the Government Departments to attend and get information on those guidelines and procedures.
I’m still on this Mr. Chairman maybe I can ask the question directly to you.
Because if we approve this one, we won’t be able to amend it, and we need to get going with the contracts, would it be possible to come back tomorrow if we can delay this until tomorrow.
Chairperson (interpretation): Members listen carefully please, what is the wish of the committee?
Mr. Iqaqrialu would like to table this for tomorrow.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): The reason there are contractors and those who will be contracting, the question why I ask is this to the members, maybe we can review this further and we will get more ideas after we review this.
This is why I want to table this, tomorrow. We can go back to this page, if we agree on this we’ll go ahead but even so we won’t be able to amend it.
Chairperson (interpretation): Turn to the next page 6-9.
Correct me if I’m wrong, the items we, this issue we are discussing are we going to go back to next year.
Starting from now, we can keep going, and we will be working on this every day, throughout the year.
On the contracting policies I’m sure we can table contracting policies of the Government of Nunavut and take that into the Committee of the whole.
That’s my suggestion.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): In order to continue these are the operations and maintenance estimates, because they are contracting funding, it is still way over there.
Like the contract services for Department of Education is this just for operations and maintenance even though if we just passed it on.
It’s not like that, it’s not the case yes if we can go ahead and once we approve it the contract will also go ahead, once we approve this page, on these contracting services, it’s 16 million.
They will use 16 million for contracting services if we approve it. Will we be making sense?
They will be talking about Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy.
I was wondering if this correlates or if that means contract services, really means the NNI policy.
Chairperson (interpretation): I would like to caution the members.
I think someone would like to respond.
I will allow Ms. Thompson.
When you speak English and Inuktitut, both languages, yes we can understand it as a bilingual speaking person.
But in regards to Mr. Iqaqrialu’s concern, it can be dealt with in other ways.
Because the NNI policy is in review now I’m sure that Mr. Iqaqrialu doesn’t like the contract services.
We can deal with that outside of these main estimates.
It just states that the Department of Public Works and Services operates the contract policy.
In English it just states, it’s just the same in Inuktitut, the translation.
But in regards to the member’s concern, how the contracts are awarded, perhaps, I’m sure he would like to talk about the awarding of the contracts.
They’re not contained in this page.
Once we get that NNI policy to the Committee of the Whole, it can be dealt with at that level.
So, I’m just making that statement.
Hopefully it will be meaningful but they are just talking about the operations of the department and they deal with the contracts once they deal with the RFPs.
I’m just giving my support.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): If we’re going to have another level of dealing with NNI policy, I will agree to it as long as, or providing we’ll have the opportunity to discuss the NNI policy.
Chairperson (interpretation): Yes the NNI policy has been on hold and they have extended it to one year for those companies who have no Inuit status. (interpretation ends) It’s funny I know. (interpretation) Total Operations and Maintenance 30 million 959 thousand dollars.
Page 6-9.
Informatics Services.
Total operations and maintenance 12 million 570 thousand dollars.
Purchased Services 3 million 208 thousand dollars to purchase for various communities for Public Works, I was wondering what that’s for?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Yes, Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
There is an increase on that because of the increase to the contract services and also for Information Technology Services.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, minister. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
To the same topic.
Total operations and maintenance 12 million 570 thousand.
Page 6-10.
Total operations and maintenance, 1.2.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Contract services 1.35 million. What will this be used for?
The government offices for the informatics services and the information technology services have to be in place Mr. Chairman.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do you understand?
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Like in the communities in the decentralized communities, do you need to set up the informatics services in all the decentralized communities?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): In some communities yes, we still need to put the informatics services and some of them have to be renewed, information technology have to be renewed and some of them need maintenance and some of them have to be renewed.
Total operations and maintenance 1.2. Do you agree?
Going on to the next page, information item page 6-11.
Going on to the second page 6-12, information item.
Going on to page 6-13, Public Storage, Revolving Fund.
Maybe we can stop the revolving.
Page 6-14.
Detail of Work Performed on behalf of Third Parties.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Are we on page 6-14?
Chairperson (interpretation): We are on page 6-14.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Nunavut Arctic College through a memorandum of agreement, yes, we had a lot of discussions about this in regards to the students, this 900 thousand for 2001-2002 has not changed since then.
So I would like to get clarification that Nunavut Arctic College, which Nunavut Arctic College are we talking about for this line item?
For all the communities of Nunavut.
For all the communities of Nunavut for what parts?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): If I understood his question for Nunavut Arctic College for all the communities to maintain their facilities and for water services and for maintenance services and for the utilities.
That was an information item.
Chairperson (interpretation): Is it clear now Mr. Iqaqrialu?
Page 6-15. Distribution of Operations and Maintenance budget.
Headquarters, Qikiqtaaluk, Kivalliq, Kitikmeot, that’s an information item.
Going back to page 6-5, the page with a pie chart, questions.
For page 6-5.
Details of Expenditures 58 million 920 thousand dollars.
I would like to thank the minister and his officials for the Department of Public Works and Services.
Perhaps, Minister Kattuk has concluding remarks.
I’m starting to lose my voice and I would just like to thank the members for asking questions of my department today.
I would like thank my officials for giving me assistance.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kattuk and your officials.
I wish to deal with Bill 8.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Minister, do you have opening comments?
Mr. McLean, do you have any opening comments from your committee?
Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Revolving Fund Act – Consideration in Committee
Mr. McLean: The minister has only been sitting there almost eight hours.
I’ll do my opening comments.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development reviewed Bill 8, an Act to Amend the Revolving Fund Act with Minister Kattuk and his officials on May 11, 2002.
Mr. Chairman, this bill is quite straight forward.
The standing committee recognises that its intent is to ensure that adequate funds exist for the bulk purchase and transportation of fuels to Nunavut communities.
However the standing committee is concerned that amendments do not address some broader issues.
Mr. Chairman, the Auditor General of Canada, in her 2001 Report to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut expressed concern with respect to the financial reporting practices of the Petroleum Products Division.
This reinforces concerns with respect to hidden subsidies that were highlighted in the Ikuma 1 report that was tabled in this house on February 18, 2000.
The Ikuma 1 Report investigated creating a new crown corporation to replace the present Petroleum Products Division structure.
To this end, Mr. Chairman, it will be important that accurate accounting indicates a real cost of the division including the amortization of tank farms, equipment, capital costs, government-wide blanket insurance as well as legal services and support services provided by other Government of Nunavut departments.
The standing committee therefore urges the department to work towards amendments that address this issue and look forward to receiving a legislative proposal in the near future.
The standing committee supported the bill at the clause by clause stage of standing committee review and recommends its passage to all members.
Bill 8, an Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act.
Clause 1, agreed.
Chairperson (interpretation): Does the committee agree that bill 8 is ready for third reading?
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. What is the wish of the committee?
Chairperson (interpretation): There’s a motion on the floor to report progress.
There’s a tie.
So as the chairman of the committee of the whole, I would like Mr. Ng to proceed with his opening comments.
Bill 6, Appropriation Act 2002-2003 – Consideration in Committee
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Good evening Mr. Chairman.
I am pleased to appear before the Committee of the Whole to discuss the 2002-2003 Main Estimates for the Department of Finance.
I’ll begin with a brief overview of the department’s budget for 2002-2003.
The Department of Finance has been allocated 47.4 million dollars in maintenance and operations expenditures compared to 38.9 million in the 2001-2002 main estimates.
The major components of the department’s budget are:
17.3 million dollars for compensation and benefits;
4.8 million dollars for power support program;
9.3 million dollars for the lease costs of the Legislative Assembly building and other commercial properties constructed by Nunavut Construction Corporation, prior to April 1st 1999;
13.5 million dollars for government wide employee programs, such as dental premiums, Workers’ Compensation Board premiums, and employee medical travel; and
2.5 million for other operations and maintenance costs.
Compared to the 2001-2002 main estimates, the major changes are as follows:
5.8 million dollar increase for the impact of the collective agreement with the Nunavut Employees’ Union;
1 million dollars to establish ten training and development positions for Inuit beneficiaries;
800 thousand dollar increase to create six departmental financial advisor positions to improve Government of Nunavut capacities in the area of financial management;
500 thousand dollar increase to provide support for the operations of the Government of Nunavut financial systems and to improve the financial controls’ capabilities within the office of the Comptroller General;
200 thousand dollars for continuation of the program review exercise.
The department has four branches: Directorate, Fiscal Management, Informatics Policy and Planning and the Comptrollership and Regional Financial Services.
The department currently has 143 positions comprised of 99 in headquarters, 17 in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, 14 in the Kivalliq Region and 13 in the Kitikmeot Region.
In addition there are 7 positions funded under the Liquor Commission Revolving Fund.
The department’s focus for 2002-2003 will be to continue to provide central agency services in areas that include support for the Financial Management Board, managing the government’s overall fiscal position, overseeing our financial framework and accounting processes and the development of information technology policies and plans.
Does the Chairperson of the committee have any opening comments? What is the wish of the committee?
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I move that Minister Kattuk go home.
Mr. McLean: Report progress.
We can get the speaker to return to the chambers.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister’s Statement 020 - 1(6) along with Tabled Document 016-1(6).
I would like to report that these matters have been concluded with the adoption of Committee Motion 001 - 1(6).
Your committee has also been considering Bill 6 and the main estimates and would like to report progress.
Your committee also reviewed Bill 8 and is pleased to inform you that Bill 8 is now ready for third reading.
Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Land Titles Act – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Pangnirtung that Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Land Titles Act, be read for the third time.
Bill 10 has passed third reading.
Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act – Third Reading
Hon. Kelvin Ng: I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baffin South, that Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the third time.
Bill 11 has passed third reading.
Tomorrow morning a meeting of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services at 8.45 in the Tuktu Room.
Orders of the Day for Wednesday, May 15th;
This House stands adjourned until Wednesday May 15 at 7 a.m.
Actually that’s 10 a.m. Sergeant-At-Arms.
>>House adjourned at 7.51 p.m.
Wednesday May 15, 2002
Pages 1003 - 1122
Opening Prayer 1003
Members’ Statements 1003
Returns to Oral Questions 1009
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1010
Oral Questions 1011
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills 1025
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1026
Report of Committee of the Whole 1120
Third Reading of Bills 1120
Orders of the Day 1121
Wednesday May 15, 2002 1003
145 – 1(6): Support of Nunavut Youth Consulting in Arctic Bay (Williams) 1003
146 – 1(6): Solution for Bad Gasoline (Alakannuark) 1004
147 – 1(6): Governor General’s Visit to Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven (Puqiqnak) 1004
148 – 1(6): Wedding of Jutani Kanayuk and Sheepa Shaimayuk (Okalik) 1005
149 – 1(6): Help Hunters This Spring – Bad Gasoline (Irqittuq) 1005
150 – 1(6): Encouraging Residents to Seek Help with Bad Gasoline (Nutarak) 1006
151 – 1(6): Recognition of Traditions – Going on the Land (Thompson) 1006
152 – 1(6): Congratulate and Recognize Three Residents of Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 1007
153 – 1(6): Inuit Tradition – Treating Bear Skins (Kilabuk) 1008
154 – 1(6): Qikiqtarjuaq Tannery (Iqaqrialu) 1008
155 – 1(6): Wedding Congratulations to Tony and Tania (Tootoo) 1009
Return to OQ 113 – 1(6): Taloyoak Fire Hall and Gjoa Haven Water Treatment Plant (Thompson) 1009
Return to OQ 034 – 1(6): Shoreline Erosion in Qikiqtarjuaq (Thompson) 1009
174 – 1(6): Timeline of Taloyoak Fire Hall Project (Puqiqnak) 1011
175 – 1(6): Grizzly Bear Problems (Havioyak) 1012
176 – 1(6): Plan on Community Wellness Projects (Iqaqrialu) 1014
177 – 1(6): Federal Government Discussions on Fishing Rights – Update (Tootoo) 1016
178 – 1(6): Report on Suicide Statistics (Irqittuq) 1018
179 – 1(6): Contact Personnel for Bad Gasoline Inquiries (McLean) 1018
180 – 1(6): Provide Written Information to the Communities on Bad Gasoline (Arvaluk) 1020
181 – 1(6): Hire an Employee for Gasoline Responses (Williams) 1022
182 – 1(6): Status of RFP on Health Centre (Nutarak) 1023  183 – 1(6): Negotiated Contracts (McLean) 1023
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills  Report 004 – 1(6): Bill 7 - Loan Authorization Act, 2002-2003 (Tootoo) 1025
Bill 6 – Appropriation Act No. 2, 2002-2003 – Consideration in Committee 1026  Bill 8 – An Act to Amend the Revolving Fund Act – Third Reading 1120
Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker (Mr. O’Brien): I would call on Mr. Puqiqnak to say the prayer.
Member’s Statement 145 – 1(6): Support of Nunavut Youth Consulting in Arctic Bay
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for a very ambitious youth group in Arctic Bay called “Nunavut Youth Consulting.”
This group has been working very hard to promote and to preserve our language.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, on May 7, the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth made a statement in the House in regards to three posters that were developed by this group, in conjunction with the Government of Nunavut and The Edge magazine.
The posters were displayed in the antechamber of the House.
Mr. Speaker, this group has put forth another proposal.
This proposal is aimed at ensuring the preservation and enhancement of the Inuktitut language through development of resource materials such as videos and performing plays based on the following topics: My Contribution to Inuktitut Language Survival; Revival Strategies – How to Keep our Language Alive; Learning our Language; What my Language Means to Me; I Like to Speak My Language and; What am I doing to Protect my Language.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I ask members to join me in recognizing the key people of Arctic Bay who have worked hard to achieve these projects, Jimmy Enoogoo, Ricky Oyukuluk, Peter Eecheak and Ron Elliot.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the Government of Nunavut to support such initiatives that are being brought forward by our youth and I was pleased to write a letter of support for this proposal.
Member’s Statement 146 – 1(6): Solution for Bad Gasoline