EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The deputy ministers of Economic Development and Transportation, Community and Government Services, and Finance sit on that project steering committee and ED&T chairs the committee.
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How many times has the advisory panel met in the last year?
Hon. Monica Ell: Once so far. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Can the minister explain again: what is the mandate of this panel?
Why do they meet?
What’s the purpose?
Minister Ell, if you can wait until your light goes on before you speak. Minister Ell.
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): I apologize, Mr. Chairman. I’m too short to see the light.
Mr. Chairman, my deputy minister will respond to that question.
To reiterate, a lot of the purpose of this advisory panel is largely to advise the proponents on meeting the terms and conditions outlined in the contract.
There are oversight structures in place to deal with those types of things.
The advisory panel is an added component to try and move and bolster Inuit employment during the construction phase and again during the operations phase later in its life.
If the advisory panel only meets once a year, do you feel that’s adequate to provide the oversight that is the mandate of that panel, if you’re only meeting once a year?
I’ll ask Mr. Suvega to answer that question.
Part of that initial meeting was to educate the proponents about the environment within Nunavut and also the types of things that they will have to try and do to attract individuals for various types of positions that may become open during the construction and operations phase. We are hopeful that once the audit is complete, we can move on to providing various types of advice moving forward depending on the findings of the audit. That is the general plan going forward.
I’m sorry, I didn’t understand about the audit.
Can you explain what you mean? Which audit are you talking about?
He was referring to the Inuit employment audit.
When was the last time this advisory panel met?
Before the project was started.
I’m wondering: if you met before the project was started and you haven’t met since, how do you know that you are meeting the targets or that the proponent is meeting all the targets agreed to in whatever agreement, the partnership agreement that you have?
In terms of how we are monitoring the effectiveness of Inuit employment going forward, we are hopeful that the Inuit employment audit could inform the successes or the failures of the targets being met or not being met and we could try and identify jointly going forward how they can better address some of those deficiencies.
Throughout the life of the contract, we haven’t been silent. There have been opportunities where we had one-on-one interactions with other departments like Community and Government Services, the Department of Finance, and certainly the proponent in terms of how we can provide some advice going forward individually and jointly.
The Schedule 24 Advisory Panel is meant to be the formal instrument to try and convey some of these collectively from the government.
Can the minister explain more about the Inuit employment audit?
Hon. Monica Ell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Wait a moment.
I can’t find it in my notes right now.
The Inuit would need to be trained for work and they need to have a contract in the construction phase. They wanted to do it that way and not use what is contained in Article 24 from the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to hire Inuit.
It was planned that way. They agreed with NTI and the government to make sure that they don’t have less than 10 percent Inuit employment and to have more private Inuit businesses involved.
That is why it was set up like that.
There is an agreement in regard to Inuit employment, but what I’m trying to get at is: who is conducting the audit? Has this Inuit employment audit been done?
Is this something that has already been completed and, if so, who is involved in doing the audit?
The NNI Secretariat is involved in the audit.
Schedule 24 is a departure from the NNI Policy usually used by the Government of Nunavut contracts. It does also contain penalties for not meeting specific targets in Inuit engagement.
I understand that the NNI department is, I think, maybe two or three people.
Do they have the resources to do such an audit?
It’s a huge construction project. If this is going on now, they are doing an audit, do they have data or do you have information that you can share with the House of how many Inuit are working on the new airport project?
Currently, the NNI Secretariat is capable of providing audit and advisory services to ensure that the private partner meets its obligations in regard to the Inuit engagement of this project.
How often does the NNI Secretariat meet with the proponent?
The Inuit engagement figures are discussed and submitted by the contractor as part of their monthly reporting.
Is there any oversight, though?
I know that there is reporting, but does anybody from the department actually physically go over to the site to look at what is going on there?
We are on Economic Development and Transportation.
First of all, let me ask a question, if you will allow me, Mr. Chairman, on the minister’s opening comments.
Chairman: Can I ask you what it’s about or what it refers to?
I have only one question that I would like to pose.
It states in the opening comments that for small craft harbours, there’s $500,000 budgeted.
Is that for one community?
Your question is on page K-6 under Transportation. You can wait, Mr. Keyootak.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am not keen on this back and forth process as our duties are substantial.
When my colleague was raising a question earlier, I felt that I needed clear understanding from the minister about the power generation technologies.
Here I refer to the wind turbines, solar panels, and I believe there is talk of hydroelectric projects or underwater turbines.
Which of these methods will be used? Has the government conducted studies on these technologies? Do they now have the information on the best method of renewable power generation that can be used in Nunavut?
I am asking about power generation efficiencies or savings in the power generation expenditures and I am wondering which of these technologies is best suited for Nunavut out of the ones I referred to.
Can you enlighten me, please.
Those are very good questions. I would like to ask my Deputy Minister, Mr. Suvega, to respond.
For implementing these various technologies for generating power, we are trying to look at the future and we have staff working and doing research as to which would be the most useful for energy.
I cannot pinpoint one energy source that would be cheapest one today, but I can only tell you that we are looking at the research done in the world and what could be best used in Nunavut.
On top of that, we look for other organizations or entities that we could work with so that we could start using that energy source in the future.
For example, with the Nunavut Housing Corporation, we are looking at how we can be more energy efficient in the construction of housing.
We are looking into how we can do the review of the units in question to make sure that they operate more efficiently, for example, if they’re heated too warmly or if they are drafty, where the draft is coming from with the use of a camera. Those are just examples that I can give you.
There are quite a few things that I elaborate on and I can’t tell you which one would be the most energy efficient, but we are looking at what would be most beneficial to the communities.
Mr. Shooyook: (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for the understandable response. I have a concern on this issue.
Whenever an initiative is started, there is rarely any mention of the fact that this item will become very expensive in the future. Nobody ever comments on the increasing costs.
When the federal government first started the housing initiative, I will provide a brief example.
When Bud Orange was campaigning in the late ‘60s, one of his campaign promises was that Inuit would be provided with adequate housing. He also stated that rent would be minimal, starting at $5 a month. He never mentioned that in the future, rents would increase to $60 a month.
It was very good news to hear at the time, if you can understand where I’m coming from.
Today, for example, electricity is produced by diesel fuel, whose price is continually rising with no end in sight.
Please make the effort to understand what we’re trying to say before taking final actions. I urge you to comprehend what I’m saying about what is best because that is my last word on that subject.
The power strategy coined as Ikummatiit is part of the long-term goal of the department to be more energy efficient, especially with respect to housing costs and other factors related to the cost of living.
There are four goals listed in that paper describing the Ikummatiit strategy paper.
They are the following: improvements on units to become more energy efficient, to lower heating fuel requirements, to look for more efficient methods that we can use, and how to lower our costs by looking at more fuel-efficient heating units or water and sewer equipment, as well as the power efficiency of our appliances, such as LED lighting, energy-efficient ovens, and similar types of energy-efficient technologies.
The third goal is to lower our emissions to the environment. The current diesel generators common in our communities have side effects, so we are looking at our options, especially in emissions control. Another aspect to this is how much we are impacting climate change in our territory and to see if we have any alternatives to lower the emissions.
The last goal is specific towards private businesses and places of employment throughout Nunavut and what type of efficient electrical appliances that could be offered to lower their current business expenses.
That is part of the work entailed in this initiative to look at lowering our energy requirements written in the Ikummatiit document as their guideline.
Branch Summary. Corporate Management. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $11,926,000.
Chairman: Page K-5.
Branch Summary. Economic Development and Transportation. Economic Development.
My earlier question was partially answered that is related to K-5, or was I asked to wait until we review the page?
Part of the question was answered, but your business plan indicates that your department is requesting $1.55 million for community tourism and cultural industry development.
Your 2013-14 budget had that line item totalling $395,000 and there were no funds allocated towards this in 2014-15.
This line item has reappeared in 2015-16 for a total of $1.55 million.
Can you remind me of the purpose of the fund?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My Deputy Minister, Mr. Suvega, will respond to that question.
The budget for the Community Tourism and Cultural Industries Program is for community tourism and cultural industries.
It can be used by hamlet councils and organizations that are non-profit to be used for the Community Tourism and Cultural Industries Program.
Can an example be provided as to what the usage will be for?
Chairman: Minister Ell, an example.
The funds are set aside for smaller communities. This increase is for local initiatives specific towards tourism.
As an example, this fund is used for marketing purposes or (interpretation ends) tourism packages (interpretation) in English.
This is to assist our communities to develop tourism-related initiatives, including marketing campaigns, once the material has been developed. It would benefit all of Nunavut’s tourism industry.
Also on the same item, your policy for grants and contributions ended on March 31, 2014.
Are you going to renew this agreement?
Yes, there are quite a number of programs that become outdated, but they are still applied to. Some of the regulations specific to the programs are currently being reviewed to see which ones we can continue to offer and to update some of the regulations and policies in place currently.
If you will permit me, I would like to ask two questions.
The earlier question was partially answered, but if I can ask for further details, when will this new initiative be offered?
If I can ask another question, it is related to the 2014-17 business plan.
A statement is included that states that for fiscal year 2014-15, one of your department’s priorities will be to “Review the Travel and Tourism Act and regulations.”
With this statement that your department would initiate this review in 2014-15, what exactly did your department do as part of this review?
With respect to his first question about the review for the upcoming fiscal year 2015-16, we are required to commence the review on this legislation and the need to amend the legislation.
We have to work with some communities immersed in tourism and whether the new draft legislation is in compliance with the (interpretation ends) Financial Administration Manual. (interpretation) This will require a comprehensive review and we are expecting the review to commence in the new (interpretation ends) fiscal year (interpretation) and prior to the end of 2016 is when we expect the majority of the work to be done.
With regard to the second question, I would ask that my deputy minister be allowed to respond to it.
I was unsure whether the member was referring to ships or tourism at the local level.
I just want to make sure I understood the purpose of his question.
The plans indicate a departmental review, at least in the English version, as I don’t have an Inuktitut copy. (interpretation ends) “Review the Travel and Tourism Act and regulations.” (interpretation) That is what I am referring to.
What kind of review has occurred?
What has your department done?
The draft legislation and proposed regulations need to be completed in the future, so we need to consult with our partners on the tourism file. This entails consultation both within government as well as outside of the government.
We need to consult with the communities as to their plans in this sector and hear their past practices and what needs improvement in the future.
We have tried to identify these issues since last year. However, we first need to consult with the communities and receive their feedback.
With this review you have identified, what exactly have you declared as requiring further review or if particular issues will be your focus?
Additionally, after the review process, when can we expect the results to be tabled in this House?
I thank the member for asking those excellent questions.
The legislation we are discussing, the Travel and Tourism Act, has been reviewed for quite some time now.
For example, in order to increase the (interpretation ends) liability insurance (interpretation) for our tourism operators, which they are required to obtain up to $1 million in liability insurance, we would like to increase it to $2 million.
If we want to change that, it would be fairly easy to change and this includes the definitions within the legislation to be more consistent, such as an (interpretation ends) outfitter (interpretation) as someone who takes tourists out.
Further, we want to amend particular sections that have expiry dates, such as an arbitrary date set out currently, to be in line with our fiscal year operations.
Details such as these are needed in this legislation. We are hoping to expect the review to be completed earlier rather than later. Perhaps in this calendar year or the beginning of the next year, that is when we expect the review to be completed.
Another matter related to tourism is explicitly mentioned in your business plan for 2015-18. The language indicates that your department will commence a review and identify issues related to marine tourism. Did your department conduct one already?
I can’t grasp the language and the meaning behind the wording in English and I probably am misinterpreting it in Inuktitut.
I don’t feel that word is appropriate for (interpretation ends) “marine tourism,” (interpretation) which I believe your department already studied in the past.
There are particular activities that are under this definition of marine tourism and that includes any service provided on marine waters.
As an example, we can use the tourism cruise ships that tote passengers from around the globe past some of our communities.
These are the types of activities under this definition.
Can you table the review you have done in the Legislative Assembly?
Once it’s completed, I would consider tabling it.
We will certainly wait for that information.
Another statement within your 2015-16 budget speaks to $3.85 million to be used for developing tourism and operating this program.
I imagine this is specific towards (interpretation ends) Nunavut Tourism. (interpretation) The minister is aware that concerns have been expressed in the past about this organization and possible misuse of public funds when public funds are to be used solely for their intended purposes.
What has your department started to resolve these concerns to the satisfaction of the public?
Yes, we have heard these concerns in the past, both from the members here and the tourism industry.
I continue to brush up on the issues upon receiving this portfolio in light of past questions on this issue.
The budget we provide to the organization is done through a contribution agreement. We are reviewing the agreements to see how the reporting requirements they are to provide annually on expenditure of public funds are being met. That is how we will monitor this.
When we were going through Nunavut, they wanted to increase the funds to $1,285,000.
I’m just wondering what this increase will be used for.
The funding increase requested by Nunavut Tourism is for both tourism and cultural promotions. This would benefit our Nunavut communities. To cite this example, they would like to hire a person to conduct interviews with tourists who visit Nunavut.
For example, business travellers who are visiting communities as part of their delegated meetings, how can we get them to act more like tourists by staying longer in the community or to do a side trip to an outlying community and how can we provide that information to the business travellers beforehand.
In relation to this last page, another written section outlines the duties of Tunngasaiji, which is related to hospitality.
The document is related to the strategic direction, (interpretation ends) “A Tourism Strategy for Nunavummiut,” (interpretation) which your department completed on May 16, 2013.
What is the status of this strategy and the included recommendations? What actions has your department taken to implement the recommendations?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Tunngasaiji strategy was tabled in the House in the spring of 2013.
Also, there are four parts identified as requiring further work, such as the legislative review, or (interpretation ends) legislation and regulations (interpretation) review.
This is ongoing work that we have commenced.
Also, under the (interpretation ends) building partnerships (interpretation) line item, which is with interested organizations and negotiation of partnerships by Nunavut Tourism, this is ongoing at all times.
As well, with respect to tourism training courses or outfitting modules, to try and encourage tourists to travel to Nunavut, it is another ongoing initiative. Training of existing outfitters and people in the tourism industry will be the focus of this initiative.
There is a meeting of members currently and they are dealing with this position of the Tunngasaiji strategy. I believe there are over 100 delegates at the meeting this week. The AGM is occurring here in Iqaluit.
There are many issues being discussed, including the issue raised by the member about marine tourism. They are discussing various tourism-related issues.
I want to first ask a question on this issue. The petroleum and mining industries have several large projects in the works. Is her Department of Economic Development and Transportation involved with these types of projects and reviews?
That will formulate my first question.
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): I apologize, Mr. Chairman. Could the member rephrase his question? I heard something about mining.
I would like the member to rephrase his question.
Chairman: Mr. Keyootak.
Regarding the mining industry or oil development, when they start working up here in Nunavut and they start recruiting for staff, is the Department of Economic Development and Transportation involved at that time when mining and oil exploration begins and they start recruiting for workers?
Our department is involved, yes.
If your department is involved in working with the exploration companies, my community is never involved when they start recruiting workers. It seems like the government does all the handling and leaving out the nearby communities.
However, there are decentralized communities that have gained employment.
Is it possible for your department to consider involving the smaller communities when the mining and oil development companies start recruiting employees?
It seems like the smaller communities are always left out when it comes to opportunities such as mining development and gaining opportunities through those types of activities.
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the member for that question.
Our department is starting to work with other stakeholders, including the Department of Education, Nunavut Arctic College, and the federal government, as well as companies that are interested in doing exploration work up here in Nunavut.
With the exploration companies and employment opportunities coming up, we look at what training opportunities we can make available.
It’s a very slow process, but we are starting to work on it. We are also looking at whether we can work closely with the communities.
We’re looking at more training opportunities and it’s an ongoing discussion we have regarding training and job opportunities.
As I indicated earlier, my community is not involved with the Mary River project, but then again, the ships will be going by my community, whether it’s summer or winter.
There’s going to be constant traffic of ships going past our communities, but the communities that I represent are totally left out.
Is it because they think that we’re too far from the shipping route? There’s going to be constant traffic going back and forth right through my communities.
There is an agreement regarding the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
There was an agreement signed on December 6, 2013 between QIA and Baffinland.
I want to go back to Nunavut Tourism a little bit.
I think I have stood up in the House to raise some concerns over Nunavut Tourism and in fact, I had asked Nunavut Tourism to be part of the government-wide review of government programs and services.
I’m wondering why Nunavut Tourism would be asking for an increase in funding when this review has not taken place yet.
I’ll ask Deputy Minister Mr. Suvega to answer that question.
While the review is taking place, at a time when various economic sectors in the territory, and tourism being one of the key sectors, are experiencing some difficulty with growth, it’s also important to continue to work away initiatives like travel and tourism legislation, regulations, cruise ship and yacht management.
Partnerships are also key. In government, we can’t do it alone.
We also find strength in partnerships.
There is nothing stopping us from making changes as we refine results in future reviews and we will certainly adjust as we find if something needs to be adjusted based on the reviews through the consultation or the reports themselves.
I think the purpose of the review was to find out if entities like Nunavut Tourism, and there are other programs of course within the government that are going to be reviewed, to see if we are actually getting value for money.
Because that hasn’t happened, that is why I question: why are we giving Nunavut Tourism more money before we have found out if they’re the best entity to be doing this kind of work?