EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
My question today is to do with social assistance for food.
We have heard that a person who is out of their home community down south to go to the hospital cannot receive social assistance while they’re away.
If that individual comes back from the hospital and comes back to their home community, would that individual be able to receive social assistance still, or not?
Minister of Education, Honourable Ed. Picco.
There are two clarifications on this instance.
If a person who is on medical travel is at a hospital or staying at one of our boarding homes, then their needs are taken care of while they’re in Winnipeg, or Iqaluit, or Ottawa, or wherever that may be.
However, the household still would receive income support based on the number of people that were in the household.
When the person returns to their home community, then they, as an individual, are eligible for income support payments for the period of time when they land in their community and further onwards.
I have been told that because the individual was in the hospital, even if they got back home, they couldn’t receive social assistance.
The minister talks about the adjustments to social assistance.
The social worker was probably not told.
After they get back to their community, they have to wait about a week or two, maybe because they figure that they’re still in the hospital.
Would that adjustment be made so the individual can receive social assistance when they come back home?
When individuals leave their home community on Monday and they go to Winnipeg for a hospital appointment and they’re in there for three weeks, they wouldn’t be eligible for income support payments while they’re in Winnipeg because their needs are being covered while they’re at the boarding home, or in the hospital, or what have you, in the hospital.
However, the members of the household who are in the community are covered. For example, if it was in the community of Sanikiluaq, when the person comes back from hospital, and is back in Sanikiluaq, from that day forward they are eligible for income support again because they are back home in their home community.
But, they do not receive income support payments while they are out of the community at a hospital, but their family would still receive it, excluding them.
I talked about... maybe he’s about 20 years old, and he lives at his parents’ place but he was in a hospital down south and could not receive any social assistance.
It doesn’t seem right because he is an adult, and still living with his parents, and the parents are probably receiving social assistance.
I’m trying to give you information. I’m just talking about a person that doesn’t have family members in their community.
What about the people that don’t have any family members? Will there be an adjustment made for those too?
While we’re reviewing the income support program we are looking at opportunities for program enhancements, and those include possible rate increases on different categories on income support.
The basic eligibility for income support in this case, we wouldn’t be looking at that in particular because income support is a universal benefit. You have to apply for it, and you have to be eligible for it, and there are program criteria for it.
Any individual living in Nunavut who is over the age of 18 can apply for income support, but not everyone is accepted. It’s based on what their needs are. In this case, specifically, if you’re a single person for example, and you’re living with your parents, and you have to go to a hospital out of the community, during that period of time while you’re out of the community, you are not eligible for income support.
That is something again that we could look at, but I don’t see a big swell of change for that eligibility requirement within the Income Support Program.
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): I don’t believe the minister is going to respond to any of my question on this, so I’m just going to leave it at that.
Written Question 001 – 2(4): Enforcement and Implementation of the Wildlife Act (Curley)
Yesterday I directed some questions to the Minister of Environment regarding wildlife.
At that time, we were told that if an individual makes a kill he is prosecuted.
My first question:
How many charges have been laid under the Wildlife Act since it came into force on July 9, 2005?
What were the circumstances involved in the laying of each charge?
Section 241 of the Wildlife Act provides that alternative measures may be used to deal with a person alleged to have committed an offence instead of judicial proceedings.
On how many occasions have the provisions of this section been used?
And I would like to acknowledge and thank a former member from the High Arctic who actually put that provision in the Act; Rebecca.
Section 160 of the Wildlife Act provides that the minister must appoint an Advisory Committee of elders to review current, traditional and historical types, methods and technologies of harvesting wildlife in the context of the guiding principles and concepts of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and to advise the minister on those it considers humane and safe.
At present, who are the members of the Advisory Committee?
Written Question 002 – 2(4): Support to Community Libraries (Arvaluk)
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I directed some questions yesterday to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth in regard to community libraries.
So at this time I would like to ask a Written Question.
As of March 14, 2007, what is the status of hiring a Community Services Librarian for the Nunavut Public Library Services Headquarters in Baker Lake?
What training does the department provide to local librarians in Nunavut?
The department’s budget for community library support has not increased since 2006-07.
What types of support does the department provide to community librarians in Nunavut provide and what plans does the department have for enhancing these services during the 2007-08 fiscal year?
Written Question 003 – 2(4): Akitsiraq Law School Program (Arvaluk)
My Written Question is to the Honourable Paul Okalik, Minister of Justice regarding Akitsiraq Law School Program.
As of March 14, 2007, what was the total cost of the Akitsiraq Law School Program, broken down by category of expenditure?
What were the Government of Nunavut’s total expenditures in relation to the Akitsiraq Law School Program?
How much funding for the Akitsiraq Law School Program was provided by the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation of Toronto, the Government of Canada, and other third party sources?
What allowances and benefits were provided to students enrolled in the Akitsiraq Law School Program?
How many students were initially enrolled in the Akitsiraq Law School Program?
How many students graduated from the Akitsiraq Law School Program?
Tabled Document 031 – 2(4): Nunavut Representative on Board of Directors and Payment Agents - Letter from the President and CEO of NorthwesTel (Arvaluk)
I wish to table a copy of the correspondence I received from the President of NorthwesTel in reply to my letter.
I am very pleased to note that the company has committed to me to address the issues of payment agent services in our communities and the need for Nunavut representation on the company’s board of directors.
Tabled Document 032 – 2(4): Keewatin Business Development Centre - Financial Statements March 31, 2003 (Tootoo)
Tabled Document 033 – 2(4): Keewatin Business Development Centre - Notice of Directors 2002-03 (Tootoo)
I have two documents to table. The first one is the financial statements as of March 31, 2003 for the Keewatin Business Development Centre, which would have been the last year that they filed for society status to be able to keep in good standing.
And also, Mr. Speaker, included in this package, I would like to table a copy of Notice of Directors under the Societies Act that also has to be done on an annual basis in order to keep the society in good standing.
This is the 2002... It’s the last one that they had done, so I would like to table those.
Please bring the documents to the table officers. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 034 – 2(4): Ministerial Meeting Report – F/P/T Ministers of Social Services May 29, 2006 from Department of Health and Social Services (Aglukkaq)
Tabled Document 035 – 2(4): Ministers Report – F/P/T Ministers Responsible for Status of Women October 2006 from Department of Health and Social Services – Saint John, New Brunswick – October 2006 FPT Report (Aglukkaq)
Tabled Document 036 – 2(4): Ministerial Meeting Report – F/P/T Canada North West FASD Partnership Ministers’ Meeting September 2006 from Department of Health and Social Services (Aglukkaq)
I would like to table the following: Federal/Provincial/Territorial Report: Municipal Services Conference in Ottawa, May 29; Ministers Responsible for Status of Women’s Conference, Saint John, New Brunswick, October 1 and 2; Canada and Northwest Partnership Meeting in Yellowknife, December 27 to 28, 2006.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Please bring the documents to the table officers. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 037 – 2(4): Parnautit: Nunavut Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy (Simailak)
I am pleased to table the following document: Parnautit, A Foundation for the Future – Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy.
Tabled Document 038 – 2(4): Letter from City of Iqaluit re: Creating a Sustainable Iqaluit Initiative (Picco)
It gives me great pleasure to be able to table a document on Creating a Sustainable Iqaluit, March 14, 2007.
Bill 04 – Workers’ Compensation Act – Notice
I give notice that on Friday, March 16, 2007, that Bill 4, Workers’ Compensation Act, be read for the first time.
Hold on...I will recognize Mr. Kattuk. Mr. Kattuk.
I would like unanimous consent to return to Item 5 on the agenda.
The member is seeking unanimous consent to return to Item 5.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Are there any nays?
I don’t recognize people very often but there is an individual here from Sanikiluaq who just came in.
I would like to recognize a very good individual, Sanikiluaq’s grandchild.
>>House recessed at 15:15 and Committee resumed at 15:44
We’ll start the Committee of the Whole.
In Committee of the Whole we are dealing with Bill 1, Bill 2, and Bill 3.
Mr. Evyagotailak: Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with Bill 1 and the review of Community and Government Services followed by the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Are we in agreement that we continue with the main estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services.
Chairman: Minister Brown, do you want your staff to sit with you at the witness table?
Hon. Levinia Brown: Yes, I do.
Chairman: Does the committee agree to bring the officials?
Chairman: Sergeant-at-Arms. Have Minister Brown’s staff to return to the chambers.
Chairman (interpretation): Welcome Minister Brown and your officials.
For the record, could you introduce your officials please?
To my right, my Deputy Minister, Pam Hine and also to my left, Mike Rafter, our Finance Comptroller.
Chairman: Yesterday, we were on Page J-11.
Turn to J-11.
Mr. Curley has the floor.
Mr. Curley: I believe I completed my marine contract questioning at that time.
I remember one thing clearly, that the minister committed to providing when the marine contract would end to us.
Government Services.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $58,026,000.
Although I don’t know the details on page J-12, I have a question.
The Government Services 2007-2008, $58,026,000, do I understand that the Government Services, are they government employees? Like compensation and benefits, that is what they are usually under.
Under Municipal Transfer Payments, $45,132,000, I would like to ask, although I might be wrong, the total for $58,000,000 for the department of Community and Government Services, and also in the previous page we had seen $6 million for compensation and benefits and on J-11, $6,687,000 under Compensation and Benefits.
I would like to know that. Under Contract Services this $6,787,000, how many employees do you have working at the government? The funding that was allocated to the communities or municipalities is smaller than Compensation and Benefits.
So as I stated earlier on, the government’s regulatory and legal requirement expenses take over the funding that is supposed to be used for communities because the government is using huge sums of money.
Could the minister tell me how many person years is that, $6,887,000.
And under contract services, $14,146,000, what do contract services mean on that line item.
I understand what it says, but I would like you to use examples to explain that.
In total there are 309 employees, and there are 30 in the Petroleum Product Division.
In total there are 339 employees.
And in regard to contract services, I will ask Mr. Rafter to respond to that part of the question.
There is $14,146,000 for contract services under the branch of government services.
The funding there includes significant funding for informatics, and about $11.5 million of that is for leased property.
This may not be a question, but 309 employees in 25 communities.
Yes, I know that they deliver fuel to the communities, but what I’m trying to say that isn’t it about time that we review... that as a government... our government to assist the municipalities to be self-sustaining and capable.
The municipalities or hamlets that we represent, I know the communities or Community and Government Services, Hunters and Trappers Organizations, Housing, nursing, they are not responsible for that.
They provide funding for the maintenance and operation of hamlets.
The 300 employees of the Government of Nunavut; why do we need that many employees within the department?
We have many important responsibilities within our department such as fire marshals and search and rescue. We also take care of procurement procedures and practices and we are also responsible for all Government of Nunavut buildings and properties that belong to the Government of Nunavut.
I will ask my Director of Finance to respond in detail on the finances.
If I could just add to that, I thought that the minister’s comments were very thorough but the majority of the departmental employees are under Capital Planning and Technical Services which are responsible for the construction of facilities across the territory for government as well as for the maintenance of those facilities.
There are 110 person years under that area, 45 positions within the department that directly support communities and the amount of funding that goes directly to communities, there is approximately $46 million of the $47 million annually.
Direct support for communities is in the order $53 million for the Department of Community and Government Services.
Government Services has 72 employees as well in support of Government Operations, Informatics and Procurement are the primary areas, as well as management of leases.
I just want the minister to know that in my community we have volunteer firefighters, volunteer search and rescue people, and we have volunteer alcohol and drug committees, we have volunteer recreation committees, and we have volunteers for coaches. They are all volunteers in my community.
I’m sure that people who are providing some funding are living in good homes. It seems like we’re leaning to one side too much. If you’re not a municipal worker, you’re all volunteers.
That’s how they maintain the firefighters, search and rescue, and recreation committees.
I know that we can volunteer, but we now hire people in the communities. The people who are capable and qualified are not working in the workforce and they have to volunteer in the evening even though they have a full time job for recreation, rescue and alcohol committees.
So are you prepared to look into that, or are you looking to review that to make sure that we keep the communities happy?
We appreciate the volunteer groups very much. We acknowledge and recognize them.
The firefighters are now taking more training. When they took their training, it became evident that all the communities of Nunavut became enhanced drastically.
Yes, we are reviewing that because it is also part of our Pinasuaqtavut.
Yes, we need to do more training in the communities so that the communities can become self sustaining and capable. So, we acknowledge and train all those volunteers such as search and rescue and we do want to provide more services, and we do provide annual meetings for them.
Usually the municipalities are responsible for their recreation committees.
Yes, we acknowledge the fact that we need to develop and enhance, but as the Department of Community and Government Services, we will encourage everyone to work well and we do give out recognition awards and we acknowledge the fact that they are volunteer groups.
I’m very sensitive that it is due to a lack of funding that they are not being paid.
Yes, we are working very hard, and also would like to acknowledge and thank all the volunteers.
The firefighters were in town last week to take part in the training and they really appreciated it. The firefighters themselves, in turn do training at the community level.
We’re on Community and Government Services.
I welcome the Minister and her officials back to the House today.
Mr. Chairman, on page J-16 of the business plan, under 2006-07 priorities, there is a priority to develop a long-term Government of Nunavut office space plan and the status says that work has begun on the drafting of an executive summary for ministerial approval.
Can the minister provide some information to the House on the status of the drafting of that executive summary?
I’ll ask Mr. Rafter to respond to that.
The work has begun on the office space report. It’s an extensive undertaking across this government.
At this point ten communities have been fairly documented in terms of their space requirements. It was completed several months ago.
A contract more recently was awarded to consolidate the information into an executive summary and bring it forward with a comprehensive report over the remainder of the fiscal year.
We’re hoping, prior to the sitting of the fall Legislature, to have a comprehensive document on space needs completed for the government.
I thank the minister and Mr. Rafter for that answer.
Can the minister provide me with an update on the office space survey that was conducted in Cambridge Bay last year; I believe it was sometime last summer.
Can he elaborate more as to which one he is talking about?
I know he is referring to Cambridge Bay, but which particular one.
I will try to elaborate for the minister. I’m not sure what the minister is asking.
There are Government of Nunavut employees in Cambridge Bay, in various building locations, so I assume that you survey all the needs of all the Government of Nunavut employees and you will have a report to guide you on future development and procurement of office space in Cambridge Bay to meet their needs.
We have that. Yes, we do. We can provide that information to you.
I hope that I can get that soon.
Minister, a couple of years ago in the House we reviewed a tabled document on leases; it was quite an informative document. It helped our MLAs to see what contract leases existed in Nunavut, which communities, which locations.
We noted that a number of leases were in an overhold position. We were quite concerned about those overhold leases because some leases expire in 2007 and then we would be in overhold.
It was our belief, as a standing committee, that those leases should have been reviewed and then negotiated for renewal, or termination two or three years before the expiry date.
I am aware in Cambridge Bay that there’s one large lease that expired in 2006.
I believe it’s probably in overhold at the moment. I want to ask the minister what is the situation with that lease at the moment.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I can answer that.
The office building that you’re referring to is the Enokhok Development Corporation, and it holds 117 staff members from different departments.
Status on overhold, and the lease between EDC and the Government of Nunavut expired on February 28, 2006.
There was an engineering assessment report completed by a third party in fiscal year 2006. In the report it indicates that the building is structurally sound. The report also indicates the building requires some updates as a building envelope.
As part of the Community and Government Services mandate to negotiate with EDC, there is an understanding that upgrades in the amount of $2.2 million will occur.
I noted in the Auditor General’s Report from 2001 that the Auditor General felt that the Government of Nunavut was locked into a lot of long-term leases that they inherited from the Government of the Northwest Territories.
That particular lease was a 20-year lease, $1.1 or $1.2 million dollars annually over the term of a 20 year lease, that’s $22 million, and there was some concern there that at the end of it all, the government was not going to have the building, they wouldn’t own the building.
So I’m wondering; we expressed our concern two years ago about the government’s processes not being as expeditious as they should and not identifying these over-hold leases and expiring leases early enough to allow the government to properly negotiate renewals or extensions.
I’m wondering if the minister can indicate to me today if the government, if she says the lease is an over-hold, is the government currently in a review situation with that particular lease.
We are currently working on this and it’s true that we took over these from the Government of the Northwest Territories. They started leasing it in 1986, and in 1999, when our government was new; we just took over the lease because it ended February 28.
Yes, the only thing I can say to what he said is; it’s true.
When I read the Auditor General’s report, the Auditor General said that the government should get good value for their money and that they should do extensive calculations to ensure that the government gets good value for their money when they enter into leases.
So there have to be some lease versus buy decisions. I’m sure that they’re going through those decisions, can the minister take us through the process that her department initiates when they enter into those kinds of reviews to buy or lease?
Yes, we do all sorts of things to make sure that we are within the guidelines, especially when we are dealing with acquisition stages.
We provide program assessments, needs analysis, cost estimates, preliminary assessments, funding, requests for proposal, requests for tender, expressions of interest, also review of responses to the above.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister for that overview.
Can the minister indicate or confirm that when you went through this process that there was a request for tender, or a request for proposals that went out in the community of Cambridge Bay, for office space, for all those 117 employees?
I will ask my deputy to respond to that.
Under the Government of Nunavut leasing of real property, the authority to provide the assessment is with Community and Government Services and it is up to the department to make sure that part of the process, which is the assessment process to the acquisition, that there is enough valid information to see whether or not we need to go out for request for proposal or expression of interest.
This is done on the needs of the programs of our departments, the availability of space and the needs of the space, and also on the financial position as well as to how we go forward.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister and Ms. Hine.
Again, in the Auditor General’s report she mentioned that the total value of the leases should not exceed the value of the building being leased, otherwise why lease them, why don’t you just buy it? Can the minister confirm that that analysis also was included in their review?
I thank the member for raising those questions.
I’ll ask Mr. Rafter to respond, thank you.