EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In many cases funding is actually provided through contracts, grants, or contributions to other parties to provide services on the government’s behalf.
Can the minister clearly explain how his department ensures that services provided with government funds are delivered in an appropriate and accountable manner?
When we talk about contracts or contributions, we’re dealing with public money, public funds, and we do our best to monitor all the contribution agreements and contracts that go to services.
(interpretation) As I stated, the service providers must be monitored and taken care of properly to make sure they follow the conditions for using government funding.
The Department of Family Services tries to use that properly with the ones that we have funding agreements with and we try to work well with other parties for those reasons, Mr. Speaker.
Your first supplementary. Ms. Angnakak.
From time to time, constituents bring forward concerns related to the staffing, policies, or services at facilities which are operated under a contract or through a grant or contribution from the government.
Can the minister clearly describe what steps are taken to follow up and address complaints and concerns about entities which provide support for vulnerable Nunavummiut with funds allocated through his department?
Concerns may arise related to any of the services funded through the Department of Family Services. When a concern is submitted, it would result in an investigation through the Department of Family Services.
The investigation would determine what transpired and whether any concerns cropped up.
In particular, if considering investigations, it would include the Department of Finance and the Department of Justice. We partner with these departments when conducting investigations and collaborate on specific cases as required.
Further, the agreement for this service has several requirements which we try to follow, such as the agreed-to services provided, which all have monetary values that are the basis for the agreement.
This forms the agreement with the various areas listed that will be covered.
Yes, the Department of Family Services can indeed review this issue or any other issue whenever a concern rises. This can include the return of the child or submitting recommendations to dissolve their foster parent status or deal with them in conjunction with the departments of Justice or Finance.
That makes me think of a lot of questions I would like to ask to that response, but I’ll keep to script here.
Mr. Speaker, it is very concerning to hear complaints or allegations about entities which provide services to vulnerable Nunavummiut.
Will the minister commit to ensuring that any entity which receives money from his department either through contract, grant, or contribution is made aware of its duty to provide adequate and appropriate services and be held completely accountable?
As a government and as the Department of Family Services, our responsibility includes these funding agreements for provision of services.
Now, if we require an investigation of any kind related to funding irregularities, the agreements speak to the ethical usage of these funds. Because we require these services, whenever a question of impropriety arises, whether it is at a shelter, group, or elders facilities that we fund, if the managers are not providing the service which has been agreed to, then it would result in the penalties listed in the agreement due to its importance.
Yes, any agreement we have includes provisions related to impropriety and investigations. Any organization we have an agreement with requiring an investigation still has rights to be informed and to present a counter argument to the expressed concern about funding issues. As well, we have to inform the clients receiving the service.
That is how it is structured.
If there’s an agreement in place, the Nunavut government and the Department of Family Services have to follow the conditions of the agreement if they are agreed to and signed by the organization or the public.
Question 775 – 4(3): Carpentry Course at Nunavut Arctic College (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Speaker, the minister will recall that in February of this year, I asked when the carpentry program would be delivered at the Rankin Inlet trade school campus.
Can the minister provide an update on the current status of the Nunavut Arctic College carpentry program?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Hon. Paul Quassa.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for asking that question.
In my report, if you will recall, I had stated the carpentry program was held in Iqaluit when the old Ukiivik residence was utilized.
Since the old residence was closed and some of the programs were held there, we said that we would move the carpentry program to Rankin Inlet.
It will go ahead in the next new school year and that’s when it will be provided.
He responded to part of this question, (interpretation ends) but I’m going to go ahead.
Mr. Speaker, the Rankin Inlet Nunavut Arctic College carpentry program has historically been delivered at the Iqaluit campus.
Can the minister provide an update on what steps are being taken to ensure that the Rankin Inlet trade school facility will be adequately equipped and the necessary staff employed in time for the delivery of this program in the fall?
I also thank my colleague for continuing his line of questioning.
The carpentry instructor who worked here will be moving over there.
As I stated earlier, the program will continue. As the trade school already has facilities and equipment, I’m expecting this program to continue.
Concerns have been raised with regard to which trades and trades-related programs will be delivered at the Rankin Inlet trade school campus.
Can the minister provide an overview of what steps are being taken to provide all trades-related training and programs at the Rankin Inlet campus?
There are different programs that can be delivered at the trade school, not just for carpentry. There are heavy equipment operator courses and government management studies.
There are different trades courses that can be delivered at the Rankin Inlet campus and they have been successfully carried out. There will be some graduates from that school this year and I am proud of that.
The Rankin Inlet trade school is for trades training.
The various programs will have instructors and the programs that are required will proceed in the new school year.
As I stated earlier, the instructors will be moving from here. The programs that were available in Iqaluit will be moved to Rankin Inlet and I expect that to proceed smoothly.
We plan a year ahead for what programs will be made available and we know one year in advance who the instructors will be for what programs.
Those are already set.
I only expect this program to start successfully at the Rankin Inlet trade school.
Question 776 – 4(3): Funding for Community Arena Upgrades (Qirngnuq)
As the minister will recall, on February 29, 2016 he and his federal counterparts jointly announced that more than $19 million in federal and territorial funding would be made available for “upgrading community arenas” in Nunavut under the federal Small Communities Fund.
During our recent winter sitting, my colleague, the Member of Aivilik, asked a number of questions concerning this funding.
In his response the minister indicated that his department was conducting an assessment of community arenas at that time to determine which arenas would be upgraded.
Can the minister update the House today on the status of that assessment?
The arenas are being evaluated and it’s still about the same. We’re going to spend the money where we can extend the season the most and where we can get the most out of our money.
During our recent winter sitting, the minister also stated that arenas with the most health and safety hazards and arenas that do not have concrete pads and thermosiphons would be ranked highest to receive upgrades through this funding.
Can the minister indicate if his department has conducted site visits to determine this information?
Hon. Joe Savikataaq: Mr. Speaker, I can inform the member yes, the arenas that do get the updates would get concrete slabs put on there and thermosiphons to extend their season and any other upgrades for safety reasons that might be needed.
Will the minister commit to formally announcing a list of recipient arenas that will be upgraded through that funding once the final decisions have been made?
Yes, I can inform him that I have no problem having the list here as soon as it is available.
My fellow members, please note that the time for question period has expired.
*See Appendix for full text of Committee Report 29 – 4(3).
The Hon. Member for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, Ms. Angnakak.
Committee Report 029 – 4(3): Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s 2016 Report on the Privacy Audit of the Qikiqtani General Hospital (Angnakak)
I rise today to present the Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Independent Officers and Other Entities on its review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s 2016 report on her privacy audit of the Qikiqtani General Hospital.
The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Regulations were inherited from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999 and it provides the Commissioner of Nunavut to appoint, on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly, the Information and Privacy Commissioner for a five-year term of office.
Ms. Elaine Keenan Bengts was reappointed on February 24, 2015 for a five-year term of office as Nunavut’s Information and Privacy Commissioner.
She is currently serving her fourth term as Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut. Ms. Keenan Bengts also serves as the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.
Between 1999 and 2012 a number of minor amendments to the legislation were made to address conflicts with other territorial statutes.
Mr. Speaker, the Legislative Assembly passed Bill 38, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, on June 8, 2012.
The amendments made under Bill 38 provided clear authority for the Information and Privacy Commissioner to undertake privacy-related reviews concerning personal information held by public bodies.
In its report on the review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s 2012-13 and 2013-14 annual reports, which were presented to the Legislative Assembly on October 28, 2014, the standing committee recommended that “The Government of Nunavut cooperate with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner in undertaking at least one formal privacy audit of a department, Crown agency or territorial corporation.”
The Information and Privacy Commissioner’s report on the privacy audit of Qikiqtani General was tabled in the House on November 8, 2016.
Mr. Speaker, the standing committee received the government’s formal response to the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s report on May 3, 2017.
For the benefit of the viewing public, the government’s formal response has been included as an appendix to the report that I am presenting today.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner, along with her colleague Mr. Robert Gary Dickson, appeared before the standing committee to answer questions regarding the office’s report and privacy audit on May 10 to 11, 2017.
Government officials from the Department of Health and the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs also appeared before the standing committee at that time.
Transcripts from the standing committee’s hearings will be made available on the Legislative Assembly’s website.
A number of themes and issues emerged during the standing committee’s review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s report on her first privacy audit of a government department.
As indicated in her report, the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s audit of the Qikiqtani General Hospital consisted of a thorough review of the government’s policies and directives relating to privacy and protection of information, a number of interviews with government officials responsible for overseeing and implementing privacy initiatives within the hospital, and a site visit to the hospital.
The standing committee appreciates the level of detail provided in the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s report and supports each of the recommendations that were included.
The standing committee is concerned that the findings of the audit highlight a significant need for increased and more coordinated efforts within the hospital to effectively protect the privacy of patients’ personal health information.
The standing committee notes that the government has made a number of efforts to address this need, including providing ATIPP training to hospital staff, developing some health-specific privacy directives, and amending its procedures within the hospital to ensure the physical security of personal health information.
However, the standing committee is of the view that the department must provide more comprehensive and privacy-specific policies and training for hospital staff in order for it to meet its obligations under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and provide adequate safeguards for the protection of the personal information that it collects, uses, and discloses.
Mr. Speaker, while the standing committee recognizes that the scope of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s audit focused on the practices of the Qikiqtani General Hospital, the standing committee is of the view that the findings of that audit reflect a number of challenges that are also currently being experienced by community health centres across the territory.
That the government develop a suite of policies that establish mandatory requirements and responsibilities for the protection of personal health information that is collected, used, or disclosed by the hospital, community health centres, and all other health service providers in the territory.
That the government develop a comprehensive and privacy-specific training program for hospital and community health staff.
That the government clearly assign the role and responsibilities of a privacy officer to a specific individual or a small number of individuals within the hospital until such a time as a privacy officer position can be filled.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, the standing committee commends the Information and Privacy Commissioner for her hard work in conducting this audit and looks forward to reading future reports on her office’s future audits.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member has moved that the report be received and entered into the record as read by the House.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The report has been received.
Tabled Document 321 – 4(3): Program Directive: Student Placement, Promotion and Retention (Okalik)
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I wish to table a directive that was signed by the last Minister of Education which opened the doors for social promotion, dated September 2013. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 322 – 4(3): Correspondence to MLA Pat Angnakak dated November 18, 2016 (Hickes)
Tabled Document 323 – 4(3): iEHR Privacy and Security Directive (Hickes)
The first, correspondence with MLA Pat Angnakak dated November 18, 2016, of which I will make a point of order at the appropriate time.
The second document, today I am tabling the Department of Health’s iEHR privacy and security directive.
Tabled Document 324 – 4(3): 2016 Report on the Administration of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1990 (Ell-Kanayuk)
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to table today the 2016 Report on the Administration of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1990.
Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) Hon. Member for Pangnirtung, Mr. Johnny Mike.
Tabled Document 325 – 4(3): Pangnirtung Classes of 2017 and 1932 (Mike)
As I stated in my member’s statement, I am tabling the invitation from the 2017 graduates in Pangnirtung, as well as the photograph that came from the class of 1932 in Pangnirtung.
Speaker (interpretation): Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Health, Hon. George Hickes.
I would like to raise a point of order on a question that was asked by MLA Pat Angnakak earlier today accusing me of not responding to a request for information.
Mr. Speaker, the number of correspondence that goes out of my office on a weekly basis is quite excessive, and I should have remembered at the time that I did respond to the member’s question that she accused me today of not responding to back on November 18, 2016.
There were some comments or sounds made after the question was raised that I did not respond to the question.
I know all members here are very aware and cognizant of how I deal with their requests for information, that I take them all very seriously.
Basically I just don’t appreciate the accusation that I didn’t respond when it was very clear that I did respond to the member.
I would appreciate an apology.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I have in front of me the document tabled by the minister. The page has provided a copy to Ms. Angnakak.
Ms. Angnakak, to the point of order.
I wasn’t really satisfied with this response because it didn’t really answer all of the questions that I had.
It left out contract details that I wanted and I feel that it’s really important to Nunavummiut that they have that kind of information of how public dollars are being spent.
You talked a little bit about the OSHNI case, but it didn’t go into some of the questions that I was asking.
I thought it was important today to raise that again, that it’s about contracts. I think it’s really important that Nunavummiut know how their money is being spent.
I will apologize if I came across as rude or disrespectful.
I apologize to the member, but at the same time I think it’s really important that we get the answers that we’re looking for, that we don’t get half answers; we get all of these answers that we are looking for. I think that’s where I was coming from.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) There was a point of order and the member has apologized.
(interpretation) Going back to the orders of the day. (interpretation ends) Item 14.
Bill 50 – An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act – Notice
I give notice that on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, I will move that Bill 50, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the first time.
First Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Justice, Hon. Keith Peterson.
Bill 47 – An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act – First Reading
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 47, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act, be read for the first time.
First Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Peter Taptuna.
Bill 48 – An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member of Aggu, that Bill 48, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, be read for the first time.
(interpretation) First Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Hon. Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Allan Rumbolt.
I seek the consent of the House to waive the notice period so that Bill 50, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, can be read for the first time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking consent to allow Bill 50 to be read for the first time today.
There are none. Mr. Rumbolt, you may proceed.
Bill 50 – An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act – First Reading
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, members.
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 50, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the first time.
I seek the consent of the House to waive the notice period so that Bill 50, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, can be read for the second time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking consent to allow Bill 50 to be read for the second time today.
Bill 50 – An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 50, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the second time.
This bill amends the Legislative Assembly Retirement Allowances Act to harmonize the timing of actual valuations with the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act.
The motion is carried and Bill 50 is referred to the Committee of the Whole as it is a House Bill.
Bills 27, 49, and 50 with Mr. Mikkungwak in the Chair.
Before we continue to the Committee of the Whole, we will take a 20-minute break.
>>House recessed at 16:14 and Committee resumed at 16:40
In Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: Bills 49 and 50.
Welcome back, members.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to commence with the review of Bill 49, followed by Bill 50.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 49?
Bill 49 – An Act to Provide for Elections for Municipal Councils and District Education Authorities – Consideration in Committee
I would now like to ask the Speaker of this House: do you have officials that you would like to appear before the committee?
Does the committee agree to let the Speaker and his officials go to the witness table?
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the Speaker’s officials in.
(interpretation ends) For the record, Speaker Qulaut, please introduce your officials.
To my right is (interpretation ends) Chief Electoral Officer for Nunavut Dustin Fredlund and Legal Counsel for Elections Nunavut Patrick Orr. (interpretation) Thank you.
I would like to note for the record that this will be Mr. Fredlund’s first appearance as Nunavut’s chief electoral officer.
Welcome, Mr. Fredlund and Mr. Orr.
Please proceed with your opening comments, Speaker Qulaut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to have the opportunity to provide opening comments concerning Bill 49, An Act to Provide for Elections for Municipal Councils and District Education Authorities.
Bill 49 is the result of a number of years of hard work on the part of Elections Nunavut and its partners.
As members will recall, this initiative has been noted in the chief electoral officer’s recent annual reports to the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Chairman, significant consultation has gone into this initiative.
Over the past several years Elections Nunavut has met on a number of occasions with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators, individual municipal councils, regional mayors’ groupings, the Coalition of Nunavut District Education Authorities, and other partners.
I wish to take this opportunity to publicly thank the many leaders and organizations at the community level who have contributed to the development of this legislation.
Mr. Chairman, for the benefit of Nunavummiut who are following our televised proceedings today, I wish to highlight the key features of Bill 49.
The objective of this legislation is to harmonize the procedures and administration for elections to municipal councils and district education authorities under the authority of the Nunavut Elections Act.