EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We did an RFP, the Member with his question will reMember that it went to Cabinet and we said look, this is based on the available data, the travel arrangements and so on. We did a 60/40 split and Mr. Speaker, at that time I commented to both airlines, I’ve been in communications as well as my deputy Minister with First Air as well as the Canadian North and we even met with people from First Air today and we went and got an outside auditor, Mackay Landau here in Iqaluit who actually independently and transparently have audited the transportation figures and have gone back to both airlines to ensure that there is the 60/40 split and indeed Mr. Speaker, there was a difference of about 10 percent, I believe, and Mr. Speaker, we will make that up to Canadian.
So, Mr. Speaker, on a quarterly basis, for the Member’s question and for the people in Nunavut, we have in place a mechanism, an independent audit for transparency by an outside auditing firm, Mackay Landau, in this case here in Iqaluit, who actually audit the 60/40 split with the 60 percent increase of travel passengers from one airline and 40 percent for the other.
And that, Mr. Speaker, has been brought forward to both airlines with my understanding, Mr. Speaker, with their consent.
I do not need all of that extraneous information, but it helps.
What I am looking for is a commitment by the Minister that if there was a 60-40 Agreement between the two airlines and that agreement should be followed to the letter rather than just a figure that is being exploited by the Department.
But I just want to make sure that Canadian North gets its due share of the medical traffic that is presently between here and Ottawa, I think it is and I just wanted a commitment by the Minister to say that he will look into it to ensure that it is being followed.
Mr. Speaker, we are doing that and I can commit to the Member and to the House that that is what we will do and that is the reason for the independent audit, to ensure that the numbers given by Health actually match what the airlines are stating.
Question 593 – 1(6): Long Term Plans for Office Space in Arctic Bay
I thank Minister Kattuk for responding to my previous question regarding the government offices in Arctic Bay.
Due to the inadequate space for office he has placed it where it is at in the short-term.
I am wondering if the Minister can tell me what the long-term plans are.
First of all, your previous concern will be dealt with in the immediate future.
That is a temporary facility and because of that, we have not addressed what the long-term plans are and so we would just like to, first of all, deal with the immediate concerns in Arctic Bay Government Offices to ensure that they are up to code and that they are adequate.
Now it is apparent that the Government only has a short-term vision when a long-term plan would be more efficient, which is the way to do business.
Mr. Speaker, in Arctic Bay with the growth in population and the Government services having to keep in touch with what is going on, either through the services in the Offices or Health Centres and so, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask, once again, what are the long-term plans for the construction of this building in Arctic Bay.
What I said was that the Government Building that is for the teachers of the school, we will be dealing with that immediately.
Yes, it’s an urgent matter as she was saying before.
That is what we’re dealing with.
We’ll deal with that for the time being and than when it is time to look at the long term, it just doesn’t come from the Minister, but by working together and through Cabinet we’ll than find out what the long term plans are in Arctic Bay.
There is a process to follow when we’re dealing with long term planning.
We’ll give you the information once that is in the books.
Final question to the Minister.
I'm wondering after the session if he can come to Arctic Bay with me so that he can go see for himself the condition of this building.
I think that it’s older than a lot of us and the renovations will cost a lot of money, the structure is not up to code and I'm asking and inviting the Minister to come and see this building with me after the session.
I will commit to go see that building after this session.
Question 594 – 1(6): Number of Houses to be Built in Nunavut
Mr. Speaker, earlier I talked with him with his other hat on as the Minister of Finance about the infrastructure funding.
As the Minister of Housing there have been reports that this new funding that we’re going to get to build up to four hundred units throughout the territory, much needed units I would say at that.
I’d like to ask the Minister if he could update the Members of this House whether it’s going to be four hundred or what the number is going to be.
Mr. Speaker, those numbers were in the federal press release and I understand that they weren’t realistic, given our construction costs in Nunavut and our numbers are roughly in the eighty unit neighbourhood, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the funds that have been allocated for that, can the Minister indicate whether they’re going to go towards the social housing units only, or are there any other areas that the funds are going to be put to use.
Mr. Speaker, they’re targeted specifically for public, social housing units.
Mr. Speaker, I'm sure all the LHO managers who are here in town and throughout the territory will be happy to hear that all those funds are going to go towards public housing units.
I believe that is what the Minister indicated.
Am I correct in determining that they’re all going to public housing units that are going to be owned by the Housing Authority to maintain in the same manner that their existing housing inventory is, or are there any other types of public housing programs that those funds may be allocated to in the way of homeownership or rent to own type of programs.
Mr. Speaker, as I’d indicated it’s specific to the public housing program, specifically for social housing, the units that are built and constructed and operated by the Housing Associations in every community where they’re constructed.
Mr. Speaker, having a small background in housing, like yourself, Mr. Speaker, and I think that most of us that even in the construction area know that a very small portion of the costs of social housing is capital expenditure.
Can the Minister indicate if this money is all for capital.
Is there any money for the continuing operations and maintenance of those units?
Mr. Speaker, the money from the Federal Government Infrastructure capital specific to capital investment will be up to the Government of Nunavut.
The Housing Corporation just deals with the ongoing operating and maintenance costs of these units.
Are there any Written Questions?
If not, we will move on to Item 8.
I wish to table to a response to nine Written Questions.
From Written Question 011-1(6) up to and including Written Questions 019-1(6).
Return to Written Question 011 – 1(6): Input of New Public Housing Rent Scale
Mr. McLean asked:
The information tabled reflects the number of public housing units owned or leased by the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
The information tabled reflects the number of vacant public housing units, as reported by the Local Housing Organizations.
The information tabled reflects the number of income support clients residing in public housing units, as reported by the Local Housing Organizations.
The information tabled reflects the number of households assessed increased rent after the implementation of the new public housing rent scale, as report by the Local Housing Organizations.
The information tabled reflects the number of households assessed decreased rent after the implementation of the new public housing rent scale, as reported by the Local Housing Organizations.
The information tabled reflects the number of households that did not experience any changes to their assessed rent after the implementation of the new public housing rent scale, as reported by the Local Housing Organizations.
The information tabled reflects the number of households assessed at the minimum amount of rent after the implementation of the new public housing rent scale, as reported by the Local Housing Organizations.
The information tabled reflects the number of households assessed an amount of rent equalling the actual cost of their unit after the implementation of the new public housing rent scale, as reported by the Local Housing Organizations.
Return to Written Question 012 – 1(6): Mental Health Workers
In response to Mr. McLean’s questions asked on June 4, 2003:
The Government of Nunavut currently employees sixteen (16) full time mental health workers who are Inuit.
Ten of those are Social Workers, four are Wellness Counsellors, one is a Mental Health Specialist and one is a Supervisor, Social Services.
In addition the Department of Health and Social Services funds and provides training for sixteen (16) Alcohol and Drug Counsellors, all of whom are Inuit.
The existing Nunavut Arctic College social work program has a strong emphasis on counselling skills, and many counsellors have taken all or part of the Alcohol and Drug certificate program.
The Department is in discussion with Nunavut Arctic College about the development of a diploma program in Addictions and Mental Health.
The objective is to develop a common core of knowledge and skills required by a number of disciplines, with a second year that would focus on more specific knowledge and skill areas.
The Department in the past year has begun to offer on-going professional development to addictions and wellness counsellors (e.g., the week long counselling skills training held in Baker Lake in February, 2003 for counsellors from the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot).
The Department strives to make Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit pervasive in its mental health and addictions services, blending good clinical practice with cultural sensibilities and interpretation.
The establishment of the Wellness Counsellor is one example of a unique approach to bringing clinical skills and cultural sensibility together in practice.
All mental health staff, be they Inuit or Qallunaq, are expected to seek out opportunities to incorporate traditional practices and methods, where appropriate, in their practice.
In our participation in curriculum committee with Nunavut Arctic College, we also seek ways to incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in formal studies.
Two elder counsellors are scheduled to travel to various locations in Nunavut to speak with staff about how they could enhance their practice with practices drawn from Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Return to Written Question 013 – 1(6): District Education Authorities
On June 4, 2003 Mr. Tootoo asked:
DEAs are involved in the teacher hiring process and sit on the interview and selection committees.
The offer of employment comes from the GN as the teachers are GN employees.
DEAs have a shared responsibility, duty or power under the Education Act for the discipline or termination of teachers with the Department of Education.
Recommendations by the DEA to the Executive Director are taken under advisement and the final determination rests with the GN as the employer.
DEAs are involved in the principal hiring process and sit on the interview and selection committees.
The offer of employment comes from the GN as the principals are the GN employees.
All DEAs have three possible contribution agreements depending upon DEA involved:
School O&M – all expenditures related to school expenditures.
Staffing dollars – for additional support positions moved to the DEAs.
Bussing Dollars – to provide service(s) to schools.
Prior to the dissolution of the former Education Councils, the Council office in Iqaluit did all accounting for DEAs in the Qikiqtani.
Since dissolution, all DEAs in Nunavut have taken on the responsibility for their accounting services either directly or through contracting out.
Training for DEA’s bookkeepers has been ongoing since 2002.
Follow up training is occurring.
A Nunavut wide meeting with DEAs was held in 2001-2002, regional meetings with DEAs was held in 2002-2003 and meetings are being planned for 2003-2004.
DEAs are free to establish a Nunavut wide association should they choose to do so.
To date, no funding for a formal territorial wide association has been allocated.
Return to Written Question 014 – 1(6): Status of the Proposed Manitoba - Kivalliq Road Link
Mr. McLean’s written question seeks information concerning the proposed transmission lines from Northern Manitoba to the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut.
The proposed mega project requires two preliminary due diligence steps.
The first step, the pre-feasibility study, has been completed, in May 1999, with the cooperation of the governments of Canada and Manitoba.
The pre-feasibility study, Churchill to Kivalliq Regional Transmission Pre-Feasibility Study (May 1999), has been widely distributed in Nunavut.
The second step, a full feasibility study, has not been commenced.
The principal challenge is funding.
The full feasibility study cost is estimated in the range of $3.5 to $5 million.
Minister Picco and his staff have taken several proactive measures to seek the fining for the feasibility study.
Immediately after receiving and assessing the pre-feasibility study, Minister Picco had several discussions with the Province’s former Energy Minister, Greg Sellinger, to cooperate in next steps.
Most recently, on April 3, 2003 Minister Picco met, in Iqaluit, with Minister Tim Sale, Manitoba’s Energy Minister to facilitate inter-governmental cooperation in support of the transmission project.
The Ministers will meet again, in Winnipeg, in June 26, 2003 to further develop a funding strategy to bring for support to the federal government.
The Government of Nunavut (GN) intends to submit the funding of the feasibility study to the federal government as a component of the GN’s Kyoto funding submission for the Kyoto implementation resources identified in the federal 2003 budget.
It is expected that the Minister of Energy will confirm the funding request and next steps in Spring 2004.
Return to Written Question 015 – 1(6): Manitoba – Kivalliq Road Link
On June 5, 2003 Mr. McLean asked; As of June 1, 2003, what is the status of the proposed Manitoba/Kivalliq road link?
A Terms of Reference for a multidisciplinary Map, Air photo and Satellite Imagery Study to locate, terrain map, evaluate and estimate cost of three competing road routes from Highways in Northern Manitoba to Rankin Inlet has now been developed;
This study along with related community consultations will cost approximately $1 million;
Action on this study is still dependant on receiving some federal funding ($500 thousand) through DIAND’s Resource Partnership Program;
GN and the Province of Manitoba have helped KIA to rework their original submission and follow on work.
CGT has contributed to these costs;
CGT Minister has sent a letter to DIAND Minister Nault reconfirming this road is a priority and supporting KIA application for study funding;
Both CGT and Manitoba Highways have confirmed their share ($250 thousand each) of study costs;
Decision by DIAND on KIA’s resubmitted application is expected in late June early July;
Favourable decision by DIAND should allow “full” study to proceed.
Return to Written Question 016 – 1(6): Priority Hiring Policy
On June 5, 2003 Mr. Iqaqrialu asked:
From June 1, how do you want to prioritize the hiring?
The Priority Hiring Policy was approved by Cabinet in August 2000 with a Sunset Clause of December 2001.
In January 2002, Cabinet approved the extension of the Policy to December 31, 2006.
The Priority Hiring Policy complies with the requirements of Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and gives priority consideration to Inuit beneficiary applicants.
Inuit beneficiary applications who meet the qualifications are given priority over other applicants for all job competitions.
Land Claim Beneficiaries who wish to receive consideration under the Priority Hiring Policy are asked to identify their eligibility when they apply for any Government of Nunavut employment opportunities.
Land Claim Beneficiaries are defined as those persons who are enrolled as beneficiaries under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
As of June 3, 2003 how many beneficiaries of Nunavut Land Claims Agreement were hired in indeterminate terms and contract positions in Government of Nunavut’s departments, boards, agencies and Crown Corporations?
The total number of beneficiaries hired between January 1, 2003 and June 1, 2003 is 89.
This includes all term and indeterminate hires in all GN departments, Nunavut Arctic College, Nunavut Housing Corporation and Nunavut Power Corporation.
From January 1, 2003, to June 1, 2003, how many non-beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement were hired for indeterminate terms, contract positions in the Government of Nunavut’s departments, boards, agencies and Crown Corporations?
The total number of non-beneficiaries hired between January 1, 2003 and June 1, 2003 is 217.
Return to Written Question 017 – 1(6): Power Subsidy Program
The MLA for Iqaluit Centre submitted a written question related Nunavut Power Subsidy Program with four questions, below are responses related to the questions.
With respect to the Government of Nunavut’s Power Subsidy Program, which is funded through the annual appropriation of the Department of Finance, how was this subsidy calculated and applied from the January 1, 2000 to June 1, 2003?
The Nunavut Power Corporation (NPC) invoices the Department of Finance monthly for the amount of revenue the NPC foregoes from individual domestic electricity consumers as a result of the Nunavut Territorial Power Subsidy program (NTPS).
In general, the NPC determines the amount to invoice the Department of Finance by summing, for all domestic electricity consumers in Nunavut, the difference between the consumer’s community base rate and the NTPS rate times the first 700 kWh of electricity consumed plus the basic service charge.
This general method applied for the periods between January 1, 2000 to June 1, 2003 and April 1, 2002 to June 1, 2003 respectively.
For the period July 1, 2000 to March 31, 2002 a separate 3.4 ¢ fuel rider charge times the first 700 kWh of electricity consumed was added to the general method.
A table is attached in annex 1 which illustrates the subsidy rate paid by the GN and the net rates paid by consumers in Iqaluit over the period in question.
If any changes occurred during this period with respect to the calculation an application of the subsidy, what were they and why were they undertaken?
During the period in question no changes were made to the procedure for determining the NTPS.
As noted above, however, the NTPS calculation was modified be first adding and then removing a 3.4 ¢ fuel rider charge.
This fuel rider was added to the subsidy when the Northwest Territories Power Corporation (prior to the splitting of that corporation into two entities) added it and was removed from the subsidy when the Nunavut Power Corporation no longer applied the charge to consumer electricity bills.
No. 3.
During this period, how was the power subsidy calculated and applied in relation to the fuel stabilization rate riders imposed by either the Nunavut Power Corporation or it’s predecessor, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation?
The NTPS was calculated and applied as indicated under response 1 and 2.
The government decides the elements of the subsidy as well as any fixed costs including the subsidy.
Have any audits or reviews been conducted since June 1, 2003 with respect to the calculation and application of the power subsidy and if so, what were the conclusions?
The Government of Nunavut has conducted no internal audits of the NTPS program.
Although no specialized audit of the NTPS has been conducted by the Auditor General’s Office, the program us included in the general audit of the Department of Finance.
Return to Written Question 018 – 1(6): Income Support Policies
On June 6, 2003 Mr. Tootoo asked:
For the purposes of determining the level of payments made to income support recipients, what is the Department of Education’s policy with the respect to the treatment of coop patronage refunds?
Patronage refunds given by a co-operative are considered as unearned income for the purposes of establishing needs for an income support applicant.
This means that, under section 20 (4) (k) of the Social Assistance Regulations, unearned income shall include the reasonable value of goods and services received by an applicant as estimated by the Officer.
Unearned income reduces the amount of eligible benefits by an equal amount.
If Co-op patronage refunds are treated as unearned income, what policy objectives are achieved by reducing the amount paid to income support recipients?
The Income Support program is intended as a provider of last resort, it is important that all reasonable efforts be made to consider resources available to the applicant from other sources first.
Government programs must be equitable, sustainable and consistent for all residents.
Patronage refunds are limited to Co-operative Members and could result in an inconsistent approach to exempt this type of income, as it is not accessible to all Nunavummiut.
Return to Written Question 019 – 1(6): Status of the Government of Nunavut’ s Medical Travel for the Kivalliq Region
On June 6, 2003 Mr. Arvaluk asked:
As of June 6, 2003, what is the status of the Government of Nunavut’s contracts for scheduled medical travel and medical evacuation services for the Kivalliq Region?
As of June 6, 2003 there is no agreement in place regarding scheduled medical travel.
An RFP issued for scheduling medical travel was cancelled by the department based on concerns that continuing had the potential to reduce competition in the region.
An RFP was issued for emergency medical travel and the successful proponent was notified.
The terms of that agreement had not been finalized as of June 6, 2003, but the Department had been advised of service for medical emergencies and does not unnecessarily reduce competition in the region.
What are the terms of the contract or contracts for these services?
Since there were no previous contracts, providing a point of reference is not possible.
The Department has developed a set of standards for scheduled medical travel that cover ticket pricing and other expenses, passenger/customer services, related experience of the company, operations, and Inuit Preference.
The Department has developed a set of standards for medical evacuation services that cover aircraft and cabin requirements, flight safety requirements, qualifications of flight crew, contractor experience, contractor fees, Inuit content as well as medical flight crew and operations requirements.
What contracts are currently in place between the Government of Nunavut and Kivalliq Air?
What contracts are currently in place between the Government of Nunavut and Skyward Aviation Ltd?
As of June 6, 2003 there were no written contracts between Kivalliq Air and the Department of Health and Social Services.
Discussions remain active.
Report 016 – 1(6): Bill 12 – Human Rights Act
I wish to report that Bill 12, the Human Rights Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit, and that the Bill is ready for consideration in the Committee of the Whole.
Report 017 – 1(6): Bill 33 – Tobacco Control Act
Please do not forget my name.
I wish to report that Bill 33, the Tobacco Control Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Health and Education and that the Bill as amended and reprinted is ready for consideration in the Committee of the Whole.
Tabled Document 126 – 1(6): Contracts on Kivalliq Health Centre
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a collection of media clippings, and letters between myself and the Minister of Public Works on the issue of the Government of Nunavut’s recent contract award for the construction of the Kivalliq Health Centre.
Speaker: Thank you. Item 13.
Tabled Document 127 – 1(6): Statutory Requirements for Tabling of Reports and Other Documents in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
I wish to table the October 2003 version of the Statutory Requirements for Tabling of Reports and Other Documents in the Legislative of Assembly of Nunavut. Thank you.