EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I am pretty sure they are using a common design. I’m just wondering if we can redirect the question to the Minister of Education, if he has more information for us.
Minister Peterson, did you want to redirect?
I thank Mr. Rumbolt for the question. Again, as I said, I have no explanation whether it’s same substantiation sheet.
They are two entirely different projects. The Minister of Education has indicated that he would like to answer that question, so I will redirect the question to the minister.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Peterson. (interpretation) Minister of Education, are you able to answer this question?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The new high school is not the same design. I think you are referring to what the Department of Education is now planning to do, is to have a standardized building code in the future designs but these two are not the same design.
Again, I will just reiterate what the Minister of Finance stated; the Sanikiluaq high school is approximately 2,600 square metres, with a total budget of $23 million. Again, per square metre for Sanikiluaq, it was about $8,846 compared to Repulse Bay, Repulse Bay’s new high school is approximately 3,400 square metres and is approximately $9,117 per square metre. There’s a difference of approximately $271 per square metre between the two schools.
I think Minister of Finance stated that there are other factors that are put in place that make the difference; tender timing, an annual inflation factor of approximately 7 to 10 percent, labour market, shipping costs, and again, the difference in construction costs between 2010 and 2014.
Those are the factors of why there’s that difference. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Quassa. (interpretation) Page. 8.
Corporate Services. Total Corporate Services. $9,209,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $9,209,000.
Turn to page 9. Health.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Directorate.
I just have a question regarding the Baffin Regional Hospital renovations. As we’re all aware, there were some challenges with the general contractor basically going bankrupt midstream during the project.
The outfit holding the bond had some challenges from what I understand as well and a new contractor has been put in place to complete the renovations.
What is difference from the original bid to today’s appropriation? How much of an increase is this costing the taxpayers?
I think the original contract was $19,700,000, in that range.
I don’t have the exact number with me, but the company that’s doing it now, Quinan Construction Ltd. is doing it or taking over and will do it for $26.9 million.
Mr. Hickes: Is there no recourse for the Government of Nunavut to recoup any of the extra expenses from the original contractor?
When the contractor defaulted, there was a bid bond for $10.3 million that was exercised, so those funds are coming to the Government of Nunavut.
I believe, when the new contractor took over, dollar for dollar, there’s $5 million in materials. I don’t believe there are any additional costs.
Originally when this tender went out two years, there were four bids, there was $19,700,000, I think there was $25 million and $28 million roughly, and then another one for $35 million.
This project is well within the overall maximum approved budget for this project.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you Minister Peterson. Mr. Hickes.
Mr. Hickes: When projects of this nature are put out to tender, we often approve a capital budget associated with the project.
How is this structure deterring competitive bidding in the marketplace to get the most cost-effective bid for capital projects?
I didn’t quite understand Mr. Hicke’s question. Could he repeat it and perhaps rephrase it?
I will just create an example. If we are going to be building a building here in Iqaluit and we approve a budget of ten million dollars, I find it sometimes surprising how often the bids come in at $10.5 million or $10.7 million.
Is there a way to create a more cost-effective method for approving capital projects so that the proponents that are bidding on these jobs have to have to follow guidelines then and make sure that they are bidding an appropriate amount?
It is very difficult to answer that question because of course everything is public.
Being public funds and we debate the capital plan in the House, project by project. The capital budget is approved by the Legislative Assembly so it is very hard to hide the information from the potential contractors on projects.
As I said, in that particular bid at the time there were four bidders. The low bidder received the contract.
That was only after the Department of Community and Government Services, I believe, went back to the contractor and asked them, “Do you understand the terms of the RFP?”
and they indicated that they did.
The Government of Nunavut followed the tendering and procurement process and awarded a contract to them.
They did put up the necessary performance, labour, and materials bonds to protect the government. Everything worked the way it should have.
Unfortunately, the contractor just couldn’t complete the project and everything else kicked in and the process protected us and now we are moving ahead with this project.
I believe this contractor Quinan has a lot of experience in constructing and renovating hospitals elsewhere in Canada.
I think we are in good hands now.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. Mr. Hickes.
Mr. Hickes: If I could get a commitment from the minister that he would discuss different options with his cabinet colleagues to bring forward to the legislature on the capital planning process. I understand and I don’t want to hide anything from the public. I think we could still approve an overall capital budget.
I’m just wondering if there might be other options available to explore ways to make all of our projects more cost-effective. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Hickes, for the question.
That’s a very timely question.
We are in the process of developing our 2015-16 capital estimates so I’ll ask my finance officials to discuss with the other officials in their departments if they have any ideas that they could bring forward to us to discuss at the financial management board level.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. We are on page 9. Health.
Not Previously Authorized. Directorate. Total Directorate. $35,481,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $35,481,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Turn to page 10. Environment.
Total Program Management. $3,884,000. Total. Not Previously Authorized. $3,884,000.
Turn to page 11.
I need to ask a question here on a project that is not on the capital carryovers that I feel should be.
There’s a sewage lagoon that was supposed to be completed in Sanikiluaq and it’s still not completed, but we don’t see it in the capital carryovers.
I’m wondering if the minister can explain why.
Mr. Chairman, as I indicated earlier in my presentation, we have the same information that the community has.
If that project isn’t in the capital carryovers, it’s very difficult for me to speak to it.
Knowing that the Minister of Community and Government Services is in the House, I’m wondering if the Minister of Finance can redirect the question to the minister for that department and see if he has more information.
Minister Peterson, can you redirect the question to the (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister (interpretation) of Community and Government Services? Minister Peterson.
I thank Mr. Rumbolt again for the question.
Mr. Chairman, I will redirect that to Minister Sammurtok.
Minister Sammurtok, can you respond to that question at this time? Minister Sammurtok.
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The sewage lagoon in Sanikiluaq is in the design stage.
It’s my understanding that the sewage lagoon had the design stage completed two years ago and there were some technical difficulties with the location and whatnot, which means there should be a budget for it.
I’m just wondering why it’s not in the capital carryovers.
There’s noise down here. There’s something going on in the foyer.
I think we have almost sort of figured it out by looking at another document. My deputy minister would like to explain the question or the answer.
Chairman: Mr. D’Arcy, explain the answer and not the question. Mr. D’Arcy.
If I have the right project, it’s the gas tax project. The gas tax comes from 100 percent funding from the federal government, so this Assembly doesn’t have to re-appropriate it during the year.
If the member or others would like to take a look in our own capital estimates for 2014-15, that project, I believe, if it’s the right project, is called “Improvement of Wastewater Treatment – Sewage Lagoon” for $4,331,000 that had been previously authorized, but it doesn’t have to be re-voted with respect to the capital appropriation.
I’m presuming and really a presumption on the Department of Finance’s part that the Department of Community and Government Services is proceeding with this project this summer.
It’s my understanding that it’s not going ahead this summer because of design issues, but at least we know where it sits in the capital planning.
Just one last question then. When we approve capital carryovers here and if they’re not completed next year, do they show up in next year’s capital carryovers or we no longer have to see these numbers again?
Yes, if they’re carried forward another year, they will have to come into the House and be voted on again.
Mr. Hickes: My apologies. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Within the Iqaluit doors replacement at the Brown Building, according to the substantiation sheet, the reason for the delay was that this project had been tendered twice, but attracted no bidders and it has now been sole sourced to complete the project.
Mr. Chairman, maybe the minister could explain to me: is there any way why the successful contractor that was sole sourced would not have bid on the project to start with? Why did we have to go to a sole source on this?
Mr. Chairman, we don’t have any information on that.
Like my colleague beside me, I have also noticed that the Minister of Community and Government Services is in the Assembly. I was wondering if Minister Peterson would be able to redirect the question.
It would be nice if we had the CGS technical people here who could provide more information.
We’re getting down to a level where ministers normally wouldn’t be, but I will ask Minister Sammurtok if he can answer that question.
Minister Sammurtok, can you answer the question at this time?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok: If I may, I’m going to have to get back to the member. I don’t have the information in front of me here.
While I have noticed that the number of sole sourcing has been decreasing fairly steadily over the last number of years, it’s still quite a large component of the contracting method being used by the government.
I think this is more of a comment, Mr. Chairman. We’ve got to really be aware and I’m sure I have noted other members on this side have noted with interest the number of sole source contracts that have been approved in the past.
I, for one, would like to see that number start decreasing and a more competitive process, the way it’s supposed to be, gets played out.
I believe that was just a comment. (interpretation) We’re on page 11.
Capital Planning. It continues on page 12.
Item 3. Total Capital Planning. Not Previously Authorized. $52,764,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Page 13. Community and Government Services. Capital. Not Previously Authorized.
Petroleum Products Division. Total Petroleum Products Division. Not Previously Authorized. $15,376,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $68,140,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Page 14.
Transportation. Mr. Hickes.
Again, it is more of a comment.
I have brought up the topic a number of times of including a jet walk into the design of the new Iqaluit airport terminal.
In the benefits and the substantiation talks to safe operations for aircraft and movement of passengers, I would like a commitment from the minister to explore that option or at least other options for the safe transport of, especially people with disabilities and elders, to exit and enter aircraft at this new terminal.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Hickes. (interpretation ends) While I appreciate that it might be a comment I’m going to allow the minister if he has a comment on it.
Thank you, Mr. Hickes, for the comment.
I heard Mr. Hickes discussing that the other night at an event in town. However, as Minister of Finance, I can’t commit to that.
The project is already, I believe, in a design phase.
The design phase is almost complete.
As the Minister of Finance, and these are carryovers, it is not something I can sit here at the witness table and commit to.
I’m not looking for a commitment to include the air walk, I’m looking for a commitment to either include it or explore other options to facilitate the safe passage of passengers.
Like the Minister of Community and Government Services, the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation is in the Assembly. If the Minister of Finance would like to defer that question to him or comment to him, I would appreciate it.
Mr. Chair, these are capital carryovers.
This project has already been approved in the capital planning process in previous years.
Quite a lot of planning has gone into this. There have been consultations with many people, many organizations, including airlines.
It is in the design phase. I don’t believe it would be necessary for me to defer that question to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
I’m not trying to be confrontational here, but I participated in one of the community consultations here in Iqaluit at the design phase for this airport and it wasn’t a consultation.
It was an information session.
We were being told what we were getting, so I do beg to differ with the minister.
He stated himself that the design phase is almost over.
I would appreciate a response.
I don’t want to sit down here and be confrontational either. We are dealing with capital carryovers. After all, projects have already been approved in previous years.
My briefing note states years of consultation meetings with key groups, including airlines, CATSA, CBSA, NAV Canada, Transport Canada, and the Department of National Defence.
Unless we know who the writer is who is fabricating this information, there’s a briefing note here that says there have been consultations.
I understand that the design phase is progressing on schedule.
I believe that the design incorporates possible, I can’t be certain, future expansion if the jet walks or Jetways are necessary.
I believe the Minister of Finance just hit the nail right on the head.
Nowhere in that list of consultations were members of the public listed.
This airport is here to serve the public of Nunavut and that’s where I think there was a real gap in the planning stage.
I realize these are funds that were already previously approved, but at this point, I’ve got to use whatever venue I’ve got available with me to voice the concerns of my constituents, and I believe this is a fair venue to do that.
Was that just a comment for the record? Were you expecting… ?
Mr. Hickes: It doesn’t sound like I’m going to get an answer today, Mr. Chairman, but I will be continuing to bring this topic up in the future in the Assembly and through discussions with the Minister of Transportation.
Maybe somebody will take that as advisement. (interpretation) Moving on. Page 14. Economic Development and Transportation.
Total Transportation. $18,346,000. Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $18,346,000.
Page 2. 2014-2015 Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1. Schedule 1. Capital.
Capital Appropriation. $149,503,000. Do you agree?
We will be dealing with Bill 3.
Please go to it in your legislation binder.
I believe you now have Bill 3 in front of you.
Bill 3, (interpretation ends) Supplementary Appropriation, No. 1, 2014-2015. (interpretation) Clause 1.
Chairman (interpretation): Just before we continue, turn to page 2. (interpretation ends) Schedule. Supplementary amounts appropriated for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015. Vote 2.
Capital. Total Capital. $149,503,000. Total Supplementary Appropriation. $149,503,000. (interpretation) Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Does the committee agree to Bill 3 as a whole?
Chairman (interpretation): Do the members agree that pursuant to Rule 62(2), that Bill 3 can be immediately placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
We have completed that. Hon. Minister, do you have any closing remarks? I will now give you the floor.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Yes, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your excellent work today and over the last three weeks, in all your chairmanships in the Committee of the Whole and many good questions during the main estimates process and then debating Bill 3 today.
All your comments have been noted, I’m sure.
I respect Mr. Hickes for his continued efforts to lobby for the airport.
I am sure Economic Development and Transportation took note of that and they may be contacting him soon to set up a meeting for him and they can explain the situation to him.
I would like to thank all of the officials and all the departments across the government across Nunavut for their input and work on supp Bill 3 and on the main estimates. It’s been a very busy six or seven months.
As I mentioned the other day, Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank all my colleagues for being here today to support this discussion on Bill 3 and answer questions as required. I would like to wish everyone and all Nunavummiut, all MLAs, all ministers, safe travels home this summer and a good summer vacation.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Peterson. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, if you can escort the minister and his officials.
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Considering we accomplished everything we wanted to accomplish in Committee of the Whole, I would like to make a motion to report progress at this time.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. (interpretation ends) I don’t know if we accomplished everything.
(interpretation)There is a motion on the floor to report progress and it is not debatable.
To the motion. All in favour.
Before I rise, as the Chair of the Committee of the Whole and on behalf of my deputy chairs, Mr. Akoak and Mr. Mikkungwak, as we end our session, I would like to say “thank you very much” to the interpreters and the pages, especially the table officers, Ms. Tupik and Mr. Innuksuk. On behalf of the two deputy chairs, I say “thank you very much.”
Report of the Committee of the Whole. (interpretation) Member for Tununiq, Mr. Enook.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bills 2 and 3, and would like to report that Bills 2 and 3 are immediately ready for third reading.
The Hon. Minister of Finance, Mr. Keith Peterson.
Bill 02 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2014-2015 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 2, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2014-2015, be read for the third time.
Bill 03 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2014-2015 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 3, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2014-2015, be read for the third time.
Before we proceed further, Mr. Clerk, will you ascend if the Commissioner of Nunavut is prepared to enter the Chamber to give the assent to bills.
Commissioner Edna Elias: Good afternoon.
It seems like it has been a while.
Perhaps longer for you.
As Commissioner, I am honoured to give assent to the following bills:
Bill 2, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2014-2015; and
Bill 3, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2014-2015.
The warmth and the light of summer are once again gracing our land, despite the smoke of the dump.
As you conclude your work here and prepare to return to your families and communities, I wish you all a safe journey home and a beautiful summer.
I want to say that this afternoon, I was speaking to the principal of Kugluktuk and some of them are going swimming this afternoon behind the river at 20 degrees.
Also, to another successful activity, on behalf of Women in Action 2014, I would like to publicly thank Hon. Ministers Peterson, Ell, Ugyuk, and Member of the Legislative Assembly Pat Angnakak for your support coming out to our events to either volunteer or lend us your head for a very successful head shave one evening.
The Women in Action 2014 targeted to raise $80,000 for breast cancer research.
Alberta Cancer Foundation continues today to certify, verify and everything else all of the funds that have been donated. As of earlier this week, we are just under $2,000 shy of our goal, but we are very certain that with the online donations that continue to arrive, we are going to reach if not exceed our target goal.
Thank you very much to Nunavummiut everywhere and those south of the borders for contributing and helping us once again with our successful walk.
I also want to extend my best wished to all Nunavummiut for a safe and happy summer out on the land, on the water, everywhere.
In Kugluktuk this weekend, as they celebrate a very special elder’s hundredth birthday, the community will be celebrating with June Okalik Klengenberg this weekend.
I wish all Kuglukturmiut a very good day, happy weekend, and the same with all Nunavummiut. (interpretation) Thank you.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Orders of the Day.
Before we adjourn, I wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation.
I am honoured to be your Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
I would like to thank you for training me and orientating me, even though I made a few mistakes, and I apologize for that. Thank you very much for helping me.
Also, to my constituents in Amittuq, thank you very much.
Elders have told me that they want to see me at the Legislative Assembly.
I am here now. Thank you. I am very honoured to serve you in this House.
I will make a comment in English. (interpretation ends) I would also like to thank our pages, interpreters, staff, and Hansard transcribers who helped us to keep this running smoothly.
(interpretation) On a personal note, I want to thank my wife, Patricia, and for her support and patience, and my son John Paul and Sherry Jane, my daughter, as well as all of my grandchildren. I leave them at home for quite some time and I thank them for their support and patience.
Thank you very much. That’s on a personal note.
Finally, I want to say to my constituents in Igloolik and Hall Beach that it is an honour to be able to serve them in this House.
I wish Nunavummiut a safe and enjoyable summer and have a safe hunting time. I know that the families will be going out camping this spring for sure because it’s the best time of year.
It makes family relationships closer. Have a joyous and safe summer.
I wish all Nunavummiut a safe and enjoyable summer. On behalf of the Legislative Assembly members, I wish you a safe, enjoyable summer.
(interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, October 21, at 1:30 p.m.
Pages 995 – 1020
Speaker: The Honourable George Qulaut, M.L.A.  Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Opening Prayer 995
Money Message 995
Ministers’ Statements 995
Members’ Statements 996
Returns to Oral Questions* 1002
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1002
Oral Questions 1002
Returns to Written Questions* 1013
Responses to Petitions* 1013
Tabling of Documents 1013
Notices of Motions 1014
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 1015
Motions 1015
First Reading of Bills 1019
Second Reading of Bills 1019
Orders of the Day 1019
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 995
044 – 4(2): Fuel Price to Remain the Same in 2014-15 (Sammurtok) 995
108 – 4(2): Support for Plebiscite on Retail Sales of Beer and Wine (Angnakak) 996
109 – 4(2): Congratulations to Tagak Curley, C.M. (Sammurtok) 998
110 – 4(2): Tribute to Sergeant Yvonne Niego (Mikkungwak) 998
111 – 4(2): Congratulations to Gord Billard (Savikataaq) 999