EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Yes, in fact, a lease/buy assessment was done on the property in question. One of the things that the department is obligated to do is to perform a lease/buy analysis if the transaction over the window of time for the government’s consideration is valued in excess of $1 million. The department was required to carry forward some recommendations to the Financial Management Board several months ago.
The department started working on that based on the office space needs assessment, a study that was completed. As it turned out the lease/buy recommendations were done.
The lease/buy recommendations validated an option; the option was to enter into negotiations to extend the existing term of the lease for a period into the future.
I hope that adequately responds to the member’s question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Mr. Rafter for that answer.
Can the minister indicate or tell us if the recommendations have gone forward to the Financial Management Board to renew the lease, confirm the new lease, and if so has a decision been made?
As I mentioned in my opening comments, this line of questioning, this issue was raised two years ago and at that time we were concerned that the department wasn’t beginning an analysis early enough to allow them sufficient negotiating time to get a good deal.
Mr. Rafter just commented that several months ago they started a lease/buy analysis and the recommendation came forward to extend the lease. Minister, in your opinion, if you only started a several months ago, do you think you got a good deal?
Yes, in my opinion, I believe at this point in time we do have a good deal simply because the EDC building is approximately 33,000 square feet and is occupied 100 percent by tenants.
FMB provided direction as required under the Government of Nunavut’s Leasing of Real Property Policy.
Can the minister tell me why an RFP was not tendered out in Cambridge Bay for the provision of the office space to give other developers an opportunity to participate in that economic opportunity?
I will get Mr. Rafter to respond to the question.
The department did go to great effort over the past number of months to review options that would accommodate this government’s needs in Cambridge Bay.
The department does recognize the member’s concerns.
We do make every effort to utilize public or RFP or public tenders.
In this circumstance, based on the assessments that were completed it was felt that the value that was able to be negotiated through this was the best value for the government.
The government does make every effort to utilize its scarce fiscal resources to the extent that it can and it was felt at this point in time that that was the best option for the government.
I’m not sure if I totally responded to the member’s question but thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I thank the minister and Mr. Rafter.
I guess what I’m getting at here is that it doesn’t actually have to apply only to this particular lease but to all Government of Nunavut leases.
If you’re only starting a review in the year that it’s in overhold and not starting it two to three years prior to the lease expiring, I have the question of whether the government’s getting good value in these small communities where there is only a certain amount of office space. You lose your negotiating advantage when you’re into overhold for a year or longer.
So I’m wondering if the minister can confirm and commit that all leases that are on overhold one to three years, that their department is reviewing those leases and keeping in mind the fact that they may need office space where they have to provide themselves with a sound negotiating vantage when they have to enter into negotiations with the owners of buildings.
In order to answer that question, I guess, I could say that as the GN we do try and make every effort to get the best value for the money.
To say that the building that is in the subject here; it was not in the capital dollars, so that’s the best we could do this time around.
The minister mentioned that there’s $2.2 million in upgrades and the minister is also saying that the government tries to get good value for money. Somewhere in the equation I have to answer the question whether the employees get a good office building for the money.
We’re all well aware that that building is old and it needed upgrades for quite a few years. I’ve heard many complaints from constituents that actually work in that building.
I was wondering if the minister could confirm that that building will be upgraded material-wise to suitable standard to meet the 2007 modern office building criteria.
Yes, we are fully aware of the fact that it’s an old office building; it’s 20 years old.
We have addressed this issue.
Just for an example, right here in Iqaluit there are offices that are more than 20 years old; just look at the Brown Building. I wondered how many years that one is but it is still being utilized.
They do upgrades on them.
In this case, there was a third party independent and professional technical evaluation of the property that was done, in addition to our own in-house assessment. Upgrades and improvements at the landlord’s expense will increase the lifespan of the building and its value.
Upgrades and improvements amounting to $2.2 million will be completed over the first two years, as I have mentioned, of the lease at the landlord’s cost, and these stipulations will be included in the lease agreement.
Transferring some EDC annual maintenance service to CGS will allow us to tender the services.
This will ultimately provide better value to the GN, such as snow removal, snow clearing, janitorial services, and direct fuel billing.
Scheduled O&M will be performed on a GN approved schedule and reporting will be required.
At the end of the day, at the end of the lease the GN will own the building.
Can the minister provide us with financial figures? What is the annual lease renewal for that building? What is the term of the lease?
I will get Mr. Rafter to respond to that question.
The department is in the process of negotiating some of the final arrangements with the lease. I can say the base lease rent is, in fact, 20 percent lower than the average lease cost to this government across the territory.
I thank Mr. Rafter for that answer.
What is the average base lease cost to the government across the territory?
Mr. Rafter or Madame Minister.
I will get Mr. Rafter to respond to that again.
Some aspects of the cost is due to the fact that it’s under negotiation and on a basis that are considered, I would think, privileged information. That is just one of those aspects.
I don’t think I understood Mr. Rafter. He said privileged information; we are Members of the Legislative Assembly, we are the guardians of the public purse.
You did say that your review made some recommendations to Financial Management Board, so, surely you must have some figures that you can provide to Members of the Legislative Assembly on that lease.
I would appreciate it if you could provide that information to us.
Your questioning is over. Once the other members have had a chance to ask questions you can begin again.
I perhaps didn’t articulate what I was trying to say as well as I probably should have.
I didn’t mean to imply that I couldn’t or shouldn’t try to provide a full response to the member’s question.
I do have to solicit some direction to confirm what it is within the agreement that I can publicly disclose.
I would certainly request that I at least be given an opportunity to do that and will respond again more fully to the member’s question.
We’re on government services.
Maybe we can just take a short break so that Mr. Rafter, or the minister and her officials can find out what they can let us know or not, because I, myself am very interested in finding out how much we’re going to be paying for buildings.
I’m going to be asking about the terms of the lease as well for a building where we already paid $24 million.
So I would like to ask if we can take a break right now, and he can find out because I certainly am very interested in having that information provided to the members.
We will take a short break. I’m asking the members if they agree: would you like to take a short break, members?
With that we will break for five minutes.
>>Committee recessed at 16:29 and resumed at 16:50
Chairman (interpretation): Let’s resume the meeting. Before we go back to the page, I would like to acknowledge Mr. Arvaluk.
Chairman (interpretation): I apologize, Mr. Arvaluk.
I was out of order. When the Speaker sits on this throne we can go back to an item. So you’ll have to wait until then.
I am just wondering if the minister or her officials could provide us with the numbers for that lease that we were talking about before.
Thank you, for the question member.
As required by the GN Leasing Policy, CGS received directions to negotiate a new lease with the existing landlord. These negotiations are still in progress; they’re still in process.
Therefore we are unable to provide the details until the lease has been signed. We have followed that process ever since 2004 that I know of.
It’s a little discouraging if the official said they already knew what the base rate was going to be and they don’t want to provide that information to the members of the Assembly.
Given that I would like to make a motion.
Committee Motion 001 – 2(4): Deferral of Consideration of 2007-08 Main Estimates of the Department of Community and Government Services (Tootoo)
I move that the consideration of the 2007-08 main estimates and business plans of the Department of Community and Government Services be deferred and the committee proceeds with the consideration of the 2007-08 main estimates and business plans for Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Chairman: Before we proceed with the debate on the motion I have a few comments to make as to procedure.
Every member has the right to speak once the motion is made for a total time of twenty minutes. The mover of the motion speaks first. The mover of the motion has the right to the last replies which closes the debate.
I really believe that members of the Assembly of this government have said that they want to be open and transparent; they’ve already indicated that they do have an agreement with the landlord on that facility for a base amount and it was detailed stuff that they were negotiating.
So I would like to say that we are entitled to that information; the details on it; they have made a decision on it; it is public money that we’re going to be voting on in this budget.
So I think until we get more information that this department be deferred.
Are there any further comments to the motion?
There’s different ways to approach the debate on issues regarding the budget of the Department of Community and Government Services. One way would be to, at this time, cease and desist debate on this line item, but continue with the rest of the budget.
We’ve had the department on debate for the last couple of days and we don’t want to see the House fall behind schedule.
So maybe an opportunity exists here where we could just stop on this page and everyone knowing that we can come back to it and continue on with the department.
If we stop the department right now and go on to another department, we still have to come back to it anyways.
So I’d rather see the majority of the department be completed and then be able to come back and debate the issue that has caused some concern for the members.
That, Mr. Chairman, would be a proposal that I would make on behalf of the government on this issue.
My question to you, Mr. Chairman, would the members entertain that opportunity with the motion?
I think that would be a fair...because I do understand that there are some concerns with the line item.
So instead of just holding up the whole bunch of debates on the department, we defer that line item and continue on with the rest of the budget for now.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Picco. (interpretation ends) I’m asking you if you’re making a motion to amend the motion.
It would be highly irregular for a Member of the Cabinet to make a motion to defer an item in the budget for debate.
What I’m suggesting is maybe one of the members or the member who moved the motion would accept what I have suggested and do that motion.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Picco. (interpretation ends) Are there any more general comments?
Mr. Curley: I think that delay will probably not succeed at this moment because if a member wants to amend the motion and you really should have a partner, he doesn’t have one right now so I think we should stick to the motion and get on with the vote.
And I have no problem with the motion as it is and the minister deserves a bit of rest right now so I think we would do well in getting rid of the motion and proceed with the other department.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Mr. Arvaluk, to the motion.
The motion is not saying that we scrap this part of the budget, Government services be deferred; simply just deferred for now.
Everyone is allowed to speak to the motion once.
So I’m asking if the mover would like to make his last comment, or are there any comments to the motion from the members?
(interpretation ends) Mr. Tootoo, you’re the mover.
I agree with Mr. Curley and Mr. Arvaluk, so we’re not saying we don’t want to deal with this department; we just want it deferred for now and move on to the next department on the list so that time isn’t wasted and we can move forward and continue to work and progress through the main estimates of the government.
So I will leave my motion as it is.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. (interpretation ends) All those in favour, please raise your hands.
(interpretation) There’s a tie vote but I have to support the motion.
So we will defer the consideration of the Department of Community and Government Services.
So at this time we’ll move on to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
I would like to ask Mr. Tapardjuk to do his opening comments for the department, I’m sorry.
Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the officials from the witness table, and I would like to thank the officials, Mr. Rafter, Ms. Hine, and the minister.
Order. Minister for Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Opening Comments, Mr. Tapardjuk.
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Consideration in Committee – Culture, Language, Elders & Youth
My colleagues, it is my pleasure to present to you the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth for 2007-08, Business Plans and Main Estimates.
The department plays an important leadership role in the Government of Nunavut for preservation, development, and enhancement of Nunavut’s culture, heritage, language, and healthy active living opportunities for Nunavummiut.
I seek your support to approve the departmental budget of $16,219,000.
As the lead department in incorporating Inuit societal values, and language through the development and implementation of policies, programs, and services for Nunavummiut, my department has increased the members of katimajiit to 15 members and has restructured the Katimajiit to three working sub-committees of five people based on interest and experience.
This will ensure the assistance to the other departments is expanded and will guarantee that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is reflected in government policies and procedures.
My department is implementing two Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit initiatives entering into the second year.
A Project Coordinator is working with Piqqusilirivik Steering Committee in the planning and establishment of governance programs and services for Piqqusilirivik.
A report is forthcoming with an implementation plan outlining the cost, process, and timeline.
The other initiative is on the Inuit societal values pilot project involving elders and the goal of building a stronger community based on Inuit societal values, wellness values, and approaches.
There will be evaluation to document effective practices and to attempt to fight issues with recommendations.
The role of elders has always been very important and crucial in our history to addressing social wellness issues.
The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit, and other elders have been, and continue to be actively involved in this process.
These estimates reflect my department’s renewed commitment to creating more culturally based programs on Inuit societal values.
The 2007-08 main estimates assure that my department will continue to address the long-term health of Inuktitut and Innuinaqtut through the enhancement of translation and terminology services.
Continued funding will be provided for literary prizes and language awards in connection with the Language Week activities.
The Official Languages Branch has been diligently working on developing new language legislation that will play an important role in strengthening the Inuit language at all levels of the government and society, while maintaining and respecting minority language rights.
It is my intention to introduce the two draft legislation in the near future.
The department’s Culture and Heritage Branch is responsible for direction and planning on issues facing the conservation of Nunavut’s heritage resources and the administration of Public Library services.
In 2007-08, resources have been provided to expand and enhance the Archaeological Training Program, and a phased implementation of a Human Remains Repatriation Strategy.
The department and Inuit Heritage Trust plans to co-host a repatriation conference to consult with elders and others in the development of a repatriation strategy.
The department continues its efforts through the trilateral working group to secure external financial and technical support for the Nunavut Heritage Centre.
Funding in 2007-08 will enable the Community Programs Branch to promote departmental grants and contributions to implement the Elders’ Needs Strategy as well as the Youth Developmental Strategy, and the Active Living Campaign to encourage Nunavummiut to be physically active.
The Sport Nunavut Branch is responsible for the development of amateur sport in Nunavut, and delivers programs and services for the development of athletes, coaches, and officials in Nunavut.
Sport Nunavut is an active participant in the Pan-territorial Sport Development Strategy, and funding in 2007-08 will be used in preparing for our participation in Western Canada Summer Games and the Arctic Winter Games.
In closing, I would like to highlight that in the 2007-08 main estimates, $5,455,000 of my department’s budget is allocated to grants and contributions to empower and build capacity in communities throughout Nunavut.
This highly successful program provides funding to individuals, not-for-profit community-based organizations, and local governments for social, cultural, language, sport, recreational youth, elders, and community library projects.
My department recognizes the importance of supporting these projects at a community level as means of preserving and promoting the Inuit societal values.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would be pleased to answer any questions you might have.
At this time I would like to ask the Chair of the Ajauqtiit committee if he has any opening comments to make.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to deliver the committees opening remarks as we begin consideration of the 2007-08 Main Estimates and Business Plan of the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Later on members will have an opportunity to make comments and questions regarding the estimates.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee Ajauqtiit has had an opportunity to meet with the minister and his officials.
The minister was able to provide an update on his department’s proposed expenditures for this coming fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, members are pleased that the department continues to make efforts to encourage Nunavummiut to preserve our language through the awarding of the annual Nunavut Literary prize during the annual Language Week activities.
Members are also pleased that the department is in the process of developing two new pieces of language legislation: the Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act for introduction during this session.
Members look forward to reviewing these bills after they have been introduced.
Mr. Chairman, members noted that the department continues to pursue negotiations with the federal government on a Canada/Nunavut Cooperation Agreement for French and Inuit languages that will meet the needs of Nunavut.
Members expect to be fully informed on this issue.
Mr. Chairman, members noted that departmental officials have been to Cambridge Bay and Clyde River to evaluate the two Inuit societal values, Wellness Pilot Project that were undertaking in 2006-07.
Members also noted that the department is developing an Inuit Societal Values program for Nunavut.
Members look forward to being updated on the success of these projects.
Mr. Chairman, the committee is pleased that the department is working on its plan for establishing the government’s framework for programs and services for the new Piqqusilirivik Cultural School in Clyde River, and its satellite campuses.
The committee looks forward to monitoring the progress of these initiatives and continues to stress the importance of ensuring that an Inuinnaqtun component is included in the school.
Mr. Chairman, members noted that the department is continuing its efforts through the Trilateral Working Group to secure internal financial and technical support for the proposed new Nunavut Heritage Centre.
Members also noted that the department is working on the implementation of a Human Remains Repatriation Strategy, our cultural artifacts and human remains cannot be repatriated until such facility is built in Nunavut.
Members are also aware that the department continues to work on the development of amendments on the Historical Resources Act and look forward to these being introduced.
Members would like to congratulate our athletes, artists, and performers who recently participated in the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse.
Members support the department’s effort to assist our youth in participating in such events, as well as promoting our cultural and our traditional sporting events on the national stage.
This department is responsible for Nunavut Public Libraries.
Building strong literacy skills is an important element of a healthy society.
The committee has noted that there are a number of vacant positions in the department’s library service office in Baker Lake.
The committee hopes that the department will be able to move forward in filling these.
Members applaud the department for its practice in tabling comprehensive annual reports in the grants and contributions spending, as this practice is important for the transparency and accountability of public funds.
Members look forward to reviewing the 2005-06 annual report, which has not yet been tabled.
This concludes my opening remarks. I anticipate that regular members will raise their own comments and concerns on the department’s 2007-08 main estimates and business plans.
At this time I would like to ask the minister if he will be bringing any of his officials to the witness table.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, I do want to bring officials.
Chairman: Agreed. Sergeant-at-Arms if you would escort the officials, please.
Mr. Tapardjuk, for the record, I would like you to introduce your officials at the witness table.
I have on my left, David Akeeagok, who is the Deputy Minister for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, and on my right, another David, David Kolot, for finances.
Before we proceed, at this time I would like to remind the members of the following; following Rule 77(1) the members will have ten minutes for general comments, and following Rule 77(2), at the discretion of the chair, the members can make more than one comment as long as the other members have had the opportunity to make their comments.
(interpretation ends) I suggest to the members that where ever possible, you ask your detailed questions during the page by page review of the departmental estimates.