EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
There were additional recommendations completed in this period; I just mentioned the primary recommendations considered of importance.
I thank the minister for updating some of the specific recommendations from the report.
What I’m looking for is an overarching response from the government in an updated manner.
Just going further, on March 18, 2014, the Office of the Auditor General provided this Assembly with a follow-up report with six further recommendations.
At that time, the department provided the Quality Protects Action Plan in addition to the earlier action plan.
My questions would be: does the department currently have a process or mechanism in place to track or monitor progress on activities that have been committed to in both of these action plans? When can this Assembly look at getting a formal update on the actions within both of those action plans?
I thank my colleague for requesting more information on the recommendations.
We get together and come up with deadlines. There are deadlines for those documents. At the winter session, I can provide an update on which action items have been completed.
If that action plan update could be available even sooner, I’m sure we would appreciate it, but if not, we will look forward to seeing it when it’s available.
I would like to touch on one of the parts of the follow-up report that the Office of the Auditor General provided.
In the introduction of the follow-up report, the Office of the Auditor General provided some basic statistics on the number of community social worker and supervisor positions across Nunavut, as well as the number of children in care.
My question would be: are the number of staff and budget allocated to this division adequate to meet the need for child protection services across Nunavut?
I also thank my colleague for asking that important question.
For every community, our goal is to have two social workers locally, which is part of our plans.
With respect to the caseload for each worker, as an example, the number of children per caseworker, we are also deliberating on those issues.
With respect to vacancies in the Department of Family Services, we want to have positions filled, but a number of vacancies remain and some communities are understaffed and some don’t have a social worker. We’re working with human resources in an effort to find many social workers. We want to make sure that we get many social workers working.
Looking at the future, our plan is to try to have two social workers for each community.
Item 7. (interpretation ends) Written Questions. (interpretation) Item 8. (interpretation ends) Returns to Written Questions.
Committee Report 005 – 4(3): Report on the Review of the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 Annual Reports and 2015-2016 Corporate and Business Plans of the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (Hickes)
I gladly rise today to present the report of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts on its review of the 2013-14 and 2014-15 annual reports and the 2015-16 business plans of the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
The Nunavut Development Corporation’s 2013-14 annual report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on November 6, 2014.
Its 2014-15 annual report was backdoor tabled on September 22, 2015 pursuant to the provisions of Rule 44(2) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation’s 2013-14 annual report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on November 6, 2014.
*See Appendix for full text of Committee Report 5 – 4(3).
Its 2014-15 annual report was backdoor tabled on September 19, 2015 pursuant to the provisions of Rule 44(2) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
The 2015-16 business plans of both entities were included in the Government of Nunavut’s consolidated set of 2015-16 departmental and Crown agency business plans, which were introduced in the Legislative Assembly as part of the 2015-16 main estimates and budget consideration process.
Between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 fiscal years, approximately $23.0 million of public money was approved by the Legislative Assembly in direct contribution funding for the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
These amounts were appropriated through the annual main estimates of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, in June of 2015, the standing committee announced its plans to hold televised hearings in the fall of 2015 on the most recent annual reports and business plans of the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
The purpose of the televised hearings was to enable members of the standing committee to consider in detail the annual reports and business plans of both arm’s-length entities.
The September 24 to 25, 2015 appearances of witnesses from the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation before the standing committee took place in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly.
The standing committee’s hearings were televised live across the territory and were open to the public and news media to observe from the Visitors’ Gallery.
First, the adequacy of the governance frameworks for the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
The extent to which the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation are successfully fulfilling their statutory mandates.
Section 3 of the Nunavut Development Corporation Act provides that the corporation’s role is to, and I quote, “create employment and income for residents of Nunavut, primarily in small communities.”
Section 5 of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation Act provides that the corporation’s role is to, and I again quote, stimulate
“economic development and employment in Nunavut…” The standing committee’s recent hearing enabled members to explore a number of important issues with witnesses from both territorial corporations.
These included the extent to which the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation is actually able to measure the number of jobs its lending activities create or preserve; the extent to which the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation should diversify its lending activities away from the construction and real estate sectors; the extent to which the Nunavut Development Corporation’s current approach to subsidizing jobs is sustainable; and the extent to which the Nunavut Development Corporation should be establishing new subsidiaries in smaller communities.
The report also contains the adequacy of both territorial corporations’ public reporting practices concerning such matters as disclosure of loan recipients.
Also, the question of whether the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation should remain as separate entities.
In 2008, a report was commissioned by the Government of Nunavut on this issue. This report, which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on March 12, 2008, recommended that the Government of Nunavut establish a new “Nunavut Enterprise and Investment Corporation” in Rankin Inlet by combining the existing Nunavut Development Corporation and Nunavut Business Credit Corporation into a single entity.
The standing committee’s recent hearing enabled members to explore this issue with witnesses from both territorial corporations.
Committee Report 006 – 4(3): Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act (Minimum Wage) (Savikataaq)
I’ll be shorter than my colleague.
I wish to report that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act (Minimum Wage), has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 7 immediately moved into Committee of the Whole.
Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 7 immediately moved into Committee of the Whole.
Speaker: It is agreed and Bill 7 will be placed on the order paper for today.
Tabled Document 030 – 4(3): Office of the Fire Marshal’s 2014 Annual Report (Mike)
I am pleased to table today the Office of the Fire Marshal’s 2014 annual report.
Tabled Document 031 – 4(3): Nunavut Law Foundation’s Annual Report for the Year Ending December 31, 2013 (Okalik)
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to table the Nunavut Law Foundation’s annual report for the year ending December 31, 2013.
Hon. Minister responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council, Mr. Taptuna.
Tabled Document 032 – 4(3): 2015 Annual Report for the Utility Rates Review Council of Nunavut (Taptuna)
I am pleased to table the 2015 annual report for the Utility Rates Review Council of Nunavut.
Tabled Document 033 – 4(3): Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council’s Annual Report for 2014-2015 (Ugyuk)
I am pleased to table the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council’s annual report for 2014-15.
Speaker (interpretation): Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Taptuna.
Tabled Document 034 – 4(3): Annual Report on the Administration of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the Period April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 (Taptuna)
I am pleased to table the annual report on the administration of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the period April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015.
Tabled Document 035 – 4(3): Towards a Representative Public Service, Statistics as of March 31, 2015 (Peterson)
Tabled Document 036 – 4(3): Towards a Representative Public Service, Statistics as of June 30, 2015 (Peterson)
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table Towards a Representative Public Service, Statistics as of March 31, 2015 and as of June 30, 2015.
Tabled Document 037 – 4(3): Response Letter from Canadian North to the Deputy Minister of Health regarding the Codeshare Agreement (Okalik)
Tabled Document 038 – 4(3): Response Letter from First Air to the Deputy Minister of Health regarding the Codeshare Agreement (Okalik)
Tabled Document 039 – 4(3): Response Letter from Calm Air to the Deputy Minister of Health regarding the Codeshare Agreement (Okalik)
I am pleased to also table the response letters from Canadian North, Calm Air, and First Air to the Deputy Minister of Health regarding the codeshare agreement.
Tabled Document 040 – 4(3): Response Letter from Canadian North Addressed to the Premier Regarding Codeshare (Taptuna)
Tabled Document 041 – 4(3): Response Letter from First Air Addressed to the Premier Regarding Codeshare (Taptuna)
Tabled Document 042 – 4(3): Response Letter from Calm Air Addressed to the Premier Regarding Codeshare (Taptuna)
I am pleased to table the response letters addressed to myself regarding the codeshare agreement from the following airlines: Canadian North, First Air, and Calm Air.
Motion 007 – 4(3): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Mikkungwak)
I give notice that on Thursday, November 5, 2015, I will move the following motion:
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Aggu, that when the House concludes its fall 2015 sitting, it shall be adjourned until February 24, 2016.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Notices of Motions. The Hon. Member for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, Ms. Angnakak.
Motion 008 – 4(3): Referral of Tabled Documents 73 – 4(2), 116 – 4(2), and 140 – 4(2) to the Committee of the Whole – Notice (Angnakak)
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the hon. member from Tununiq, that Tabled Documents 73 – 4(2), 116 – 4(2), and 140 – 4(2) be referred to the Committee of the Whole for concurrent consideration.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Item 14. Notices of Motions.
Motion 009 – 4(3): Promoting Green Energy in Nunavut – Notice (Hickes)
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that this House formally expresses its strong support for significantly increased efforts to promote and develop renewable sources of green energy in Nunavut.
Hon. Member for Aggu, Mr. Quassa.
Motion 010 – 4(3): Invitation to Representatives from Northern Airlines to Appear Before the Full Caucus of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut – Notice (Quassa)
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South, that representatives from the management and ownership structures of Canadian North, Calm Air, and First Air be invited to appear at a special meeting of the Full Caucus in early 2016 to respond to members’ questions.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Item 15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills.
Item 16. (interpretation) Motions. (interpretation ends) Item 17.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 and Tabled Documents 107 – 4(2) and 149 – 4(2) with Mr. Enook in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:24 and Committee resumed at 15:57
First of all, Nunavummiut who are listening to the radio broadcast and watching the televised proceedings, welcome to your committee.
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 and Tabled Documents 107 – 4(2) and 149 – 4(2).
Mr. Chairman, we wish to review the following supplementary appropriation bills along with the supporting budget document: Bills 1, 2, and 6.
Following the completion of these three bills, we wish to review Bills 4, 5, and 7.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 1?
Bill 01 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015 – Consideration in Committee
As we proceed with our meeting, I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if he has witnesses that he would like to bring to the table.
Yes, I would like my witnesses here.
Chairman (interpretation): Minister Peterson would like to have his officials with him at the witness table. Do you agree?
Minister Peterson, for the record, please introduce your officials that are with you at the witness table.
To my right is Chris D’Arcy, Deputy Minister of Finance, and to my left is Jeff Chown, Controller General.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. D’Arcy and Mr. Chown, welcome to the chamber.
I will now ask the minister to make his opening comments.
I am pleased to appear before you today to present Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015.
Bill 1 is for operations and maintenance supplementary appropriations for 2014-15 totalling $4,621,000.
$4,336,000 to the Department of Justice to cover cost overruns in Corrections and RCMP during the 2014-15 fiscal year; and
$285,000 to the Department of Community and Government Services to bring the Petroleum Products Stabilization Fund (PPSF) within its limit of plus or minus $10 million.
If not, let us deal with Bill 1.
We will start from page 4.
I don’t have an Inuktitut version, so I will read them in English.
If you have any questions, please raise your hand, even when I am reading this, and I’m sure the officials will address your concerns.
I’ll read it in English. (interpretation ends) Justice. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. $376,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): On the same page, (interpretation ends) Justice.
Operations and Maintenance. Total Law Enforcement. $1,100,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): On (interpretation ends) Justice, Mr. Hickes.
I just have a couple questions on the corrections, on the $2,860,000.
Traditionally, it seems that corrections has been frequently part of the list in overtime and also quite frequently leading that list of the amount of overtime dollars that are needed to provide the services that they do provide.
Recently, there was an RFP that was put out for an organizational review of the Nunavut Corrections Division (staffing, overtime and other) and the closing date on that was July 31, 2015.
My initial question is: has that RFP been given to tender?
I can’t answer that question at the present time.
Mr. Hickes: I guess it would be safe to assume the minister wouldn’t be able to answer my next question of when that review is anticipated to be completed, but I’ll ask it anyway in case he does happen to have that information.
My understanding of the information I received pertaining to this particular document is that the information, when it is completed, will be discussed some time during the winter.
When we’re looking at the amount that’s being applied for, the $2.86 million, to address a budget shortfall in compensation and benefits, the corrections staff, according to the RFP, currently has 256 indeterminate staff and 113 casual relief staff.
To me, that seems like quite an extraordinary amount of money as far as to address the shortfall, never mind the already compensation and benefits budget line for the division of corrections.
I guess what I would like to see is some type of oversight. What oversight does the Department of Finance provide to not just corrections but also to other departments on use of overtime and tracking of it to identify any issues as early as possible so that it doesn’t come to this point where they have to come back for supplementary appropriation?
Mr. Chairman, there’s a monthly overtime report generated by the Department of Finance based on information provided by all departments. The overtime report is broken down by department. Individual deputy ministers receive copies of the overtime report for their department and they’re asked to provide explanations for the overtime and solutions to the overtime.
I’m aware of the overtime; I have been pressed on this for three years, so Mr. Hickes’ question is not unusual.
The RFP, as I understand it, that was put out is an attempt by the Department of Justice to get a handle on the overtime that is paid at the correctional facility. I have discussed with the minister and like myself, he is quite concerned about the overtime.
In the analysis and in your discussions with the Minister of Justice, is it the lack of staffing or positions filled or is it the demand on the services by the staff that are filling the positions?
I guess my first question would be: are all positions filled or if not, is this what’s leading to all this necessary overtime?
I think Mr. Hickes understands that this RFP is designed to assist the minister and his officials and ourselves to address the overtime and out there to determine if the facilities are properly staffed and make recommendations on how to find solutions to some of the staffing issues out there and schedules.
From what I understand, reading through the RFP, it’s quite a comprehensive RFP.
Hopefully it will come forward with some good recommendations that the department and ourselves as the Department of Finance can use to alleviate some of the conditions out there, including the stress and the burnout and staffing issues associated with that facility.
I’ll just make a comment. I’ll look forward to seeing the results of the RFP.
I’m sure the Minister of Justice and I will have some discussions on the timeline associated with the RFP process and when the final report will come due for information purposes.
That was just a comment, I believe, and I don’t think you’re waiting for a response.
Mr. Hickes asked most of the questions I was going to ask. I do want to ask one thing. I’m assuming and perhaps you can just confirm that this amount of $2.8 million is for all the correctional facilities across Nunavut.
I also have a question on the same subject regarding this money.
How many positions are we talking about here?
The information I have before me is there are 216 PYs for corrections as a whole. Of these 216 positions, 153 are filled.
At this time, there are 153 employees and there are 216 positions in total.
Are you going to be increasing or decreasing the number of positions? Of course, one of them is a new facility that just recently opened in Iqaluit and we went to go see it. Are you going to be increasing the numbers?
This entire staffing review will help the department determine if they have adequate staffing levels. We anticipate that it will increase.
On the same subject, Mr. Hickes.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for recognizing me again.
With the response that was given to my colleague, Mr. Mikkungwak, it said that there are 216 positions, of which 153 are filled, yet in the RFP, it states that the Corrections Division currently employs approximately 256 indeterminate staff and 113 casual relief staff.
My math isn’t always perfect, Mr. Chairman, but those numbers don’t jive to me. Could I get a clarification?
I thank Mr. Hickes for the question. I’m looking at a document that the Department of Justice provided me. Unless there’s a misunderstanding, the current staffing levels in corrections are what I’m referring to.
This RFP that was issued just this summer on July 10 states that the Corrections Division currently employs approximately 256 indeterminate staff and 113 casual relief staff.
I’m just seeking some clarification on what numbers are accurate.
Maybe the minister has got inaccurate information.
I would like to get a comment from the minister on that.
Mr. Chairman, there could be inconsistency in terms of exactly what staff are in there. There is corrections staff. There could be admin. staff included in that number.
I would have to seek assistance from my colleague, the Minister of Justice, if there’s further clarification required.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) You’re seeking clarification from the minister, your colleague, Minister Peterson.
This isn’t the Department of Finance’s RFP. If there are inconsistent numbers in there… . I have a briefing note from the Department of Justice that has the number I’m using, 216, so I’ll have to defer that question to the Minister of Justice.
Minister of Justice, can you respond to that question?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) From what I understand, there is a high vacancy rate at this time, so a lot of it is casual and that’s why there is a lot of overtime or stress leave.
A combination of the mix has not been helpful. Hopefully we can staff up the facilities and have more permanent staff with proper training so that there is less stress involved in our facilities.
That’s part of the strategy of trying to have a more comprehensive human resource, staffed up corrections division. (interpretation) Thank you.
I’m not trying to belabour this point; I’m just trying to get accurate numbers so that we know what we’re approving. I just had a cursory glance again from the RFP that was put out.
It’s got a number of different correctional centres. I just had a rough look. I get 210 indeterminate employees.
With the clarification, within the RFP, can I assume - again Mr. Chairman, you know I don’t like to do that - that these are available positions and that the wording in the RFP that it “currently employs” is incorrect, that it is “currently has available for employment”?
I’m just going to comment and then defer to my colleague, but we do have the RFP in front of us. Yes, it does say 256 and it breaks it down by different facilities across Nunavut and includes administration.
In the document, we have this briefing note. It does clearly say 216 PYs for corrections.
We believe it might be a subset of this RFP. I just don’t know what the 216 refers to. I will defer that for further clarification to my colleague, the Minister of Justice.
The question is referred to Minister Okalik.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The latest I have is 92 approved positions here in Iqaluit, supervisory and on the floor, in corrections, 46 indeterminate employees at the same level throughout the territory, and 103 casuals and relief employees at this time. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mikkungwak, do you have any more questions?
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for recognizing me again.
With the numbers and since the creation of Nunavut, what percentage are aboriginal people who are employed?
I will defer that question to the Minister of Justice.