EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, I can indicate to the member that we have other plans to… . I’m not sure what that body of water near Gjoa Haven is called. Mr. Speaker, we are going to be responsible for the work on that body of water, getting the required permits, and so on.
Whether we are working with the federal government or non-governmental organizations, the Nunavut government is going to take the leadership role in work related to the ships that have been found.
As the minister is aware, the community of Gjoa Haven sees great tourism potential associated with the discovery of the Franklin Expedition ships.
We want the community of Gjoa Haven to benefit from this. Can the minister describe how he is working with the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation to assist the community in this area?
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation also has other sectors which include Nunavut Tourism and cruise ships going through Nunavut waters.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Culture and Heritage could work together with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation and their tourism sector.
As it relates to the findings of the ships, we can work together, but I’m not sure which divisions of our departments are going to be working on it.
If there are any plans, I will discuss this with my ministerial colleague and our officials. I will be able to respond to your question in detail at a later date.
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the minister is aware, there has been controversy associated with the permitting process associated with the search for the lost Franklin ships, including disputes involving the Government of Nunavut, Parks Canada, and the Arctic Research Foundation.
For the record, can the minister clarify the Government of Nunavut’s position on this matter?
I can’t respond to the question at this time because there are a lot of entities involved with this matter.
Question 736 – 4(3): Departmental Vacancies (Joanasie)
Before I go to my question, I would like to welcome my teacher from Nunavut Sivuniksavut, which was established in 1985.
Murray Angus was my teacher and now that he is semi-retired, I would like to welcome him to the House.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Finance, who is the Chairperson of the Financial Management Board.
The Government of Nunavut’s most recent quarterly employment report indicates that approximately 1,285 positions were vacant as of March 31, 2017.
This represents a vacancy rate of approximately 27 percent.
Ten years ago the vacancy rate was only 20 percent.
Can the minister indicate what specific factors have accounted for the increase in the vacancy rate?
It’s pretty simple. The Government of Nunavut has been creating a lot of new jobs and of course we strive for 85 percent Inuit employment. People have to be qualified for those jobs and a lot of the jobs that are being created are highly technical.
As Mr. Joanasie is aware, in the Berger report 2006, Berger recommended education as a key issue. The Office of the Auditor General of Canada, in their 2010 report, said the same thing.
We need to get our grads up. People have to get into post-secondary and qualify for the jobs.
The Government of Nunavut’s most recent quarterly employment report indicates that there were a total of approximately 4,788 positions across the entire government as of March 31, 2017.
Ten years ago the government only had 3,687 positions.
This represents an increase of over 1,100 positions, or almost 30 percent, in the span of just ten years.
If the government cannot fill almost a quarter of its existing positions, why does the Financial Management Board continue to allow departments to add new positions to their organizational charts?
If the entire population of Nunavut lived in one or two communities - I think it is 37,000 - it would be so much easier to provide government and public services. If you take a small town down south of 37,000 people, they’ve got a mayor, council, let’s say eight or nine people running an entire community, and maybe they’ve got a thousand employees. I’m just guessing.
In Nunavut, just looking at some stats, 11 percent of our population is providing services in Nunavut. We all live in 25 communities. Twenty-five communities need health centres, one or two schools, community councils, and other services.
It’s quite elementary, Mr. Speaker.
The more communities you have and you have 37,000 people stretched across three time zones, then you have to provide the same services in those communities but not to such extent, let’s say, you have in Iqaluit.
Obviously we don’t have hospitals in Cambridge Bay or Kugluktuk. You have one here.
You have to staff these positions. You can’t have one community getting all the services and other communities getting a quarter or 20 percent of the services.
Mr. Speaker, the government is asked to provide services to Nunavummiut and MLAs encourage it. We work with the communities, we work with all the Nunavummiut, we prepare business cases, and the departments come to the Financial Management Board.
We don’t approve everything, but then we come in this House and we debate it. The main estimates and capital estimates get approved in this House.
As I noted earlier, the Government of Nunavut’s most recent quarterly employment report indicates that approximately 1,285 positions were vacant as of March 31, 2017.
I understand the minister’s response about education is the key.
In order for the population to be employed, they need to have the skills and requirements. Also looking at the vacancy rate, it can span so many years.
I would like to test the minister to see if he can indicate approximately how many of the vacant positions have been sitting vacant for five years or more.
I would love to be able to answer that question.
As he can appreciate, I’ve got gazillions of pieces of information rolling around in my head and sometimes the answers are not immediately there.
I can tell Mr. Joanasie that even though on the Inuit employment stats an indeterminate job is indicated vacant, many of those positions are filled by casuals who are not maybe providing 100 percent of the level of service in that position.
They would be providing a reduced level of service.
While those positions may be vacant, they’re actually quite often staffed by casuals.
We put a lot of effort into it on this side, encouraging our departments to identify casuals who have been in positions for a significant length of time.
It could be, let’s say for example, as long as five years. I don’t know if there are that many in there now. If a person is a casual in a position is doing a good job, they’ve had good performance appraisals, they have been learning on the job, they have gained experience, they know the job, and their boss or supervisor is satisfied with them that they’re performing well, then we actively encourage them to put forward a request for a direct appointment.
Direct appointments are approved by cabinet and we quite regularly do that.
My colleagues, the time for question period has expired.
Item 7. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Education, Mr. Paul Quassa.
If it’s okay with my colleagues, I would like to go back to Item 5.
Speaker (interpretation): The member would like to go back to Item 5.
Mr. Paul Quassa, please proceed.
Many people in Nunavut probably know this person, especially students who attended school in Ottawa.
I used to work with him when he first started. I would like to recognize him. It’s obvious that a lot of young people and parents in Nunavut truly appreciate him.
I would like to thank and recognize Murray Angus.
He has worked with our youth for a long time and they have developed very talented young people at Nunavut Sivuniksavut. I truly appreciate him.
I would like to recognize and welcome Murray Angus to Nunavut.
Speaker: Welcome to the gallery. (interpretation) Item 7.
Bill 46 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2018-2019 – Notice
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, June 1, 2017, that Bill 46, Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2018-2019, be read for the first time.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I request consent of this Assembly to waive the one-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 46, Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2018-2019.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The minister is seeking consent to allow Bill 46 to be read for today.
There are none. Minister Peterson, you may proceed.
Bill 46 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2018-2019 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 46, Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2018-2019, be read for the first time.
Bill 46 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2018-2019 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 46, Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2018-2019, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of Nunavut to make capital expenditures for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019.
The motion is carried and Bill 46 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bills 27, 24, 25, and… . (interpretation) Sorry. (interpretation ends) I’ll start over. Bill 27, Bill 44, Bill 45, and Bill 46 with Mr. Enook in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:45 and Committee resumed at 16:11
First of all, I would like to welcome Nunavummiut who are watching the televised proceedings and listening to the radio broadcast. Welcome to your committee.
In Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: Bills 44, 45, and 46.
We wish to deal with Bill 44.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Are we in agreement that we deal with Bill 44?
Bill 44 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2017-2018 –Consideration in Committee
As we proceed, while Minister Peterson is at the witness table, I would like to ask him if he has witnesses that he would like to appear before the committee.
Yes, I would like two officials to join me at the witness table.
Do you agree to have Minister Peterson’s officials at the witness table?
To my right is Jeff Chown and to my left is Eiryn Devereaux.
Jeff is from the finance department and Eiryn is from Community and Government Services. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. Welcome to the House, Mr. Chown and Mr. Devereaux.
Let’s proceed. If you have any opening comments, Minister Peterson, I now give you the opportunity to make them.
I am here today to present Bill 44, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2017-2018.
Bill 44 is for operations and maintenance supplementary appropriations for 2017-18 totalling $7,409,000.
$1,512,000 to the Nunavut Housing Corporation to cover additional compensation and benefits costs to local housing organizations resulting from the new Nunavut Employees Union agreement; and
$5,877,000 to the Department of Community and Government Services to cover the deposit payment of $1,640,000 for the lease-to-own provision of the Legislative Assembly building and $4,257,000 to cover the deposit payment for the lease-to-own provision of the nine office buildings located in decentralized communities.
If there are no general comments, we will start with Bill 44 on page 2 in English and page 4 in Inuktitut.
Please raise your hand if you have any questions.
I’ll start with the Department of Community and Government Services. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Operations. $5,897,000. Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $5,897,000.
Page 2. I’m sorry, I made an error.
Page 5 in Inuktitut and English.
If you have any questions, please raise your hand. It reads, Department. Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized. Total Nunavut Housing Corporation. $1,512,000.
There is a reference to the Nunavut Employees Union agreement.
My question is regarding the local housing organizations.
As members, we know that some of the LHOs are managed by the Nunavut Housing Corporation and some communities have independent housing associations.
Is it dealing with both levels of organizations?
I think he asked me that question the last time we were seeking similar funding.
Total Nunavut Housing Corporation. $1,512,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $1,512,000.
It reads, Supplementary Appropriation.
My apologies. The Inuktitut copy is not making any sense.
I apologize. I will read the English copy instead as I have a hard time understanding the Inuktitut copy.
(interpretation ends) Summary of Appropriation Voted for the Public Service of the Government of Nunavut for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2018.
Operations and Maintenance. Operations and Maintenance Appropriation. $7,409,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Go to your white legislation binder and refer to Bill 44.
I believe everyone has a copy. Bill 44 is in your legislation binder.
Can I proceed now? I believe you have it in front of you now.
I’m sorry that I don’t have the Inuktitut copy, so I will read it in English.
It reads, (interpretation ends) Bill 44, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2017-2018.
Chairman (interpretation): While we are on this page, please look at the Schedule on page 2.
I’ll read it in English. (interpretation ends) Schedule.
Supplementary Amounts Appropriated for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2018. Vote 1: Operations and Maintenance.
Total Appropriation. $7,409,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Let’s go back to the bill.
Chairman (interpretation): Committee, do we agree to Bill 44 as a whole?
Committee, do you agree, pursuant to Rule 62(2), that Bill 44 can now immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Minister Peterson, we are done with this bill. If you have any closing remarks, I now give you the opportunity to make them.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman, and your committee for your questions and support on approving this bill.
They were very good questions.
I would like to thank all our officials who worked on these projects and preparing the documentation for us to consider during our in-camera meetings and to be here today.
I would like to thank my two officials, Mr. Chown and Mr. Devereaux, for appearing before me as witnesses at the witness table.
At this time I would like to report progress.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 44 and would like to report that Bill 44 is now ready for third reading. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Just a reminder for tomorrow, there’s a meeting of the Standing Committee on Legislation at nine o’clock in the Nanuq Committee Room.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Thursday, June 1, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 16:31
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Pages 4272 – 4315
Opening Prayer 4272
Ministers’ Statements 4272
Members’ Statements 4275
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 4279
Oral Questions 4282
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 4298
Report of the Committee of the Whole 4314
Third Reading of Bills 4314
Orders of the Day 4315
Thursday, June 1, 2017 4272
302 – 4(3): Iqaluit Airport Project (Ell-Kanayuk) 4272
303 – 4(3): Adoption Commissioner Training (Mike) 4273
304 – 4(3): Strategic Workforce Planning to Enhance Inuit Employment (Taptuna) 4273
305 – 4(3): Red Cross Psychosocial Support for Schools (Quassa) 4274
306 – 4(3): Federal Funding for Indigenous and French Language Services in Nunavut (Kuksuk) 4274
560 – 4(3): Inadequate Staffing at Community Health Centres (Mapsalak) 4275
561 – 4(3): 2017 Nunavut Sivuniksavut Graduates (Joanasie) 4276
562 – 4(3): Early Childhood Education Graduates in Pond Inlet (Enook) 4276
563 – 4(3): NTEP Graduates in Arviat (Savikataaq) 4277
564 – 4(3): Happy 103rd Birthday to June Klengenberg (Taptuna) 4278
565 – 4(3): Appreciation of Ministerial Visit (Mike) 4278
566 – 4(3): Igloolik Fishing Derby (Quassa) 4279
737 – 4(3): Addressing Tuberculosis in Nunavut (Keyootak) 4282
738 – 4(3): Public Housing (Sammurtok, A) 4284
739 – 4(3): Inuit Curriculum Materials for Nunavut Schools (Joanasie) 4286
740 – 4(3): Addressing Problems with Health Care Services (Shooyook) 4288
741 – 4(3): Public Service Management (Angnakak) 4291
742 – 4(3): Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Roundtable (Sammurtok, T) 4293
743 – 4(3): Inadequate Staffing at Community Health Centres (Mapsalak) 4294
744 – 4(3): Implementation of Medical Travel Policies (Akoak) 4296
Bill 45 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2017-2018 –Consideration in Committee 4299
Bill 44 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2017-2018 – Third Reading 4314
Minister’s Statement 302 – 4(3): Iqaluit Airport Project (Ell-Kanayuk)
Welcome, Nunavummiut.
I welcome this opportunity to rise today before the Members of this House to update them on the Iqaluit International Airport Improvement Project.
As the members are aware, this project will be drawing to a close soon, after four years of construction and several more years of planning and procurement.
Operations are scheduled to move to the new terminal building on August 9 of this year.
Many of the members will depart from the current location and when they come back to Iqaluit, they will arrive at the new location.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the members to know how pleased I am with this project. Naturally it makes me happy that it is actually going to be completed on time and on budget, but it pleases me in other ways as well.
I believe that the success of this project demonstrates what this territory can accomplish.
This brought together the resources of several departments, including EDT, CGS, and the departments of Finance and Justice.
With the efforts of these departments, we have leveraged funding from the federal PPP Canada program into a beautiful building and a greatly improved facility that will serve Nunavummiut well for decades to come.
Minister’s Statement 303 – 4(3): Adoption Commissioner Training (Mike)
Good afternoon and I welcome the visitors in the House.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share that my department facilitated custom adoption commissioner training in Iqaluit from April 25 to 27, 2017.
This training brought together 22 custom adoption commissioners from across the territory to attend the gathering.
Given the high rates of custom adoption in the territory, commissioners play a critical role in supporting and encouraging families to register custom adoptions.
This training was intended to enhance commissioners’ skills and understanding in coordinating custom adoptions, strengthen the support network among commissioners, and provide commissioners with the opportunity to sit down face to face and have meaningful discussions around Inuit custom adoptions in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my department, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of the custom adoptions commissioners for the work they do for our territory.
Nunavut’s custom adoption commissioners are key to ensuring that Inuit customary adoption practices preserve the integrity of Inuit societal values, culture, families and communities.
Hon. Premier of Nunavut, Hon. Peter Taptuna.
Minister’s Statement 304 – 4(3): Strategic Workforce Planning to Enhance Inuit Employment (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna (interpretation): Good afternoon, my colleagues, Nunavummiut, Kuglukturmiut, and all Inuit.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut is committed to an effective and functional public service that is representative of the people we serve.
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the importance of completing detailed department Inuit employment plans as well as a government-wide Inuit employment plan.
This will require strategic workforce planning that will take into account long-term priorities that reflect progress and changing circumstances.
Mr. Speaker, since the signing of the 2015 settlement agreement, the Government of Nunavut has taken strategic steps to strengthen the ongoing implementation of Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in order to increase Inuit employment with the Nunavut public service.
My department is currently finalizing a Government of Nunavut master Inuit employment plan.
It is the first GN-wide plan since the signing of the 2015 settlement agreement.
Mr. Speaker, Employment and Social Development Canada and the Nunavut Inuit Labour Force Analysis Working Group have provided us with a view of the historic labour supply at the community level in Nunavut that will be updated with data from the 2016 Census as soon as it becomes available.
We also have a more detailed view of occupational groups in the public service and more specific information about the occupations where Inuit are underrepresented and those where Inuit are well represented.
Mr. Speaker, we want to gain insights that will inform GN-wide actions. These insights will also inform detailed Inuit employment plans at the departmental level. The Government of Nunavut continues to ensure that all government departments and public agencies work actively towards enhanced Inuit employment.
Minister’s Statement 305 – 4(3): Red Cross Psychosocial Support for Schools (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The department recently partnered with the Canadian Red Cross to send trained volunteers into three Nunavut communities to deliver psychosocial support to all layers of the community following critical incidents involving schools.
Psychosocial support is an intervention that brings people together to support each other to cope with stressful events. It is about support and not therapy.
Mr. Speaker, psychosocial support was delivered in Kugaaruk, Cambridge Bay, and Chesterfield Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, the psychosocial support that Red Cross extends on behalf of my department involved the development of short-term action plans with school staff. Also, they provided a safe space for school and community members to discuss their emotional reactions to the events. The Red Cross followed up with second community visits in May.
The Red Cross has developed strong relationships in our communities as a result of previous trips to conduct training with education staff and students.
This support that Red Cross extends is paid for by my department.
Mr. Speaker, providing an opportunity for communities to work through traumatic events is an important step in the healing process.
The department is committed to providing this kind of support. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 306 – 4(3): Federal Funding for Indigenous and French Language Services in Nunavut (Kuksuk)
Good afternoon, my colleagues, Nunavummiut, residents of Whale Cove and Arviat. Have a good afternoon.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report to all my colleagues and Nunavummiut that a new, multi-year language funding agreement has been ratified with the Government of Canada.
Mr. Speaker, the agreement includes $30 million for Nunavut over the next four years to support the planning and delivery of French language services, including long sought increased financial supports for the revitalization, maintenance, and enhancement of Inuktut.
Mr. Speaker, we are excited with this new agreement. This is an initial positive step toward the establishment of a new partnership with the federal government with regard to the protection and promotion of Nunavut’s official languages.
(interpretation ends) With this new agreement we are in a better position to further advance the implementation of the Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act, and to strengthen and enhance the use of Inuktut in our territory as envisioned in our Sivumut Abluqta Mandate.
Thank you, nakurmiik, koana, merci, ma’nalluavik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 560 – 4(3): Inadequate Staffing at Community Health Centres (Mapsalak)
Good afternoon, residents of Coral Harbour, Naujaat, and Nunavut.
(interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to express my concerns regarding the staffing situation at the Naujaat Health Centre.