EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Question 326 – 2(3): Prentice Report (Tootoo)
I would like to just follow up on a question that my colleague from Cambridge Bay raised with our Premier.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier had indicated that he felt it was redundant to table a report that was mentioned in this article, which contains 10 bullets.
Also, I believe the report reports that the outcome of it was a seven-page document. I guess, if it was a seven page document, does that mean that the Premier is indicating other than those 10 bullets, or is there anything else in there?
Minister responsible for Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I looked at the article and looked at what we were trying to advance and what we discussed and the contents were very accurate.
So, I felt that we do not need to table what has already shown publicly. That is a courtesy to my colleagues. I did not want to offend them with tabling the same thing that has already been produced in the papers. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, one could just assume that must have been a rather large font in that report. I am just wondering if the Premier indicated the things they wanted to advance. Does that mean that there are some other things in that report that were not reported that they do not want to advance, that he does not want to table?
Maybe just for clarity and just, if the Nunatsiaq News can put a seven-page document pretty much into 10 bullets. Maybe the government or EIA should look at hiring them to write some of their papers for them as well.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I do not know.
I do not recall seeing seven pages so there must have been a lot of cover papers perhaps.
I do not recall seeing a seven-page document for the things that we have covered, but of course, we always discuss other issues that may not always be reported that we try and address whether it would be trying to work together in other initiatives and invitations.
Those are always addressed in reports to Cabinet or any other place.
Hopefully they were just cover pages and not cover-up pages.
Mr. Speaker, one thing that all members know that they’ve always been very frugal on is our public dollars being spent.
The minister indicated that they would take some time to see whether or not some of the things that were discussed in this meeting would come through to fruition.
And, hopefully all of them will. I’m just wondering if the minister could provide the members of this House information on how much it costs for the meeting. I’ll just call it the meeting; I won’t use the title in the headline, for the meeting that was held in Ottawa?
The meeting, we were able to meet with our colleagues, counterparts, and the Prime Minister said something that is very productive, especially early on in the mandate of the government.
You’re trying to influence policy for the long run.
So, we felt that it would be timely, and once I get the final costing of the events that took place, I’ll table the costs.
Question 327 – 2(3): Power Corporation Increase (Barnabas)
To what my colleague asked to the Minister responsible for Power Corporation.
The Qulliq Energy Corporation, the Power Corporation, went forward with the rate application of 6.1 percent, and in the last GRA application process, the GRA application process allowed for 6.3 to ask for adjustment for the rate increase.
The Power Corporation asked for .2 percent less, 6.1 percent.
How much more are our Government of Nunavut fuel costs over since 2003?
The biggest operating expensive of the Power Corporation, the member is correct, is fuel.
GN-wide Mr. Speaker, since 2003, and I think this is important to note, that the Government of Nunavut has spent approximately $70 million more from 2003 to 2005 in fuel; $70 million.
That’s $70 million that can’t go into housing, can’t go into social programs, can’t into education, health and so on.
So that’s the amount of the increase.
Why is the Power Corporation’s application not public?
If we allowed the leakage that we see going on in the government, then everyone would know about it and it would be public in Nunatsiaq News.
But seriously, Mr. Speaker, the public application made is a public application. Any Nunavummiut can have access to that application, and indeed, we’ve actually had newspaper ads in local newspapers giving addresses where people can intervene on the application and request the information that the Power Corporation has asked for.
So, the process is public.
Is there going to be a rate increase in the upcoming year of 2007?
Is there a proposal for a rate increase?
Right now we don’t know about the debt 2007-08.
We still don’t know. (interpretation ends) We’re not sure what the increase will be for 2007-08.
What I can say very quickly is that we don’t anticipate any rate increase after this application.
Question 328 – 2(3): Energy Consumption Increase (Tootoo)
It seems like the Minister of Energy is energized so I have a question for him.
In the minister’s response to my colleague from the High Arctic’s question, he talks about $70 million more spent on fuel.
How much of a consumption increase over that same time period has there been on power? If you look at, I’m sure the consumption, because of increases in volume due to population increases and infrastructure and things like that, there’s naturally an increase to go along with it. How much has consumption increased as well as the number of dollars that are spent on fuel?
Is that more of a realistic way to look at it? And not just say we’ll spend $70 million more but we provided twice as much power.
The member asked about the total of fuel, as I was using the total purchases of the Government of Nunavut. So I say that there was an increase of $70 million; that is inclusive of all the Government of Nunavut. That includes board and agencies of government, government departments, schools, health centres, infrastructure, as well as the Power Corporation.
When it comes to the Power Corporation, specifically, what does the minister, or any of his officials within the Power Corporation look at in determining, we’ll just use a fictitious figure for the minister, $70 million in fuel five years ago to produce a million kilowatt hours of electricity?
As opposed to now, how much fuel are we buying to produce that same amount of electricity? What’s the difference there?
Then we could see what the real increase in fuel has been, and not just a skewed figure.
When the Power Corporation looks at the projections for revenue, 99 percent of our revenue basically comes from electrical generation. We look at what’s called a load forecast, and a load forecast determines the amount of electricity needed. To generate that electricity we need fuel oil, and then we factor in the amount of fuel to produce the said load production.
That’s how it’s done.
Over the past several years we’ve seen load increase throughout Nunavut. So for example, when you build new houses in the community, that load increases. When we see population increases that we’ve seen in Nunavut we see a load increase.
In some communities we’ve seen a bigger load increase, for example, here in Iqaluit, where there has been so much construction. We’ve seen a bigger load increase, but that is the same in some of the other communities.
The projection on the amount of fuel needed is based on a mathematical formula, which includes the load projection of a given community over that 12-month period.
The minister is definitely loaded with information there; I would like to commend him on that.
Mr. Speaker, the minister talked about load projections, and earlier in the other responses talked about increases in load and increase in fuel purchase.
Is there any way that they, or does the corporation look at load increase versus fuel increase?
If you’re looking at it, regardless of the projections, say if it cost us $1 million to produce 500 kilowatt hours of electricity, fuel-wise, a number of years ago, how much is that same amount of electricity costing us today to produce in fuel?
And then we could get a real true picture of how much of an increase we’re paying in fuel for electricity.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. (interpretation) Minister responsible for Energy, Mr. Picco.
The member, as he had mentioned earlier, is also fully loaded.
I would suggest to you that the member again, using that furbish that he had used, is correct in that when forecasting the amount of electricity that is needed is contingent on the amount of fuel that is needed that electricity.
Once we do the revenue projection, as well as, for example, in the new rate application that is before the URRC, they will do what’s called a load test to actually test the number of the figures being brought forward by the Power Corporation, and the Power Corporation will give a projection. They will say, just for argument, we need 500 litres to generate 20 megawatts of electricity that will be subdivided and multiplied through the mathematical formula to allow for the differential of the substantial amount that the member is talking about.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. (interpretation ends) Your final supplementary, Mr. Tootoo.
I’m not sure if I take that as a compliment from the minister with the rider tie.
Mr. Speaker, would the minister provide that information to the Members of this House?
Hon. Ed. Picco (interpretation): I certainly can.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Question Period is now over.
Tabled Document 142 – 2(3): Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit – Embrace for Life Council Annual Report 2004-05 (Aglukkaq)
Tabled Document 143 – 2(3): Director of Medical Insurance Annual Report for Fiscal Years 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 (Aglukkaq)
Tabled Document 144 – 2(3): Ministerial Meeting Report F/P/T Ministers of Health from Department of Health and Social Services (Aglukkaq)
I wish to table the following documents: Embrace Life Council Annual Report 2004-05; the Director of Medical Insurance Annual Report for Fiscal Years 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05; Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers’ Nurses of Health Conference on Pandemic Preparedness May 12 to 13, 2006.
Please provide the tabled documents to the Clerk’s table.  Thank you.
Tabled Document 145 – 2(3): Workers’ Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut – 2005 Annual Report (Netser)
I wish to table the following document: Workers Compensation Board 2005 Annual Report.
Tabled Document 146 – 2(3): Towards a Representative Public Service – Statistics as of March 31, 2006 (Tapardjuk)
I wish to table the following document: Inuit Employment Plan Statistics as of March 31, 2006.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Item 13. Tabling of Documents.
Motion 020 – 2(3): Improve Air Service to Nunavut’s Smaller Communities – Notice (Barnabas)
I give...this is the airline service in Nunavut. I give notice that on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 I will move the following motion:
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Kugluktuk, that the Legislative Assembly recommend that the Government of Nunavut work with the airline industry to bring forward an action plan to improve the availability of affordable, reliable air service in Nunavut’s smaller, underserved communities.
Motion 019 – 2(3): Extended Adjournment (Peterson)
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that notwithstanding Rule 4, that when the House concludes its present sitting in Iqaluit, it shall be adjourned until November 21, 2006.
Further, at any time prior to November 21, 2006, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and the Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.
Question being called.
Bill 17 and Bill 18 with Mr. Arreak in the Chair.
(interpretation ends) In accordance with the authority vested in me by Motion 12 – 2(3), the Committee of the Whole will stay in session until it reports itself out.
>>House recessed at 15:20 and Committee resumed at 15:59
Chairman (Arreak)(interpretation): Thank you for coming back.
We’re about to begin  Committee of the Whole. (interpretation ends) I would like to call this committee to order.
In the Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: Bill 17 and Bill 18.
We wish to deal with Bill 17 and Bill 18.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Evyagotailak. Are we in agreement to deal with Bill 17 first and then Bill 18?
I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, Minister Simailak, to make his opening remarks.
Bill 17 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #1, 2006-07 – Consideration in Committee
I am pleased to appear before members today to speak to Bills 17 and 18.
Bill 17 is the Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #1, 2006-07.
This supplementary appropriation will provide of $98,236,000 for the following: Capital carry-overs from the 2005-06 fiscal year; purchase and delivery of housing material packages; and a Nunavut trades school project.
Our department’s review of the capital carry-over requests has attributed the increase to the following; contract obligations for specialized equipment which cannot meet the sealift schedule for the year the equipment is manufactured; limited departmental capacity to deliver projects; limited capacity in communities for labour and equipment; disputes with contractors on scope and deficiencies; and increased labour and material costs for construction.
The new approach to capital planning will address some of the concerns mentioned above. For example, Community and Government Services Technical Division will review all planned projects to determine reasonability of annual cash flow requirements, community issues, and availability of project management to oversee the projects.
Departments will be required to provide a monthly progress report on the status of multi-year capital projects.
The threshold limit per carryover requests has been increased from $10,000 to $50,000.
All capital carryovers must be used for the specific project or the funds must be lapsed.
Bill 18 is the Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #1, 2006-07. The supplementary appropriation will provide funding of $9,017,000 for such items as; strengthening financial management across departments and public agencies; creation of five lawyer positions for Akitsiraq Law School graduates; implementing the Cape Dorset Pilot Project Training Plan to train Inuit in trades-related skills; implementation of the Bilingual Education Strategy; and environment projects funded under the Northern Strategy.
I would be pleased Mr. Chairman, to answer any questions from members; however specific departmental questions may have to be answered by my colleagues.
Hon. David Simailak: Yes I do, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Sergeant-at-Arms, please assist the officials and the minister.
Two of my financial gurus; Mr. Bob Vardy on my right, and Paul Reddy on my left.
Members should now know you have 10 minutes to speak, and 10 minutes to ask questions.
Do members have any general comments? Members?
There being none, we’ll proceed with Bill 17, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #1, 2006-07.
I’d like to welcome the minister and his financial gurus to the witness’s table.
I have a question on where it says Iqaluit new justice centre, $149,000.
Can you clarify for the record what the funding is for?
The project is ahead of schedule. The carryover is required in 2006-07 to cover remaining consultant fees, and change orders in construction. CGS will also cover the cost of the installation of the security system that was not included in the original budget for this project.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister and Mr. Peterson.
Justice Capital.
I would like to ask: under furnishing, equipment, and moving costs - do they go through the tendering process, or are they bought locally, or are they purchased from one outlet?
Hon. David Simailak: There was an RFP issued and awarded in March 2006 for the moving services, and the furniture and equipment are to the Government of Nunavut’s 2006 sealift order process.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. ...(voice lost) ...(interpretation) We did not hear part of his sentence, but they were moved to a new Justice Centre.
We had a technical difficulty with your microphone.
The interpreters only heard part of your statement.
We’re on Page 4.
We did not hear our Premier’s comments. Perhaps if he could restate what he said earlier.
I just want to elaborate further that these are not all new.
Some of them have been used for the old court building, but they were moved to the new one to make sure that we would save money.
Some of the furnishings are old and some of the furnishings are new.
Are there any further questions under Page 4. (interpretation ends) Justice Capital.
Registration Court Services. Not previously authorized. -$1,271,000.
Chairman: Total Legislation Court Services. -$1,271,000.
Could the minister explain the Brown/Sivummut leasehold changes of $70,000?
Perhaps we could refer that to the appropriate minister, Mr. Chairman.
I am not too sure which line item you are at.
I don’t know where the position is right now, I will have to look into that.
I am not too sure what the minister’s response is, it is on Page 5, and it says Brown/Sivummut Leasehold Changes and has a cost figure of $70,000.
I simply wanted to know what that was for; it should be in someone’s briefing notes somewhere.
I am sorry, I don’t have the information, but I can look into that to see exactly what it is, but I am sorry.
Mr. Peterson, he is going to look into that further.
Perhaps while they are looking, I am sure the folks upstairs are watching on TV, I will ask about the status of the correctional centres, a figure of $555,000 budgeted.
I understand planning is underway, can his officials explain how far along the planning is for that correctional centre?
Yeah it is expected that the planning and design phase will be completed during this upcoming summer of 2006.
Could the minister tell us, has there been any discussion on the location of that new correctional center?
This will be reviewed and they are going to look at the design from this spring to summer.
For Women’s Correctional Facility, there is an amount budgeted for $59,000, I believe that is also for planning and studying, could the Minister of Finance give us an update on the status of planning on that project?
I understand that once the community of location has been determined, the department will then proceed with the planning and design phase in 2006-07.
And for the Baffin Correctional Centre mechanical system, there is a figure of $125,000; I understand that that facility is not in a very good condition.
Could the minister give us a sense of the state of condition of that facility and if it will lead to budget for additional monies for repairs to that facility in the future?
I don’t have the information in front of me. Perhaps the Minister of Justice does.
I believe that this is to do exactly what the member said: it’s to repair some outstanding boiler system that’s been in disrepair for some time so we’re trying to bring it up to date. Hopefully, there won’t have to be much more work after this, but it’s an aging building so we hope to replace it with a new facility, and upgrade this a little further in the future but this is to maintain it and keep it going.
I thank the ministers for their responses.
This facility, I understand it must be at least 30 years old. I hear it’s overcrowded. In a public facility where we house people, they’re incarcerated people, so the safety and health of the people that are in there, including the workers, are paramount in our minds.
Can the minister indicate whether the building inspectors, boiler inspectors, electrical inspectors, all those regulatory officials that inspect buildings, do they regularly go to that facility, and other facilities of that type, to ensure that they’re up to code and up to compliance with Nunavut’s laws?
Yes, we do have to meet our codes and standards. There have been some major work that has to be done, but hopefully, with this additional money we’ll keep it operational. We do work with CGS with their good workers to make sure that we keep it up to standard and keep it going.
I have a question on that page. The Healing Facility, the $233,000, is it for the design, or the construction of the centre.
What is it for? I wonder if the minister can respond to that.
This is for planning. We haven’t selected where it’s going to be located, but we are in the planning stage because the one that they have in Kugluktuk is a very good facility, and we would like to see another one. It is primarily on the planning stage.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Okalik.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you to the minister.
The Healing Facility is for the design and underneath that where it says correctional centre, $555,000.
Are these two separate buildings?
I made a mistake earlier. The Men’s Healing Facility is for Kugluktuk. They had to install a sprinkler system.
So that’s what it’s for the $233,000 and the $555,000 is for planning to open a correctional centre in Rankin Inlet. This will be worked on in the late summer or fall.
I’m sorry; I misinformed you on the $233,000.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Minister.
My question is; the Baffin Correctional Centre is getting more funding to do renovations; some of our constituents are up at the Baffin Correctional Centre and I heard today that if we are going to visit them, we have to give them 24 hours advance notice.
Sometimes they wish see their Members of the Legislative Assembly, or sometimes people are just passing through, and yet they have to give a 24-hour notice. This is very inconvenient.
I wonder if they can make an exception for when they wish to speak to their Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I wonder if the minister can check into this.
Yes I will look further into this and I thank the member for identifying this issue.
So, I will ask my staff to check into this further.
We’re on page 5.
Not previously authorized. $1,042,000.
Chairman: Total Corrections. $1,042,000.
Chairman: Total Department. -$229,000.
Capital. Directorate.
Not previously authorized. $1,380,000.
Chairman: Total Directorate. $1,380,000.
Chairman: Total Department. $1,380,000.
Department of Education. Capital. Corporate Services.
Not previously authorized. $14,746,000.
I have a question on the $10 million for the Northern Strategy Fund for the Nunavut Trades School. Can the minister confirm if that funding is in the Government of Nunavut’s consolidated revenue fund yet, or is that funds to come?
Yes it is. Thank you.
The government announced that it would be a $10 million project, but we’re reading here that the total of project is estimated to be $16,200,000, with additional funding of $6,200,000 being funded through the Government of Nunavut’s capital plan.
Can the minister clarify for the record what the break down of that $16,200,000 will pay for?
The breakdown of the $16.2 million is: $5.5 million for renovation to the trades facility in Rankin Inlet which includes both the facility and equipment; $700,000 for the improvement to the Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay trades schools for complementary trades training; and $10 million is required for the Nunavut Arctic College student accommodations in Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit.
On the same page, $1.8 million for Iqaluit Student Accommodations; is it for accommodations for students who attend the Arctic College here?
It is for the Nunavut Arctic College students’ accommodations.
Is it a brand new building or is it to renovate the present accommodations that they have?
It’s the design phase for a new building.
We are on Page 7.