EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
My last point on this is I always consider our public service and the experience that we have as archaic. It’s so outdated that we can’t quite move up to the modern approaches to a new system.
I know that even in the Yukon, even higher than the deputy minister level, they go through the public service commission.
So the hands-off approach is a lot more effective, I think, in terms of whether or not deputy ministers in the government should be advising government or senior officials in the government to hire who they should hire.
Independent commissions are the route to go, I believe. It brings a lot more independence. In my view, I think the relationship with the union definitely would improve.
I think that’s something that the government needs to consider in the future, despite the fact that we may be near the end of our mandate. I appreciate the minister for giving some hints and preferences that he indicated.
(interpretation) That was just a comment.
We are under page C-4. Mr. Elliott.
In terms of the Liquor Act with questions that I asked in the House, the minister had mentioned that after receiving the liquor task force report and the recommendations, an internal committee was struck and a report was coming forward.
Is there any movement as to when that will be coming forward? I know that he had made a commitment to tabling it in the House.
Mr. Chairman, I did receive approval to table the document and I will table it some time during this sitting.
As Mr. Curley was pointing out, without the actual document, it’s kind of hard to ask questions around such things as civil forfeiture.
Is that something that the report or the committee has recommended that we could do as an amendment before the end of this Assembly?
Again, before the life of this Assembly, I can’t make any comment or commitment on what will be completed in terms of this legislation.
I realize sometimes that yes, the timeline in terms of getting amendments done and legislative drafters completing the documentation and having it come before our committee, legislation takes quite a while to get through that process.
It’s my understanding that under the current Liquor Act we’re still following, bootlegging seems to be one of the big concerns that came up from the report. = My understanding is that under the current Act, the minister who is responsible for it could actually set limits on how much alcohol can be purchased.
If bootlegging is such a problem and we’re not going to be able to change the legislation before the end of this Assembly, is that something that you will consider as the minister responsible for doing this?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Elliott for the question.
I’m going to have my deputy minister respond to this question.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Actually, I’m going to allow him to speak.
I am pleased to be able speak in the House.
Under the local option, there is a possibility to restrict quantities that are purchased. It’s not quite as simple as the minister just making a decision, as you know.
Normally, to affect a change like that in any community would require a plebiscite.
That may not be necessarily true in open communities, but today specifically, I would have to review the legislation to see if the minister can unilaterally impose restrictions on there.
Right now, I would say that I believe we can do that through regulation, but I’m not 100 percent sure. I would say that that is something that could be considered in an LP for later on during this mandate, though.
In terms of civil forfeiture and that type of legislation, would that be handled by your department or would that be handled by the Department of Justice?
Civil forfeiture would be handled by the Department of Justice.
In numerous questions, I have asked with different departments working together collaboratively. Could you explain how your department is working with the Department of Justice to follow up on this type of legislation?
The deputy ministers under the Quality of Life Committee are reviewing the recommendations and other legislation.
Will we see a legislative proposal for this type of legislation before the end of this Assembly?
If Mr. Elliott could clarify, is he referring to the Liquor Act or civil forfeiture?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. (interpretation ends) Please clarify, Mr. Elliott.
The minister is getting confused and we will do it twice.
Could he confirm first about the Liquor Act legislative proposal?
It’s my understanding from his answers to another member that yes, there will be something coming forward in a legislative proposal before the end of this Assembly.
If he would confirm that first, it would be great.
It’s always a pleasure to give Mr. Elliott an opportunity to ask a question a second or third time.
Mr. Chairman, where it’s possible, we can consider minor amendments on the Liquor Act.
Again Minister Peterson didn’t say yes or no whether a legislative proposal would be coming forward before the end of this Assembly in regard to amendments to the Liquor Act. So yes or no, a legislative proposal before the end of this Assembly?
Minister Peterson, yes or no?
I thank Mr. Elliott for the question. Yes or no, I have said this before that there should be another option: maybe.
I’m not guaranteeing. I just know that we’re very backed up on legislation. As Mr. Elliott knows, we’re going to work as hard as we can to try and get something for the spring.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. He says maybe.
When we’re passing O&M budgets, we don’t have the option of saying “Maybe we will approve the funding for his department.” I know we joke, but maybe it doesn’t work for us. We have to come up with a yes or no.
The last part of that question was in terms of what Deputy Minister D’Arcy was saying.
The Quality of Life Committee has been working very closely with the minister’s department on civil forfeiture legislation and there is transparency between both departments. So will there be a legislative proposal coming forward on civil forfeiture from the Department of Justice before the end of this Assembly?
That was a no.
Thank you for that direct answer, Minister Peterson.
On page 20 of the business plan for the 2013-14 fiscal year, one of the priorities for the department is “In partnership with EIA, develop a government-wide Human Resources Strategy.”
I was wondering if the minister could explain how his department is working with EIA to come up with this plan.
It is a priority for 2013-14 and the plan, as we stated as a priority, is we will work with EIA.
In terms of a strategy or as a target to work towards, I know we had discussions about this, I believe, a year or so ago.
Will there be a determined target for Inuit employment across the GN? In the opening comments for the committee, we had mentioned for both departments, EIA and the Department of Finance, emphasizing the representativeness and how a target will be met. Is that going to be defined as 85 percent employment or is that going to remain at 52 percent?
Mr. Chairman, under the work we do with EIA and the strategy, we will be considering his concern.
It’s an EIA question, but I think the plan is to continue to strive towards the original stated number of 85 percent.
On page 20, one of the other priorities is to “Implement changes to the Public Service Act.”
I was wondering if the minister could explain that priority in the sense that I thought there was legislation coming through for changes that are coming. Maybe he could emphasize and talk about what will be happening for this priority.
It’s very interesting to be the minister on the hot seat for human resources considering I haven’t had much experience being the Minister of HR.
The plan is to implement changes to the Public Service Act during the life of this government. HR will be working on HR manuals, employee handbooks and other resources, and sessions for a wide group of stakeholders. We’re working on a general set of Public Service Regulations and Staffing Review and Appeals Regulations, and then there are a number of amendments and additions to the existing recommendations that will be made.
You can’t implement the changes until the changes have actually occurred. I don’t believe we have seen a legislative proposal for changes to the Public Service Act, but I could be wrong.
We have been given lots of documents over the past while. In terms of the Public Service Act, it will be dealt with and amendments will be brought forward in the spring sitting. Is that correct?
He has that exactly right. The first thing to do before we can make the changes is we have to approve the amendments to the Act.
The amendments will be coming forward in the spring sitting.
I’m going to have Deputy Minister Joe Kunuk respond to the series of questions on this area.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. (interpretation ends) I am going to allow Mr. Kunuk to respond.
Mr. Kunuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are working on those for now and they will be brought forward in the spring session.
There was talk over the last four years about whistle-blower legislation. At one point, we were sort of informed that that might be taken care of in some of the amendments and changes that will be coming through the Public Service Act. Is that still the plan for the changes coming through the Public Service Act?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott. (interpretation ends) Minister Peterson, mute.
Hon. Keith Peterson: I’m pressing the button.  Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We will have to get our technicians down here at some point to fix the wiring in this console.
Mr. Chairman, yes, it’s being considered in the public service amendments. It’s under the area of wrongdoing.
I think we’re going to have an ethics officer. I think that’s the road we’re going down.
Also on page 20, just for clarification, I’m not quite sure what the priority encompasses when it says “Develop options for devolving staffing to departments.”
The plan is to eventually allow departments to directly hire and recruit their staff for operations.
When we say “devolving,” we will have to assess the capacity of the departments to do that. It is likely to occur over a period of 18 to 24 months if everything works out. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We are on page C-4. Finance. Branch Summary.
Directorate. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $2,567,000. Do you agree?
We will then move on to page C-5. Branch Summary. Finance.
Policy, Planning and Financial Management. Mr. Elliott.
In terms of the 2011-16 Nunavut Tobacco Reduction Framework for Action, the Department of Finance, as the lead, will “determine appropriate taxation rates on tobacco products that support the tobacco reduction framework for action.”
I’m just curious if there will be any increases in the tax on tobacco.
There are no further tax increases [being] considered in the life of this government.
It will be up to the future government.
With it being tax time, a lot of people are working on their personal income tax. I’ve had a couple of concerns raised about the 2 percent Nunavut employment tax.
I was wondering if the minister could explain how that works. The way it has been explained was, originally, it was a 1 percent tax on workers all across the territory. It was an incentive to collect taxes from individuals who left the territory.
It has now gone up to 2 percent.
I have recently had concerns brought to me that the 2 percent that is taken off your wage is not necessarily given back. If the federal government or the Government of Nunavut takes, let’s say, $4,000, or 2 percent tax, off your wages, you don’t necessarily get that full amount back on your tax return.
I thank Mr. Elliott for the question. I understand where he’s coming from. It’s always interesting that people are concerned and ask these questions.
Mr. Chairman, most people who are earning under $60,000 effectively don’t pay any payroll tax, and then additional amounts of the payroll tax are rebated depending on your tax bracket.
I realize that, but wouldn’t it be safe to say that the average Government of Nunavut employee makes over $60,000 a year?
Yes, Mr. Chairman, it would be fair to say that the average Government of Nunavut employee pays some payroll tax if they are earning over $60,000.
I guess one of the other concerns was that and the way that it has been explained to me is that some individuals feel that they are actually paying twice on the tax. Is the 2 percent taken off of the gross or is it taken off of the net?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The 2 percent is taken off the gross.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In my opening comments, I had mentioned a 2 percent tax and how the incentive was for generating revenue for the territory, for migrant workers who come up and work, and then take the money south.
There was a suggestion in the opening comments about a table or a chart that could be provided to the committee, outlining how much actually comes and is collected from individuals outside the territory, as well as how much is just taken from our GN employees within the territory. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
If Mr. Elliott wants that information, we are more than pleased to provide it to him.
I hope he will be able to use it.
Yes, I would like to see that type of information just to take a look to see whether it’s set up in the means that it’s supposed to.
While we’re in this department as well, I wanted to ask a question in terms of this is where it’s policy, planning, and financial management.
I know the minister has talked about prudence and good management, working towards a balanced budget, and whatnot. I think this is the appropriate place to ask this question.
In a few years, I know that the leases on all the GN buildings across the territory will be coming up. At one point, I think there was a $10 million price tag attached to that that the federal government covers at this point. After the date, it will no longer be covered.
I’m wondering: in terms of prudence and fiscal management, what’s the GN doing in working towards being able to cover these costs in the future?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Mr. Elliott for his question and his concerns about our capital leases.
I just want to assure Mr. Elliott that we have been thinking forward several years, as we always must in Finance. I assure Mr. Elliott that the costs for the leases have been taken into consideration and they are all in under the territorial formula financing agreement.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. According to the Department of Culture and Heritage, the Inuit Taiguusiliuqtiit Katimajiit is now a public agency. Are they part of the Public Agencies Council?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That group is a statutory body. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So no letters of expectation will be going out to that public agency?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Chairman, thank you. There are no letters of expectation going to the group nor is there a requirement for a business plan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. We are on page C-5. Mr. Aupaluktuq.
Under Policy, Planning and Financial Management and the question of the Northern Residents Deduction, I would like to ask the minister, the department, and his officials that in 2007, the Legislative Assembly passed a motion on the issue of the federal Northern Residents Deduction. The motion called on the Government of Canada to increase the residency portion of the Northern Residents Deduction to ensure that the residency portion be adjusted on an annual basis to an inflation index that reflects the cost of living in Canada’s Arctic.
In a joint news release of June 27, 2012, the three territorial premiers formally “called on the federal government to increase the deduction and index it against the cost of living in the territories...” Did you raise this issue with the federal Minister of Finance during the 2012 meeting of federal, provincial, and territorial ministers of finance and, if so, what is the federal minister’s current position on the issue of making further improvements to the Northern Residents Deduction?
I thank Mr. Aupaluktuq for his question.
Mr. Chairman, I did not raise it during my December 2012 FPT meeting with Minister Flaherty.
Are there any plans to have discussions of meetings in between his colleagues in regard to the issue of the Northern Residents Deduction?
Our officials have had several meetings with our colleagues. I’ve had a conference call. We’re now pursuing it at this time.
As the minister will recall, in the House, I had previously asked about development partnership agreements. You tabled in 2010-11 an annual report on the administration of the GN’s Fuel Tax Rebate Program in the Legislative Assembly on June 7 of last year. When will you table the 2011-12 annual report on the administration of the GN’s Fuel Tax Rebate Program?
We will table that report in the spring. We were waiting for the completion of our public accounts.
With respect to increased employability in the community in regard to access to resources, as well as people expressing genuine concern about environmental impacts and monitoring, however, with investments that are being provided in our region, adding to the GDP from the Nunavut perspective, I wanted to ask formally. In order be eligible for the fuel tax rebate, mining companies must sign a development partnership agreement with the GN. Agnico-Eagle Mines currently has a DPA with the GN.
Your department’s most recent annual report on the Fuel Tax Rebate Program states that the Department of Finance works with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation “to align the value of the incremental benefits resulting from a DPA with the value of the associated fuel tax rebate.”
Is the Government of Nunavut currently negotiating any new DPAs with mining companies, such as the Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation?
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Finance itself does not negotiate development partnership agreements. It’s another department that does that.
To summarize, I wanted to ask and basically, prior year’s annual report on the administration of the GN’s Fuel Tax Rebate Program indicated that “in light of changing fuel prices,” the Department of Finance “will include the Fuel Tax Rebate Program in its review of energy rebates beginning in 2009-2010.”
What did this review determine?
I thank Mr. Aupaluktuq for the question. If he could clarify or rephrase his question so we can understand it.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. Mr. Aupaluktuq, please clarify your question.
As I indicated in the prior question, there are investments in Nunavut as well in which the resources are being utilized. There are different departments accessing the Fuel Tax Rebate Program.
The question I wanted ask was: when the Fuel Tax Rebate Program had its review beginning in 2009-2010, in this review, what did this review indicate of any concern or basically what did this review determine?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq, for clarifying the question.
I thank Mr. Aupaluktuq for the question. Mr. Chairman, we haven’t made any changes to the program.
Mr. Aupaluktuq: Have there been any formal requests or indicators from partners or the GN departments that would like to see some changes or amendments to ensure that adequate fuel tax rebate programs are in place for those that are investing within Nunavut?
I appreciate Mr. Aupaluktuq’s line of questioning. The line of questioning made me want to direct that at another department. As the Department of Finance, we pay the rebate based on recommendations from another department that works very closely with the mines to ensure that they are fulfilling the terms and conditions in the agreements.
Be rest assured that I will definitely direct the question to the appropriate departments in other avenues such as the fact that there would be other interested parties to be able to make sure that we would be able to bridge the services in which the resources that are benefiting and enhancing the Nunavut territory, our contributions are rather very vast. Within the backyards of Baker Lake, for example, it is making a great difference to the enhancement of Nunavut.
At the appropriate time, I will be following this question in another avenue.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. That was just a comment.
To continue, Ms. Ugyuk.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Your department’s draft 2013-16 business plan indicates that the human resource audit of Nunavut Arctic College has been completed. What did the audit determine and what actions are taken by the college in response to the audit?
I thank Ms. Ugyuk for the question. Could she refer us to the page that she is referencing?
Ms. Ugyuk, can you clarify which page you are on.
Ms. Ugyuk: For the staffing audit. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Ms. Ugyuk, are you looking at the business plan for the Department of Finance? Do you know what page it is on or are you asking something that is not there?
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): I am asking the question on the yellows.
The minister does not have a copy of those.
If you could find where it is in the business plan, you will get a proper answer.
Do you understand, Minister Peterson?
We have located it down here. It’s on page 19 of the business plan, the second bullet from the bottom.
Our Deputy Minister, Chris D’Arcy, indicated that with your permission, he would like to answer that question.
This is part of the ongoing work of our internal audit services group that’s now under the Directorate Division and that’s where this sits. This is part of a list of part of the ongoing audits that the group does in the course of the year. It was Nunavut Arctic College, the Qulliq Energy Corporation, and Health and Social Services.
The audit that was done for the college has been completed. That’s correct, but this isn’t an audit like an audit like the Auditor General’s audit. These are compliance audits and performance audits that our internal audit services group does to help assist the entity, in this case, Nunavut Arctic College, to see how they can perform better.
Those audits are shared with entity itself, let’s say Nunavut Arctic College, and we wouldn’t normally have them in the public domain nor do we have them here today, Mr. Chairman.
We would have to go back and take a look at what they said.  Generally, those audits are protected between ourselves and our internal audit services group and Nunavut Arctic College, so we would have to talk to them about what we would release to the member.
You just mentioned that they would be confidential.
This is probably confidential too. (interpretation ends) The department’s draft 2013-16 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for 2013-14 is to “Undertake a human resources audit of the Department of Health including a review of staffing processes.”
Recognizing that you are also the Minister of Health, what specific issues do you expect this audit to identify?
I have talked to both deputy ministers about this whole area and I encourage this.
I’m going to have the deputy minister explain exactly what they will be looking at during this internal audit process.
Please tell me which deputy minister to recognize.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Sorry, Mr. Chairman. Deputy Minister Chris D’Arcy.
The Department of Health has their own hiring regime and they’ve had it for quite a long time now, so that responsibility has been given to the Deputy Minister of Health.
What we’re going to do in 2013-14 is just a regular compliance audit to take a look and ensure that the processes that Health is doing are in line with the regular staffing processes and are appropriate, much like the Office of the Auditor General would do for any of our normal activities and any other line of endeavour.
It will look at whether the delegated roles and responsibilities are being carried out properly and whether the employees with the delegated authorities understand what their responsibilities are.