EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The standing committee asked us to provide some information.
With the Nunavut Housing Corporation, it is only very recently that we made the determination that we could take $20 million out of our year-end surplus and allocate it to the Nunavut Housing Corporation to carry over to develop staff housing in 2015-16.
It is still very early and there are a lot of other factors that are at stake.
The availability of land is a very important one, actually, and some communities don’t have the land that may be required to develop the houses.
As members will remember, the Nunavut Housing Corporation is currently in the process of constructing a lot of houses under the $100 million that we received from the federal government.
Again, it is early yet.
We still have to look at all the occupancy rates in the positions across Nunavut and the houses in the communities, plus jobs that are staffed or remain vacant.
I’m aware that this listing is not carved in stone, as they would say.
In the briefing, the Nunavut Housing Corporation states exactly how many units they know they need throughout Nunavut. We asked exactly where they were going and they don’t seem to have the detail of exactly where they want to put them.
I guess it’s just a comment and if the member wants to question this further at another time, I would just leave it at that. I will just leave it at that.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. (interpretation) Page 6.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman I know he is not the Minister of Housing and that they just got the money, but does he know if he can get this stuff in on sealift on time?
Sealift is not that far around the corner in terms of going to tender, purchasing equipment, and figuring out which community it is going to. It will be part of the bid process for the package.
It seems like they don’t even know how many houses they are going get out of it, so I don’t know if the minister can elaborate on it or not.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Savikataaq. Minister Peterson.
Mr. Chairman, as I indicated in my earlier answer, we just made a decision very recently within the last month or so to transfer $20 million out of our surplus to the Nunavut Housing Corporation to specifically direct towards staff housing.
2015 would be the year where we would anticipate that the Nunavut Housing Corporation do a lot of planning to determine if they have the land in the different communities.
There are all those other factors that go into determining where the houses go, and then they would develop an RFP to award for the contractors to supply and build the houses.
I anticipate that that would start in 2016.
There would be plenty of lead time to take into consideration the shipping seasons.
Of course, the Nunavut Housing Corporation has got a lot of experience in that area now because of the work they are doing on delivering the houses under the $100 million funding from the federal government.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Peterson. (interpretation) We are on page 6.
Nunavut Housing Corporation. Total Nunavut Housing Corporation. $20 million.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $20 million.
Go back to page 2. 2014-15 Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) No. 3.
Capital Appropriation. $20 million.
Go to your legislation binder.
Bill 14 is in your white legislation binder.
I believe you all have Bill 14 in front of you.
We’re going to be reviewing clause by clause.
Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015.
It reads, Schedule.
Vote 2: Capital. Total Supplementary Appropriation. $20 million.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 7. Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Members, do you agree to Bill 14 as whole?
Pursuant to Rule 62(2), do you agree that Bill 14 is ready for third reading?
Minister Peterson, we are done with this bill. If you have any closing remarks, you now have the floor.
I thank you and your committee for your good questions during the standing committee and today during Committee of the Whole.
I want to move on to the next bill, Bill 15.
I believe you all have a copy of Bill 15.
We will move on. Minister Peterson, I now give you the opportunity to make your opening comments.
Bill 15 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2014-2015 – Consideration in Committee
I am here to present Bill 15, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2014-2015.
Bill 15 is for operations and maintenance supplementary appropriations for 2014-15 totalling $28,417,000. It consists of the following items:
$1,200,000 to the Department of Family Services to fund a shortfall in their compensation and benefits budget;
$1,538,000 to the Department of Education to fund a shortfall in compensation and benefits due to year-end accruals;
An additional $21,300,000 to the Department of Health to fund budget shortfalls in the following programs:
$2,400,000 in compensation and benefits;
$8 million in medical travel;
$8,200,000 in agency nurse contracts; and
$2,700,000 in mental health contracts;
$375,000 to the Department of Environment to address a budget shortfall in the operation of the research vessel, the Nuliajuk;
$180,000 to the Department of Community and Government Services to fund the office space lease for Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit;
$1,600,000 for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation to address a shortfall in the operating budget of the Iqaluit International Airport Improvement Project; and
$2,224,000 to the Nunavut Housing Corporation to cover budget shortfalls in utilities as a result of increases in water and electrical rates.
Please note that all the information on the opening comments are in supplementary pages.
Go to page 4 of Bill 15.
Just a question on his last comment there, the last bullet in the business plan. It says, “In order to address compensation and benefit shortfalls resulting from insignificant staffing, additional supplementary funding is required.”
Does that mean they are short money because they are short-staffed?
I thank Mr. Savikataaq.
Mr. Chairman, what it means is that there are more expenses than they anticipated.
I take it that if we read between the lines, to see if I’m clear on this, it means there was more overtime or more staff hired on a casual basis.
When you say, “Read between the lines,” no, it’s not reading between the lines. There is overtime. There are more casuals.
The Office of the Auditor General of Canada recommended in one of their reports a few years ago that we do have to provide levels of service. There are issues that happen after hours that require the social workers to come out to deal with them.
In some instances, they do have to hire casual social workers when there are vacancies in the indeterminate positions.
I know that you’re not the Minister of Family Services, but you are privy to the briefing notes, I would think, for stuff like this. Are they planning to hire more workers so that they won’t be short-staffed?
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Family Services received an appropriation under Bill 16, which received third reading the other day, on Friday.
With that, we expect the departments to operate within their appropriated amounts.
If, at some point during the year, they require additional resources, they would have to come back to the Financial Management Board, but before that happens, we would expect them to manage their funds internally to address any overtime or other compensation and benefits issues.
We are on Bill 15, page 4.
I just have a question about the mental health facilities and contracts.
In the briefing note, it says that costs have gone up over the last couple of years.
Are we talking about mental health facilities and contracts here in Nunavut or are we talking about out of territory?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you Ms. Angnakak.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Chairman, if Ms. Angnakak could clarify where she is reading that information.
We are dealing with compensation and benefits.
Ms. Angnakak: I’m ahead of the game. Sorry.
I’ll wait until we get to that portion.
I’m glad you decided to wait.
That way, I don’t have to tell you to wait.
(interpretation) We are on page 4. Family Services.
Not Previously Authorized. Children and Family Services.
Total Children and Family Services. $1.2 million.
Not Previously Authorized. $1,200,000. Do you agree?
Turn to page 5, both in Inuktitut and in English. It reads, Education. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Directorate. Total Directorate. $1,538,000.
Just for the benefit of the viewing audience, because they can’t see what we are working with, can you explain to them that this is just an accounting practice, if I am correct? Thank you.
These are year-end actuarial adjustments that deal with pensions and sick leave, removal severance, maternity and parental leave, and grievances. It tallies up to the surplus they have in sick leave.
It balances out to $1,538,000. We have to approve that amount for them for their year-end because they are not allowed to over-expend their budget. It’s more or less an accounting entry, but it’s based on actuarial numbers, evaluations, and funding that has not previously occurred.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson, for clarifying it.
We’re on page 5. It reads, Education. Operations and Maintenance.
Total Directorate. $1,538,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $1,538,000. Do you agree?
Page 6 in Inuktitut and English.
Health Care Service Delivery. Total Health Care Service Delivery. $21,300,000.
Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I guess I’m in the right place now; I was a little ahead.
I’ll just ask my question again to the minister.
The mental health facilities and contracts that you talk of here, is that within territory or out of territory where the costs have gone up?
I may defer this to my colleague, the Minister of Health, but I am reading the information and they’re referring to shorter term contracts for out-of-territory treatment.
I see that there’s actually going to be a shortage of a little over $3.9 million, but this appropriation is $2.7 million and the remainder of $1.2 million will be funded by surpluses and other programs.
Do you have any idea which other programs have surpluses that are going to be able to cover the remainder of the shortfall?
The Minister of Health will take this question.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) On the first question, the over-expenditures are for outside-the-territory services, so they are for costs we can’t control.
We need patients to be treated, so they are shipped out.
In terms of other expenditures that we are using to cover some of the over-expenditures is $405,000 on staff travel, other expenses that we budgeted for at $469,000, and pharmacy at $339,000. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We are on page 6 in Inuktitut and English. It reads, Health. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Health Care Service Delivery.
Total Health Care Service Delivery. $21,300,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $21,300,000.
Turn to page 7 in both Inuktitut and English. It reads, Environment.
I just have a few questions on the Baffin boat, I mean the Nuliajuk boat.
They’re asking for $375,000 and I don’t know if you can answer this and I know the minister is on travel. One of the bullets says, to date, they have relocated $483,000 from other programs to cover the vessel’s expense.
I just wanted to know what programs they have either cancelled or delayed or scaled down.
It’s too bad that the Minister of Environment is on duty travel.
I know Minister Mike was hoping he could be here to answer that question.
He was sitting beside me all last week showing me the briefing notes on this particular area.
I’ll just take a crack at it. Hopefully I can fill in for him here.
The funding of $483,000, one of the programs is $270,000 from salaries, $13,000 from the ADM’s budget, and $200,000 from the Fisheries Development and Diversification Fund, which I believe is grants.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister that he had that information.
Just on the same topic there, he has put other projects on hold, but they’re still committed to completing them this year.
Would he also have that information on what those projects are?
At the very bottom, it says, Detail: the department is currently putting other projects on hold that we still have commitments to complete this year.”
If he knows them, if he can share that information with us.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Savikataaq. (interpretation ends) Minister Peterson, if you have the information, please.
They indicated that the projects that are put on hold were winter projects that could wait for funding from other sources. I can use CanNor as an example.
The projects that are on hold are now going ahead, including:
The Amadjuak Lake exploratory fishery;
Completion of the Qikiqtarjuaq clam research project done in the summer, a sample analysis;
Additional inshore winter turbot research;  Exploratory fisheries work in other regions;
Something called the Fish of Nunavut book production;  There’s a fisheries cookbook project to promote char, seal, and turbot use;
Making shipping shrimp pots for HTOs in Qikiqtarjuaq and Grise Fiord for winter test fishing;  Whale meat traditional knowledge study out of Naujaat; and
The Inuit knowledge seal research project.
I’m just wondering: with all those projects you just mentioned, is there any projects towards the Kitikmeot area planned at all?
I don’t see anything on the briefing note that would say that anything from the Kitikmeot was put on hold.
If you are interested on anything in the Kitikmeot, it might be a suggestion that in the spring sitting, you could ask Minister Mike when he’s here.
Total Program Management. $375,000. Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $375,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Page 8 in both Inuktitut and English.
It reads, Community and Government Services. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Government Services. $180,000. Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $180,000.
Page 9 in both Inuktitut and English. It reads, Economic Development and Transportation.
I asked before about this as it states, and I quote in English, (interpretation ends) “$1,600,000 to the Department of Economic Development and Transportation to address the shortfall in the operating budget of the Iqaluit International Airport Improvement Project.” (interpretation) I seem to understand that they are looking for more money due to a shortfall.
I asked about the $30 million cap and if that’s staying. I was told yes.
I want to know exactly what is being requested for that funding.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Mr. Mapsalak for the question. Mr. Chairman, I’m going to have my deputy minister answer this question.
The project itself is not over budget.
However, there are operating expenses that have to be paid to the Project Co, who is running the airport, and there are also some expenses that the department itself continues to have for airport operations.
It was all part and parcel of the approval for the airport project.
Previously, the department had hoped to be able to fund these increased costs that have built up over time from their original appropriation.
However, they weren’t able to do so, so they have had to increase the appropriation for this year for $1.6 million in round numbers.
As members will remember, for 2015-16, that number has gone up slightly to about $2.6 million.
It includes payments to Project Co, some small salary dollars, utilities that Economic Development and Transportation remains responsible for, some other contract services, and then about $35,000 for other general objects.
These are all just O&M expenses that have increased over time and don’t affect the total cost of the airport project.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. D’Arcy, for clarifying that.
Let us proceed. Page 9.
It reads, Economic Development and Transportation. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Transportation. Total Transportation. $1,600,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $1,600,000.
It reads, Nunavut Housing Corporation. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Nunavut Housing Corporation. Total Nunavut Housing Corporation. $2,224,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $2,224,000. Do you agree?
Chairman: Qujannamiuk… .
(interpretation) We will go back to page 2.
Angiqpisiuk? Qujannamiuk.
It reads, 2014-15 Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) No. 2. Schedule 1.
Operations and Maintenance. Operations and Maintenance Appropriation. $28,417,000. Do you agree?
At this time, let us turn to the white legislation binder and please go to Bill 15.
Mr. Mikkungwak, you don’t have a copy?
Are there any other members who don’t have a copy of Bill 15? Does everybody have a copy of Bill 15?
Mr. Mikkungwak, did you get your copy?
Okay, we can proceed.
Let’s work on the bill.
Bill 15, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2014-2015. Clause 1. Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): While we are on this item, please turn to the summary on page 3.
It reads, Supplementary Amounts Appropriated for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2015.
Total Supplementary Appropriation. $28, 417,000. Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 5. Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 6. Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Do members agree to Bill 15 as a whole?
Do members agree that pursuant to Rule 62(2), that Bill 15 can be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Now let us proceed with Bill 18.
Minister Peterson, if you have opening comments, I now give you the opportunity.
Bill 18 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016 – Consideration in Committee
I am here to present Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016.
Bill 18 is for capital supplementary appropriations for 2015-16 and has no associated cost.
An interdepartmental transfer of $2,819,000 from the Department of Health to the Nunavut Housing Corporation to build a five-plex of two-bedroom units in Arctic Bay.
Colleagues, you will have an opportunity to ask detailed questions in the appropriate pages.
If there are none, let us proceed to Bill 18 on page 4 in the Inuktitut and English.
It reads, Health. Capital. Not Previously Authorized.
Directorate. Total Directorate. -$2,819,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. -$2,819,000.
It reads, Nunavut Housing Corporation. Capital. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Nunavut Housing Corporation. $2,819,000. Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $2,819,000.
Let us go back to page 2.
It reads, Schedule 1. Do you agree?
Look at your legislation binder.
We will deal with Bill 18 clause by clause.
Do you all have your copy?
It reads, Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2015-2016.
The documents I have in front of me are apparently different from everybody else’s. Let’s take a five-minute break. Don’t go too far while we fix this up.
>>Committee recessed at 16:41 and resumed at 16:53
As Chairman, I apologize for making you wait.
I must have the right documents in front of me and because they are bills, they have to be set up perfectly.
My pile wasn’t perfect.
I should have a perfect pile now. Let’s proceed.
I believe you all have Bill 18 in front of you.
It reads, Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016.
Chairman (interpretation): While we are here, let’s look at the Schedule on page 3.
It reads, Summary of Appropriation. Supplementary Amounts Appropriated for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2016.
Capital. Do you agree?
Let us go back to page 1.
My colleagues, do you agree to Bill 18 as a whole?
Do members agree that pursuant to Rule 62(2), that Bill 18 can be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
We just had a break. I believe we can proceed.
I would like to proceed to Bill 12.
Minister Peterson, if you are ready to proceed with Bill 12.
If you have any opening comments, you may now proceed.
Bill 12 – An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act – Consideration in Committee
I am pleased to speak to Bill 12, which will amend the Nunavut Tobacco Tax Act to help improve the efficiency and transparency of our tax system.
The first proposed amendment adds certainty for tobacco wholesalers when completing their Nunavut tobacco tax return.
Because cigar taxes are collected and remitted at the wholesale level, this amendment will change the calculation of cigar taxes to be based on the known wholesale price rather than the unknown retail price.
The second proposed amendment will divide the category of other tobacco into other smoked tobacco and other non-smoked tobacco groups.
These new categories define tobacco products based on their use, which will improve data received from wholesalers so that the GN can make better, informed decisions when setting rates and policies related to tobacco taxes.
This improved data will allow the Government of Nunavut to monitor tobacco use by Nunavummiut more accurately.
These are technical amendments and will not significantly change the amount of taxes paid by consumers of tobacco products.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to answer questions from the committee.
As Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation, I wish to present some opening comments as we begin consideration of Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act.
Mr. Chairman, the most recent bill to amend the Tobacco Tax Act was Bill 35, which received assent in February of 2012.
Bill 35 increased the tax on tobacco “by 4 cents per cigarette, or $1 per pack of 25” and “the tax on loose tobacco from 14 cents per [gram] to 20 cents per [gram].”
The 2015-16 main estimates indicate that the government raised $16,133,000 in 2013-14 from tobacco taxes.
Mr. Chairman, during the Legislative Assembly’s consideration of Bill 35 in 2012, the minister indicated that “The main goal of this tax increase is to reduce tobacco use among Nunavummiut.”
He also stated that “The government intends to utilize some of these funds to contribute to smoking prevention and cessation programs across the territory.”
In addition, the minister indicated that officials from his department would “continue to monitor the tobacco consumption in Nunavut to determine the effectiveness of this strategy.”
Mr. Chairman, as the minister will recall, during the Committee of the Whole’s recent review of the Department of Finance’s 2015-16 main estimates and 2015-18 business plan, the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts urged the minister to “table information in the Legislative Assembly concerning the actual amounts that have been allocated for smoking prevention and [cessation] programs.”
I would like to take this opportunity to echo that recommendation.
The standing committee continues to emphasize the importance of the Department of Finance working with the Department of Health to evaluate the impact that increases in tobacco taxes actually have on reducing consumption of the product.
The standing committee recognizes that the intent of Bill 12 is to clarify the definition between “smoked” and “non-smoked” tobacco and to modify the methodology by which taxes on cigar sales are calculated.
Given that the amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act will provide for a more precise distinction between smoked tobacco and non-smoked tobacco, it is important for the government to include awareness of the dangers of non-smoked tobacco in its anti-smoking and cessation campaigns.
The standing committee recognizes that the amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act will allow the Department of Finance to better administer and monitor tobacco sales in Nunavut.
Consequently, the standing committee recommends that the minister begin the practice of tabling an annual report on the administration of the Tobacco Tax Act that includes detailed information concerning sales of tobacco by product type and community.
The standing committee recommends the passage of Bill 12 to all members.
We’re dealing with Bill 12 that is in your legislation binders.