EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The process for appointments to a government board includes notification requirements.
Further, the people who applied who weren’t successful will receive notification.
Regardless of their success or not, letters will be sent out. Yes, I concur with you that my department has to follow the process of communicating with all applicants.
For the appointments, just to make it clear for everyone, the members will be dealing with our Inuit language. How long are the terms of the board members? Can the minister elaborate on the terms of the appointed members?
With respect to the question he raised about the term of the appointments, I don’t have the information in front of me.
I will need to have that researched on the length of the terms from my officials and I will commit to providing this information once I have it available.
Question 362 – 4(2): School Closure Policy (Enook)
My question will be directed to the Minister of Education as a request for clarification.
Based on his responses, I want it very clear in my own mind as well as for our fellow Nunavummiut because they are the ones who have to follow these legal requirements.
My first question is to clarify the issue, as perhaps I didn’t quite understand his response earlier.
Based on the Hansard Blues, the minister is on record as stating he had directed his officials.
Let me ask this question this way: did you direct your officials to research as to whom and through which avenue the review will take place?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague.
I don’t quite understand what kind of study or review he is asking for.
However, what I’m trying to say is that I have asked our officials at the Department of Education to review the school closures over the past year, as they have been quite numerous. I have asked them to determine if it’s weather-related or due to mechanical issues.
How can we improve the criteria?
I asked that question, “How can we improve the process?”
That was my question to my officials. That’s what I was trying to say yesterday during our meeting. I have directed my officials to look at this issue.
I asked whether we could find consistency. That’s what I was trying to say yesterday during our meeting.
I have directed my officials to review the school closure issue, not to do an actual study, but to review the school closure policy.
If we are to look at the legislation, the district education authorities in the communities have the mandate to make the decision on weather-related school closures and when they can close the schools.
The question was: how can we look at that issue further? I wanted to ensure that every school applies this consistently with guidelines that communities can follow.
Communities arrive at different decisions based on their local conditions.
That is why we have to leave it to the communities as to whether the school should be closed. I believe my colleague is well aware that every community has different environments and weather systems.
Due to these differences in the way communities operate, it was my directive to look at how we could have more consistency in how they are applied.
Perhaps the reason why I raised the question was due to a response by the minister that it could be looked at through different avenues, through this avenue, and he mentioned them as well, one avenue through the Special Committee to Review the Education Act.
The DEAs received their mandate when I became an MLA for my riding. My understanding at that time was that they weren’t involved in these types of decisions. I thought they were just going to review the Education Act, not the actual policies or the daily operational issues.
That totally confused me because many of us who dealt with the legislation thought that they were not going to deal with the day-to-day operations because there are regulations for that.
We assumed they were just going to review the legislation and not the policies or the regulations, which is why I asked if it would be reviewed through that avenue.
Again, in the Education Act, there will be a special committee conducting a review of the legislation. We are all aware that the communities have local district education authorities, or DEAs.
They are also included within the legislation, which is why I alluded to that avenue.
Now, if we look at the DEAs as being part of this legislation, they also have the ability to make their own by-laws and rules. Perhaps when we are reviewing this legislation or the Education Act, since they are included in the Act itself, they can look at different areas.
As it isn’t closed for them, I said they could possibly review it through that avenue. The question would be what mandate the DEAs have within our education system.
I don’t want anyone to misunderstand my intentions as I am one of the few advocates of the DEAs garnering more authority and I personally think nothing should be removed from their mandate. I am not advocating any removal of their existing authority, so please don’t misunderstand my questioning as advocating removal of powers.
Personally, I believe that if the local bodies had more authority, more programs would operate much smoother.
Let me raise this question then. At this time, the foundation for school closure and the policy therein, I’m not saying that they should be the same for all communities, but when you see no consistency in how it’s applied, the legal foundation, I believe, lays the guiding principles for school closures.
Perhaps you could look at that and base it on your own perspective.
That’s the way I thought it was set up. Perhaps the foundation that you use as the guiding principles, I wonder whether the DEAs truly understand their own roles and mandates and whether that has been provided.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Quassa.
We have provided that information to the DEAs on their authority and mandate with clear information laid out and that is provided for their usage. Further, the department provides copies of our legislation or other types of information they may require to conduct their operations.
We maintain an open door policy to the DEAs and we continue to explain that if they require assistance, our officials from the department can visit them at any time to answer their questions. This also applies to areas that they don’t understand related to their role and authority.
We can also provide training at any time.
We are open to working with the DEAs, but I wanted it understood that we work closely with the DEAs, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Keyootak.
Question 363 – 4(2): Conservation Officer for Qikiqtarjuaq (Keyootak)
Our community hasn’t had a conservation officer for a long time, which has created problems for our hunters in particular.
Can the Minister of Environment state or identify when Qikiqtarjuaq could reasonably expect the hiring of a conservation officer?
I thank my colleague for asking about that issue. The HTOs in Nunavut, particularly where a local conservation officer position has been vacant for a period, are the priority and we are trying to resolve that in our department to hire officers for them.
That is all I can respond with at this time.
This is problematic in our community, especially since our local harvesters depend on the sales of their sealskins as part of their income.
Hunters have to wait for long periods in our community due to not having a local conservation officer to process their skins.
Can the department focus on those communities without a conservation officer, particularly for Qikiqtarjuaq?
We would like more frequent visitations from conservation officers, as you feel sympathetic to the hunters who are forced to wait for long periods to sell their skins.
Can the department set up more frequent visits to these communities and in particular, to our community of Qikiqtarjuaq?
Yes, I completely believe the veracity of my colleague’s comment and I know it is a fact.
Also, what I can provide at this time is that in those cases, we will look at the concern my colleague voiced about when the community of Qikiqtarjuaq can expect a conservation officer or alternatively, when one can visit their community as soon as possible.
Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters. (interpretation) Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Justice, Mr. Okalik.
Tabled Document 100 – 4(2): Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report 2013-2014 (Okalik)
I am pleased to table the Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report for 2013-14 (14th annual report).
Tabled Document 101 – 4(2): Correspondence from the Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization Regarding Kiggavik Project (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I wish to table today a copy of correspondence that I have received from the Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization concerning the proposed Kiggavik project.
I have two. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) Members, I have two documents to table today.
Tabled Document 102 – 4(2): Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act (Speaker)
Tabled Document 103 – 4(2): 2013-2014 Annual Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Speaker)
In accordance with subsection 20.1 of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I wish to table a copy of an election made under section 7 of the Act.
I also wish to table the 2013-14 Annual Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you.
(interpretation ends) Item 15.
Notices of Motions. (interpretation) Member for (interpretation ends) Baker Lake, Mr. Mikkungwak.
Motion 019 – 4(2): Extended Sitting Hours and Days – Notice (Mikkungwak)
I give notice that on Monday, March 2, 2015, I will move the following motion:
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Aggu, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting hours and days as the Speaker deems fit to assist with the business before the House during the winter 2015 sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Item 16. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. Item 17.
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015, be read for the second time.
All those in favour. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) Opposed. The motion is carried and Bill 14 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 15 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2014-2015 – Second Reading
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 15, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2014-2015, be read for the second time.
Opposed. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) The motion is carried and Bill 15 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 17 – Write-off of Assets Act, 2012-2013 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 17, Write-off of Assets Act, 2012-2013, be read for the second time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
The motion is carried and Bill 17 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
Bill 18 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations to defray the capital expenditures of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.
The motion is carried and Bill 18 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 19 – An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill adds five forms of cancer to the listed diseases presumed to affect firefighters.
The motion is carried and Bill 19 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole [on Bills] and Other Matters.
Bills 14, 15, 16, and 18 with Mr. Akoak in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 10:30 and Committee resumed at 10:55
Chairman (Mr. Akoak): Good morning, Inuit, Nunavummiut, ministers, and MLAs. Good morning.
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 14, 15, 16, and 18.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with the review of the 2015-16 Main Estimates of the Department of Community and Government Services.
Are we in agreement that we continue with the main estimates for the Department of CGS?
Chairman: Is the committee agreed that Minister Sammurtok’s staff go to the witness table?
To my right, I have my Deputy Minister, Roy Green, and to my left, I have our Director of Finance, Gershom Moyo.
We will now proceed to the page-by-page review of the main estimates starting on page J-4.
Mr. Chairman, I believe we are on page J-4.
Within the business plan, specifically pages 157 and 158, I have a question, Mr. Chairman.
In the documentation, actually within the 2014-17 business plans, it speaks about the priorities for 2014-15, where it states that the department’s corporate structure will be reviewed and again in the 2015-16 plans, it is clearly identified that the corporate structure has been revised.
Now, if you look at the 2015-18 business plans, there is nothing specifically written about the change in the corporate structure.
Can the minister identify what changes were made to the department’s corporate structure and what improvements you expect in the provision of services?
Before I go to the minister, I would like to recognize Nadia Mike and the grade 10 students.
Please welcome them to the House.
I am going to try to respond and see if I could clarify as thoroughly as I can.
If you look at the business plan, he has a question with regard to that matter.
There’s going to be no real changes with respect to how our departments are going to be utilizing the budget. I can respond that way.
Let me start by clarifying my question. With the changes you have already implemented within your department, both the latest and earlier changes with this new budget, what kind of improvements does your department expect?
I wonder if you could use an example of some kind.
Yes, now I understand the reasoning behind his question.
Yes, our department and our corporate structure were reviewed to see how to make improvements and this was undertaken last year. This process has been completed now.
The changes to the structure in our department were to ensure our operations were smoother and to have all staff in the proper place to fulfill their work requirements. This is how our department dealt with these changes.
When you made the improvements and you had identified your budget, did you have to move staff to different communities? Did you move positions or jobs around? What was happening?
I could say that we have been working on this.
We have only moved one position and it was the assistant deputy minister from the Kivalliq to Iqaluit.
I also want to ask when it was that you made the changes.
When you were prioritizing for 2015-18, there was also a change with respect to the programs and how they were to be delivered. There were no positions changed, only the program delivery. Within operations… .
I have too many papers.
The program was transferred from the Directorate to the Community Services Division. Within the operation side, the (interpretation ends) Consumer Affairs Division, (interpretation) along with the Contracting Division, was moved from the Directorate to another area.
I just want to understand the reasoning why the divisions were transferred and what improvements are expected.
Indeed, due to the way they are written, it looks as if they were transferred visually.
However, they remain under the (interpretation ends) director of policy, (interpretation) as their head supervisor remains unchanged. The actual reporting structure hasn’t changed.
I am momentarily at a loss, so if the minister didn’t understand my point in Inuktitut, I need to clarify my point in English.
(interpretation ends) Your department’s draft 2015-18 business plan indicates that the Directorate Branch is now responsible for consumer affairs and procurement and contract support, which were previously included under your department’s Community Support Branch.
Why has the department transferred these responsibilities to its Directorate Branch?
Minister Sammurtok.  Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The matter identified by my colleague hasn’t changed operationally with respect to the (interpretation ends) director of policy, (interpretation) as they have to report to this position.
Although it isn’t listed under Directorate, it hasn’t changed operationally with this corporate structure change.
Within the same area, I seem to note another change that is observable, so I just want to understand the reason why, in your department’s 2015-16 estimates, you have indicated that a new division was created, entitled Policy and Planning.
This has been included under the Directorate Branch.
Can you indicate how the addition of this division will affect the Directorate’s workload and responsibilities?
I would like to know where that information is so that I can answer it effectively.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, let me find the page.
It is on page 157, although I am looking at page 158 of the business plan.
I don’t have the Inuktitut version of the other document, but I was looking at the Directorate page.
Perhaps if I provide some background, the minister will understand my point. In case you don’t understand my Inuktitut dialect, I will try to ask it in English for clarity.
(interpretation ends) Your department’s 2015-16 main estimates indicate that there is new division titled Policy and Planning, or is my information wrong?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok: As far as we’re concerned, there has been no change. However, just for clarity, if you allow me to have my deputy minister respond to that.
With respect to the Directorate or the advisory and administrative services, there has been no change in consumer affairs.
The only thing that we did is that we have broken out the consumer affairs budget within the business plans.
The consumer affairs office is in Baker Lake. It has been there since the inception of the government in 1999 and it always reported back to the director of policy and planning in Iqaluit.
There has been no change in the Consumer Affairs Branch. It’s not new. It has been with us, like I said, back since we formed the government in 1999.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I’ll have to get back on that one because my information seems to say otherwise.
(interpretation) While on the same page, on J-4, I would like to ask this question about the work your department was tasked with, which was a review of the legislation and proposed (interpretation ends) amendments (interpretation) to the legislation protecting consumers or buyers in our territory, which is (interpretation ends) the Consumer Protection Act. (interpretation) It says that you completed your review and that you have completed your draft report.
What I want to ask about is this: when do you expect to introduce those amendments in the Legislative Assembly?
First of all, the legislation review was first undertaken in 2009 on proposed amendments to the (interpretation ends) Consumer Protection Act (interpretation) with the amendments completed on June 2012.
Currently, we are working with the Department of Justice to make sure these amendments are adequate or in line with what we are trying to do.
Branch Summary. Mr. Joanasie.
First off, I extend a welcome to Minister Sammurtok and your officials.
Within the CG&S business plans, it shows on page 157 that the (interpretation ends) consumer affairs (interpretation) budget will increase by $200,000 if we look at the 2014-15 estimates.
Can the minister provide the reasoning behind this increase of $200,000? That is my first question.
Yes, the reason for the increase in the budget is to accommodate the extra position, as there are currently three people in that division. Additionally, we have to hire a (interpretation ends) manager, (interpretation) which is a new position.
That is the reason why the increase in the budget was made, as the funds are broken into $383,000 in (interpretation ends) compensation and benefits and (interpretation) $124,000 in O&M costs. That is the reason why we have increased that amount under Consumer Affairs.
Another matter under the Consumer Affairs Division also looks after the granting of (interpretation ends) lottery and business licences. (interpretation) Have you seen evidence of an increase in the number of lottery and business licence applications from the previous year?
To date, the number of lotteries hasn’t changed drastically within Nunavut. Within our territory, there are only three lottery licences, with two licences here in Iqaluit and one licence in Rankin Inlet.
However, we are in the midst of planning for the opening of a new lottery licence, which I believe will be in Baker Lake. However, as of now, the numbers haven’t changed much.
Mr. Chairman, I wish to move to another item within your business plan on page 158 under the listing of priorities for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
The first line item is to “Review and consider amendments to existing scholarships and awards programs in order to maximize efficiencies.” It states that the review will be undertaken with a view to operate this more efficiently.
Can the minister elaborate on how you’re going to review scholarships and awards programs?
In this day and age, the number of students graduating from high school in Nunavut is continually increasing and some students take more advanced courses after graduation.
This is the reason why we want to review the (interpretation ends) scholarship program, (interpretation) as it is currently specific to students taking (interpretation ends) engineering or technical service requirements. (interpretation) These are the types of issues that require review to consider amendments to existing scholarships. It’s mostly to do with engineering and technical services requirements or education that the students will be pursuing.
At this time, the total amount set aside for the scholarships is $80,000 per annum.
The funds for the (interpretation ends) scholarships, (interpretation) as per the minister’s response, were that it is for graduates completing high school.
Have these applications for the scholarship increased?
Is the entire scholarship fund of $80,000 expended in a year?
Yes, actually I can only respond with an affirmative answer to that particular question.
Additionally, your priorities indicate a future review to provide alternatives or amendments to the scholarship and awards program. Has your department considered increasing the scholarship fund or will this program be cut?
I wonder what exactly they will be reviewing.
Our department has committed to this review as per our priorities, but upon completion of this review is the time when we will have an idea of the status. It looks as if it may be increased.
Although a review has been identified for the scholarship, will the funds continue to be awarded even if the review is taking place? Will this scholarship program be offered next year?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Yes, the scholarship fund is topped up every year, and even with the review, the program will continue to provide assistance to our students.
When will the review be completed and will you table the results of the review in the Legislative Assembly?
At the present time, we have a plan outlining that the review will be completed within six months and we will have the results.