EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Chairman, given the significant decline in the price of crude on world markets, Petroleum Products has purchased approximately 70 percent of the 2015-16 supply of fuels through the early purchase program, which has resulted in savings to the GN in excess of $32 million compared to last year’s resupply costs.
On April 1, 2013, CGS rolled out the new Municipal Funding Program.
The funding formula is subject to review every three years. CGS will undertake a program review of the Municipal Funding Program to ensure the sustainability of the funding program during fiscal year 2015-16.
CGS continues to strongly support the activities of the Municipal Training Organization (MTO). MTO has been providing much needed training for municipal employees for over 10 years now. The training provided by MTO allows municipal employees to gain skills that assist them in delivering services to residents with training costs that are low and affordable to municipalities.
CGS remains MTO’s largest funding partner and we are pleased to continue our funding levels to MTO.
Our Sport and Recreation Division has just completed its support activities for Team Nunavut’s participation at the 2014 North American Indigenous Games and is in the final stage of… . We are actually participating at the Canada Winter Games in Prince George as of now.
Mr. Chairman, we continue our work on the development of a regulatory framework for the Nunavut Building Code Act. The department is undertaking the development of the regulations, which is expected to be completed late fiscal year 2015-16.
CGS continues to work on improving core municipal services, such as water, wastewater, and solid waste, in each of Nunavut’s communities. The partnership with Dalhousie University on wastewater is providing insight on factors that may impact the performance of treatment systems.
This study will be completed in fiscal year 2015-16, which will allow Nunavut to provide preliminary recommendations to federal regulators in the development of appropriate effluent quality standards for Nunavut and the Far North.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to advise members that Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development has revoked the letter of direction issued to five Nunavut communities in 2012 due to the progress that is being made by CGS and the working group in addressing compliance issues with municipal water licences.
Our Property and Asset Management Division continues to pursue process improvements to ensure that the GN’s preventative maintenance and lifecycle renewal initiatives will support higher performing and longer-lasting buildings.
We are currently undertaking a program review to update our maintenance management standards and to examine gaps in existing delivery standards.
Mr. Chairman, CGS continues to invest in government operations by increasing funding to support our IT infrastructure. The number of people on the government network continues to expand due to decentralization and other factors. In addition, the number and types of devices that users need to work and communicate continues to increase.
CGS is committed and continues to strive to improve telecommunications for the government as a whole.
This commitment has allowed the government to build telecommunication infrastructure capable of managing over three times the amount of bandwidth since 2010 to improve program and service delivery.
With forward-thinking and new technologies, CGS will continue enhancing our telecommunications network to provide even better government services to Nunavummiut.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s Protection Services Division has been working hard to improve search and rescue response programs available to the public.
We will continue with our ongoing commitment to train community SAR organizations, hamlets, and individuals in assisting the RCMP and military in responding to searches.
In 2014, there were 216 searches for over 443 individuals.
We continue to promote the use of SPOT devices and increase awareness of safety preparedness measures for all individuals going out on the land or water.
The territorial emergency plan along with the Department of Community and Government Services’ emergency plans have been completed and will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly this year.
Mr. Chairman, I hope my comments give an appreciation of the progress that my department is making in addressing the goals of this government.
I would now be pleased to answer any questions you may have, Mr. Chairman.
At this time, I would like to give the Chair of the Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development an opportunity to make his opening comments. Mr. Rumbolt.
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development on its review of the 2015-16 main estimates and 2015-18 business plan of the Department of Community and Government Services.
The standing committee notes that the department’s proposed 2015-16 operations and maintenance budget of $230,969,000 has increased by approximately 4.6 percent since the introduction of the department’s 2014-15 main estimates.
The number of positions in the department is 375. This is an increase of seven positions from the 2014-15 estimates.
The standing committee notes that the organizational structure of the department has changed significantly since the introduction of its 2014-15 main estimates.
The department’s 2015-16 organizational structure includes two newly added branches and a number of new divisions.
The standing committee recognizes that the organizational changes presented in the department’s 2015-16 main estimates do not significantly affect its roles and responsibilities.
During his recent appearance, the minister indicated that a number of the department’s organizational changes have been made to improve the lines of communication between the department’s community support offices and municipalities.
The standing committee emphasizes the importance of ensuring that municipalities receive all necessary information and support from the department in a clear and timely manner.
The department’s draft 2015-18 business plan indicates that a draft legislative proposal to introduce amendments to the Consumer Protection Act has been completed for review.
The issue of amending this legislation to provide for the regulation of cheque-cashing fees, money transfer fees, and payday loans has been raised in the Legislative Assembly on a number of occasions and the standing committee looks forward to the timely introduction of these amendments.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Community and Government Services has the lead responsibility for the Government of Nunavut’s procurement function and is responsible for preparing its annual reports on contracting, procurement and leasing activities.
The Minister of Community and Government Services is responsible for ensuring that these important annual reports are tabled in the Legislative Assembly in a timely manner.
The department’s proposed 2015-16 main estimates include projected expenditures of approximately $60 million on its five major municipal funding programs.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee notes that a number of the department’s policies in this area, including its Water and Sewage Services Subsidy Policy, appear to have expired.
The standing committee encourages the minister to ensure that these key policies are reviewed on a periodic basis and that any updated versions are made publicly available at the earliest opportunity.
The Nunavut Emergency Management office is responsible for a number of initiatives, including the development of emergency response plans, coordinating the government’s emergency operations, and providing support to community search and rescue volunteer organizations.
The Department of Community and Government Services is responsible for preparing an annual report on the activities of this office under section 32 of the Emergency Measures Act.
The standing committee notes that the department has not yet tabled its 2012-13 and 2013-14 annual reports under the Emergency Measures Act.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Community and Government Services is responsible for the administration of the government’s Community Search and Rescue Organization Support Policy and Community Based Search and Rescue Contribution Policy.
The standing committee notes that these policies appear to have expired.
As members will recall, the Legislative Assembly’s Full Caucus held a retreat in Kugluktuk in February of last year to establish a number of priority areas.
At that time, caucus announced that a territory-wide plebiscite will be held in 2016 to determine if the current restrictions applying to the disposal of municipal lands should continue.
The department’s draft 2015-18 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for the 2015-16 fiscal year is to “Plan for the preparation and conduct a land plebiscite” in each community and that this plebiscite is currently scheduled to take place in 2016.
The standing committee emphasizes the importance of keeping the Nunavut public fully informed on this issue.
The department’s draft 2015-18 business plan indicates that the department has completed work on an accurate inventory of assets and condition ratings for all facilities.
It also indicates that two of its priorities for the 2015-16 fiscal year are to finalize and implement “a strategic plan for addressing the maintenance of community and government assets.”
On May 9, 2014, the department issued a request for proposals titled “Asset Management Program Review.”
Information provided by the department indicates that a contract was awarded for this project on July 10 of 2014.
The RFI closed on March 28, 2014. Testimony provided to the House on May 30, 2014, during the Committee of the Whole’s consideration of the department’s 2014-15 main estimates, indicated that a final report on this initiative had been provided and that the department was in the process of evaluating that report.
Mr. Chairman, given the heightened public awareness of the need to address Nunavut’s aging solid waste management infrastructure and to explore new technologies, such as incineration, the standing committee encourages the minister to report to the House at the earliest opportunity on the results of his department’s Request for Information for Potential Planning for Solid Waste Management Methods for Nunavut Territory.
On May 29, 2014, during the Committee of the Whole’s consideration of the department’s 2014-15 main estimates, testimony that was provided to the House indicated that a number of communities in Nunavut were not in compliance with the terms and conditions of their water licences.
The department’s draft 2015-18 business plan indicates that a “Compliance plan has been developed in collaboration with AANDC and the Nunavut Water Board.”
It also indicates that this plan is “currently being used to address new water license renewal applications that require a compliance plan.”
The standing committee also notes that one of the department’s goals for the 2015-16 fiscal year is to “Propose appropriate effluent quality standards for Nunavut to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment.”
As a note, Mr. Chairman, I would just like to note that earlier today, the minister did do a Minister’s Statement on water compliance. Just to note that.
The standing committee continues to recommend that the department prepare and table in the Legislative Assembly a comprehensive annual report on water quality in all Nunavut communities.
Mr. Chairman, a new Building Code Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly in 2012.
The department’s 2015-18 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for the 2015-16 fiscal year is to “Finalize the establishment of regulations for the Nunavut Building Code Act.”
A number of members were appointed to this committee in March of 2014.
Mr. Chairman, in April of 2014, Members of the Legislative Assembly held hearings on the Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Safety of Schools and Childcare Facilities in Nunavut.
The department has previously indicated that it would “work with the Department of Education to finalize and implement the Fire Safety Planning Guidelines for School Facilities” and “begin to develop an implementation plan to broaden the Fire Safety Planning Guidelines to include other facilities in other departments.”
The department’s 2015-18 business plan indicates that “Fire Safety Guidelines for School Facilities have been developed and will be implemented in the new fiscal year.”
The standing committee encourages the minister to table these guidelines in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2015-16 main estimates and 2015-18 business plan of the Department of Community and Government Services.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the minister’s officials out.
Mr. Allan Rumbolt.
Third Reading of Bills. (interpretation) Orders of the Day.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Friday, February 27, at 9:00 a.m.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Pages 1796 – 1832
Opening Prayer 1796
Ministers’ Statements 1796
Oral Questions 1801
Tabling of Documents 1814
Notices of Motions 1815
Second Reading of Bills 1816
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1817
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1830
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1831
Orders of the Day 1831
Friday, February 27, 2015 1796
099 – 4(2): Annual Staff Award for Academic Excellence and Innovation in Teaching (Quassa) 1796
210 – 4(2): Conditions at Baffin Correctional Centre (Shooyook) 1797
211 – 4(2): Kinngait Venue for Local Musicians (Joanasie) 1798
212 – 4(2): Recognition of Tiffany Siusangnark (Mapsalak) 1798
213 – 4(2): Happy Birthday to Mother-in-Law Leah Qappik (Mike) 1799
214 – 4(2): Congratulations to Jenny Mosesee (Keyootak) 1799
215 – 4(2): Grateful for Ministerial Visit (Akoak) 1800
216 – 4(2): Nunavut Quest 2015 (Enook) 1800
217 – 4(2): Happy to Finally Arrive (Mikkungwak) 1801
354 – 4(2): Support for Nunavut Athletes (Mapsalak) 1801
355 – 4(2): Conditions at Baffin Correctional Centre (Shooyook) 1802
356 – 4(2): Status of Site Remediation in Baker Lake (Mikkungwak) 1803
357 – 4(2): Lack of Office Space in Nunavut Communities (Rumbolt) 1804
358 – 4(2): Capital Planning Process (Joanasie) 1805
359 – 4(2): School Closure Policy (Enook) 1807
360 – 4(2): New School for Coral Harbour (Mapsalak) 1808
361 – 4(2): Nominations to Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit (Mikkungwak) 1810
362 – 4(2): School Closure Policy (Enook) 1811
363 – 4(2): Conservation Officer for Qikiqtarjuaq (Keyootak) 1814
100 – 4(2): Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report 2013-2014 (Okalik) 1815
101 – 4(2): Correspondence from the Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization Regarding Kiggavik Project (Mikkungwak) 1815
102 – 4(2): Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act (Speaker) 1815
103 – 4(2): 2013-2014 Annual Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Speaker) 1815
019 – 4(2): Extended Sitting Hours and Days – Notice (Mikkungwak) 1815
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015 – Second Reading 1816
Bill 15 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2014-2015 – Second Reading 1816
Bill 17 – Write-off of Assets Act, 2012-2013 – Second Reading 1816
Bill 18 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016 – Second Reading 1817
Bill 19 – An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act – Second Reading 1817
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2015-2016 – Community and Government Services – Consideration in Committee 1818
Mr. Tony Akoak, Hon. Monica Ell, Mr. Joe Enook, Mr. George Hickes, Mr. David Joanasie, Mr. Pauloosie Keyootak, Hon. George Kuksuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Hon. Johnny Mike, Mr. Simeon Mikkungwak, Hon. Paul Okalik, Hon. Keith Peterson, Hon. Paul Quassa, Hon. George Qulaut, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok, Hon. Tom Sammurtok, Mr. Isaac Shooyook, Hon. Peter Taptuna.
Speaker (interpretation): Good morning, my fellow Nunavummiut. Ministers, (interpretation ends) Mr. Premier, (interpretation) and members, welcome to the House.
Furthermore, I want to extend a warm welcome to Simeon Mikkungwak for his safe travel to Iqaluit. However, I wonder if I should thank you, as the bad weather seemingly arrived with you. You must have brought the weather system with you.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Quassa.
Minister’s Statement 099 – 4(2): Annual Staff Award for Academic Excellence and Innovation in Teaching (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, my colleagues and fellow community members. I say “good morning” and I wish them a good day.
Mr. Speaker, as Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, it is my honour to inform my colleagues that Nunavut Arctic College will be initiating an Annual Staff Award for Academic Excellence and Innovation in Teaching in memory of the late Linda Pemik.
(interpretation ends) Linda Pemik’s contributions to the students and staff of Nunavut Arctic College are immeasurable and her career in the north has spanned over 40 years.
She was not only active in her college community but also in her local community of Arviat and on social media through her blog.
Linda cared deeply about the education of all Nunavummiut and was truly a lifelong learner, innovator, and critical thinker as well as a [mentor] for both students and staff.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, Linda Pemik helped lay a strong foundation for all students that crossed her path throughout her career at Nunavut Arctic College.
From her early days as an instructor to her final position as senior academic officer, Linda’s positive influence on the lives of staff and students and her continuing efforts to offer new and innovative programs and curriculum will be remembered for years to come.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am honoured that we will be able to offer this Annual Staff Award for Academic Excellence and Innovation and Teaching in her name. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 210 – 4(2): Conditions at Baffin Correctional Centre (Shooyook)
I say “good day” to the people of Nunavut, as well as the visitors in the gallery and my colleagues.
I rise today to express my deep concern and which I feel needs immediate addressing.
In January, one of the committees toured the correctional facilities with the life skills counsellors.
While touring the facility with members of the committee of which I am part of, several major concerns surfaced based on the condition of the facility.
In this day and age, we congratulate our fellow residents’ accomplishments. Just yesterday, we witnessed another cause for celebration for the counsellors who completed their training and, indeed, it was a cause for celebration.
Now, on the other hand, several major concerns surfaced with regard to inmates housed at the correctional facility.
I will voice these specific concerns about that facility; mind you I am not trying to take the representation from the Iqaluit members in whose riding this facility is situated. There are significant concerns related to the condition of the correctional facility.
The correctional facility serves all of Nunavut, as inmates from all over Nunavut are housed in that facility, and that is why I am voicing my concerns.
As the Member for Quttiktuq, I know that this concern isn’t only applicable to inmates from my community, as it is for the entire territory.
Mr. Speaker, there is a cause for concern at the facility housing our inmates, as the condition is substandard.
I even saw examples of hazardous substances that would scare anyone and the space seems uninhabitable.
Some of the hazards are a cause for immediate worry, and I understood the need for corrective work.
Mr. Speaker, what I heard about the correctional facility was that it has two types of mould.
If the mould enters the bloodstream, it can cause cancer.
It is absolutely unacceptable to have people at this facility.
Mr. Shooyook, please proceed.
I am almost at the end of my statement.
Mr. Speaker, the information we heard about the facility was that it had two types of mould. On top of these hazardous substances, the interior is severely damaged in some places.
Mr. Speaker, our inmates ought to no longer be housed in that correctional facility due to these pressing concerns and health and safety reasons.
As the government administering these facilities, we have to conduct a thorough and immediate review of the facility due to the inherent dangers in it.
Member’s Statement 211 – 4(2): Kinngait Venue for Local Musicians (Joanasie)
Good morning to my colleagues and the listening audience.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share a positive development within my constituency in Cape Dorset that affects me on a personal level.
Mr. Speaker, the Kinngait Performing Arts Club opened its doors early this year after converting a portion of the community centre into a space to play music and foster a healthy environment for the youth and the community.
Mr. Speaker, we have many talented people in our communities who have and continue to contribute positively through the arts and music.
Mr. Speaker, with this new community resource, emerging artists can showcase their skills and talents and further develop their artistic expression through music.
Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to pay tribute to one of the original Kinngait Band members who recently passed away and whom I have personally performed with in my earlier years.
Mr. Tayara Papigatuk had a great impression and impact on the music scene in our community and will truly be missed.
Mr. Speaker, join me in the commending the efforts being made by a small group of individuals, namely, Claude Constantineau, Grace Main, Scott Knox, the Hamlet of Cape Dorset, the community justice committee, and the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Health, for their contributions toward the Kinngait Performing Arts Club to benefit the wider community.
Member’s Statement 212 – 4(2): Recognition of Tiffany Siusangnark (Mapsalak)
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish my constituents in Repulse Bay and Coral Harbour a good day today.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my young constituent, Ms. Tiffany Siusangnark.
Tiffany is from Repulse Bay who hopes to become Nunavut’s first female NHL player. Mr. Speaker, at this time, Tiffany is training at the Hockey Training Institute in Barrie, Ontario, sharpening her skills on the ice with a team of youth student athletes with big dreams. Tiffany and her team, the “Stars,” have competed against the top level in their division internationally.
I would like to recognize Ms. Siusangnark for following her dreams.
It is not easy for a teenager to travel such a far distance for a long period of time away from their family, friends, and community.
I would like to recognize Tiffany and to honour her for being able to go to school in a southern institute, even though her family is not living with her, so she could achieve her dream of becoming a hockey player.
Her parents and grandmother had to raise $24,000. To date, they have raised about $21,000 so far and they need $3,900 to go.
I am very proud of her and her family.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to share my pride with them and provide my support so that Tiffany Siusangnark can achieve her dream.
Member’s Statement 213 – 4(2): Happy Birthday to Mother-in-Law Leah Qappik (Mike)
I say “good morning” to my fellow residents of Pangnirtung, those who are watching the session.
The reason why I rise this morning is to announce my mother-in-law’s birthday, Leah Tauki Qappik. She is celebrating her 80th birthday today.
I want to express my joy in her reaching this age and on behalf of the Qappik and Mike families, happy birthday.
She is a tremendous asset to our families, as she treats everyone with love and equality. Those of us who are married into the family continually see her expressions of love. I also want to mention her husband, my father-in-law Petoosie.