EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So those are 2 outstanding issue that I quite frankly haven’t received the information for yet so I’ll check right after to see what exactly is the status of that.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Oral question, Mr. Puqiqnak
Mr. Speaker again thank you to the Minister of Finance and I think the smaller communities would definitely benefit from these services and when you're trying to start a business of your own, those banking services are too far from the smaller communities.
When the Minister is trying to help the smaller communities in the banking services, perhaps the officials of the banks can consult and visit the communities who wish to start small businesses of some sort, because we need the services.
Perhaps the officials of the banks should visit the communities more often and try to get these services going.
Mr. Speaker I would agree with the member and I’ll pass that on to our bankers right now what that concern is and what possibilities there may be.
Thank you , Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Oral questions. Back to the orders of the day. Item 7, Written Questions.
Item 8, Returns to Written Questions. Item 9, Returns to Opening Address. Item 10, Petitions.
Petition 9 - 1 (2):Support for Ublivik
Petition 10 – 1 (2): Support for Ublivik
Petition 11 – 1 (2): Support for Ublivik
Hon. Jack Anawak: (interpretation): Thank you , Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker I have three petitions here. There are 50 names from Rankin Inlet and Coral Harbour who are in support of Gloria Penner and Ublivik. The second is from Arviat , Coral Harbour and from Rankin Inlet signed by 70 people.
The last one there’s 614 names from Repulse Bay, and Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, Whale Cove, Arviat and Coral Harbour.
Petitions, item 11 reports of standing committee, item 12 first reading of bills, item 13 tabling of documents, Mr. Kilabuk
Tabled Document 18 - 1 (2): Federal Committee on Fisheries Report
I’d like to table a document, a report from the federal government addressing fisheries and this was produced on December 8, 1998.
The document is being reviewed right now by the department of sustainable development and I’ll respond to it at a later time.
Tabling of documents, item 14 notices of motion, item 15 notices of motions first reading of bills, item 16 motions, item 17 first reading of bills, item 18 second reading of bills, item 19 consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters, bills 1, 2, 3 and committee reports 1-1 (2), 2-1 (2), 3-1 (2),. 4-1 (2) with Mr. Puqiqnak as the Chairperson
Chairperson (Mr. Puqiqnak) (interpretation): : Thank you it’s almost lunch time at this time we will go for lunch and resume at 1:30.
>>Committee recessed at 12:00 and resumed at 1:30 pm
Chairperson (interpretation): Lets start again.
We will now ask the Premier to present the budget for his department.
Budget Presentation 1999/2000 for The Department of Executive
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Iksivautuq, today we are considering the budget of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs (EIA).
The total budget for the department is $7.734M.
EIA is one of the smallest departments.
It has no capital funds, and one grant or contribution.
It has a total of 51 employees:
employees work as Executive Assistants or Executive Secretaries to the 7 Ministers.
4 employees work in the Office of the Premier.
They are the Executive Secretary, the Executive Assistant, the Press Secretary and the Principal Secretary.
1 employee works as the Executive Secretary to the Commissioner of Nunavut.
These 19 people are all considered to be political appointments.
They are hired directly by the individual Ministers, the Premier or the Commissioner, and work directly for them.
The head of this Department has two titles.
She is the Deputy Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs and she is the Secretary to Cabinet. 5 people work in the Directorate to support these functions.
They are the Deputy Minister, one Cabinet Registrar, one Finance Manager, one Office Manager and one Interpreter/Translator.
They organize and manage the work and the finances of the Department.
8 people work in the Policy function.
They include the Assistant Deputy Minister, one Director, three Policy Advisors, two Trainees and one support staff.
They provide centralized policy development for all departments and generally analyze policy recommendations coming to Cabinet.
4 people work in Communications.
Their job is to communicate government initiatives to the public, to deal with questions and issues from others and to look after protocol with visitors.
7 people work in statistics and evaluations.
They collect the numbers and information the government needs to understand and plan what is needed in Nunavut.
They include auditors to check money and how it is spent, and program specialists to assess how programs are operating.
8 people work in Intergovernmental Affairs. 3 of these people work in our Ottawa office.
They support elected officials and departments when they go to Ottawa.
They attend meetings for the Government of Nunavut and save us money when we don’t need to pay airfares. 5 people work in Iqaluit.
They assist in our relationships with other governments, at First Ministers Conferences, and with our relationship with NTI and our obligations as a government under the Land Claim.
They are responsible for monitoring our agreements with the GNWT.
There is a $100,000 budget the Commissioner's office that will cover the costs of staff and basic O&M expenses.
Office accommodation expenses are captured in the PWTTS budget and other Commissioner's costs will be paid directly by the Government of Canada.
The budget for the Nunavut Cabinet includes Minister’s salaries, offices, and support staff.
Each Minister is also provided a budget to cover Ministerial travel and other expenses.
With the help of the Department of Finance and Administration, these budget numbers were put together despite the fact that we had nothing to compare with but the GNWT's historical numbers.
Like other department's, we are using common O&M assumptions, which may change in next year's budget process.
For example, each trip in Nunavut is costed at $3,000 per trip; training per staff person is estimated at $1,000 per employee; and telephone costs are estimated at $2,000 per employee.
The point is, these numbers are the best estimates for this year, but our estimates next year will be even better as we will have something to compare to.
On the political side, 19 of 19 positions are filled, as each Minister’s office is fully supported.
On the Cabinet and Department side 17 of 32 positions are filled which is 53%.
Inuit employees represent 47% of the Iqaluit positions.
Iksivautuq, I will now conclude by stating that the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs has made a lot of progress in meeting its broad mandate.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Premier Okalik.
I would like to welcome your staff members who are with you at the staff table.
Mr. Akesuk, will make the comments on behalf of the Standing Committee.
I have no questions but Mr. Tootoo will be making the opening comments from the Standing Committee.
Mr. Tootoo you can go ahead with your opening comments.
Report on the Review of Draft Departmental Business Plans and Preliminary Information on the 1999/2000 Main Estimates
Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs
Premier Okalik appeared before the Committee on the afternoon of April 29.
The main estimates summary provided to the Committee indicated total 1999-2000 expenditures of $7,734,000 dollars.
The Committee recognizes the unique nature of the Department.
As opposed to a line department, which delivers services directly to the public, EIA is the Government's lead central agency in providing support to Cabinet, policy co-ordination and amplification of political direction.
The Committee has the following general comments and recommendations.
Premier's Travel and Relations with Other Jurisdictions
The Committee was pleased to receive a briefing on the Premier's recent trip to Ontario.
The Committee was also pleased to learn of the Premier's efforts to save public money wherever possible during official travel.
The Committee expressed its view that Nunavut can learn from the experiences of other jurisdictions where indigenous peoples have achieved the means of guiding their destiny.
Such issues as community justice, corrections and liquor distribution were suggested as being especially worthy of comparison.
With respect to federal-Nunavut relations, the Committee was supportive of the Premier's efforts to identify additional resources wherever possible, during discussions with federal Ministers.
While recognizing the challenges in this area, the Committee encourages the Premier to make every effort to ensure that Nunavut's voice is heard clearly in appropriate intergovernmental forums.
The Premier was asked to update the Committee with respect to the situation concerning disputed islands in Hudson Bay.
He advised the Committee that the Department was fully aware of the issue, and that efforts were underway to secure sufficient resources to defend Nunavut's interests in any court action.
The Premier advised the Committee that, as a result of an agreement between the federal government, the GNWT and the OIC, the Government of Nunavut is responsible for any deficit incurred by the OIC prior to 1 April 1999.
The Committee shared the Premier's dissatisfaction with this situation, and is supportive of any efforts that can be made to resolve it.
Appointments to Boards and Agencies
During discussions with the Committee, the Premier stated his desire for an open approach to the issue.
He stressed the need for more women to be appointed to such Nunavut bodies.
The Committee emphasized its view that the appointments process should involve Regular Members of the Assembly.
Relations Between Cabinet and Regular Members
The Committee noted in its review of the draft business plan that the Department has responsibility for ensuring "clear and effective dialogue between Cabinet and MLA’s."
The Committee emphasized its desire to play an active, involved role in the decision-making process.
Mr. Chairman that concludes my opening remarks, I would like to turn it back over to Mr. Akesuk for some motions.
Committee Motion 39 – 1 (2): Materials to be Provided in English and Inuktitut
Mr. Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends).
I move that the Committee recommend that the government work to ensure that all materials provided by members be provided in both Inuktitut and English.
Chairperson (interpretation): To the motion.
Since there are no comments, those in favour of the motion.
Go ahead, you may continue if you have other motions, Mr. Akesuk.
Committee Motion 40 – 1 (2): Mid Year Progress Report
I move that this committee recommends that the department provide a mid-year progress to the Standing Committee for review in October of this year.
Chairperson (interpretation): Moved by the committee.
Thank you, you may continue.
Committee Motion 41 – 1 (2): Incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
I move that this committee recommends that the government make development of a strategy to incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into the governments’ decision making process a priority.
You may continue Mr. Akesuk.
Committee Motion 42 – 1 (2): Secure Needed Resources from Federal Government
I move that this committee recommends that the Premier and the Minister of Finance continue to make every effort to secure needed resources from the Federal Government and that the Premier continue to work in co-operation with other northern jurisdictions to ensure that Nunavut gets a fair share of resource revenues.
Chairperson (interpretation): There is a motion on the floor, those in favour of the motion.
Thank you, Mr. Akesuk.
Committee Motion 43 – 1 (2): Consult Standing Committee on Appointments to Boards and Agencies
Mr. Akesuk: Last one.
Mr. Chairman,
I move that this committee recommends that the government consult with appropriate Standing Committees when filling appointments to Boards and Agencies.
There is a motion on the floor, those in favour.
General comments to the department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
The floor is now open for general comments.
Are there any general comments.
Mr. Chairman, just kind of a comment and a question.
In a number of the reports that the Committee has heard over the past couple of weeks, there have been a lot of referral back to statistical information.
It is a vital function, Mr. Chairman, because that is how all the funding basically is applied throughout Nunavut and to Nunavut from the Federal Government.
Mr. Chairman, I am just wondering if the department has someone in that capacity, and are they looking at a plan to update the statistics to reflect the current and most up to date numbers.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you Mr. Chairman. …someone as Chief Statistician and that’s being worked on now.
That and the numbers for operations, and as well our expenditures.
So we have a numbers person on our payroll now.
We have also been attending meetings with Statistics Canada, getting their assistance with statistics in our new Territory.
I don’t have anybody who would like to make general comments.
Mr. Chairman, just a brief comment or inquiry regarding the power corporation.
We don’t seem to have a clear cut understanding as to where it fits into the overall picture.
I know Mr. Picco, the Minister of Health & Social Services is somewhat responsible, but on the other hand he indicates that he doesn’t have a lot of authority or clout as to how it works or as to how we are going to share this undertaking for the next two years.
I understand that in discussions last week that it may be tied in as a part of your department, Intergovernmental Affairs.
I wonder if you could speak to this so we could get an understanding as to where it fits in the overall picture and what authority or linkage we have with the power corp in Hay River.
Chairperson: Thank you Mr. O'Brien.
Premier Okalik.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you.
I am not the Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board but I will refer the question to Laura Gauthier, who has been involved for some time on the NTPC file.
Okay, if you don’t mind.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Premier, Ms. Gauthier.
Ms. Gauthier: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
In response to Mr. O'Brien’s question.
Certainly in support of the Minister responsible for the power corporation Mr. Picco, we from the Executive have been playing very much of a support role for Mr. Picco, as the second Minister responsible for the power corporation.
His roles and responsibilities in respect of the transition agreement, which has been a document that is allowing for us to look at a continued power corporation for the next two years.
We can certainly make that available to the members, we could make a copy of that.
There is also legislation that has been grandfathered and it will support that ongoing relation for the power corporation for the two territories.
On sort of the officials front with respect to the general operations and the exchange between the two governments there is certainly dialogue between the Minister responsible for the power corporation in Nunavut as well as in the western Arctic.
As a sort of sub-body of that is the corporate relations group.
They’re involved at the officials level to look at specific issues for the delivery of power inside of Nunavut.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Ms. Gauthier.
Mr. Chairman, I know that you have indicated that Mr. Picco is the lead Minister.
My question would be, what actual authority does this government have in reference to the operations and maintenance of this particular utility.
Is it not a fact that it is pretty much run, controlled and operated by the authorities in Hay River.
Basically we are deferring to the GNWT and their…leave it at that.
Ms. Gauthier.
With respect to the transition agreement between the NWT and Nunavut.
There are, as part of the negotiation process leading up to that transition agreement, there was an understanding that the operations of the power corporation would remain sort of the status quo.
They have a Board that is appointed to deliver and run the operations of the power corporation, so in essence, yes it is the Board that is going to be responsible for ensuring the status quo operations of the power corp. Where there are specific or major initiatives they’ll consult with the Minister responsible on various issues and the transition agreement very much spells out what some of those areas of consultation and co-management would be.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Gauthier.
I am sorry if I mispronounce your name.
Mr. Chairman, I recently saw some correspondence from the Hay River office, the President of the Utility there to Mary King of Arviat, regarding some concerns they had.
I don’t believe that the Hamlet itself is overly pleased with the response they received, I know I wasn’t when I read it.
It seemed very direct and abrupt, to be kind about it.
In a situation like this, what recourse do we have as a government, your department or Mr. Picco’s to deal with difficulties or differences we may have in the running of the power corporation.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I am somewhat uncomfortable here as the Minister is right there, responsible for NTPC and I am responsible for a different part of the process, but what governs right now is the transition agreement.
It is in effect.
So, other than that I can’t really respond, as it is not my responsibility I haven’t kept track of it, so I would feel more comfortable if perhaps, Mr. Picco, the Minister responsible for the department, for that file, would be responding to it.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Premier.
Mr. O'Brien perhaps you could have a meeting or ask questions of the Minister regarding NTPC, don’t forget we are limited to ten minutes on one subject.
I will be brief in my following comments.
I did ask questions of the Minister in the last week and felt that there wasn’t a lot of information that I received and there seemed to be some inference that the Ministers’ department didn’t have control over this particular utility.
I felt that maybe the control and the authority, the responsibility lay rather in your department.
That was why I was forwarding questions to yourself.
I can wait and speak in more detail during the regular session. Thank you.
Chairperson (interpretation): I don’t think this is a question.
I don’t think it can be directly responded to, but if you wish you may respond, Mr. Okalik.
I am sorry I don’t have anybody who wishes to speak to the opening remarks.
Mr. Chairman, my question is to the Premier.
The Deputy Minister and your Assistant Deputy Ministers are usually Inuit, well the Assistants are usually Inuit.
I am not criticizing your Deputy Ministers, but your Inuit staff seem to be Assistant Deputy Ministers.
Do you have a training program whereby the Assistant Deputy Ministers will be given the opportunity to train and get their qualification as Deputy Ministers.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman.
As I indicated earlier today we have designated 1 thousand dollars per staff member, so our staff who want to take advantage of further training can do so.
We are not sure however what kind of training plan we are going to be implementing, but we want to have Inuit staff members in all departments and our goal is to train Inuit as much as possible.
We also need to have fully qualified staff members and we have to keep that in mind, but our goal is to have more Inuit as staff members, but must look at their qualifications as well.
I don’t think you clarified too much about this 1 thousand dollars.
Maybe you could give us a more detailed explanation about what this 1 thousand dollars is for.
Clarify for us please.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes, when I was making my presentation I think this was included for all staff, that there is 1 thousand dollars set aside for each employee for this coming year.
If they wish to take courses or get further training for the coming year.
I hope this clarifies it Mr. Chairman.
Just one more question Mr. Chairman, back on May 14th I asked the Premier for some clarification in regards to the memorandum of understanding that the government is working on with Nunavut Tunngavik.
Mr. Chairman, at that time the Premier indicated that he did not want to hold up the process as a result of waiting for it to go back to the Standing Committee.
Mr. Chairman, I would just like to ask the Premier if he could commit to just providing correspondence, updates to the Standing Committee just so that they are aware of what is transpiring, and that they could by way of correspondence provide input back to the Premier without any undue delays.
From what I have been advised we have a very rough draft from NTI so far.
It requires a considerable amount of work to work out the details and our first priority has been the sitting and we just received the draft just a few days ago.
We haven’t had time to review it in detail so I don’t know when we can conclude, but we don’t want to provide very, very rough drafts to the members, it’s at a preliminary stage, but we continue to talk to NTI.
Mr. Chairman, I could understand about having to send over every draft to the Standing Committee but as things progress and the department feels that they have something close to a final draft if they could provide a copy to the Standing Committee to review by correspondence, or even with myself, I am in town here, just to review it.
If that could be a possibility, Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Mr. Chairman, I can make staff available to committee members on the progress of our discussions with NTI at this time.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Premier.
I would like to thank the Premier for his offer to have his staff provide a briefing, I think that would be great, not right now but once you feel you’re close to finalizing it, maybe at that time, unless you want to provide briefings for possible suggestions or input from any of the members of the committee, I am sure that we would welcome that as well.
But a briefing of some kind prior to the finalization of the agreement would be greatly appreciated.
If you want to respond to that Mr. Premier you may do so.
I don’t think it is a question but you may respond if you wish.
The residents of Nunavut and looking at the future I know that the population is going to grow.
It is going to get more expensive to service the people of Nunavut.
The funding that we receive from the federal government, 580 million and 620 million which we have received is not going to be enough in the future, if the funds from the federal government do not change.
I was wondering if this funding has criteria.
Yes, the agreement is for two or three years but according to the increase of population we have already appointed a statistician in our office and some of it has been contracted back to the GNWT.
Also Statistics Canada will be assisting us.
We will do the surveys as the population grows and we will have to utilize the statistics again, in order to get more funding from the Federal Government in the future.
Do I understand that the 620 million and the 580 million will only be used for three years and that agreement is for only three years.
Do I understand that correctly.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes, thank you.
The agreement is for five years but we can reopen it again after three years is over.
Some of the funds include population growth.
Thank you for the clarification, but at this point 99/2000 fiscal year, the funding we have for this fiscal year is already not adequate or enough.
I was wondering if you department will be seeking additional new funds if we don’t have enough.
I wish your department would go look for more funds.
Mr. Premier, Okalik.
I apologize, it is only after two years not three years that we can reopen this agreement.
We will continue to seek additional funds from wherever we can find them.