EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Will the minister commit to providing this House with an update on the Northern and Remote Family Residency Program and on any progress in encouraging more doctors to live and work in Nunavut?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. Minister Curley.
As I stated earlier, the team is working on a plan through meetings with different partners.
Once I get the plan, I can table that information. If we’re not in session, I can do a backdoor tabling.
I expect that shortly after the federal government provides a response on their remote aboriginal health program and their northern residency program, I believe our plans will be completed in short order but not together.
However, I believe that the federal government will want to provide support similar to ours and we thank them for their support.
As I stated before, once the plan is completed, I will provide you with that information here in the House or by way of correspondence.
Tabled Document 176 – 3(2): Information Concerning Qulliq Energy Corporation Job Competition (Okalik)
Once again, I find myself in the position of having to table disturbing information that has been provided to me by a fellow Iqaluit resident concerning the hiring practices of the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
I will have questions for the Minister responsible for QEC at tomorrow’s sitting on this matter.
Tabled Document 177 – 3(2): Correspondence Concerning the Government of Nunavut’s Uranium Development and Mining Management Plan (Aupaluktuq)
I wish to table today a copy of my correspondence of March 24, 2010, which was addressed to the Premier and the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
My letter concerned the Government of Nunavut’s plans for a Uranium Development and Mining Management Plan.
I hope to receive a reply to my letter in the near future, which I look forward to tabling in the House for the benefit of all members as well as Nunavut.
Tabled Document 178 – 3(2): Operation Nanook 2010 Information Brief (Elliott)
I am pleased to table today a copy of the Department of National Defence’s Information Brief on Operation Nanook 2010.
As members will recall, I spoke earlier in the session on the success of this year’s operation and I encourage all members to review this information with care.
Tabled Document 179 – 3(2): Qulliq Energy Corporation; Eight Annual Report, Year Ending March 31, 2009 (Tootoo)
I am very pleased to be able to cross something off your list that you tabled the other day, the statutory tabling requirements, and table today the following document: Qulliq Energy Corporation: Eight Annual Report, Year Ending March 31, 2009.
The Inuktitut version translation is currently under review by the Office of the Auditor General and will be made available as soon as it is approved by her.
Tabled Document 180 – 3(2): F/P/T Ministerial Report to the Legislative Assembly, Northern Premiers’ Forum, Whitehorse, May 13 to 14, 2010 (Aariak)
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to table the following document: F/P/T Ministerial Report to the Legislative Assembly, Northern Premiers’ Forum, Whitehorse, May 13 to 14, 2010. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 181 – 3(2): Communiqué Northern Premiers’ Forum, Whitehorse, May 14, 2010 (Aariak)
I would like to table the following document: Communiqué Northern Premiers’ Forum, Whitehorse, May 14, 2010.
Tabled Document 182 – 3(2): Annual Report for the Nunavummit Kiglisiniartiit, 2007-2008 (Aariak)
This is the last tabling of document from me.
Today, I would like to table the following document: Annual Report for the Nunavummit Kiglisiniartiit, 2007-2008.
Tabled Document 183 – 3(2): Qulliq Energy Corporation: Letter of Expectation 2010-2011 (Tootoo)
I am pleased to be able to table the following document: Qulliq Energy Corporation: Letter of Expectation 2010-2011.
Tabled Document 184 – 3(2): Towards a Representative Public Service, Statistics as of March 31, 2010 (Shewchuk)
I would like to table the following document: Towards a Representative Public Service.
Tabled Document 185 – 3(2): Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board, Annual Report 2007-2008 (Peterson)
Tabled Document 186 – 3(2): Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report for 2008-2009 (Peterson)
I would like to table two documents and only stand up once.
I would like to table the following document: Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board, Annual Report 2007-2008.
I would also like to table the following document: Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report for 2008-2009.
Bill 35 – Licensed Practical Nurses Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Kugluktuk, that Bill 35, Licensed Practical Nurses Act, be read for the first time. (interpretation) Thank you.
Bill 35 has received first reading.
Bill 37 – Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove, that Bill 37, Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 37 has received first reading.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. (interpretation) Bills 15, 16, 17, 20, 26, 29, 31, 32, and 36, and Tabled Documents 13 –3(2), 66 – 3(2), 99 – 3(2), and 100 – 3(2) with Mr. Schell in the Chair.
Before we proceed with our break, we have an exhibition out in the foyer. Please go see the exhibition presented by the students from Nakasuk School in the foyer.
>>House recessed at 15:25 and Committee resumed at 16:00
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 15, 16, 17, 20, 26, 29, 31, 32, 36, and Tabled Documents 13 – 3(2), 66 – 3(2), 99 – 3(2), and 100 – 3(2).
Mr. Aupaluktuq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We wish to continue with the review of the following supplementary appropriation bills: Bill 31 and Bill 29.
We will then proceed with the following as per our sessional work plan, covering Bill 20, Bill 32, Bills 15, 16, 17, 26, and 36.
Are we in agreement to continue with the review of Bill 31?
Chairman: Does the committee agree that Minister Peterson and his officials go to the witness table?
Chairman: Sergeant-at-Arms, could you please escort Minister Peterson and his officials to the witness table.
Minister Peterson, for the record, could you please introduce your officials.
Members, we were on page 11, Curriculum and [School] Services. Total Curriculum and [School] Services.
We’re all aware that we Inuit want to use our language and we want to teach Inuktitut within the schools. The elders have been working on the curriculum indefinitely for quite some time that will be incorporated into the schools.
Will this cutback impact the operations of the curriculum and school services?
If we slow down, we would be reverting back to the old system and could conceivably lose that information. I do not want to see this step back.
I would like to turn that question over to my colleague, Minister Tapardjuk, the Minister of Education.
Yesterday, I spoke to this issue with regard to travel. The travel aspect of the department will be the most impacted during the budget cutbacks.
We wanted to set up some meetings, but with respect to holding meetings and gatherings, it eats up a lot of funding to pay for travel, accommodation, and so on.
The Department of Education had to implement budget cutbacks due to the government shortfall.
However, Mr. Chairman, I can tell you that in spite of that, we will look for ways as to how we can continue the curriculum and school services without having to travel or meet face to face while being able to work together.
Although there is going to be an impact on this category, we’re looking for alternative solutions.
I believe that we know how to improve expenditures and undertake cost savings.
That’s the response I can provide, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Okalik, no?
If not, we will go to Total Curriculum and School Services. -$1,076,000.
Chairman: We will move to page 12.
Education. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Career and Early Childhood Services. -$43,000.
Chairman: School Operations. Total School Operations. -$494,000.
I would like to ask a question on how the budget cutbacks have been determined in this section.
I will defer that question to Minister Tapardjuk.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, my colleague.
Obviously, this will impact travel and transportation.
Perhaps half of the travel budget for the school operations was cut back for our senior level staff that use it to visit the schools.
One thing that’s going to be noticeable is that we are trying to do budget cutbacks in order to do consultation tours for the Education Act.
The implementation process won’t be done according to the listed goal and that’s where the impact will be felt most, Mr. Chairman.
If not, Total School Operations. -$494,000.
Chairman: Total Department. -$2,692,000.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Out of principle, I cannot support these cuts. So I will ask for a recorded vote so that my constituents know about my principles on education. So I ask for a recorded vote on this matter. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This is in regard to -$2,692,000.
Mr. Hunter… oh, Tootoo. I’m sorry.
Mr. Taptuna…
Oh, my goodness.  Minister Tapardjuk.
The budget item for Education is approved in the amount of -$2,692,000.
Chairman: We will move on to page 13. Environment. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Corporate Management. Total Corporate Management. -$42,000.
Chairman: Program Management. Total Program Management. -$563,000.
Chairman: Total Department. -$605,000.
Chairman: Go on to page 14. Community and Government Services. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Capital Planning and Technical Services. Total Capital Planning and Technical Services.
In regard to the $1.9 million, I was wondering if we can get a breakdown as to what’s being cut.
I thank Mr. Elliott for that question about what’s being scaled back.
I don’t have that level of detail with me.
I will ask my colleague, Mr. Kusugak, to answer the question.
The cuts for the Capital Planning and Technical Services on that, about $284,000 in travel, $614,000 in salary and benefits, $10,000 in purchase services, $136,000 in materials and supplies, $858,000 in contracts, computer software/hardware, $47,000, and fees and payments, $8,000.
Previously, the government was looking for $11 million to do better planning and whatnot and now we are cutting back on this section.
With the $96 million in capital carryover, will this affect this scale back? I guess that’s what the minister said.
Will that affect any of the planning in terms of figures and will it slow down any projects?
I don’t know if it will have any major impact. We do have $97 million in capital carryovers and projects that have to proceed this year, but I will have my colleague, Minister Kusugak, answer the question. He has more details on it.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I say anything, just to start with the fact that the reduction in our whole department will have an impact, but we can handle the impact if it is not a long-term issue.
In terms of dealing with it for this fiscal year, our department will be able to handle the decrease for a short term, for the year.
We have very hard-working staff. Some people will be doing extra duties and ensuring that there is minimal to no negative impact on that issue, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Kusugak, for the answer.
The reason I’m asking is because I am thinking into the future.
We have a whole year that we will still be doing planning and whatnot.
I wouldn’t want cutbacks in travel and stuff like that to become excuses as to why things are not being done.
As an example, I was recently in Resolute Bay. There was supposed to be community consultations by your department to talk about utilidors.
I was sitting across from the senior administrative officer when he got a phone call from someone in your department saying that they would not be coming to do the consultation because they had just been told about travel cutbacks and they wouldn’t be able to travel to do the community consultations.
I wouldn’t want this to continue to be an excuse for a consultation to not happen.
I know that with the cutbacks, meetings won’t be able to happen, but I would like some assurances as to what will happen over the next year.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you for that.
I don’t think our department and staff will come up with excuses to not be doing work.
There are times, unfortunately, whether there are cutbacks or not, there are very legitimate reasons why certain projects end up being delayed or things change.
I don’t think our department will be coming up with any excuses in that term, but we will be working diligently.
We will be on the phone more often than we would.
Unfortunately, there will be less face-to-face because of this, but our department will ensure that it has a minimal impact on the Capital Planning and Technical Services part.
We had to ensure that we come up with our share, it’s important to, and we made cuts in our department where we thought it would have the least negative impact and that’s where these numbers come from, Mr. Chairman.
I don’t know whether Minister Peterson or you would be answering the question, but even with the answer that you gave, from our side, we’re saying that there are cutbacks or there’s money that’s being… what did you say?
Each department is being asked to give up 3 percent of their budget and the government is assuring us that programs will not suffer.
If you can guarantee that, then I will be happy, but I still will not be totally convinced that programs will be delivered with the cutbacks.
If they are, then that means when we sat down last time to do the process of doing our budgeting, we gave each department 3 percent too much money.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Mr. Chairman, that’s why I want to reiterate what I said at the start of the very first answer I gave my colleague.
I think our department will do its best to manage it for this fiscal year.
I don’t think our department would be able to survive such a cut in reducing everything over the long term.
If it’s going to be a two, three, or four-year thing, I don’t think our department would be able to handle that, but in terms of a one-year issue, our department will do its utmost to ensure that no programs suffer.
I will just keep repeating that it’s important to realize that this is a one-year fix. Our staff and our department will do its utmost to ensure that all programs it has to deliver will be delivered understanding with this cut.
Beyond this year, then it would be a whole different debate from my department.
If not, we will go to Capital Planning and Technical Services. Total Capital Planning and Technical Services. -$1,976,000.
Chairman: Community Support. Total Community Support. -$663,000.
Chairman: Directorate. Total Directorate. -$813,000.
Chairman: Government Services. Total Government Services. -$1,328.000.
Chairman: Safety and Protection Services. Total Safety and Protection Services. -$399,000.
Chairman: Total Department. -$5,179,000.
Chairman: Go to page 15. Economic Development and Transportation. Operations and Maintenance.
I have a question regarding breakwaters or wharfs.
It states here that there will be $806,000 reallocated from the budget of Economic Development and Transportation to the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Just a few minutes ago, there was some discussion about the possibility of building community freezers and also inter-settlement trade of country food. Is this reallocation of $806,000 going to have an impact on those kinds of initiatives?
Could Mr. Arvaluk direct us to the page and the bill that he is referring to?
Mr. Arvaluk: I had it open somewhere.
It’s on page 15, Supplementary Appropriation, 2010-2011.
Operations and Maintenance. Economic Development. Item 1.
Page 15. I think that is where you were directing me to, Mr. Chairman.
I apologize that he’s asking for details, but the numbers weren’t matching up while we were going item by item. But I’ll turn that question over to my colleague, Minister Taptuna, to answer.
No, it’s not going to affect the breakwaters, the community freezers, and the inter-community trade of country foods that we were talking about earlier.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Taptuna. Mr. Arvaluk.
What initiatives or positions then will be cut back or cancelled due to the reduction of $806,000 from the Department of Economic Development and Transportation?
There is going to be $250,000 coming from the Strategic Investments Program.
That $250,000 is a small amount from a program that has been allocated $3.9 million.
There is $200,000 coming from the Strategic Opportunities Fund and $300,000 coming in from the vacant positions that we have within the department. The $56,000 is coming in from the Arts and Crafts Strategy.
Mr. Arvaluk: This might be a little bit late in raising the concern.
We know that the identification as to where the money is going from that department is clear right from the opening statement of the finance minister that it’s to reallocate to complete the Nunavut Housing Trust.
We all know that every single one of them states that. What we need is information beforehand at the time.
The minister is telling us right now is that it’s $250,000 from the Strategic Investments Program, $300,000 from PYs, and fifty thousand dollars from arts, etcetera.
If this is information that we needed, then we would simply ask why these are being taken off rather than having to go through every single line and say, “What is being cut off?”
(interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) That’s just a comment.
That was just a comment, but if you want to comment on that, Minister Taptuna.
The reason why they’re being taken off is that we can actually mitigate some of these programs to minimize the impact of our contribution to the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Every department had to do that. These programs and the PYs are manageable within a period of one year.
Like my colleague said, the Minister of CGS, it will have an impact and we will work to minimize the impacts.
That was the department’s share for the situation that we’re in.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Taptuna. Minister Peterson.
I thank my colleague, Minister Taptuna, for that explanation.
Just to address Mr. Arvaluk’s concern, we understand his concern, but with a department like Economic Development and Transportation, we probably could have provided a bit more detail down at the space below.
For a department like CGS, where there are a lot of different categories, it would have been very difficult to write that level of detail in the document.
It was duly noted and we will take it under consideration for future development of these types of documents.
I don’t have anybody else here, so we will go back to Economic Development. Item 1.
Total Economic Development. -$606,000.
Chairman: Corporate Management. Item 2. Total Corporate Management. -$200,000.
Chairman: Total Department. -$806,000.
Chairman: We will go to page 16. Nunavut Arctic College. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Nunavut Arctic College.
In regard to the $726,000 that is being allocated to help with the Nunavut Housing Trust, I was wondering if the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College could explain what the breakdown is as to where the money was found.
I would like to thank the member for that question. Yes, I will.
The total of $726,000 is broken down between the delay of two vacant positions and their compensation and benefits, a reduction in the travel and overtime restrictions have been put on, contract services, and the Fur Production and Design Program that we’re in the planning stage to implement in two communities has been deferred. Also, the Inuit Language Specialist Program that was to go ahead, but there is insufficient demand to go on with that program.
That makes up for all of the $726,000. If he wants a breakdown by dollars for those, I can give him those too.
In terms of Contact Services, is that specifically one contract or is that contract for educational services?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s a contract for computers worth $75,000.
In terms of the computers, were they heading for community learning centres to be used by students or were they for departments to be used by instructors?
That’s right. They will not impact any programs at all. They were computer upgrades for students and instructors but we can go without.
This is sort of what I was getting at before when I was saying that if certain programs were not going to be delivered and whatnot. Obviously, there are two communities that will not have the fur production program or fur preparation program happening.
I’m not sure if I got the wording right for the program, but that funding will not be available, so those two communities will not have the program this year.
The programs were not fully planned and developed and communities were not selected, so they were not going to be delivered this year anyway.
So I guess Nunavut Arctic College knew that they would have a carryover of funding in their O&M for those two projects.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Mr. Chairman, I’m not quite sure how to answer the question, if they knew that they would have a carryover.
The funding was there to be used in the planning and design stages, and we can do without that right now.
Thank you for that explanation because again I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.
Nunavut Arctic College is saying they need X number of dollars to do those two programs and run the programs, I thought, and you are saying that you are not going to offer them.
So you would have come at the end of the year saying, “We have no money left in our budget.”
If I understand what you’re saying, they were going to plan those two programs this year to offer them next year. Is that correct?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is my understanding of that too.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That was the last of the questions that I had.
We will go back to Nunavut Arctic College. Item 1. Total Nunavut Arctic College. -$726,000.
Chairman: Total Department. -$726,000.
Chairman: Now go back to Schedule on page 2. Schedule 1. Operations and Maintenance.
Before we make an agreement on page 2, I was hoping to ask general questions to the Minister of Finance in terms of the money that’s been allocated. Is this the correct place to ask that?
If Mr. Elliott wants to ask me some questions, I am willing to answer them if I can.
Again, in the past, when we were doing our budgeting, sometimes I had a hard time with the government departments saying that they are working with a minimum budget and we pass it.
Now we passed the first capital budget in October, then we passed in March the O&M, and now with the Nunavut Housing Trust overspending, we have been able to find $60 million.
To me, that just brings up a whole bunch of questions about the way we budget our money, let alone questions about Nunavut Housing Corporation in terms of how they spend their money and whatnot.
In terms of the way we do our budgeting here in the House and when we approve these, I am trying to look at this as a good exercise in the sense that if we can cut 3 percent from every department, then that tells me that we are looking at ways of saving money for the government next fiscal year.
We heard from Minister Kusugak and I think Minister Taptuna was sort of alluding to the fact that this is a one-year thing and next year, we want a full budget again.
Is that the Department of Finance’s way of thinking? Are you going to maintain the same budgets next year or are you going to be asking departments to cut back 3 percent and look at other ways of saving money?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Mr. Elliott for his question.
Managing government funds is a lot different than if you are in the private sector or personal. It still is cash management, that you’re always budgeting and planning a year ahead.
For the most part, we’re planning capitals now for October for the next fiscal year and yet, we won’t start the main estimates until the fall for the next fiscal year.