EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, the standing committee appreciated the level of detail provided in the 2014-15 annual report which related to the history of the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, its role within the context of other child and youth advocacy initiatives across Canada, and the range of documents and concepts which guide the office’s work.
Issues relating to Inuit culture and the incorporation of Inuit societal values into the work of the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth were addressed in some detail during the representative’s appearance before the standing committee.
Keeping in mind that the office itself did not officially open until September 30, 2015 and even though the 2014-15 annual report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly well after that date, today’s report focuses on basic themes which relate to the office’s operational structure and procedures and not on the office’s more recent practices and experiences.
That the representative for children and youth clearly outline what steps are taken and what processes are followed by her office when addressing requests or enquiries relating to each of its core services.
Mr. Speaker, during the committee’s proceedings, members raised a number of questions concerning policies, processes, and practices relating to the delivery of services for Nunavut’s children and youth at the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth.
While committee members appreciated the representative’s descriptions of processes which may be followed when the office is contacted regarding an individual advocacy case or when systemic issues are identified, the standing committee is of the view that the office’s annual reports could be strengthened by providing clear and concise outlines of how cases or reports are handled from the time they are presented at the office.
The use of schematic diagrams or flowcharts could be useful in illustrating the flow of information and allocation of resources.
In addition, the annual report could benefit from further clarity and detail with respect to the specific types of activities which support individual advocacy.
That the representative for children and youth establish measures to track the success of her office in addressing requests or enquiries relating to each of its core services.
Mr. Speaker, during the first nine months of her term, the period covered by her first annual report, the representative for children and youth faced the challenging task of establishing the very basic structure of her office’s operations.
While the committee appreciates that a great deal of work has been done to establish the routines and procedures necessary to carry out the functions of the office, members note that it is equally important to put measures in place from the outset that will enable the representative to evaluate which procedures are effective in reaching their desired objectives and which ones need to be changed or modified to achieve greater success.
That the representative for children and youth continue to explore options for incorporating Inuit culture and Inuit societal values into the structure and operations of her office.
Mr. Speaker, the standing committee recognizes the efforts made by the representative for children and youth to adapt the guiding principles of Inuit societal values into the operations of her office.
However, members questioned the direct relevance of certain values to specific advocacy activities.
The representative is encouraged to continue in her efforts to find alternative approaches within the workings of her office which are representative of Inuit culture and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Members note that a number of child and youth advocacy offices in Canada have developed initiatives which focus on the unique needs and challenges faced by aboriginal children in their jurisdictions.
The committee encourages the representative to consult with such entities as the Piqqusilirivvik cultural school run by Nunavut Arctic College and the Ilisaqsivik Society which provides wellness counselling in the community of Clyde River, and to take advantage of resources which provide insight into Inuit cultural concepts of parenting and lifestyle as well as taking into account the legacy of historical events and circumstances which have had considerable impact on several generations of Inuit.
The committee encourages the representative to place particular focus on children and youth who have been victims of trauma and to ensure that her office recognizes and adopts the principles of Inuit lifestyle counselling.
That the representative for children and youth continue to work towards ensuring that her office’s services are made available in a linguistically appropriate manner.
Mr. Speaker, the standing committee noted with some concern that there is only one Inuit language speaking staff member in the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth.
Given that nearly 70 percent of Nunavut’s population have the Inuit language as their mother tongue and that over 50 percent of Nunavut’s population use the Inuit language most often at home, it is critical that individuals seeking to contact the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth are able to do so using the language of their choice.
The standing committee encourages the representative to make greater efforts to retain Inuktitut language speaking staff.
In addition, given the sensitivity of the kinds of issues that may be raised, it is important to ensure that Inuktitut language speakers in the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth are fully proficient and qualified to address matters in much the same way that Inuit language speakers in Nunavut’s health care system are trained and qualified to address sensitive medical matters.
With respect to the French language, the committee was pleased to note that the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth is able to offer services in French.
That the representative for children and youth ensure that her annual report is tabled within the deadline specified in the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, as I noted in my introduction, section 35 of the Representative for Children and Youth Act requires the representative for children and youth to submit an annual report within six months after the end of each fiscal year.
The 2014-15 Annual Report of the Representative for Children and Youth was tabled on May 30, 2016, which was almost eight months past the legislated deadline.
The standing committee appreciates that during the 2014-15 fiscal year, the representative was extremely busy in the initial stages of establishing the operational foundations of her office.
However, members noted that the lengthy delay in tabling the annual report for that year resulted in considerable overlap with the second year of the office’s activities.
This, in turn, led to considerable overlap in the topics that were raised and discussed during the representative’s appearance before the committee to discuss her office’s activities.
During her appearance before the standing committee on September 15, 2016, the representative for children and youth indicated that she again did not expect to meet the legislated deadline for the tabling of her 2015-16 annual report.
The standing committee remains concerned with these ongoing delays.
The timely submission of reports ensures that the scrutiny, review, and recommendations pertaining to each report can be conducted and considered in a timely manner.
The standing committee urges the representative for children and youth to make greater efforts to meet the deadline for submitting her annual report as it is legislated.
Mr. Speaker, the standing committee noted further that, while pleasing to the eye, the heavy use of photographic and artistic images in reports and other such documents often involves additional production time, increased costs, and requires the type of printing services that are often not available locally, leading to additional expense and potential delays in shipping and transportation.
In the interest of saving time and cost, the committee encourages the representative to place greater emphasis on the substantive content of her annual reports.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, the standing committee commends the representative for children and youth for her hard work in setting up and establishing her office with a view to providing a comprehensive and effective service for years to come.
Although this standing committee report does include recommendations for the consideration of the representative for children and youth, given the amount of time that has already passed since the end of the period which is covered in the 2014-15 annual report, the committee is not requesting a response to its report.
Tabled Document 192 – 4(3): 2013 Report on the Administration of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1990 (Ell-Kanayuk)
I am pleased to table the 2013 Report on the Administration of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1990.
The Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Development Corporation, Ms. Monica Ell-Kanayuk.
Tabled Document 193 – 4(3): 2015-2016 Annual Report of the Nunavut Development Corporation (Ell-Kanayuk)
I am pleased to table the 2015-16 Annual Report for the Nunavut Development Corporation.
The Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. George Kuksuk.
Tabled Document 194 – 4(3): 2015-2016 Annual Report for the Nunavut Housing Corporation (Kuksuk)
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Today I am pleased to table the 2015-16 Annual Report for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
The Hon. Minister of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk.
Tabled Document 195 – 4(3): Proposed New Construction for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 (Kuksuk)
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) One more.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am also pleased to table the Proposed New Construction for 2017-18 and 2018-19.
The Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok.
Tabled Document 196 – 4(3): Nanuq Lodge Appraisal Documents and Photographs (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Alexander Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) As my colleagues will be well aware, I have been urging the government to consider all options for establishing an elders facility in the community of Rankin Inlet.
Today I would like to table an appraisal of the Nanuq Lodge building in Rankin Inlet, along with some photographs and floor plans.
I encourage the government to review these documents with care, as I am sure they will agree that this building would be ideal to convert to an elders facility.
Tabled Document 197 – 4(3): Successful Bowhead Whale Hunt in Pangnirtung 2016 (Mike)
As I stated in my Member’s Statement earlier, I wish to table the list of names I alluded to earlier and I wish to table the participants of the Pangnirtung bowhead whale crew, including photographs and the names of the crew.
Hon. Minister of Finance, Mr. Keith Peterson.
Bill 20 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2015-2016 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 20, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2015-2016, be read for the second time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. All those in favour.
The motion is carried and Bill 20 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 22 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2016-2017 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 22, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2016-2017, be read for the second time.
The motion is carried and Bill 22 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 23 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2016-2017 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 23, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2016-2017, be read for the second time.
The motion is carried and Bill 23 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 21 – Write-off of Assets Act, 2015-2016 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 21, Write-off of Assets Act, 2015-2016, be read for the second time.
The motion is carried and Bill 21 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
The Hon. Minister of Community Government and Services, Mr. Joe Savikataaq.
Bill 25 – An Act to Amend the Consumer Protection Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Consumer Protection Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Consumer Protection Act to add provisions about unfair and unconscionable consumer transactions as well as remedies with respect to such transactions and to limit fees charged for cashing government cheques. It also provides for increased penalties for offences under the Act.
The motion is carried and Bill 25 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
Bill 26 – An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act – Second Reading
I think the seconders are from Arviat today.
I move, seconded by Member for Arviat North-Whale Cove, that Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act, be read for the second time.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the bill renames the Social Assistance Act as the Income Assistance Act, updates outdated terminology, references, appeal mechanisms, and regulation-making authorities and modernizes provisions related to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The motion is carried and Bill 26 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
Bill 27 – Waste Reduction and Diversion Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 27, Waste Reduction and Diversion Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill allows for the establishment and enforcement of programs to reduce, recover, or divert waste. It also allows for the prohibition of materials that cause impairment of the natural environment.
The motion is carried and Bill 27 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
Bill 28 – An Act to Amend Certain Acts Respecting Codes and Standards – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 28, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Respecting Codes and Standards, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Building Code Act and the Technical Standards and Safety Act to harmonize appeal procedures under both Acts. It also adds provisions respecting investigations into both Acts and clarifies positions respecting administrative penalties in the Technical Standards and Safety Act.
Finally, it amends the Cities, Towns and Villages Act and the Hamlets Act to provide for authority of municipalities with respect to building activities once the Building Code Act comes into force.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 20, 22, 23, and 24 with Mr. Mikkungwak in the Chair.
In accordance with the authority to me by Motion 30 – 4(3), the committee will stay in session until it reports itself out.
>>House recessed at 16:09 and Committee resumed at 16:35
Chairman (Mr. Mikkungwak) (interpretation): Good day, people of Baker Lake and Nunavut.
We wish to commence with the review of the capital estimates for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, followed by the Department of Education.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 24 and the Nunavut Housing Corporation?
Bill 24 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2017-2018 – Nunavut Housing Corporation – Consideration in Committee
I have with me this afternoon to my left, Gershom Moyo, Chief Financial Officer with the Nunavut Housing Corporation, and to my right is Terry Audla, President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Minister Kuksuk, please proceed with your opening comments. Mr. Kuksuk.
The corporation’s capital plan for 2017-18 consists of $39,965,000 from the Government of Nunavut and funding of $5,745,000 from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) comprised of $4.29 million under the Social Housing Agreement and $1,455,000 through the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.
These funding sources bring the total NHC capital budget for 2017-18 to $45,721,000.
An additional $30 million in CMHC social infrastructure funding will be combined with GN capital funding to increase the number of public housing units built in 2017-18.
NHC capital funding remains at approximately the same level as last year for Modernization and Improvement (M&I) for NHC-owned public housing and staff housing units, homeownership programs, including the Heating Oil Tank Replacement Program and the Seniors and Disabled Persons Preventative Maintenance Program.
Mr. Chairman, NHC’s funding for the Fire Damage Replacement Fund will decrease by $824,000 to $2,558,000 in 2017-18.
This funding includes $1 million in base funding for repairs and $1,558,000 for the replacement of two single family dwellings and the repair of two damaged units.
Mobile Equipment Fund
NHC’s Mobile Equipment Fund will increase by $29,000.
This increase is to allow NHC and local housing organizations to keep up with the increase in public and staff housing units in our inventory across the territory.
LHO warehouse facilities in Nunavut have an average age of between 21 and 23 years old.
To address this growth and attend to structural and safety concerns, NHC will be dedicating $4,911,000 to be combined with funds carried forward from 2016-17 to replace the warehouse in Baker Lake.
New Construction – 2017-18
Staff Housing
There is no change from last year in staff housing construction funding.
NHC is anticipating constructing 17 new staff housing units across the territory with $5 million 2017-18 GN capital funding for staff housing construction, combined with savings and carryovers from previous years.
Several factors were considered when allocating new staff housing construction. These units will be critical to meeting the GN’s recruitment and retention needs.
NHC anticipates an increase in public housing construction funding by $2.5 million, from $12.5 million to $15 million, to gradually and steadily address Nunavut’s growing public housing need.
In March 2016 NHC welcomed the announcement of new federal funding for housing through the federal Social Infrastructure Fund.
NHC is planning to tender the construction of 90 new public housing units in 2017-18 with combined funding of $15 million of GN capital funding, the $1,455,000 in Investment in Affordable Housing federal funding, and $30 million in social infrastructure funding.
As in previous years, NHC used its public housing construction allocation methodology to determine communities that would receive new public housing construction.
Allocation of public housing was focused on moving all communities to approximately 30 percent need as a percentage of stock or better.
The Social Infrastructure Fund money is $76.7 million dedicated over two years, with $46.7 million earmarked for 2018-19.
Considering this, NHC was able to plan for an additional 95 units in 2018-19, for a total of 185 units over two years.
For example, following 2017-18 and 2018-19 proposed public housing construction, there will be no more communities with what we consider to be critical or high public housing need, as all communities will be below 35 percent need.
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and again good afternoon.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Government Estimates and Operations concerning its review of the proposed 2017-18 Capital Estimates of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s proposed capital estimates for 2017-18 are $39,965,000.
The corporation’s capital estimates were $38,060,000 for the 2016-17 fiscal year and $30,072,000 for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, the Nunavut Housing Corporation administers a number of different programs to assist homeowners and potential homeowners in Nunavut.
Members note that the Nunavut Housing Corporation is proposing a budget of $4,616,000 for its various homeownership programs in its 2017-18 capital estimates.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2014-15 annual report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on November 5 of 2015.
The standing committee notes improvements in the level of detail contained in the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s most recent annual report regarding the administration of its homeownership programs.
This information will help all Members of the Legislative Assembly and the public to better evaluate the extent to which the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s homeownership programs are being accessed in small, medium, and larger communities.
In October of 2015 the guidelines for the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Housing Options Program were approved.
The standing committee looks forward to the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s next annual report accounting for the implementation and administration of this program.
The standing committee also notes that the Nunavut Housing Corporation has indicated that it “will determine if additional funding will be warranted for the 2018-2019 capital budget based on its analysis of NHC’s homeownership program performance in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.”
In July of 2012 the Nunavut Housing Corporation announced changes to the Nunavut Downpayment Assistance Program.
This announcement indicated that “These changes aim to support the development of private real estate markets in Nunavut” and that the Nunavut Housing Corporation will be able to “assist a greater number of Nunavummiut in becoming homeowners, and ensure fair access to assistance.”
One of the changes made in 2012 to the Nunavut Downpayment Assistance Program was the elimination of the two-year residency requirement that had previously been in place.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s most recently tabled annual report indicates that a total of $602,794 was expended during the 2014-15 fiscal year on the Nunavut Downpayment Assistance Program.
Mr. Chairman, the importance of reinstating a residency requirement for this program has been an issue of concern for members for a number of years.
This is a clear matter of principle and consistency.
Individuals who choose to relocate to Nunavut are required to live in the territory for a full year before they’re eligible to vote in a territorial election.
Individuals seeking to apply for the significant financial assistance that is available under the Nunavut Downpayment Assistance Program should also have to meet a minimum residency requirement.
I anticipate that the minister will be asked during today’s proceedings to clarify what action he has taken in response to our concerns, at which point members will be in a position to determine our ability to support the proposed funding for this program.
Mr. Chairman, as you will recall, two other specific issues that have been raised by members in recent years concern the availability of certified contractors and tradespersons in smaller communities and the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s income thresholds for its homeownership programs.
The standing committee is pleased to note that the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2014-15 annual report indicates that “…a new clause has been added to its home repair and maintenance program guidelines to allow additional program funding to include travel costs of bringing a contractor in to complete the job.”
The standing committee encourages the Nunavut Housing Corporation to regularly review its homeownership program income eligibility limits to reflect the high cost of living in our isolated communities.
On May 13 of 2013 the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation tabled the Government of Nunavut’s Long-Term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy.