EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Responses to Petitions. Madam Premier.
Response to Petition 003 – 3(3): Petition for Resignation (Aariak)
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): I’m sorry, Mr. Speaker, I don’t have it ready at hand.
I’m sorry, Mr. Speaker, for not having it ready.
Thank you. (interpretation ends) This response to petition is for a tabled item from Tagak Curley, MLA for Rankin Inlet, dated November 2012, Petition No. 3 – 3(3), Rankin Inlet teacher. Petition 3 – 3(3) was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on October 2012 by the Member for Rankin Inlet North, Mr. Curley.
I respect the right of Members of this House to table petitions.
The tabling of petitions is an important mechanism by which critical information can be brought before us for consideration and debate.
I acknowledge that under section 19(3) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, no Member of this House is “liable to any civil action or prosecution, arrest, imprisonment or damages
(a) by reason of any matter or thing brought by the member by petition…”
Despite the immunity of Members of this House, when we table petitions, we as members have responsibilities that we should carefully consider. I note that under section 43(5) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut that “A Member presenting a petition shall be answerable for any impertinent or improper material that it contains.”
When a petition is tabled, I submit that we should ensure that it is in a form that enables us to know… .
An Hon. Member: Point of order.
A point of order has been called.
Mr. Curley, you have a point of order?
Mr. Curley: My point of order, Mr. Speaker, is that the member is providing information that was not at all the subject of the petition.
I believe the minister has an obligation to respond very simply a yes or no type question with respect to the petition.
I am well aware of my privileges with respect to the rules that she quoted and I, like all my colleagues are aware of the tabling requirements.
So my point of order is the information that the Premier is providing is not related whatsoever to my petition and therefore should be ruled out of order.
Speaker: Can you hear us?
Is it on now?
I did have my thumb on it.
I just had to make sure that we do things properly here. So I’m going to have to inform you that I will have to rule on that point of order at a later date, and that will end this item in the orders of the day.
I would like to ask the Premier if she could provide us with a copy of that statement. We can’t rule on something that we haven’t seen, so we need to see it and ask if she could provide that table with a copy of that statement after.
Tabled Document 277 – 3(3): Annual Report on the Administration of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the Period April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012 (Aariak)
I am pleased to table the Annual Report on the Administration of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the period April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Tabled Document 278 – 3(3): Nunavut Lottery Financial Statements, March 31, 2011 (Kusugak)
I am pleased to table the Nunavut Lottery Financial Statements, March 31, 2011.
Tabled Document 279 – 3(3): Final Report – Liquor Act Review Task Force (Peterson)
Tabled Document 280 – 3(3): Recommendations – Liquor Act Review Task Force (Peterson)
I am pleased to table the Final Report and Recommendations from the Government of Nunavut’s Liquor Act Review Task Force.
Item 13. Tabling of Documents. Minister of Justice, Minister Shewchuk.
Tabled Document 281 – 3(3): Will Guide (Shewchuk)
I am pleased to table the will guide I referred to earlier in my statement this morning.
Minister responsible for the Nunavut Development Corporation, Minister Taptuna.
Tabled Document 282 – 3(3): Nunavut Development Corporation’s 2011-2012 Annual Report (Taptuna)
Tabled Document 283 – 3(3): Nunavut Housing Trust – Lessons Learned (Taptuna)
I am pleased to table the Nunavut Development Corporation’s 2011-12 Annual Report, and the other being, Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Housing Trust – Lessons Learned Report, May 2012.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Taptuna. Item 13.
No more. We will move on in our orders of the day.
Motion 038 – 3(3): Extension of Review Period for Bill 40, Representative for Children and Youth Act – Notice (Ningeongan)
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Amittuq, that the period of time for the standing committee to report Bill 40 back to the House be extended by a further 120 days.
Motion 038 – 3(3): Extension of Review Period for Bill 40, Representative for Children and Youth Act (Ningeongan)
WHEREAS Bill 40, the proposed Representative for Children and Youth Act, received second reading on June 7, 2012;
AND WHEREAS Bill 40 has been referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation for consideration;
AND WHEREAS the standing committee has been giving careful consideration to this important piece of proposed legislation;
AND WHEREAS the standing committee requires additional time to complete its work;
Bills 42, 43, and 45 with Mr. Ningeongan in the Chair.
Before we proceed to the Committee of the Whole, we will take a short 10-minute break.
>>House recessed at 10:53 and Committee resumed at 11:10
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 42, 43, and 45.
The wish list is growing shorter.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to proceed with the review of Bills 42, 43, and 45.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. Are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 42, Supplementary (O&M), No. 2, 2012-13?
Some Members: Agreed.  Bill 42 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013 – Consideration in Committee
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I would now like to ask the Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Minister Peterson, if he has any opening remarks and if he could go to the witness table.
Minister Peterson, you may proceed.
I am pleased to present Bill 42, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013.
Bill 42 is for operations and maintenance supplementary appropriations for 2012-13 totalling $18,931,000.
$9,938,000 for increases to cover ratification of the Nunavut Employees Union Collective Agreement;
$2,422,000 to the Qulliq Energy Corporation for a Fuel Stabilization Fund shortfall;
$4,579,000 to the Department of Justice for increased costs for the new territorial police services agreement;
$810,000 to the Department of Culture and Heritage for the first year of a four-year museum services agreement with the Northwest Territories;
$200,000 to the Department of Health and Social Services for the temporary relocation of Public Health to the Qikiqtani General Hospital;
$632,000 to the Department of Community and Government Services to increase the base funding of the Project Management Office ($600,000) and the additional lease cost for the relocation of Public Health ($32,000); and
$350,000 to the Nunavut Housing Corporation for the development of a comprehensive housing and homelessness strategy.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Peterson. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in.
I apologize to the committee members.
I must first ask if you agree to bring in the witnesses.
Chairman (interpretation): Allan Rumbolt disagrees with that. (interpretation ends) Minister, for the record, please introduce your witnesses.
To my right is Chris D’Arcy, Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance, and to my left, Camilius Egeni, Director of Expenditure Management for the Department of Finance.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. I thank you and your officials for appearing before the committee. Welcome Mr. Minister and your officials.
With respect to the opening comments, does any member have general comments related to Bill 42? Are there any general comments prior to our line by line review? Committee members?
Regarding the supplementary appropriation under Not Previously Authorized, I just say no wonder to the fact some of these items require supplementary appropriation.
However, the matter I wanted to speak to, Mr. Chairman, relates to the funds for Culture and Heritage, for leasing museum space for artefacts for a total of $810,000 that was identified for one year. Furthermore, we now see that this will be ongoing for four more years in my estimation.
This continues to concern me slightly, as in the past, the Nunavut government previously had an agreement with the Prince of Wales centre in Yellowknife to house these artefacts. This agreement set out much lower rates and that is why I am slightly concerned since it is a large increase over a period of one year just for housing these artefacts. When we reach that page, I will be asking for further details to clarify in my mind, what the reasoning is for this large increase in funding for the Nunavut government to house these artefacts.
I have no other names on my list. That was for general comments.
We are on Bill 42. Page 4.
Do you have any general comments?
Mr. Curley (interpretation): When we get to the details part, I will have questions.
Bill 42. Page 4. (interpretation ends) Office of the Legislative Assembly. Operations and Maintenance.
Total Assembly Operations. $257,000.
Total Department. $257,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) On page 5.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Operations and Maintenance.
Total Directorate. $121,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Under Sustainable Development. (interpretation ends) Total Sustainable Development. $37,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Nunavut Cabinet. $102,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Commissioner of Nunavut.
Total Commissioner of Nunavut. $4,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Intergovernmental Affairs.
Total Intergovernmental Affairs. $124,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Down at the bottom, (interpretation ends) Total Department. $388,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Page 6. (interpretation ends) Finance. Operations and Maintenance.
Total Directorate. $42,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Down at the bottom, (interpretation ends) Policy and Planning.
Total Policy and Planning. $83,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Financial Management.
Total Financial Management. $69,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Comptrollership. Total Comptrollership. $400,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Centrally Administered Funds.
Total Centrally Administered Funds. $2,517,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Total Department. $3,111,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Page 7. (interpretation ends) Human Resources. Operations and Maintenance.
Total Directorate. $114,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Just below that, (interpretation ends) Recruiting and Staffing. Total Recruiting and Staffing. $94,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Community Operations.
Total Community Operations. $91,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Just below that, (interpretation ends) Training and Development.
Total Training and Development. $117,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Just below that as well, (interpretation ends) Employee Relations and Job Evaluation.
Total Employee Relations and Job Evaluation. $76,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Total Department. $492,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Page 8. (interpretation ends) Justice. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Directorate. Total Directorate. $122,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Just below that, (interpretation ends) Law Enforcement.
Total Law Enforcement. $4,579,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
If I can be allowed to ask a question on this section, I refer to this section and here I am reading the English version.
Mr. Chairman, $4,579,000.
Can more detail be provided to Nunavummiut as to exactly what the purpose of this fund is, so that we may be clear about the purpose and we can offer our support?
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Justice, Public Safety Canada, and all provinces and territories have been negotiating a new 20-year policing agreement for the RCMP.
This funding is a 70 percent share of the Government of Nunavut to the amount that we have to increase the policing service agreement that was recently signed between the provinces and territories and Public Safety Canada.
Some of the funding would be for pay increases in the current fiscal year, guard costs… .
I don’t know if you want the specific details, but there’s quite a lot.
There’s travel, property costs of, for example, $2,255,431 would be property cost increases that are expected to be borne by the Government of Nunavut, as agreed to in the new contract; a Provo unit, that’s $208,719 and that’s for officials who would transport prisoners between the different facilities; patrol carbine purchases, $367,623, that would be acquisition of patrol carbines for members of the RCMP to ensure effective maintenance of public safety while, at the same time, ensuring their self-protection.
It’s a 20-year agreement and I believe it’s reviewed every five years.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Peterson. (interpretation) Continuing on.
Law Enforcement. $4,579,000.
Total Lawyer Support Services. $74,000.
Registries and Court Services. $187,000.
Total Corrections. $585,000.
Total Community Justice. $43,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Total Department. $5,590,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Page 9.
Culture and Heritage. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Total Directorate. $101,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Total Official Languages. $82,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Total Heritage. $862,000.
The question that I wanted to ask is that the Nunavut government pays funding for the artefacts that are in other jurisdictions.
What is the reasoning for increasing that amount of money to pay to the NWT government for territorial museum agreement?
Mr. Chairman, the Government of Nunavut has a contract with the Prince of Whales Heritage Centre in Yellowknife to store our artefacts.
The existing contract is expiring. The new four-year agreement was negotiated and the cost increased.
If you can clarify to me the cost increase, how much did it increase by because it is not written in here?
It’s a four year agreement. I believe the amount is approximately $4 million over four years.
I just cannot understand that the old contract and the new contract, is there a difference in the funding that we’re going to pay the NWT government? What’s the difference in the price increase between the old and the new contracts?
The price is quite substantial. According to the information I have before me, the previous agreements with the GNWT were $553,604 for the period of 2009-2012.
So it was fairly inexpensive and approximate costs since April 1, 1999 is $2 million.
If we don’t sign the museum service agreement, I would not like to see the historical artefacts placed with no place.
But this is very expensive to have a service agreement to house the artefacts in the museum, it is impossible to disagree with that even though it’s a huge sum for me, but the Minister of Heritage and Culture I am sure is aware to house artefacts out of Nunavut and I urge the government to work vigorously to repatriate our artefacts.
That was just a comment and I am sure that the minister is taking him seriously.
We are on page 9. (interpretation ends) Heritage.
Total Heritage. $862,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Just below that, (interpretation ends) Elders and Youth.
Total Elders and Youth. $26,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Right below that, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. (interpretation ends) Total Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. $12,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Down at the bottom, (interpretation ends) Total Department. $1,083,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Page 10. (interpretation ends) Education.
Total Directorate. $14,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Right below that, (interpretation ends) Policy and Planning. Total Policy and Planning. $18,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Just below that, (interpretation ends) Corporate Services. Total Corporate Services. $36,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) K-12 School Operations.
Total K-12 School Operations. $503,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Just below that, (interpretation ends) Curriculum and School Services.
Total Curriculum and School Services. $92,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Total Career and Early Childhood Services. $93,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Go to page 11.
Education. Operations and Maintenance.
Total. $24,000.
Total Income Support. $15,000.
Total Department. $795,000.
Go to page 12.
Heath and Social Services. Operations and Maintenance.
Total Directorate. $425,000.
Total Social Services. $230,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Public Health.
Total Public Health. $354,000.
Total Treatment. $2,160,000.
Total Health Insurance Programs. $36,000.
At the bottom, Total Department. $3,205,000.
Turn to page 13. (interpretation ends) Environment.
Corporate Management. Total Corporate Management. $88,000.
Program Management. (interpretation ends) Total Program Management. $293,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
At the bottom, Total Department. $381,000.
Page 14. (interpretation ends) Community and Government Services. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Directorate. Total Directorate. $209,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Community Support.
Total Community Support. $188,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Government Services. Total Government Services. $251,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Protection Services.
Total Protection Services. $62,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Capital Planning and Technical Services. Total Capital Planning and Technical Services. $965,000.
I want to welcome the minister and his officials. As well, with respect to that item, let me start by acknowledging that this is an important position, these are important services.
I have always been supportive of seeing more inspectors, and so on.
I do need clarification. I support the minister responsible for the department in beefing up. I believe that there are inspectors, and whatnot, that’s a great improvement in service.
Mr. Chairman, before I ask my question, I need to make a very brief preamble that really, quite critical so that the issue is perfectly clear.
I believe we need significantly more clarification on the issue of $600,000 proposed supplementary funding for the program management office of the Department of Community and Government Services.
In March of this year, the Legislative Assembly approved $163,000 in funding for the new project management office as part of the department’s 2012-13 main estimates.
In June of this year, the Legislative Assembly approved the new Building Code Act.
At that time I raised questions concerning the minister’s opening comments with the standing committee, when he stated that the new legislation, “…will facilitate the creation of the building official’s office to focus on the application of the national building code in new construction.”
I made it clear that I did not see a need for creating a new office with additional employees, and so forth.
Based on that, can the minister confirm whether or not the department has hired any new employees since June of this year, with the specific responsibility to administer matters falling under the Building Code Act?
That’s the first question.
I thank Mr. Curley for the question. I’m not sure if I understand the question.
This amount money is to do with the project management office, not with the Building Code Act.
I tried to be quite clear, and therefore, I read the preamble in the first question.
I’m not sure if the minister understood it.
I’ll be quite clear again.
The first question is this: can the minister confirm to the committee on whether or not the department has hired any new employees since June of this year with specific responsibility to administer matters falling under the Building Code Act?
Mr. Chairman, I don’t have that information.
I think the minister can be helpful to us.
He has his colleague listening, and I’m sure it’s just a matter of the minister asking his colleague to reply to that question as I have more questions to that line item.
I’m perplexed.
We’re here talking about a project management office funding not the building code or the hiring of employees since June.
The minister knows quite well that that line item of $600,000 is a result of the Building Code Act.
I’m not out of order in that. If the minister refuses to answer, that’s okay, but I just want confirmation whether these two positions, that I believe two positions were created, that the minister is seeking approval for, and I’m trying to find out whether they’re related to that technique.
We did approve $163,000 earlier for this similar project, and now we’re asking for $600,000 more.
We’re not trying to make it difficult for the minister; it’s just that this is taxpayer money.
We need clarification on those expenditures that the minister is asking to approve without asking any questions, and that would be shameful.
I thank Mr. Curley for giving the opportunity to clarify exactly what CGS is going to use with the $600,000.
Maintaining and promoting the project management methodology, a database for the performance evaluations of contractors and consultants, the development and maintenance of a historical database of projects including lessons learned and actual cost, the development and implementation of an ongoing project management training curriculum for CGS project delivery staff, project sponsorship training for client departmental capital planning staff, and the development and implementation of a web-based GN specific project management information system.
As a part of my preamble, I did quote from the minister, as I state, made minister responsible for CG&S when he appeared before the standing committee, he did indicate that there were a number of responsibilities that were created, including the creation of building official’s office.
So my next question is can the minister confirm whether or not the department has established a new administrative entity to administer matters under the Building Code Act?
Again, I thank Mr. Curley.
Mr. Chairman, I’m here, prepared to talk about the project management. I didn’t come here prepared to talk about the Building Code Act.
The line item that we’re dealing with is related to the Building Code Act.
It results in that mandate which was ambiguous.
That’s why I’m trying to get a clarification. I’ll make it clear, there is a regional decentralized location that falls under demanded whole government and we’ve been considering whether or not the new building code officials office is separate from the decentralized location if the line item that we’re dealing with in $600,000.
I’m not disputing the fact that building of is required but we’re trying to determine where exactly where it’s going to be located; so my question is quote simple.
Can the minister once again confirm whether the department has established a new physical office or building to administer matters related to the Building Code Act which I believe $600,000 is allocated for?