EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Also, the number of paraprofessional employees has decreased dramatically, and the number of administrative personnel has increased dramatically.
You were talking about realignment earlier on.
Is it because of the realignment that there has been a decrease in one section and an increase in the other? Why are there significant changes to the number of employees?
You were correct in saying that the Department of Education has been realigned in order to streamline our roles and to harmonize our tasks with those amended roles.
In regard to your question, with your permission, Mr. Chairman, it’s part of the realignment that there is a decrease and an increase.
I would like my deputy minister to provide an additional response to the question.
It’s a two-part response. The Human Resources Division set up (interpretation ends) position category guidelines, (interpretation) such as (interpretation ends) executive senior management, middle management, and professional. (interpretation ends) It was standardized to ensure consistency and comparability between similar positions within departments and from one data period to another. (interpretation) That’s how it was done.
For example, all government departments such as Education and EIA need to use those guidelines.
For that reason we had to make changes to come up with a job description template for all departmental positions.
That is the first point I can talk about.
As the minister said, we made realignments so that the job descriptions are more consistent. (interpretation ends) There is the Student Achievement Division (interpretation) that was newly created as well as the Educator Development Division. We also moved, for example, partner relations and communications to the Directorate.
So that we can employ more Inuit, we had set up an employment program for Inuit where they can go from one level to another one and also to the top. For example, we have Inuit policy analysts, managers, and directors. We would like to increase our Inuit employment numbers.
For example, I just signed off on a communications officer position yesterday that will be beneficiary-specific.
There are different types of programs that we’re setting up in the Department of Education in order to increase the number of Inuit employed.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) K-12 School Operations.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $163,210,000.
>>Committee recessed at 18:08 and resumed at 18:26
Chairman (interpretation): I would like to call the committee meeting back to order.
We are on Education. (interpretation ends) Educator Development. (interpretation) We are on page G-11.
I believe this question was asked, but I would like further clarification on what kinds of resources and materials have been developed for bilingual education.
I’m not sure how you say it in Inuktitut, but they’re (interpretation ends) guided reading and guided writing in English. (interpretation) Those are geared for bilingual education in Inuktitut and English, and they’re on par. (interpretation ends) Guided reading and guided writing (interpretation) are new for bilingual education.
As I indicated earlier, we are producing materials gradually. We started out with kindergarten to grade 3 and now we’re producing more resources for the higher grades.
When new teachers come to Nunavut, do you have an orientation program for them?
Absolutely, when new educators come here, we provide them with standardized orientation materials.
Just last week we had a lot of new educators who went through the orientation. We taught them about the history of Inuit and provided other orientation materials.
We now have a dedicated employee who provides the orientation program for the new instructors who come here.
In Nunavut the school community counsellors play an important role in ensuring student success.
They do a lot of work in the communities.
Do all Nunavut schools currently have community counsellors?
All schools have positions for community school counsellors. Almost all of the school counsellor positions are filled and only a few are vacant. We have positions in all schools.
We are going to keep filling those positions until all the vacant positions have been filled.
Yes, we do have community school counsellor positions in all of our schools.
Could you provide us a copy of how many school counsellor positions are vacant, which are filled and in which communities?
There are 44 (interpretation ends) school community counsellors (interpretation) in total that are working in our schools at this time.
As I said earlier, there are a few vacant positions for school counsellors, but we are recruiting and trying to fill all of those positions.
We currently have 44 school counsellors in Nunavut in total and 6 of the positions are vacant.
Educator Development.
I’m just trying to get first of all clarification under this page. Does it include learning coaches?
It has been a few years that the department has been using learning coaches. (interpretation) Is this the appropriate page to ask that question?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): It is not within this category of Educator Development.
However, what I want the members to know is that the name has been changed to (interpretation ends) literacy coach (interpretation) in English, but the duties are primarily the same. (interpretation ends) Literacy coach is the appropriate name for that position, (interpretation) so it’s not (interpretation ends) under Educator Development. (interpretation) I apologize for continually inserting English terms as I am trying to speak in Inuktitut.
The reason why I asked that question is, on page 105, under priorities for 2017-18, (interpretation ends) one of the priorities stated is to “Continue to offer Learning Coach training modules and begin the work to develop a certificate program for Learning Coaches modelled on the CELN format.”
You said you changed the titles to literacy coaches now. What direction are you taking this? Why are you changing it to literacy?
With respect to that priority, what is the department heading towards with these learning or literacy coaches?
The original intent was to have it as a literacy coach.
We haven’t made any changes to the duties and responsibilities.
They get their training through the Educator Development Division.
The original intent was to have them as literacy coaches.
The roles and responsibilities are not changed, but the principals and vice-principals are required to be certified. We provide the training through the Educator Development Division and there are different training programs.
I’ll speak in English as he asked the question in English. (interpretation ends) The remaining three courses have been revised to add a focus on literacy leadership within the school system and to support the department’s literacy priority and instructional framework. Like I said, principals and vice-principals are encouraged to take these courses. These courses provide for a greater understanding of how to support quality literacy instruction within schools and how best to utilize and support the new literacy coach.
(interpretation) It says it’s a (interpretation ends) learning coach, but actually it’s a literacy coach. I don’t think there’s a big difference in that. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
On another topic, I keep bringing it up, but this is a new branch or division, Educator Development. It will be focusing on recruitment as well as supporting current employees.
We know that NTEP is there, but are there other specific initiatives that will be brought forward to increase the number of bilingual, Inuktitut-speaking teachers?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Very briefly, this division will focus on areas ranging from targeted recruitment of educators, educator certification, providing training and learning opportunities for employees ranging from conferences to in-service to e-learning.
This division will also design and deliver certification related to training for principals, ensuring that there are high-quality and current professional standards and expectations for our employees as they are supposed to meet these standards.
That’s what this new division is.
NTEP or CTEP are not under this particular division. They would be under the next step, which is the advanced education. (interpretation) They’re not in that division.
Chairman: Thank you. The minister has identified that it’s not in this branch.
I’m sorry. I didn’t realize where it was. Thank you for allowing me to ask that question.
(interpretation ends) Educator development, I’m remembering one of the items that were in the Budget Address was a nurse mentorship program.
On page 104 I see that there are supports that you’re going to have for new employees, such as orientation and mentorship.
That’s under program implementation and training.
What types of mentorship programs do you already have or are thinking to have for teachers in Nunavut?
Orientation is completed.
We’re just working on mentorship right now.
The mentorship program is just starting, but orientation is done. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Joanasie: Can the minister explain what types of mentorship initiatives or programs there currently are and/or what “mentorships” you are thinking of implementing under this branch?
I want to provide an adequate response to the member’s question. If you will allow, I would like to have my Deputy Minister, Kathy Okpik, respond to the question.
We’re now starting to initiate the work on it. We have not identified everything in detail. In previous years, for example, if there were a lot of NTEP students graduating in one community, the first year of teachers will be many.
Long-time teachers will be mentoring the new first year teachers. As the new teachers settle in, they are mentored by the long-time teachers.
That’s what we had done previously.
I also thank her for that explanation.
Moving on, in one of your priorities for 2017-18 on page 105, the second bullet states, “Continue to provide training for Student Support Assistants to meet the needs of students.”
Can you indicate how many student support assistants there are? How many student support assistants do you require? Are you short of students support assistants?
To date student support assistants number a little over 163 for the whole territory. We are continually seeking student support assistants, but I am very pleased to report that there are over 163.
The number of student support assistants we require depends on the number of the students that require assistance. Sometimes we don’t know the exact number of how many students require assistance.
Once we know how many students require assistance, we have to make sure that we can distribute this evenly.
There are training programs offered through Arctic College. The DEAs just follow on what they need.
We work with them on that, but we continually seek student support assistants once we realize how many students require assistance.
Just to get further clarification, do the student support assistants need certification to be hired in that position?
To date some don’t have certification, but we’re trying to set up a development and training program for student support assistants so that they can be certified.
That is what we’re setting up currently. That’s where it’s at.
Working with Arctic College, we have 10 different modules available through Arctic College for student support assistants.
After they take the 10 modules, they can be certified, but some of them are not certified even though they are SSAs.
Also on page 105, the fourth bullet, it says, “Continue to develop a professional development framework for teachers and language specialists.”
Can you elaborate further on how the process is?
First of all to explain further on the professional development framework, we contracted DPRA just recently to support or help in the development of the framework.
We have just awarded the contract to them so that they can develop the framework.
We will expect to see the results after they have completed the work.
This is a (interpretation ends) professional development framework (interpretation) and the contract has been awarded to do that work.
Educator Development. G-11.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $10,767,000.
Advanced Education.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $3,811,000.
Back to page G-3.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $206,472,000.
Do members agree that we have concluded the Department of Education?
Closing comments, Mr. Quassa.
I would just like to thank my colleagues. (interpretation ends) Merci. Qujannamiiik.
Koana. Thank you.
(interpretation ends) We will take a short break before we proceed to the Department of Community and Government Services.
>>Committee recessed at 18:52 and resumed at 18:54
Bill 34 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2017-2018 – Community and Government Services – Consideration in Committee
To my right is Ms. Lori Kimball, the DM, and to my left is the ADM, Mr. Darren Flynn.
Welcome, Ms. Kimball and Mr. Flynn.
You may now proceed with your opening comments, Mr. Savikataaq.
Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and update the Committee of the Whole on both the 2017-18 main estimates and business plan for the Department of Community and Government Services.
Our projected budget has a net increase of $2.16 million over last year’s main estimates.
The Petroleum Products Division continues to manage the fuel provision mandate for the GN. As a direct result of efforts made by my department’s use of the early purchase of petroleum products in the face of volatile global fuel prices, we were able to reduce the price of home heating fuel and gasoline effective January 30, 2017.
CGS continues to strongly support the activities of the Municipal Training Organization (MTO).
The MTO has been providing much-needed training for municipal employees for over 10 years now.
The training provided by MTO allows municipal employees to gain skills that assist them in delivering services to residents with training costs that are low and affordable to municipalities.
CGS remains the MTO’s largest funding partner and we are pleased to continue our funding levels to the MTO.
Our Sport and Recreation Division is finalizing its support activities for Team Nunavut’s participation at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Team Nunavut will also participate in three sports in the North American Indigenous Games taking place in Toronto, Ontario. This is happening in July.
The number of people on the government’s network continues to expand due to decentralization and other factors.
In addition the number and types of devices that users need to work and communicate continues to increase and evolve with new technology.
Naujaat and Sanikiluaq now have access to the core government network, and the remaining non-decentralized communities will be completed and migrated to the Core Business Network by the end of fiscal year 2017-18.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s Emergency Management Division has been working hard to improve search and rescue response programs available to the public.
In 2016 there were 281 searches, 90 of which were triggered by SPOT devices.
Mr. Chairman, I hope my comments give an appreciation of the progress that my department is making in addressing the goals of the government.
Mr. Chairman, I would now be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Government Estimates and Operations on its review of the proposed 2017-18 main estimates and 2017-2020 business plan for the Department of Community and Government Services.
The standing committee notes that the department’s proposed 2017-18 operations and maintenance budget of $241,299,000 has increased by approximately 0.9 percent since the introduction of the department’s 2016-17 main estimates.
The number of positions in the department is 419. This is an increase of eight positions from the 2016-17 main estimates.
The Department of Community and Government Services is responsible for the government’s core Municipal Funding Program, the Water and Sewage Funding Program, and the Mobile Equipment Block Funding Program.
The standing committee notes that a number of the department’s policies, including its Water and Sewage Services Subsidy Policy and its Municipal Mobile Equipment Policy, have expired.
Under its Municipal Funding Program, the department provides core funding to community governments to deliver municipal programs and services.
The department’s Local Government Services Branch is also responsible for assisting community governments with program and service delivery by providing monitoring and evaluation services.
During his recent appearance before the standing committee, the minister indicated that a number of municipalities are forecasted to end the current fiscal year in a deficit position.
The standing committee emphasizes the importance of providing adequate support and guidance to ensure that municipalities maintain the financial capacity to provide the programs and services that communities want and need.
On January 17 of 2017 the federal Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, in association with the Kakivak Association and Kitikmeot Inuit Association, announced that almost $2 million in funding would be made available to a number of Arctic Co-operative businesses to modernize and expand their fuel truck garage facilities in eight communities across Nunavut.
The standing committee recognizes that this funding is provided under a federal program, beyond the scope of the department’s responsibilities.
During the minister’s recent appearance, members raised concerns that this funding may result in an unfair advantage against local businesses that may wish to bid for future fuel delivery service contracts.
The standing committee encourages the minister to work with his federal counterparts to publicize federal programs in Nunavut’s communities, with the aim to ensure that all local businesses have equal access to federal funding opportunities.
The department’s Emergency Management Office is responsible for a number of initiatives, including the coordination of the government’s emergency operations and providing support to community search and rescue volunteer organizations.
The Emergency Management Office is also responsible for developing and monitoring the territorial emergency plan and providing assistance to Nunavut communities in creating their own plans.
The standing committee continues to encourage the minister to table these emergency response plans in the Legislative Assembly at the earliest opportunity.
One of the department’s goals for the upcoming 2017-18 fiscal year is to “Propose to the appropriate governing bodies, evidence based federal wastewater regulations and standards that reflect current research and Nunavut specific issues.”
The department’s draft 2017-2020 business plan indicates that the wastewater research projects, which were led by Dalhousie University, have been completed.
The department also indicates that “The findings of this research will be shared with regulators, stakeholders, communities across Nunavut and northern Canada to develop options for Nunavut specific wastewater regulations and standards.”
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Legislative Assembly have spoken on a number of occasions in the Legislative Assembly about the importance of drinking water safety and quality in Nunavut.
The standing committee continues to recommend that the department prepare and table in the Legislative Assembly a comprehensive annual report on water quality in all of Nunavut’s communities.
One of the department’s goals for the upcoming 2017-18 fiscal year is to “Continue to work on developing a broadband and telecommunications strategy, including funding agreements, collaboration models, and strategic partnerships to continue to evolve and update territorial connectivity.”
The department’s draft 2017-2020 business plan indicates that “The GN has partnered with the Government of Newfoundland and Nunavik for a fibre feasibility study and is currently working with CanNor for funding opportunities to explore feasibility studies on territorial connectivity.”
On February 29, 2016, during the Committee of the Whole’s consideration of the department’s 2016-17 main estimates, the minister stated in his opening comments that his department’s Property and Asset Management Division was undertaking a program review to update its maintenance management standards, and to examine gaps in existing delivery standards to ensure that the government’s preventative maintenance and lifecycle renewal initiatives will support higher performing and longer lasting buildings.
The minister also indicated that this review would be completed during the 2016-17 fiscal year.
The standing committee looks forward to reviewing the results of this review.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2017-18 main estimates and 2017-2020 business plan of the Department of Community and Government Services.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on the minister’s opening comments.
On page 2 of his opening comments he states, “We were able to reduce the price of home heating fuel and gasoline effective January 30, 2017.” If you read that, it makes it sound like he has decreased the price of gasoline in all the communities in Nunavut, but we know that it didn’t decrease in Sanikiluaq.
Has the government changed their mind and decreased the price of gas in Sanikiluaq as well?
No, we haven’t. We have gone to one price per region and Sanikiluaq is bunched in with the Kivalliq region, which I believe has the cheapest gasoline prices right now.
We will now proceed to the page-by-page review of the departmental estimates starting on page J-4. Community and Government Services.
Directorate. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted.
I would just like to seek clarification if HR matters fall under this page.
I’m looking at the employment figures from December 31, 2016 from the department.
I note in Cape Dorset they have 22 positions but 9 are sitting vacant.
Can the minister explain a bit if they have any challenges in filling those positions and why?
This budget has nothing to do with those positions.
They are all funded vacant positions, but as with all other positions we have that are vacant, we will be trying to fill them as soon as we can.
I’m not sure where I would ask about this HR matter then.
Is it under this? Yeah?
I’ll ask it in a different angle then. Cape Dorset is a decentralized community and CGS has some divisions there that operate the regional office.
With those nine positions that sit vacant, can you say how long they have been vacant for?
Of these nine positions in Cape Dorset, we don’t have that level of detail with us, how long they have been vacant or why they are vacant, but some of these positions are filled by casual positions.
I can’t answer in detail how long they have been vacant and which positions are vacant. We don’t have that level of detail with us here.
I can appreciate that he doesn’t have the information in front of him. He said that some of them are staffed by casuals.
Can he say maybe out of the nine positions which ones are… ?
What categories of… ?
He might not have that level of information in front of him, but hopefully it can be forthcoming.
What I’m trying to get at is the government wants to hire locally.
Hopefully these positions are at the entry or paraprofessional level. Maybe they can start moving up the corporate ladder.
Has CGS identified maybe Sivuliqtiksat opportunities with these positions?
Maybe if you can reference where you’re getting your number nine from, then maybe that way the minister can appropriately answer your question.
I apologize. I’m still referencing the vacancies of nine and I’m using the “Towards a Representative Public Service as of December 31, 2016” and it’s page 5 of that report.
For Cape Dorset there are 22 positions that CGS has and 9 vacancies.
That’s what I’m asking questions on.
As I stated, we don’t have that information with us here. I can get it for the member at a later date.