EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, I’m not involved in the day-to-day functioning of the Department of Finance and the Nunavut Housing Corporation. I am assured by officials in my department that they meet regularly with the officials in the Nunavut Housing Corporation to discuss the financial information that our department requires and the Government of Nunavut requires.
Part of the restructuring of the Nunavut Housing Corporation is a result of those types of conversations that we do have to improve the timeliness of information, the budgeting, and the whole project management aspect, so it’s progressing.
Possibly later this year, we will be in a position to provide more details to the member and other MLAs about the end result of all of the movements that are going on that have been recommended by the Deloitte and Touche report and cabinet.
Going back to our orders of the day. (interpretation ends) Item 7. (interpretation) Written Questions. (interpretation ends) Item 8. (interpretation) Returns to Written Questions. (interpretation ends) Item 9. (interpretation) Replies to Opening Address. (interpretation ends) Item 10. (interpretation) Petitions. (interpretation ends) Item 11. (interpretation) Responses to Petitions. (interpretation ends) Item 12. (interpretation) Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matter. (interpretation ends) Item 13. (interpretation) Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 273 – 3(2): Correspondence from Constituent Concerning Nutrition North Canada Program (Rumbolt)
I wish to table today a copy of correspondence that I have received from a constituent in Sanikiluaq concerning the Nutrition North Canada Program.
I have also encouraged my constituents to present their concerns to the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to our consideration of motions tomorrow to invite witnesses to appear before the Legislative Assembly on this important new program.
Tabled Document 274 – 3(2): Lease, Contract and Procurement Activity Report 2008-2009 (Kusugak)
Tabled Document 275 – 3(2): Lease, Contract and Procurement Activity Report 2009-2010 (Kusugak)
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to table the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s lease, contract and procurement activity reports for the fiscal years 2008-09 and 2009-2010.
Tabled Document 276 – 3(2): Statistics on Suicide in Nunavut (Ningark)
Tabled Document 277 – 3(2): Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay’s INAC Water Use Inspection Reports (Ningark)
I have a couple of documents that I would like to table in this House.
In my Member’s Statement today, I reflected on the need to work together to fight suicide in Nunavut.
I wish to table today some statistics on suicide in Nunavut.
I encourage all members to take some time to reflect on the challenge that is before us.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table another document.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table today copies of the most recent water use inspection reports which were prepared by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for the communities of Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay.
I encourage the appropriate minister to be prepared.
Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Tabled Document 278 – 3(2): Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Report (Taptuna)
I am pleased to table the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Report.
We are on Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) Item 14. (interpretation) Notices of Motions. (interpretation ends) Item 15. (interpretation) Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Item 16. (interpretation) Motions. (interpretation ends) Item 17. (interpretation) First Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Item 18. (interpretation) Second Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Item 19. (interpretation) Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters.
Bills 52, 53, and 54 with the Member for South Baffin in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:07 and Committee resumed at 15:42
Chairman (Mr. Schell): I would like to call the committee meeting to order. In the Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 52, 53, and 54.
We wish to commence our review of Bills 52, 53, and 54.
Chairman: Are we in agreement that we deal with Bill 52 first?
Bill 52 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2009-2010 – Consideration in Committee
Chairman: Does the committee agree that Minister Peterson could go to the witness stand because he is doing all three bills at the present time?
Chairman: And he wants to bring the witnesses also. Do you agree to bring in the witnesses, the same ones?
Chairman: Sergeant-at-Arms, could you please escort the minister and the witnesses to the witness table.
Actually, for the record, could you introduce your witnesses first, please.
I would like to introduce Deputy Minister Peter Ma from the Department of Finance and he is sitting on my right, and Assistant Deputy Minister Chris D’Arcy from the Department of Finance is sitting on my left.
Now you can continue with your opening statement.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and Members.
Bill 52, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 4, 2009-2010, will appropriate $1,766,000 in additional operations and maintenance monies for the previous fiscal year, 2009-2010.
$1,700,000 for the Department of Education to provide funding as a result of an increase in compensation and benefits to members of the Nunavut Teachers Association for a new four-year collective agreement; and
$66,000 to the Department of Economic Development and Transportation to provide funding so that the department can stay within its appropriated limit.
Chairman: Thank you. Any general comments on the opening statement?
If not, we will go to page 4. Education. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. School Operations. Total School Operations. $1,700,000.
Chairman: We will move to page 2.
Schedule 1. Operations and Maintenance. Total Operation and Maintenance Appropriation. $1,766,000.
Chairman: Now we will go to Bill 52 in your white… .
Bill 52, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2009-2010. Clause 1.
Chairman: Now we have to go to Schedule on page 2. We’ve got one department here on page 5.
Economic Development and Transportation. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Transportation. $66,000. Total Department. $66,000. Do you agree?
Chairman: Now we will go back to Schedule 1 on page 2. I’ll redo that.
Schedule 1. Operations and Maintenance. Operations and Maintenance Appropriation. $1,766,000.
Chairman: Now we can go back to Bill 52 in the white... . Bill 52, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2009-2010. Clause 1.
Some Members: Agreed.  Chairman: Go to page 2 on the Schedule.
Chairman: Schedule 1. Clause 3.
Chairman: Does the committee agree to Bill 52 as a whole?
Chairman: Pursuant to Rule 62(2), are you in agreement that Bill 52 is immediately ready for third reading?
I would like to thank the members for their scrutiny of Bill 52.
Now we will move on to Bill 53.
I would like to ask the minister for his opening remarks.
Bill 53 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 4, 2010-2011 – Consideration in Committee
Mr. Chairman and Members, Bill 53, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 4, 2010-2011, will appropriate $19,750,000 in additional capital monies for 2010-11.
$15 million for the Nunavut Housing Corporation to complete the Affordable Housing Initiative;
$4,100,000 for the Department of Community and Government Services to complete the WAN/LAN/MAN upgrade of the Government of Nunavut’s information technology infrastructure, which was initiated through Federal Budget 2007 as part of strengthening financial management; and
$650,000 for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth to purchase furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the Piqqusilirivvik facility in Clyde River.
Mr. Speaker, this concludes my opening comments.
Any comments on the opening remarks?
If not, we will move on to page 4. Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. Capital.
Not Previously Authorized. Directorate. Total Directorate. $650,000.
Total Department. $650,000.
Chairman: We will go on to page 5. Community and Government Services. Capital.
Not Previously Authorized. Capital Planning and Technical Services.
Total Capital Planning and Technical Services. $4,100,000.
Total Department. $4,100,000.
Chairman: Go on to page 6.
Nunavut Housing Corporation. Total Nunavut Housing Corporation. $15 million.
Total Corporation. $15 million.
Chairman: We will go back to page 2 on Schedule 1. Schedule 1. Capital.
Capital Appropriation. $19,750,000. Do you agree?
Chairman: Let’s go back to Bill 53 in your white legislation binder.
Bill 53, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 4, 2010-2011.
Chairman: Now we will go back to the Schedule on page 2. Schedule 1. Do you agree?
Chairman: Do you agree to Bill 53 as a whole?
Chairman: Pursuant to Rule 62(2), are you agreed that Bill 53 is immediately ready for third reading?
I again thank the members for their scrutiny of the bill.
We had very good discussions in the standing committee meeting this morning.
I look forward to continuing to work with the standing committee on bills and go forward.
Chairman: Now we will move on to Bill 54.
I would like to ask the minister if he has any opening remarks on Bill 54.
Bill 54 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2010-2011 – Consideration in Committee
Members, Bill 54, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) Act, No. 4, 2010-2011, will appropriate $21,213,000 in additional operations and maintenance monies for 2010-11.
$12,144,000 for the Department of Health and Social Services to provide additional funding as a result of increases to various programs and services;
$4 million for the Department of Education to provide funding as a result of an increase in compensation and benefits to members of the Nunavut Teachers Association for a new four-year collective agreement;
$2,289,000 for the Department of Justice to provide funding due to a shortfall in the RCMP contract;
$2,123,000 for the Nunavut Housing Corporation to provide funding to the corporation to improve its corporate governance and address a number of operational shortfalls, including the 6 percent interim base rate increase in power rates of the Qulliq Energy Corporation effective November 1, 2010; and
$1,187,000 in aggregate for various departments and the Nunavut Housing Corporation to fund the 6 percent interim base rate increase in power rates of the Qulliq Energy Corporation effective November 1, 2010.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments. I would be pleased to take questions.
Any question or comments on the opening remarks?
If not, we will go to page 4. Finance.
Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized. Centrally Administered Funds.
Total Centrally Administered Funds. $174,000. Total Department. $174,000.
Justice. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Law Enforcement Branch. Total Law Enforcement Branch. $2,289,000.
Total Department. $2,289,000.
Chairman: We will go to page 6. Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Inuit Traditional IQ. Total Traditional Inuit IQ. -$650,000. Total Department. -$650,000.
Chairman: We will go to page 7. Education. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. School Operations. Total School Operations. $4 million.
Total Department. $4 million. Do you agree?
Chairman: We will go to page 8. Health and Social Services. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Social Programs. Total Social Programs. $3,276,000.
For this department, I just wanted some clarification on some of the different items. On page 9, which is part of this under the Directorate, Item No. 4, $94,000 shortfall for purchased services, I’m just wondering what those services were.
Was this a position or was this contract work?
Chairman: Go ahead, Minister Peterson.
We don’t have that level of detail here; I would have to ask Minister Curley if he could respond to the question.
I thought the DM designate probably would provide the response. I’ll try, but my head is not all that in one place today.
Mr. Chairman, purchased services request for supplementary, no doubt, the 2010-11 forecast purchased services in total is $2,172,000, compared to the approved budget of $1,394,000.
Last fiscal year, the department spent $2,445,000 in the year of the H1N1 outbreak.
So the department requires an additional supplementary appropriation of $778,000 for purchased services. So in a nutshell, it has to do with the impact of the H1N1 outbreak. It did require extra purchasing of service costs for expenses, such as freight of medical materials and supplies, including oxygen tanks that were critical to respiratory clients who were impacted, due to the increase in the H1N1 pandemic experience. (interpretation) Thank you.
So maybe I just didn’t totally understand part of the answer.
I understood where the money was going to. You had mentioned around $700,000. Why are you only asking for an appropriation of $94,000 then?
And this is on page 9 under Directorate there, where it’s to provide funding of $94,000 for a projected shortfall in Directorate.
Perhaps I could shed some light on it. The total is $778,000.
If you look at page 8, Purchased Services under Treatment would be $619,000; under Public Health, Purchased Services is $65,000; and on page 9, Purchased Services would be $94,000. The total would be $778,000 and it’s essentially for expenses, such as freight costs for medical materials and supplies.
An example would be oxygen tanks.
I think we are all tired and like Mr. Curley, my head is in different places too. I went blank a little bit earlier.
That helps me in terms of where the $700,000 comes from, but I don’t think, under the Directorate in terms of purchased services, that you would be buying oxygen tanks. With my understanding of the directorate and how it works, you wouldn’t be purchasing oxygen tanks at that level.
I’m just curious in terms of that line, the $94,000. What services were purchased there?
Does it have anything to do with H1N1 in terms of publicity strategy or something?
I thank Mr. Elliott for the question. Mr. Chairman, perhaps, with your permission, if I can bring in Debora Voth from the Department of Health and Social Services as a witness and have the Sergeant-at-Arms escort Mr. D’Arcy out for the time being.
Thank you. Minister Peterson, could you introduce your new witness for the record.
The new witness is Debora Voth.
She is with the Department of Health and Social Services.
You can go ahead, Ms. Voth.
Another cost that is included under Purchased Services in Health and Social Services are nurse relocation costs and the human resource department is under the Directorate. Of the $94,000, about $85,000 is related to nurse relocations due to the increased number of nurses we have been hiring. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I don’t think any of us have a problem approving that and that is excellent.
On page 8, one of the things that sort of struck me, especially with some of the media attention that has been given to it, is line on Item No. 2, Pharmacy. You were asking for $1,887,000. Does this have anything to do with the changes within the pharmacy and what you are doing through Health and Social Services?
Mr. Elliott asked that question earlier.
We notified the department that that question might come up and I’ll ask Ms. Voth if she would respond to it.
Chairman: Thank you. Ms. Voth.
Ms. Voth: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The cost pressures that we are experiencing in pharmacy services have to do with historical issues and that would be under funding for vaccination programs that we have covered off in prior years through surpluses in other areas. Also, we have had historical budget pressures on pharmaceutical supplies that we deliver in the health care facilities and the health care centres.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you. Mr. Chairman.
With some of the new ways in which Health and Social Services can deliver pharmaceutical products, is that going to change in terms of the deficiencies or the amount of money in the cost?
Actually, in the pharmaceutical program, things are improving already. Although we are requesting right now $1.8 million, things are looking up.
We have an excellent new territorial director of pharmacy, and she has implemented a program in which she is sending back expired pharmaceutical supplies and Nunavut is now getting credit for those expired pharmaceutical supplies.
So I expect that there is a possibility that we may not need all of the $1.9 million, but at the time that I was preparing this forecast, that’s what our expectation was.
As you may realize, this is a forecast and subject to change based on new information, and the recoveries that we’re receiving on expired pharmaceutical supplies is looking good.
In terms of the way the business is going to be done differently with the pharmacies, and whatnot, Health and Social Services is supposed to be hiring three additional people for this.
With my Member’s Statement earlier in terms of social workers and how hard it is to fill positions within Human Resources, sometimes 318 days, do you foresee any problem with having people hired in those three positions in a speedy manner?
I will ask Ms. Voth to respond.
Go ahead, Ms. Voth.
At this time, if you’re referring to the new strategy, I believe that the Department of Health and Social Services will be rolling out that new strategy in the fall and I believe it’s under a consultation process at the moment.
So I would prefer that if we were allowed to comment at that future date after we have finished our consultation process and have a strategy to put forth.
Again in terms of medical travel, there are different line items; there’s Travel and Transportation under Item 1; there’s Travel and Transportation under Item 2; and on page 8, there is also a Medical Travel line.
Are all of these dollar values for patients travelling in and out of the territory or to different locations for medical services?
Ms. Voth will respond.
The line items that fall under travel and transportation are different than medical travel. The main items under travel and transportation have to do with client and family travel. It’s the client and family travel that does not fall under medical travel, such as children who are on adoption pre-placement visits with potential adoptive parents.
Also, when a child is living in a residential care facility outside their home community, a family member may visit that child two times a year.
An adult in residential care may have one family visit once per year. Also, if no foster placement is available in a child’s home community, the child is sent to the nearest community with available foster placement.
Also, the department is experiencing cost pressures for relocation travel for casual nurses and that falls not under purchased services but under travel and transportation for the casual nurses.
Both of those impacts are impacting the department at this time.
Also in terms of medical travel and whenever we talk about discussions, medical travel seems to be one of our biggest expenses under the department.
Is the contract for medical travel up for review?
I’ll have Ms. Voth respond.
We have a number of medical travel contracts that are up for review.
One of them is for the scheduled medical travel with the airlines, and I believe the RFP was issued, if not yesterday, it was today, by the Department of CGS.
We have issued an RFP for the Kivalliq region and we hope to be able to issue the medevac RFP for the Kitikmeot region during the month of March.
I would say that’s all of the questions I have, and I really thank Ms. Voth for coming in to help answer them.
One of the things I could comment on is the fact that we have been getting a lot of really good detailed answers lately and I don’t seem to be as frustrated as I used to be.
Any other questions on page 8 or 9 while we are at it here?
If not, we will go item by item. Social Programs. Total Social Programs. $3,276,000.
Chairman: Treatment.
Total Treatment. $8,651,000.
Chairman: Go to Public Health.
Item 3. Total Public Health. $123,000.
Chairman: Go to page 9. Health and Social Services. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Directorate. Total Directorate. $94,000.
Do you agree on the $94,000?
Chairman: Then we will go to the Total Department. $12,144,000.
Chairman: Move on to page 10. Community and Government Services. Operations and Maintenance.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sorry for interrupting.
I wonder if I can bring Mr. D’Arcy back in. I thank Ms. Voth for appearing today.
Chairman: I’m sure the committee agrees.
We are on page 10. Community and Government Services. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Community Support. Item 1. Total Community Support. $204,000.
I noticed on page 10 that it’s broken down to Community Support and Government Services.
The portion for Community Support, which is $204,000, is that going to be going directly to the communities?
I’m assuming it’s to help with hamlets paying for their increased power costs. Is that correct?
Yes, it will be going to communities to help them with their higher utility costs.
For the $204,000, is that going to be on a community-by-community basis?
Will it be divided evenly amongst the communities or will each community send in their receipts and then be reimbursed?
I thank Mr. Elliott for the question; he is getting right down into the details. I believe that the $204,000 is an estimate and it’s based on historical information.
So I’m sure the communities which CGS allocates, they will be able to have a fairly good idea which communities need certain amounts.
I was wanting to be very detailed because I know, much like our Government of Nunavut, our finances are very strapped in the communities.
I know my three communities are very strapped for money and they need whatever they can.
With it being 6 percent, we don’t know what the committee will actually decide, whether it be 6, 9, or 18 percent.
So I can see, going back to my communities, that’s one of the concerns that my mayors or my SAOs will bring to me in terms of “We need every dollar we can. How do I access that money that was approved?” So at least now I have an answer in terms of it’s a cost per increase, per what is needed.
We will go back to Community Support.
Total Community Support. $204,000.
Chairman: Go to Government Services.
Total Government Services. $324,000.
Chairman: Total Department. $528,000.
Chairman: Go to page 11. Economic Development and Transportation. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Transportation.
In our committee meetings, you had explained in terms of Item 1 what the $477,000 was for in terms of emergency purchase because of the ice conditions here in Iqaluit and the amount of de-ice solution on the runway, not actually on the airplanes.
In thinking about this and whatnot, this de-icing solution which, in discussions I’ve had with employees at the airport in Arctic Bay and whatnot, contains glycol and different chemicals.
With some of the problems we’re having or some of the issues that have come up in our hamlets with water being tested and not passing through INAC and garbage dumps that aren’t passing for water licences and stuff like that, is there any environmental impact by the amount of de-icing solution that goes on the runway that we should be aware of?
Are they tested periodically to make sure that that’s not seeping into the water table?
He raised a very good concern. I think we are all worried about the environment and where the chemicals ultimately end up.
I would have to ask Minister Taptuna if he could provide some information to allay Mr. Elliott’s concerns and what kind of chemicals are in the de-icer solution.
Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Elliott, that’s it?
Okay. Minister Taptuna. Sorry.