EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
If you took the whole inventory and someone that was not in adequate staff housing at this moment in time and put them into a unit that might be available up there, that does not change the inventory, you're just taking and moving from within, I’m just wondering if that’s something the Department will be looking at.
Mr. Speaker, that’s obviously one of the options that we must address.
Could the Minister indicate as to if and when any of those new units that are up the hill, will be allocated or are they available to be allocated at this time?
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know, as I have indicated, for all the housing, I don’t know exactly what is available and what isn’t, but I will find that out, since the member has a particular concern about that issue.
Speaker: (interpretation): Oral questions, if that’s the case back to our orders, Item # 7, written questions.
Item 5: Written Questions
Written Question 2 - 1 (2): Contract for Medical Boarding Home Services, Keewatin Health and Social Services Board and T.C. Enterprises
Today Mr. Speaker I have 23 written questions regarding the contract for services between the Keewatin Health and Social Services Board and T.C. Enterprises regarding the medical boarding home in Winnipeg.
What were the terms of the Request for Proposals issued by the Keewatin Health and Social Services Board with respect to the operation of the medical boarding home in Winnipeg?
Were there any supplementary documents provided to persons who submitted proposals?
If so, what were they and what specific information was contained in them?
What are the terms of the new contract between the Keewatin Health and Social Services Board and T.C. Enterprises?
Specifically, what is the dollar amount of the contract?
What were the specific criteria used to evaluate the proposals?
How were the specific criteria weighted in the final evaluation of the proposals?
Was any other information considered in the evaluation of any of the proposals?
Who specifically was involved in reviewing and evaluating the proposals on April 14, 1999 in Rankin Inlet?
What was the date of the meeting of the Keewatin Health and Social Services Board when this contract was voted upon?
Who was in attendance at the Keewatin Health and Social Services Board when this contract was voted upon?
Was any conflict of interest issue raised by any member of the Keewatin Health and Social Services Board with respect to any concern about their own involvement or any other person's involvement in the review and selection process for this contract?
Was there a recorded vote of the Keewatin Health and Social Services Board on this matter?
Who specifically signed the contract on behalf of the Keewatin Health and Social Services Board?
Who specifically signed the contract on behalf of T.C. Enterprises?
Were any community organizations or individuals consulted with respect to their preferences or issues of concern?
Were any community organizations' or individuals' preferences or concerns factored into the decision?
Were community members notified in any way prior to the decision that the existing services of Mrs. Gloria Penner at Ublivik Centre may not be continued as a result of the RFP process?
Have any formal evaluations been done over the past five years on the existing service of Mrs. Gloria Penner at the Ublivik Centre? If so, by whom and what were their findings?
Specifically what is the term of the contract with T.C. Enterprises?
On what grounds can the contract with T.C. be cancelled?
Who are the owners and operators of T.C. Enterprises?
Who will be the senior person responsible for the day to day operations of the medical boarding home in Winnipeg under the new contract?
What specifically were the findings of the review of this matter conducted by the Department of Public Works, by the Department of Justice and by the Department of Health and Social Services?
For your information, for the Hansard, you have one written question with 23 items.
Returns to Written Questions. Replies to Opening Address. Item 9: Replies to Opening Address Item 10: (English) Replies to Budget Address.
Item 11: Petitions.
Item 12: Reports of Standing Committees and Special Committees. Item 13: Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Item 14: Tabling of Documents .
Tabled Document 9 - 1 (2): Purchase of Old Nursing Station, Hamlet of Baker Lake
I would like to table one document to the Minister of Public Works, Telecommunications regarding the purchase of the old nurses residence in Baker Lake for the Hamlet.
Tabled Document 10 - 1 (2): Transfer of WCB Positions
The second document is going to the Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board regarding the movement of jobs into Rankin Inlet when they should have went to Baker Lake.
Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. McLean.
Tabled Document 11 - 1 (2): Trip to International Year of Older Persons Conference
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Yes, thank you Mr. Speaker.
I would like to table a document that I referred to earlier about the trip the elders took to Ontario and this comes from Barbara Carthew.
Item 15 Notices of Motions. Item 16, Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Okakti. Okakti.
I move, seconded by the Honourable member – I am sorry, Mr. Speaker the Minister of Finance is confused he doesn’t know what he is doing either.
Speaker: Ok lets have order here.
We are on Item 16.
Notice of First Reading of Bills.
Mr. Speaker I move, seconded by the Hon. Member from Pangnirtung .
>> clapping
Speaker: Mr. Picco, your motion will be addressed in Item 18.
Item 16 Notice of Motion for First Reading of Bills.
Item 17 Motions
Item 18 First Reading of Bills, Mr. Picco
Item 18: First Reading of Bills
A Member: Bravo, Bravo
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you colleagues.
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member from Pangnirtung, that Bill Two, Boards of Management Dissolution Act be read for the first time. Kuyannami.
Speaker: The motion is in order.
To the motion. Question is being called.
All those opposed? Motion is carried.
Hon. James Arvaluk: I move seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin North that Bill Three, Divisional Board of Education Dissolution Act be read for the first time.
There is a motion on the floor.
Any comments or questions?
Those in favour?
Those in favour of the motion? Those opposed?
Item 19 Second reading of Bills.
Speaker (interpretation): Item 20, Consideration of Committee of the Whole, Bills and Other Matters.
Bill One.
Appropriation Act 1999/2000.
Committee reports 1-1(2), 2-2(2), 3-1(2), 4-1(2) with Mr. Irqittuq in the Chair.
Chairperson (Mr. Irqittuq) (interpretation): Prior to going into business, we will take a short break.
>> break
Chairperson (interpretation): Please take your seats.
Thank you for having taken your seats.
At this time we will resume our meeting.
In respect to the Appropriation Bill.
What is your wish today Members, in respect to the Committee of the Whole main estimates.
I would like the Minister of Justice to make his report.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Nutarak would like the Minister of Justice to speak.
Chairperson (interpretation): Would the Minister of Justice please make his opening comments.
You can make your opening comments either at your seat or at either place. At your convenience.
I am sorry the microphone doesn’t work there.
Yes we can hear.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman.
You will be handed out the notes for my opening comments.
Mr. Chairman and Honourable members of the Legislative Assembly, I am pleased to present to you the 1999/2000 main estimates for the Department of Justice.
I think I will be introducing the officials later. Remind me if I forget.
The justice system is important to each one of us.
It affects the everyday lives of people across Nunavut.
The 1999-2000 main estimates reflect the Department's effort to promote a shift in the way that justice services have been delivered in the past.
The Department of Justice in partnership with communities, other agencies and other Nunavut departments, is striving for a justice system that is more reflective of Nunavut realities as well as being responsive to the needs of the people of Nunavut.
The business plan, which we wish to undertake, outlines critical issues facing the Department of Justice. We face serious challenges.
The answers will not be easy.
The business plan and the budget for the Department of Justice does not include funding for new initiatives, other than the establishment of the Nunavut Court of Justice.
This Nunavut Court of Justice was already put in motion by the Interim Commissioner, on the advice of the Nunavut Implementation Commission, and after a consultation conference sponsored by the Office of the Interim Commissioner in November 1997.
In this initial year, we will be assessing the expenditures of the department, and determining first if there are any funds that can be re-allocated within existing allocations.
We believe that long term solutions will only be reached through working with communities, or better yet, giving communities the authority to deal with problems themselves.
We recognize that in order for this to happen, we will need to provide more support, including funding to communities in the future.
The responsibility to support communities in providing healing, training, and crime prevention will also require us to work closely with other departments of the Nunavut Government; Culture Language Elders and Youth as an example, Health and Social Services, Education, and my other portfolio, Community Government, Housing and Transportation.
1999/2000 will be an important year for the department as we work with programs that we have inherited from the NWT, and we will have to assess how they are functioning and what changes may be needed.
Several of our programs are contracted back to the GNWT for this transitional year.
We will be working hard to get the staff and infrastructure in place to establish the full range of programs here in Nunavut by the end of the year.
We will be doing some important planning this year too.
For example, a corrections planning committee has been established to review corrections program and facility requirements and make recommendations.
This committee has representation from communities as well as from the corrections system and we expect them to consider new approaches to the way in which inmates are handled.
In cooperation with the Department of Justice for Canada, the Assistant Deputy Minister, Rebecca Williams has held meetings with Community Justice Chairs from all the regions within Nunavut.
The information and advice received from them will help guide the department in determining how to support further development of community justice capacity, as an alternative to the formal justice system within Nunavut.
I also have to say that the delivery of probation services will continue to be done by social workers.
The Social Workers are paid through the Department of Health and Social Services.
This will continue. With regard to the Law Review process being requested by Cabinet, additional funds will have to be found.
My department’s budget would not cover this expenditure.
You will see in your materials that the budget for the Department of Justice is broken down into two main categories.
First, Operations and Maintenance and then the Capital Plan.
In your review of the main estimates, you will see on page 5-3 that our operations and maintenance budget totals $36,998.000.00.
Through the framework exercise our original budget requirement was reduced to the amount currently allocated.
The reductions will have some effect on our ability to deliver programs and services, but we will be managing as carefully as possible, for example by delaying staffing of some positions, to try to minimize the impact of this on the budget.
The operations and maintenance part of the budget is broken down by these branches within the department: Directorate, Law Enforcement, Legal Services Board, Lawyer Support Services, Registries and Court Services, as well as Community Justice and Corrections Directorate.
Directorate: This branch is responsible for the management and administration of the department.
Law Enforcement: This refers to the contract with the R.C.M.P.
Legal Services Board: The Boards are responsible for the delivery of legal aid services throughout Nunavut.
Lawyer Support Services: Departmental lawyers are responsible for example we have departmental lawyers in our department.
They will be providing the Nunavut Government with legal advice.
Registries and Court Services: This category covers a wide range of items, including the various legal registries, the Nunavut Court of Justice, and other functions such as the coroner and the Fair Practices/Rental Officer.
Community Justice and Corrections: This branch is responsible for the operation of the Baffin Correctional Centre here in Iqaluit, and out post camps, as well as the funding for community justice committees.
As you can see, the Department of Justice has a very small capital budget totalling $313,000.
Approximately $300,000 is for security upgrades at the Correctional Centre here in Iqaluit.
Additional capital funding will be required in the future if we are going to repatriate our offenders from NWT institutions.
The department is waiting for recommendations from the Corrections Planning Committee before identifying these future capital needs.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes the formal part of my presentation today.
We will be pleased to answer any questions you have about the budget for the Department of Justice.
I am also interested in comments you may have, or ideas about how we can work together to build a stronger justice system.
I would like to invite my officials Mr. Chairman; Nora Sanders, my Deputy Minister, and Mike Rudolph my Financial Advisor
You may step to the witness chair including your officials.
Welcome all and thank you for giving us the opportunity.
The Chair for the Committee will read his committee report You may proceed to read.
Mr. Puqiqnak7.
I will be reading so please do not, I will try not to put you to sleep so please bear with me.
In respect to the Department of Justice Mr. Chairman, I will be reading the report.
Mr. Anawak appeared before the Committee on the morning of April 30th.
The main estimate summary provided to the Committee indicated the total 1999/2000 in expenditures of $37,310,706 of which $313, 000.00 is allotted to capital spending.
The Committee was quite impressed with the level of detail provided during the Ministers appearance.
The Nunavut Law Review.
The Minister stated that the Cabinet had approved in principle a Nunavut Law Review which would operate independently but they would have to report to the Minister of Justice.
This would be in consultation with the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
The Committee encouraged the Minister to involve the elders in the work of the review to the fullest extent as possible.
Mr. Chairman we also want to speak to the single time zone for Nunavut.
I believe they say that they use a different clock, they use a different one but we are speaking about the single time zone for Nunavut.
The Minister indicated that his department had undertaken a legal review of this initiative that was announced by the Commissioner in her opening address to the Assembly on April 1/ 1999.
The Minister also indicated that this might be accomplished in the Spring or Summer of this year.
The Committee urged the Minister to implement this change at the earliest opportunity
Mr. Chairman in respect to the gun registration.
The committee expressed a very strong concern in respect to unilingual Inuit constituents have great difficulty associated with completing paperwork.
This has caused difficulties for the people associated with the Federal Government registration policies.
The Minister indicated that in respect of the upcoming discussions with his federal counterpart, that the issue would be raised with a view to exploring solutions.
The committee would like an update on this issue as soon as new information becomes available to the department in respect to gun registration issues.
Community Justice.
The committee was very happy and applauded the Ministers' commitment to emphasizing the importance of progress in this field.
The committee noted the Ministers' caution that budgetary restraints have put pressure on the funds allocated for this area.
One member suggested that the communities should be responsible for dealing with summary offences.
For example, using summary offences that are not dangerous acts, the community justice committee should be able to deal with them.
Mr. Chairman the Minister also indicated his desire to see a more uniform functioning of the community justice committees across Nunavut.
The committee was clear in its' desire that the department should pursue every opportunity to emphasize programs that have education and rehabilitation as their foundation so as to decrease the need for incarceration and reduce the rate of recidivism in Nunavut.
Just as an example, to ensure that offenders do not become repeat offenders.
The committee was supportive of the Ministers' goal to work with Minister Picco in pursuing the establishment of a probation system for the department.
Corrections Planning Committee.
The Minister provided an update on the activities of the newly formed corrections planning committee which would be meeting again in May.
One issue that the members of the committee raised was the possibility of a federal correctional facility being established in Nunavut.
The Minister indicated that the corrections planning committee would study the issue but that it was too soon to say yes to a joint facility.
Members expressed their interest in seeing a correctional facility established in the Kitikmeot and Keewatin.
On the Land Outpost Camps.
The committee expressed its' desire to see the program accelerated.
The Minister indicated that the program hadn't taken off as quickly as the department would have liked, but they would make efforts to do so if feasible.
The Ministers' Deputy further noted that the corrections representatives had recently travelled to Baker Lake and Arviat and would travel to Kitikmeot in June.
Security considerations were cited as being an obstacle to overnight success with respect to this issue.
That concludes the committee report Mr. Chairman, I would like to move a motion.
Committee Motion 10 – 1 (2): Elders Involvement in Law Review
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): I would like to move that the Standing Committee would like to have elders involved with the legislative reform review.
Chairperson (interpretation): Are you completed with your motion and your reports?
Mr. Puqiqnak made a motion on the floor.
Committee Motion 11 – 1 (2): Federal Gun Registration Policies
I would also like to move that this committee recommends that the department make every effort to ensure that the traditional hunters are not adversely effected by the red tape associated with federal gun registration policies.
Comments to the motion, questions. To the motion.
All those in favour. Opposed.
It's carried.
Committee Motion 12 – 1 (2): Support Community Justice Committees
I move that this committee recommends that the department emphasize education and rehabilitation as the core of its' correction policy and that it support the work of community justice committees to the fullest extent possible.
Questions or comments to the motion.
Opposed.
Any other motions, Mr. Puqiqnak.
Committee Motion 13 – 1 (2): Mid Year Progress Report
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, this is my last motion.
I move that the committee recommends that the department provide a mid-year progress report to the Standing Committee for review in October of this year.
Questions or comments to the motion. All those in favour. Opposed.
Its' carried. Thank you Mr. Puqiqnak.
Are there any general questions to the Directorate of the Department of Justice.
The standing committees' reports on the Main Estimates.
I wonder why the figures in the Main Estimates and the ones on the committees' report do not correlate, they are not the same. Here it says 313 thousand for capital and in the main estimates it says 37 million, 311 thousand.
In the committees' report the figure is different.
I would like to ask the Minister, that in his opening remarks his figures are totally different from the committee report and from the Main Estimates.
I would like to get a response as the figures in all three documents are different.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairperson.
The department's Main Estimates are 37 million, 311 thousand; for Capital Expenditures 313 thousand.
Part of the 313 thousand is for security upgrades at the correctional centre here in Iqaluit.
I could get detailed information for the 313 thousand, but the main estimates figure is 37 million, 311 thousand, it did not change.
I just want to explain to you that the Capital will be 313 thousand but the operations & maintenance is 36 thousand 998, Mr. Chairman.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Iqaqrialu are you more clear now?
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Yes, I see them now, Thank you.
Chairperson (interpretation): Are there any other general comments?
I don't have any people on my list, please raise your hands if you have any questions.
Just in regards to the gun control registration.
I wanted to ask the Minister if that was a responsibility of his department or was the responsibility for that program under his federal counterparts department.
Minister Anawak.
The Federal Government’s Justice Minister is responsible for gun registration.
I was going to meet with Minister Ann McLellan on May 3rd., I went down to Ottawa to meet with her but somebody got shot in Alberta and she had to go to the funeral.
Therefore I couldn't get connected with her so we will have a meeting on June 7th.
I guess the administration of this program, as the Minister indicated, falls under federal jurisdiction.
Is the Minister aware of how many employees the federal justice department has to administer this program in Nunavut?
Chairperson: Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): GNWT did not want to take on this responsibility, so the federal government has this jurisdiction at this time.
GNWT had been asked to take on this responsibility but they did not want to take it on. We don't have any staff members so I would like to discuss this matter.
I tried to meet with Ann McLellan but she had to go to Alberta for a funeral as a student was shot in one of the schools.
At his time we don't have any staff members now but would like to get a staff member who is Inuit and bilingual and could reflect Inuit culture.
The Minister mentioned the GNWT, I wonder if he meant the Government of Nunavut, or the old GNWT, as far as taking on these programs.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): They asked the GNWT if they would take on this responsibility.
I have been trying to get together with the Minister so we can look at means and ways of dealing with gun registration in Nunavut.
Chairperson (interpretation): Please recognize the Chair before you make your comments.
Mr. Chairman, just to point out to the Minister, I know hopefully he will be bringing up these concerns with his federal counterpart, is that this whole process is very cumbersome for the Inuit people in Nunavut.
In the communities, as far as personnel, there is only one person here in Iqaluit dealing with it, but they have been very difficult for people in the communities to try and register their firearms when they are buying them.
So I hope the Minister would be passing on these sentiments to the federal Minister in Ottawa during his meetings and hopefully we will get adequate resources to administer this program in a way that is accessible and will work here in Nunavut.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): That is what I have been trying to say for a long time.
I have been trying to get in touch with the Minister and I know the concerns very well as I am a hunter myself.
I know exactly where the rest of the hunters of Nunavut are coming from.
I think we should be able to do that without spending any money from Nunavut.
What we have been trying to do is work together with the Justice department at the federal level.