EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The problem is assessed to being related to whatever department it is, for the High Arctic, either Pond Inlet or Cape Dorset. Maybe I’ll use an example of a business like Tim Horton’s, they have a certain amount of time where they want to try and serve a customer. Do we have certain standards within the government where a work order is placed, there is a certain number of days that Community and Government Services tries to push to have a reply of some sort in terms of the standards?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Unlike Tim Hortons, we can’t do it in 20 minutes or less.
I could assure my colleague that we do our best.
As soon as a work order is drawn up, that’s when the work begins in terms of trying to deal with the problem.
I think my colleague appreciates that, often, if it’s a busted door or window, the parts are unfortunately always readily available, but the work towards assessing what needs to be done to fix the problem begins as soon as it’s practical or possible.
Sometimes it means we need to work for the worker or workers to arrive, but the work towards trying to solve the issue begins as soon as possible.
There is no “Let’s sit on it for a weekend and see if it fixes itself” attitude; it’s “Try to fix it as soon as possible.” Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On page 141 of the business plan, in a priority from last year, 2012-13, and the requirements for the Uqausivut Implementation Plan, it’s stated that there is $1.3 million that will go to municipalities for implementation of the signing strategy for this coming fiscal year, 2013-14.
In terms of communities actually assessing that money, will the government be producing a block number of signs that they have assessed as being needed and purchasing stop signs and crosswalk signs or will municipalities have to apply on their own to CGS to buy these signs?
What will happen in this in a nutshell is that contribution agreements will be signed with the municipalities and it will be dealt with that way.
Some municipalities have a lot of bilingual signs already.
Again, it will differ with each municipality. In that case, we will do contribution agreements.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, are we on J-6 or J-5?
I have a question on procurement because this is the department that deals with most of the procurement for the government.
What is the procedure or is it just like the NNI Policy? It started in 1999. Are there any interim measures for the NNI Policy or is the NNI Policy being reviewed or are you just following the old ones?
While the policy is under review, we follow the old procedures.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I think it was last year that I had some question on this issue in regard to the NNI Policy.
I think they were just following the CGS procurement practices reaching government-wide. Is it possible it might happen if the policy is inadequate? Sometimes there are too many addendums added and that is one example that was a problem.
Secondly, when the tender has been appealed after it was awarded and when it is under appeal, is it the usual practice? Will it still be awarded?
Perhaps my deputy minister can respond to that question.
The current practice for contractual procurement within CGS right now is that we do follow the existing NNI Policy in terms of issuing tender documents for contract. In a situation where there is a NNI review on the go, it’s my understanding that we don’t issue the contracts until the review process is completed.
To the best of my knowledge right now, I’m not aware of any contract that’s under review by NNI.
I want to talk in English so that I’m understood clearly. (interpretation ends) I know that within the department, obviously the major source of the tender was involved previously with petroleum products-related contract and tenders subject to NNI provisions.
That was the case, but there were also other tenders like the airline contracts, like the medical contract, that there was an appeal involved, the contract is not awarded, but in the case of the fuel contact an appeal was initiated but the contract was awarded.
So the question, as an example, if any kind of tender was involved with an NNI provision, would the department, as usual, just go ahead and award, despite the appeal in place?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: My deputy minister will answer will answer that, Mr. Chairman, yes, definitely, Mr. Green.
I can’t really speak to the practices that were used for the evaluation for the fuel contracts that were used a couple years ago.
It would be my understand that that if we were that situation, moving forward, we require contracts to go to NTI’s evaluation committee to review the issues with unfair practices.
In terms of awarding a contract, I think we would try to work with NTI to make sure that any contracts and issues are resolved before we reward that contract.
Just as an example, it could be any other contract. For instance, in Inuktitut, I alluded to the fact that one tender, one RFP that was outside at least seven times it was put in place, including a huge requirement to have private, more or less, medical insurance included.
I know that a particular company in Igloolik did express quite a shock that his insurance requirement had more than 100 percent, you know, double.
So is it usual for CG&S to provide a provision that the company, whether it be 100 percent Inuit, that you do have to have additional insurance coverage now?
Even though that 100 percent company which encloses Inuit employment, they are already covered by the non-insured health benefits, which would provide medical coverage.
So the question is: how is the policy change reflected through the CGS practice that additional medical coverage is required by all contracts?
It’s quite clear that was the case with the fuel contracts. That is in your records.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Insurance coverage is a must in almost all contracting.
If in a case there are some things non-insured health benefits, maybe it doesn’t cover. I don’t know the details of the non-insured health benefits coverage.
But insurance is a must in most cases. Non-insured health insurance covers only Inuit and aboriginal people.
So I can’t remember the particular details on that particular one, but maybe my colleague, Mr. Green, can elaborate.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Kusugak.
Mr Green.
Mr. Green: Mr. Chairman, I don’t have that information before me right now, but I would certainly would take the information as notice and review the files and get back to the member.
Mr. Chairman, I think we’re all aware that there is minimum liability coverage required. No buts and questions about that.
What I’m saying to you is there was, in the addendum, using the fuel contracts, I think it did more than double, could have been triple.
What I’m asking is this: how was the policy change started and, if so, where is it?
Can we have that policy?
If we believe it should be a health policy to have extra health insurance coverage over and above the liability limit that is standard within the contract, we need that information tabled. Will the minister do that?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We don’t have the contracts he specifically referring to here. It’s a contract that was let and dealt with a few sessions ago.
So as particulars, in terms of why the addendum was done, and why the exact amounts he saying were up by that percent.
I’d have to take his word for it.
We don’t have those details in terms of what was in the addendums he is referring to, and how much they were up, or if they were different, we’d have to go back and review that file and those details. It’s unfortunate we don’t have that information before us. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Curley: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On that issue, you know the permit procedures were followed by CGS. Your officials did include a new provision.
Specifically, can the minister, once he finds that, exactly that additional health coverage was required, maybe not only on that one.
It better be, if it’s the usual practice that the minister will table that provision as to how it was initiated, and where did the authority come from to include additional health insurance coverage?
I don’t have that. That was initiated by the departmental official, and they did implement it, and therefore, it was very costly for usual services out there to get extra health coverage over and above the liability requirements. Thank you.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We’ll have to take a look. My officials will take a look to see what that addendum was all about.
We have to go back in the files to take a look at the particulars of that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I think it’s important that if the previous deputy minister initiated it. I don’t know. I know that it was not done by the usual contract manager, because it would have required much more senior authority to initiate that.
You’ll look for that once you have more information on that.
I have another question with respect to procurement. I know, Mr. Chairman, you can help me on that one.
NNI is a comprehensive provision that contains certain provisions from Article 24 related matters.
One of them is that specific reference that include, in my view, that the Qulliq Energy is covered subject to Article 24.
Does the minister share that view?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m not the minister of the Qulliq Energy Corporation anymore. I don’t know if it’s important that I share that view or not.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Do you have any more questions? Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. With respect to the policy, though, that the department must abide by certain procurement policies and that includes that, it was on that basis that I thought it was important to indicate that all provisions related to Article 24 should be reflected by the procurement practices of the GN. If that is the case, then the Crown corporations specifically referred to in the Financial Administration Act are bind by Article 24.
That is as general as I can get it; I won’t get into specifics. The minister does support that all agencies referenced in the Financial Administration Act are subject to Article 24.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Kusugak.
The Qulliq Energy Corporation does its own procurement. We don’t do procurement work for Crown corporations, Mr. Chairman.
I’ll get back to you once all members wishing to speak have spoken.
I believe we’re reviewing page J-6.
If we are indeed on this page, although I don’t have actual documentation on hand, I want to ask this question first of all.
We are aware of and continue to hear about the dangers of hackers who work internationally, but who can hack into our systems. This seems to becoming a burgeoning danger to our computerized systems. Our computers can be hacked from far away, anywhere in the world, especially government websites and computer systems that are open to anyone with hacking experience and who could jeopardize our systems.
Just recently, as we all listen to the news media, there was a story about hackers originating from China who have been hacking into various computer systems in America and Canada as well.
I believe we have to be concerned about this danger here in Nunavut since our government operations are important sources of information, such as documentation and archived materials.
With respect to this issue, how can we cooperate with the various departments on this danger, as I believe it is being handled currently by the Department of Community and Government Services? I wonder if I can get a brief update on how this is being handled, and that is what I am now questioning, as I am aware that this is a shared concern by other officials. I would like to know exactly how this process is running.
I imagine that plans are being prepared to meet this newest challenge.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you. With respect to the hacking issue, we aren’t aware of any hackers accessing the government computer system as of yet.
We also have programming designed to detect hackers and most government computers have limited website surfing capabilities with built-in site filters.
When computers have free access to websites, it can lead to viruses infecting the system without the operator knowing of the infection.
Further, we have outlined security protocols which are based on the newest updated information and we are also using the newest equipment in the government’s IT system.
Chairman (Mr. Ningeongan)(interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kusugak.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you to our new Mr. Chairman. If I can ask another question, Mr. Chairman, with respect to the response from the minister stating that all departments are using this system.
I want to ask if there are standards being used by all of the departments as I imagine that the IT department would try to have a singular approach to deal with this issue.
Additionally, if I can add on this question to the one above: who or specifically which department is the lead department that would identify that there is a security concern and that the GN needs to update its system or purchase newer models? Will this be the way it is set up? If that’s the case, it’s evident that hackers will access computers.
Maybe periodically, do you have modern software in place with the Government of Nunavut?
Thank you, Mr. Enook, for asking that question.
Yes, we have some IT technicians.
All of the computers are monitored and operated through IT and all of the incoming and outgoing messages are the same.
Our IT technicians are already looking to see whether we need new software. We try to ensure that everything is updated, including our software.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Minister Kusugak.
Mr. Chairman, if I could ask another question. I believe we are still under page 143 of the business plan.
The first category is pertaining to telephone systems, voice and video.
In the 2012-13 fiscal year, it is $4.542 million and for 2013-14, it will be $12.201 million.
I want to know why there is a $7 million to $8 million increase.
Thank you for indicating the page number.
My former director of finance will respond to that, Ms. Power.
If you look at the telephone systems and the information planning and services just below it, those two items go together.
So it’s not an actual $7 million increase, but a reallocation between those two line items to provide more transparency. It’s actually about a $3 million increase in IT for this year.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Power.
I completely don’t understand.
Can you repeat that, please.
If you look below the telephone systems, I think she’s referring to information planning, so I will ask Ms. Power if she can reiterate her answer.
Ms. Power.
The entire budget for IT increased by $3 million. So the telephone, voice and video systems refer to the telephone systems, the voice network or video network which we use for telehealth and our telephones.
Although there’s an increase of $3 million, what I’m looking at is an increase of about $8 million.
I think we also discussed the one at the bottom.
I’m totally confused.
Can you try and explain to me?
The information planning is included with the telephone system. Is that why I can’t understand?
The 2012-13 budget, if we look under telephone systems, it was $4.542 million, and also under information planning and services, it was $18.291 million.
So in the fiscal year 2013-14, the funding has been amended. They are now under one category. That seems to be a substantial increase of $12.21 million.
The $18 million is now under $13 million. The funding has not increased substantially. That seems to be the case due to amendments.
I hope that was clear and concise.
The bottom one went down and the top one, telephone systems, seems to go up. They all fall under that same pocket.
Chairman (Mr. Tapardjuk)(interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kusugak.
I have a couple of questions on page 143.
The first one is the main one pertaining to the computer award program. Basically, this is to support students.
In 2012-13, it’s $25,000 and also in 2013-14, it’s still the same up to 2016.
Does that reflect the high cost of living or is this going to be allocated without updating the software at all?
There are 25 communities and we award $1,000 to each school to purchase computers for the students in the communities.
That is how the $25,000 is allocated to purchase computers for the students. It’s an award for being the best student. So that would be awarded to the students in schools.
I thank the minister for answering my question. It appears that it is for communities, but it’s only $1,000 per community.
Right below that, can you elaborate on the Informatics Cooperative Training Program? There is no increase. The numbers have not changed in subsequent years, according to the plan, so the same budget is allocated subsequently.
Yes, that is also in the same category. The funding that we provide to Nunavut Arctic College is so that they can teach the Inuit students about computers.
We’re under J-6.
My question is with respect to procurement contracts and I want clarification.
Under Article 24 and the NNI Policy, sometimes it gets confusing. Maybe the policy should be covered by all of the departments. As the minister responsible for procurement, maybe it’s you who ensures that the NNI Policy is followed.
Is there someone who tried to stress the fact that the policy should be followed by all departments?
Sometimes it gets confusing who the watchdog is and that’s why I asked that question in regard to the NNI Policy.
Some of them have to follow different procedures. Is it the Premier who is responsible for this?
I want clarification. Even though you are a minister for the procurement for all departments, who issues the directives to ensure that the NNI Policy is being followed? Is it you?
That’s my question. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Regarding your question about the NNI Policy, it should be followed within the procurement policy and the NNI Policy should be followed.
I can safely say that.
So if that’s the question you’re asking and you probably asked earlier whether I support the NNI Policy and if I understand the policy, yes, I totally support that.
The NNI Policy should be totally adhered to.
All of the contents of NNI should be followed during the procurement process.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I appreciate that. (interpretation) I want further clarification.
Some of the departments, I don’t know, maybe all departments, maybe all Crown agencies are covered under the Financial Administration Act and they should follow the policy. Even though the Qulliq Energy Corporation is under the Financial Administration Act, Article 24 is optional. (interpretation ends) Is NNI or Article 24 optional to some Crown agencies?
I can answer that question, but I’m not the minister responsible for NNI and I cannot answer on behalf of Crown agencies.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) Yes, it’s slowly making sense and later on, it will be evident that we will have some questions.
If we’re going to follow the procurement provision, then the NNI Policy has to be followed. (interpretation ends) CG&S rules, procurement guidelines, policies, and contract laws included, as well as financial administration provisions guide all the contracts.
To me, it means that in order to implement that policy… . Maybe if I rephrase it. Is the minister aware of which departments may be exempted by the NNI Policy or are they all covered by the NNI Policy?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: My understanding is that they’re all covered by the NNI Policy.
I’m not speaking for Crown corporations, but for all the procurement we get involved with, they’re all subject to the NNI Policy.
Do you have anything else? Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley: Mr. Chairman, one last point. I’m not at all suggesting the minister is responsible for Crown agencies, but the Financial Administration Act is really quite specifically referred to in Article 24, as it binds off which particular agencies are bound by the policy.
Mr. Chairman, (interpretation) I’ll leave it at that. Thank you.
We’re on page J-6. (interpretation ends) Community and Government Services. (interpretation) Total Operations and Maintenance. $77,884,000.
I’m sorry. Mr. Ningark.
Along the same line as Mr. Curley’s questions, the NNI Policy is used by the department. I think it should be recognized by all the departments and Crown agencies.
In the whole of Canada, we’re the poorest territory.
Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, we are the poorest government.
When it comes to contracts and everything else, we’re the poorest in Canada.
We are recognized by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
If a province or territory is poor, then the aboriginal people in the territory have to be considered for contracts and so on.
As far as I’m concerned, all the departments and Crown corporations are following the NNI Policy here in Nunavut.
Thank you. It’s just a comment.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. That was just a comment. I thought that we just agreed to J-6.
In terms of procurement and whatnot, I think it’s good that we understand the process totally on how it works.
I don’t think I want to talk too much about NNI.
What I was concerned about was the procurement department. I think one of the things that came out of some of the Auditor General’s reports was the idea of training plans.
I know one of the concerns was that the process was going to be changed to help… .
I guess the idea is that the people who are always procuring are not necessarily people who would be able to come up with training plans. Individual bonuses are received for having Inuit employment and stuff like that.
Just for clarification, after the procurement is done, is it your department that goes through and checks if a bonus is going to apply or no bonus is going to apply or is it ED&T that does that?
If I could have Mr. Green respond to that, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If it’s a CGS contract, yes, our procurement department would be responsible for the evaluation of the NNI components that are in those RFPs within the evaluation.
Also, during the process of delivery, there are tracking of all the expenses and they’re audited to see if they meet the requirements under NNI.
Since the concerns have been raised by the Auditor General, the GN is currently doing a re-evaluation of the NNI process to address some of these issues that were raised by the Auditor General and some of the concerns that have been raised here today.
We’re on page J-6. Total Operations and Maintenance. $77,884,000.
Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) At this time, I would like to move a motion to report progress. (interpretation) Thank you.
I’m sorry, I forgot Mr. Kusugak. I would like to thank you and your officials, Mr. Green and Ms. Power.
Thank you. I will now rise to report progress to our Speaker.
Speaker: Moving right along with our orders of the day.
Your committee has been considering Bill 49 and the main estimates, and would like to report progress.
There is a motion of the floor.
Just a reminder that there is a meeting of the Standing Committee on Legislation tomorrow in the Tuktu Room starting at nine o’clock.
Motion 41 – 3(3)
Motion 42 – 3(3)
Bill 55
This House stands adjourned until Thursday, February 28, at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Pages 3480 – 3538
Members’ Statements 3483
Returns to Oral Questions 3486
Oral Questions 3487
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 3503
Tabling of Documents 3504
Motions 3504
First Reading of Bills 3510
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3511
Report of the Committee of the Whole 3537
Orders of the Day 3537
Thursday, February 28, 2013 3480
228 – 3(3): Circumpolar Conference on Education for Indigenous People (Aariak) 3480
229 – 3(3): Nunavut Food Security Symposium (Taptuna) 3481
230 – 3(3): Polar Bear – CITES Update (Arreak) 3481
231 – 3(3): Coming into Force of the Nunavut Official Languages Act (Arreak) 3482
232 – 3(3): Call for Nominations (Ell) 3483