EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We agree with the member; it should never have happened and we will take steps to ensure that, if there is ever a power outage in any community, we are not an unnecessary burden to the rest of the community.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Ma. Thank you, Mr. Curley.
As the minister had promised in questioning earlier during this sitting that this is the area that looks at budget development, and I think the minister at the time indicated that that $89.1 million contingency, if that $4.5 million or $4.6 million surplus took that amount into consideration. He said that they would be able to provide an explanation to all that during the Committee of the Whole, so here’s your chance.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Ma will elaborate on that, Mr. Chairman.
I know the contingency was an item of great interest to the members. Basically what happens is in our budget process, and I think it’s in the minister’s Budget Address actually as well; we have three main components of our budget.
The first part is that we deal with the capital estimates usually in the November sitting and so the 2008-09 capital budget was approved by Members and this House I guess in November of 2007. The second component is what we call the main estimates or the O&M part of our operations and that typically is discussed and voted on in the House at this particular time of the year.
We also then have a third component of what we call contingencies and basically contingencies are amounts that we set aside that will later be voted upon in this House by way of a supplementary appropriation, and that’s been the practice.
With respect to the 2008-09 contingency amount that I believe was about $89.1 million, it comprises of a number of items that the minister has advised on earlier. There’s an amount in there for unforeseen events, secondly, there’s a component in there for our current discussions with the NEU, there’s a third component for our discussions with the FNT that’s coming up in the next fiscal year, we also have set aside our share of the Building Canada Fund which I believe is around $25 million for next year, we have also set aside a significant part of our contingency for energy costs, and I believe those are the major components of it.
As I said, as we move forward into the fiscal year and we become aware of what we actually need to move by way of either capital or O&M into a supplementary appropriation, we then take steps to do that and that is usually, of course, brought into the House to debate.
If I understand that correctly, any amount that’s drawn down on that contingency isn’t included in the budget.
Say if we look at the issue with medical travel, if there are extra monies put into that, that that would be a draw down on those contingencies which would reduce the surplus by whatever amount that is drawn down on there. Is that correct?
Yes, at this point in time, the manner that we’re proposing to deal with the proposed increase in health budget for I think it was medical travel would be to draw upon that contingency.
If that contingency was included in the budget, then basically we would have about a $93.5 million surplus if you add in the surplus, I think it was $4.6 was the surplus that was announced, plus the contingency of $89 million. If it was included in there, there would be a $90-some-odd million surplus. Would that be correct?
I don’t believe I explained it very well the first go-around, so let me try to go through it again.
The overall budget for the government I think is just over $1 billion, it’s something like $1.12 billion off the top of my head, and it’s comprised of three components.
We had already voted on in this House I think $98.3 million for capital, we’re also now voting I think $970.3 million for O&M, and then we have a contingency of I believe $89.1 million.
Those amounts comprise basically about $1 billion, so those three components then leave us with a projected surplus of $4.5 million at this point.
I want to ask the minister for an update on the accounting training initiative that they’re implementing with I think it’s the Algonquin College.
If the minister to update us, please.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): We are reviewing the training plan, which would be used for training and which is held by the HR Department and Department of Finance for the Accounting Program.
Last month, the Aboriginal Finance Officer Association, which I did not know existed, for Northern Quebec and Northern Ontario was involved with our department in trying to determine how much training could be provided for our government accountants and this is an ongoing process. We are reviewing the Financial Administrative Manual which we use as reference material for our accounting procedures. So it’s under review at this time.
Right now, we are now trying to flesh out the training program and that’s where it is at this time, Mr. Chairman.
A couple of years ago I believe we had a meeting with the Auditor General of Canada. I think we did an informal tally; we had 27 accountants in the Government of Nunavut with accounting designations of CMA, CGA or CAs.
This training that you’re proposing to provide for GN employees, would that be the same type of accounting training that would lead to a designation as a CA, CGA or CMA?
Some of the training programs for accounting have been set up so that they are certified as chartered accountants and CGA, and other recognized programs for accounting. The trainees will be certified accountants after they complete their training program. This training program that we’re setting up, some of it is directed towards getting Inuit to become certified accountants, Mr. Chairman.
Can the minister tell us currently how many accountants are employed by the Government of Nunavut throughout all the departments and Crown agencies that have accounting designations?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): At this time, we have 27 chartered accountants. Of those, we have four chartered accountants, 15 certified general accountants, seven certified management accountants, and one certified public accountant.
Those are the figures we have, Mr. Chairman.
I thank the minister for revealing that information.
I think we probably need some more accountants.
I mentioned in my Member’s Statement the other day about providing support for an Aboriginal Financial Officers Association that could help to possibly support the accountants or people interested in accounting to get their designation.
A few years ago, there was an Akitsiraq Lawyer Training Program for Inuit.
I wonder if you have given any consideration to a similar program for accountants just so they could go to school for three or four years and not have to worry about work, then they would get their designation, and then they would be promised guaranteed work with the Government of Nunavut or other organizations in Nunavut.
Is that something that you have considered or looked at?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I will have Mr. Ma elaborate on that.
As part of our ongoing work with our Strengthening Financial Management Initiative, one of the action plan calls was to actually look at the whole human resources side of finance, as well as the other departments within the government that have any sort of accounting/finance functions.
We have retained a consultant called the Hay Group which I’m sure members are familiar with.
So I think we’re in what we called the third phase of that particular work and certainly, that would be one of the options that we would look at in terms of getting more accountants into the system.
Now, training an accountant is somewhat different from a lawyer because the skills are somewhat different for both professions.
So whatever we may end up rolling out may be somewhat different but it’s certainly an option that we’re looking at at this point in time.
I thank the minister and Mr. Ma. I was going to ask you about the Hay Group; there was a contract awarded to them.
It was $300,000 and we noted that in the Government of Nunavut’s 2006-07 Annual Report.
Perhaps you could give us an overview of what type work they did and if you think you got good value for your money.
There were a number of components to the contract that was issued to the Hay Group. The first component entailed basically doing interviews of current staff and staff that have left the government in the finance area.
From those interviews, we were then able to ascertain what kinds of things attracted people to work for us or caused them to leave from the government.
Another component of the work that we’re doing is actually this whole aspect of not only recruitment but also the retention part of keeping finance professionals within our government.
I certainly concur with what the member said earlier about the number of accountants that we need in our system.
There’s not nearly enough; we obviously need more, and hopefully the work that we’re working on with the Hay Group will lead us towards that.
In terms of answering his question of whether we’re getting fair value, I would say, at this point in time, yes, because we don’t have the resources internally at this point to do this type of work. So it has taken a fair amount of time to do the work and we anticipate, I guess, by early in this calendar year to finally conclude this work and bring something forward that we can move forward on.
I thank the minister and Mr. Ma. I indicated the other day when I was asking the Premier about devolution, I thought that we should start trying to get some money from the federal government now to start training people for jobs in the federal and territorial government.
If I read the devolution report correctly, I think there’s a huge need for accountants.
In talking to the Auditor General, we’re only at like level one or two out of level five to be at where we should be as a government.
It’s not to say the government doesn’t have good financial records and system keeping; I think it does.
I know in my travels to conferences across Canada and talking to our counterparts, in some respects, we’re ahead of them in terms of reporting and accountability to the Legislative Assembly.
So it seems like we need more accountants and I think we should do whatever we can to obtain resources to start training them in Nunavut.
They don’t even have to work for the Government of Nunavut; they could work for other entities as well.
I wanted to ask about the Government of Nunavut’s new investment guide as they were tabled in the Legislative Assembly in December of 2006. I’m wondering if the minister could tell the members here how much revenue the Government of Nunavut generated since then through its investment activities.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation) Yes, the Government of Nunavut investments have made a bit of income - $6.16 million for 2006-07, $3.62 million is invested in the Nunavut Housing Trust, and the income from that is $3.62 million and $9.49 million for February 29, 2008, for 2007-08, $4.78 million are investments for the Nunavut Housing Trust.
That’s the income from this investment of $4.78 million which the government has received through the investment.
I don’t think it’s any secret that there’s a global financial crisis that’s effecting most economies around the world. A lot of banks are taking huge losses and it’s due to the sub-prime mess in the United States and then the asset-backed paper.
We have heard of a number of governments also being hit by the losses.
We’re familiar with our colleagues in the Yukon where the Auditor General of Canada indicated in her report to their Legislative Assembly that the Yukon Government had an investment of over $35 million that was impacted by the global credit market and apparently, their funds are frozen.
Can the minister tell the House if the Government of Nunavut has avoided these problems or are we affected by the problems?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I’ll have Mr. Ma respond to that.
I think because of the conservative nature of our investment regulations, as the member alluded to earlier, we have avoided the ABCP fiasco, the asset-backed commercial paper fiasco, unlike our counterparts in the Yukon.
I thank the minister and Mr. Ma. When you say “avoided,” did you have any losses at all, or did you actually make some money or break even?
As one of the co-signers on our investments, I guess I was able to scrutinize what we were investing in. We had zero investments in asset-backed commercial paper.
I thank the minister and Mr. Ma. Mr. Ma certainly earned his pay then to help us avoid losses.
Are you eligible for a bonus of...
... ten percent of all the money you have saved?
Last year, the Government of Nunavut issued a Request for Proposals for a new banking services contract.
During the NBCC Standing Committee, I talked to Mr. Ma a little bit about the commercial banks in Nunavut being more proactive in helping our communities and investing in businesses. I wonder, through the RFP, if you have been able to select a proponent who can provide more help in our smaller communities to the private sector and individuals in the communities.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I will have Mr. Ma respond to that.  Chairman: Thank you, Minister.
The successful proponent of the RFP was our current banker, the Royal Bank of Canada.
I just want to put that on the record.
I think members are aware of it but I just don’t remember for sure.
Some of the criteria we had in our RFP was to have whoever the successful proponent was be able to provide community banking services. Basically, there were two proponents - the CIBC and the Royal Bank – and they’re basically the two main banks in Nunavut as everybody knows.
We think that the opportunity certainly exists at the Royal Bank to do some of that community banking and to also have them assist some of our smaller businesses in the communities.
I certainly recall Member Peterson’s question during NBCC hearings. At that point, as the Chair of NBCC I think, I can’t remember, or maybe as the Deputy of Finance, I did make a commitment to have a discussion with the Royal Bank to discuss with them on providing ongoing assistance and banking services to our businesses. The bank liaison person that I have worked with the Royal Bank is actually going to be here next month, so that will be one of the agenda items I guess on our little lunch or dinner discussion.
I thank Mr. Ma for that information.
I wonder if it’s possible to invite that person or a group of bankers to our spring session where we can ask them questions about their level of participation in developing Nunavut’s economy probably in the larger centres but also in the smaller regional centres. Would that be a possibility?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Completely. It would definitely be possible. If members wish to have a dialogue with them, we can make arrangements with the Royal Bank.
I don’t know if the minister has this information, but does he know the level of investment by the commercial banks in the economy of Nunavut?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): At this time, we don’t have any figures but we can look into it, Mr. Chairman.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted, $3,177,000.
Chairman: Thank you. Page C-7.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we can conclude this department tomorrow, so I would like to move to report progress.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Evyagotailak. There is a motion on the floor.
(interpretation ends) Item 21. (interpretation) Third Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Item 22. (interpretation) Orders of the Day. (interpretation ends) Mr. Clerk.
A reminder of a meeting tomorrow of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit at ten o’clock in the Tuktu Boardroom.
Orders of the Day for March 12:
This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, March 12, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 20:29
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Pages 3765 – 3867
Opening Prayer 3765
Ministers’ Statements 3765
Members’ Statements 3766
Returns to Oral Questions 3774
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 3776
Oral Questions 3776
Point of Order 3795
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills 3797
Tabling of Documents 3799
Notices of Motions 3801
Motions 3801
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3802
Point of Order 3822
Report of the Committee of the Whole 3866
Orders of the Day 3866
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 3765
171 – 2(4): Not All Bugs Need Drugs (Aglukkaq) 3765
403 – 2(4): The Nunavut Mining Symposium (Peterson) 3766
404 – 2(4): Congratulations to Arctic Fishery Alliance (Barnabas) 3767
405 – 2(4): Climate Change Effect on Wildlife (Kattuk) 3769
406 – 2(4): Deline and Tlicho Trip to Kugluktuk (Evyagotailak) 3769
407 – 2(4): Nunavut Quest – Dog Race from Igloolik to Arctic Bay (Tapardjuk) 3770
408 – 2(4): Smoke, Mirrors, Myths and Realities (Tootoo) 3771
409 – 2(4): Rankin Inlet Athletes at 2008 Arctic Winter Games (Curley) 3772
410 – 2(4): New Doctors of Iqaluit (Picco) 3773
411 – 2(4): Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet Athletes at 2008 AWG (Netser) 3774
Return to Oral Question 497 – 2(4): Numbers of Ships Travelling in Nunavut (Netser) 3774
Return to Oral Question 434 – 2(4): $200,000 Approved for Arctic Bay Road (Netser) 3775
505 – 2(4): Investigation into Alleged Political Interference (Tootoo) 3776
506 – 2(4): Consideration of Safety Checks on Sewage Lagoons (Alagalak) 3778
507 – 2(4): Contaminated Juice in Nunavut Stores (Curley) 3780
508 – 2(4): Baker Lake Sewage Lagoon (Simailak) 3781
509 – 2(4): Community Development Agreement (Peterson) 3782
510 – 2(4): Uranium Policy on Nuclear Energy (Barnabas) 3785
511 – 2(4): GN Agreement with Fuel Delivery Contractors (Kattuk) 3788
512 – 2(4): Cost of Charter to Vancouver (Tootoo) 3790
513 – 2(4): Update on Initiatives to Address Bullying (Peterson) 3791
514 – 2(4): Fuel Stabilization Rider (Curley) 3794
Committee Report on Bills 010 – 2(4): Interim Report on the Review of Bill 20 (Alagalak) 3797
211 – 2(4): Memorandum of Understanding between HTAs of Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Qikiqtarjuaq, and Resolute Bay to form the Arctic Fishery Alliance (Barnabas) 3799
212 – 2(4): Letter to Prime Minister on Devolution (Okalik) 3799
213 – 2(4): Development Partnership Agreement between the GN and the Meadowbank Mining Company February 17, 2008 (Netser) 3799
214 – 2(4): NHC 2005-2006 Annual Report (Netser) 3799
215 – 2(4): Future of NBCC and NDC Report February 2008/Crown Agencies Assessment Final Report April 2007 (Netser) 3799
216 – 2(4): CGS & HSS RFP for Medical Travel on Scheduled Airlines – Standing Offer Agreement (Brown) 3800
217 – 2(4): Towards a Representative Public Service Statistics as of December 31, 2007 (Tapardjuk) 3800
218 – 2(4): Online Lottery – Audited Financial Statements March 31, 2007 (Tapardjuk) 3800
219 – 2(4): “Not All Bugs Need Drugs” Pamphlets (Aglukkaq) 3800
220 – 2(4): Written Submissions on Bill 20 “Midwifery Profession Act” to Standing Committee on Health and Education (Alagalak) 3800
221 – 2(4): Hudson Bay Quest Official Website (Alagalak) 3800
030 – 2(4): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Peterson) 3801
030 – 2(4): Extended Adjournment (Peterson) 3802
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Finance 3803
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Nunavut Housing Corporation 3826
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Justice 3861
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Mr. David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (Hon. James Arreak)(interpretation): I would like to ask Joe Allen to say the opening prayer. Mr. Allen.
I didn’t formally address you and I apologize for that. (interpretation ends) Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 171 – 2(4): Not All Bugs Need Drugs (Aglukkaq)
I am pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the ‘Not all Bugs Need Drugs’ campaign featuring ‘Vinnie the Virus.’
Mr. Speaker, the communications campaign is aimed the responsible use of antibiotics in Nunavut, and seeks to educate the public. The overall objective of this pilot project is to lower rates of unnecessary prescriptions, with particular regard to the treatment of colds and flu.
I would also like to thank Health Canada for funding this project.
Mr. Speaker, one of the main causes of antibiotics resistance is the overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are often incorrectly used to treat sicknesses such as colds, flu, and bronchitis.
Mr. Speaker, antibiotics do not cure these types of illnesses because they are almost always caused by viruses.  Antibiotics attack bacteria, as part of the bacteria’s normal defence against this attack they can become ‘used to’ or resistant to particular antibiotics.
This means antibiotics may lose their effectiveness and not work as well as they should.
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is increasing, and the department is taking a proactive approach to curb this increase.
Mr. Speaker, there are three key messages in this campaign, Not all Bugs Need Drugs, Wash Your Hands - Prevent Infection, and Antibiotics don’t work on viruses.
Campaign messages are to be advertised in local newspapers, and a series of hygiene posters is in production. Posters and campaign information resources will be made available at local health centres, Qikiqtani General Hospital and Iqaluit Public Health.
An educational brochure has also been produced to inform the public of the proper use of antibiotics.
Additionally, we are producing a limited number of t-shirts with the slogan: Be Responsible – Not all Bugs Need Drugs.
Mr. Speaker, health care providers work hard,, and it is important for Nunavummiut to know if they are not receiving a prescription for antibiotics there is a valid reason. If a prescription provided it is vital to take it as prescribed and until finished.
Viruses and bacteria are different. Unnecessary prescriptions will be reduced.
Mr. Speaker, Not all Bugs Need Drugs.
Member’s Statement 403 – 2(4): The Nunavut Mining Symposium (Peterson)
I rise today to speak about the Nunavut Mining Symposium.
Mr. Speaker, the first annual Nunavut Mining Symposium was held in 1996. By informal agreement, it was annually rotated between the three regions of Nunavut to provide each of them with the opportunity to showcase their mining attractions. Cambridge Bay was proud to host our first Nunavut Mining Symposium in 1998.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Mining Symposium has grown to become one of Nunavut’s largest “must attend” events to learn about mining activities and opportunities in our territory.
The Nunavut Mining Symposium organizers and volunteers deserve all the credit for the event’s success. The Kitikmeot’s hospitality and organization is always first class.
Mr. Speaker, rotating the Nunavut Mining Symposium among the regions highlights the vast geographic size of Nunavut. In addition, it gives each host community, businesses, and, most importantly, the residents, an important opportunity to welcome visitors.
Mr. Speaker, over the years since hosting our first Nunavut Mining Symposium, the Kitikmeot has welcomed mining visitors from around Canada and the world. They have rubbed shoulders with Inuit organizations, government officials, school children and parents alike.
As a result, many of our residents are keen to begin careers in the mining sector.
Mr. Speaker, in the early 90s, Kitikmeot representatives attended many national and international mining shows to promote the Kitikmeot, and later, Nunavut as a whole. We coined the phrase “Open for Business” and spent endless hours at booths and in meetings describing why mining companies and others should invest in Nunavut.