EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In the Department of Finance right now we have two employees in the information management and technology area.
We have a project office in Ottawa as well.
That was set-up under the OIC, that project office has half a dozen or so people working there on a contract basis.
Some of those positions we will be replacing as we recruit positions in Iqaluit.
There are also many other consultants that are working on IT development through the competitive bidding process, and we have a budget there of 6 or 7 million dollars this year and last year.
It is very difficult to identify how many consultants are involved in those various projects but there are lots.
As well there are many consultants working with the IT operations division in the Department of Public Works.
There is a technology transfer arrangement there where it will be passed on to local employees as they are recruited.
I would add that the use of consultants in IT is not unusual.
It is impossible in a small jurisdiction to build up capacity to develop all those very technical computer systems.
It is no different here than in the Atlantic Provinces or Ontario.
We will have more resources in house but it takes time to build.
This is more just a comment.
I think that it is quite clear that at any given time that this area is very technical.
Depending on the system, I understand in Yellowknife they use that Peoplesoft system and for example there is a whole team of, I don't know there is 10 or 20 people that were there just to run the system.
All of those people were from the south.
I think as a government we should look at trying to find ways and systems, and develop the systems that we can have, you know we are not a huge government, it is a very small jurisdiction, and we don't need Cadillacs.
It is not a super complex organization that we need running and the sooner we can make it functional the better.
I think it will also allow us sooner rather than later to be able to build that capacity locally.
To be able to run and administer, because again I think the more people we have hired and working here in Nunavut is better that hiring consultants from the south.
I am sure it is much more expensive to hire a consultant on an ongoing basis like that than it would be to have someone here permanently to do that.
So I think that is something that should be kept in mind on the development of these systems.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Yes, I would agree with the member on his comments.
I think what is also important to note is because of the fact of the decentralized structure of our government and the fact that we rely totally on satellite links for our information technology systems, there are no land links involved, that increases the need for advanced technology and some of the costs as a result of those factors.
Last year there was 9 million 940 last year but now it is 2000/2001 and there is going to be 11 million spent.
If you re-look at the page under 3 – 5, under 2000/2001 and under 1999, we used 1 million 199 in 99/2000 main estimates, but now it is 1 million 367 thousand in 2000/2001.
And if we go to 3 – 6, there is 1 million 13 in the main estimates but now for 2000/2001 it is 1 million 102 thousand under compensation and benefits.
Under 3 – 7, the amount under the main estimates it is only 415 thousand although under the revised estimates it was 433 thousand.
We know that the staff compensation salaries and wages will be increasing but I just wanted to find out exactly the numbers that I have stated why this is like that.
In respect to the decreases for the Information Management and Technology salaries, the reason on 3 – 7 is that we anticipate not spending as much money for those requirements Mr. Chairman.
Yes, I can understand it when Mr. Tootoo was asking the question but under Information Management and Technology, who do we have as employees that deal with information management and technology.
Mr. Vardy: Mr. Chairman, in the information and technology division, we have a Chief Informatics Officer that is working here in Iqaluit.
Also a finance officer support position.
There are managers of information technology and senior systems analyst positions that are filled on a contract basis in our Ottawa project office.
As I mentioned earlier it is our intention to move those positions to Iqaluit and we are classifying the positions and they will be advertised for filling in our operations here.
That is good news for the employees to come to the headquarters but because the government is new that is probably the way it is right now but I would like to get further information.
The people that are employed in Ottawa, I just wondered whether these information management people in Ottawa are they working for finance.
The positions are in Ottawa right now.
The people filling those positions were consultants that were hired by the Office of the Interim Commissioner about two years ago and a lot of those people have a lot of experience with the particular systems that we are developing for the Government of Nunavut.
Also because the other consultants that we have that won through a competitive bidding process, the jobs for systems development, a lot of the testing is done at that office, so we have considered the benefits and the advantages or disadvantages of keeping that office open for a period.
Right now from our vantage point it makes sense to keep that office there.
If we were to move the positions right now to Iqaluit without going through the competition process, we know that the consultants involved wouldn't be interested in moving here on a full time basis.
So it's a gradual process if we make the transfer.
At least the response was very good.
This 415 thousand dollars is going directly to Ottawa.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Vardy.
Mr. Vardy: Mr. Chairman, a part of it will go to Ottawa.
As I indicated earlier, the Chief Informatics Officer and one other support person is working in Iqaluit but at this stage our intention is to fill two or three other positions over the coming year.
Most of that will be spent in Iqaluit, certainly this year.
Going back to our Main Estimates.
Page 3 – 7, total operations and maintenance, 7 million 974 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Total expenditures, 7 million 974 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Going to 3 – 8.
Finance and Administration, branch summary, comptrollership and regional financial services, operations and maintenance.
Total operations and maintenance, 18 million 842 thousand.
Mr. Chairman, on this area, we see an increase of over 1 million dollars in compensation and benefits.
I am just wondering if that's due to an increase in PYs or I am just wondering why there is such a large increase in there.
Mr. Vardy: Mr. Chairman, the increase is due to the addition of five additional payroll positions.
We took over the responsibilities of payroll from the Health Boards.
Also the employee benefits associated with the employees of the same three boards.
Also for that whole area under grants and contributions or other expenses.
There's over 6 million in fees and payments.
I am just wondering what those are comprised of, or what those payments are there.
Mr. Victor Tootoo.
The 2.4 million dollars of the fees and payments for that area is in investments and risk management.
That's our insurance premiums.
There is another 3.8 million of that 6.2 million dollars in pay and benefits.
Six hundred thousand of that is for dental benefits, 700 thousand of that is for Workers' Compensation Board benefits and 2.5 million of that is for medical travel.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Victor Tootoo.
Took my headset off too early I think.
Under the medical travel I would guess that's compensating employees that are eligible based on the collective agreement based on certain benefits for medical travel.
Is that something that is recoverable from the health board.
I know when the Department of Health was up and that big deficit was there, a large part of it was due to medical travel.
So I was just wondering if this is something that would be included in there on top of that.
Mr. Vardy: The 2.5 million is for medical travel for Government of Nunavut employees.
This amount, the costs incurred by the Health Boards for medical travel for Government of Nunavut employees last year was Billed back to the Department of Finance.
So it did not contribute to the deficits in the Health Boards.
Mr. Chairman, I see in this area too also the Corporate Control area that the minister indicated earlier.
I am just wondering, he had indicated that was a headquarters function in the detailed information that we have been provided it shows 400 thousand dollars in pay and benefits for permanent salaries.
I am just wondering how many people are hired or how many PYs there are in that division and if they are all in the headquarters office.
There are five positions in our Corporate Controls Division.
We had the Director position filled on an acting basis and that person recently resigned his position with the Government of Nunavut.
We have advertised to fill that position and it will be done within the next, perhaps the next month.
We have some other people in our department that have been filling in responsibilities within that division but we will be filling the senior auditor positions over the following weeks.
So to answer the question there are five persons that will be within that division.
Mr. Chairman, I would just ask where those positions are going to be located.
Mr. Vardy: All five positions, Mr. Chairman, will be located in Iqaluit.
As Minister Ng mentioned previously we are working closely with the regional financial services superintendents, particularly in the Keewatin and the Kitikmeot and the regional superintendent for the Baffin region position right now is vacant.
Mr. Chairman, I know, again based on the past, those functions were previously at the regional level.
I am just wondering whether you have any plans of looking at, you know you look here there is 175 thousand dollars for travel for five people. I don't imagine it will take too long for those people to eat up that amount of travel and transportation in travelling around to do their job and conduct reviews in the regional government offices and headquarters.
Maybe just what exactly, will the function be similar to that, that was previously done in the GNWT.
Where they travel around, previously there was a person in each region that did those audits and reviews within that region. I am just wondering if that type of thing is going to be established in the new set up.
It's my impression that the responsibilities and roles of those individuals will be the same as those in the previous GNWT positions.
I would mention again that we will be using regional staff to the maximum extent possible and we have already started this process with some of the investigations that have gone on in the regions to date.
Mr. Chairman, just wondering if this division will at all work with the evaluation and statistical services division under Executive & Intergovernmental Affairs whose function I believe is more of a formal audit function as opposed to a program auditor function or review that this areas would look at.
Mr. Vardy: Mr. Chairman, it would be our intention to work with the Department of Executive & Intergovernmental Affairs when they build the capacity in that department.
Our audit is more of a financial audit that is necessary to ensure that proper financial controls are in place in all parts of the Government of Nunavut operation.
I think you referred to the Executive & Intergovernmental Affairs audit responsibilities, it's a broader program audit responsibility.
Going to our main estimates.
Page 3 – 7. Sorry, 3 – 8.
Controllership and regional financial services, Department of Finance and Administration, branch summary, operations and maintenance.
First I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, because I have quite a few questions.
I was wondering if we could take a short break.
Mr. Chairman, my first question is if we could take a short break.
Chairperson (interpretation): We will take a ten minute break.
>>Committee recessed at 3.14 and resumed at 3.30 p.m.
I would like further clarification.
Maintains processes necessary for appropriate reporting to the Legislative Assembly whose responsibility is under Finance and Administration.
Is that under the appropriate department.
Mr. Chairman it is in the Government accounting side of the department under this branch.
It says here and the public.
It that for the whole of Nunavut and does it mean that you have to do your financial reporting to the Legislative Assembly and to the public.
Yes, that is the public account for the Government expenditures over the course of a fiscal year.
That is where the reference is in this description of the branch.
Going back to 3-8.
Total operations & maintenance, 18 million 842 thousand dollars.
Chairperson (interpretation): Total expenditures, 18 million 842 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Controllership and regional financial services.
Branch summary.
For information only.
In regards to power subsidy for domestic commercial users.
Does the minister foresee continuing this subsidy.
Mr. McLean: I am happy Bob did not answer that one.
Another question is in regards to the power subsidy to small business.
I think they get a subsidy or a rebate back for small businesses under a million.
Does the minister know how much that costs us a year.
No, I do not have that rate here Mr. Chairman.
I will leave the Power Corp alone right now.
Just on the Workers' Compensation Board can the minister give me a very brief update on where we stand right now with the Workers' Compensation Board.
With respect to the question that I asked in February if he is going to initiate any kind of study on whether we are going to stay together or operating as a separate Workers' Compensation Board.
Mr. Chairman we still plan on proceeding with a Nunavut wide consultation with the stakeholders on that.
But we have not unfortunately developed or finalised any terms of reference for a request for proposals to have somebody undertake that work.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. We are on page 3-9.
In regards to the commercial power subsidy.
I understood the response.
My question is who is eligible for power subsidies.
Mr. Chairman residential private homeowners are eligible for subsidies to the first 700 kilowatt hours.
I think it is based on Yellowknife rates and commercial businesses with sales less than 1 million dollars are eligible for a percentage of their power requirements as well.
I understood his answer.
My next question is that it does not apply to public housing?
Mr. Chairman, in the power subsidy I understand the minister just explained basically the guidelines for it.
I know for example Iqaluit businesses and the residences are booming and there is a lot of growth here.
I anticipate that to be the case as well over the next few years and for the decentralised communities.
Will that effect the subsidy.
If it is done on a per business or per person basis.
Then one would assume that there should be a substantial increase in what is required there for it.
I am just wondering how it is determined.
Mr. Chairman, as it stands now it is basically held over at last years level.
If there are additional needs because of forced growth in this area then it will be considered and brought back if required for Supplementary Appropriation.
Right now quite frankly we have not had a chance to analyse the existing program.
It has been a carry over, as you know from the GNWT, and we have continued with the subsidy program.
Mr. Chairman, I guess the minister is aware that on a number of occasions I asked the about the subsidies that are provided by the government and he indicated that he is going to be providing us with that information.
I am just wondering how or if it has been looked at.
They have not had a chance to review it.
Would they look at how consistent it is with some other subsidies that are out there.
I know for example if this happens to be, say it works out to a percentage, is it 15 percent subsidy or something else, say 50 percent.
Looking at having some type of more a consistent system throughout Nunavut.
The member brings up a good point.
When we finalise the listing of all the subsidies available then all those factors will have to be taken into consideration as we try to rationalise the provision of subsidies.
I guess the other question.
I know in Kimmirut we talked about power rates in the way the system is set up right now like at assessing the rate.
I know the public utilities board does that.
But under the current system the cost to a community for the production of power to the community is incurred by that community.
Mr. Iqaqrialu has been talking about looking at the possibility of the impact of that system without any intervention.
A 40 percent increase in costs.
Would that have any affect on this subsidy or would the subsidy remain the same in the event where there were increased costs to a community.
The increase costs would not be covered at all by the subsidy.
The subsidy would not change.
Mr. Chairman, if the public utilities board were to authorise an increase in power rates for any community additional revenues would result from those rate increases, and obviously our subsidy amount and levels would proportionately be increased because we subsidise based on the Yellowknife rate.
We are 3-7. Or 3-9.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. ..audio unavailable…
Could you have him repeat his question please.
Chairperson (interpretation): I am sorry the interpreter did not get the question.
Mr. Iqaqrialu could you rephrase your question.
Could you give us an address or a number where we can inquire about getting these power subsidies.
You can contact through your local Power Corporation office in the community but it is automatically applied for residential properties.
It is automatically applied against the customer's Bill.
We pay that directly through the Power Corporation on a monthly basis.
Page 3-9.
Information item. 3-10.
Liquor Commission revolving fund.
Page 3-10.
Under the liquor commission revolving fund.
They are responsible for issuing all types of liquor permits and for enforcement, 423 thousand.
Under the income there is a total income of 4 million, 618 thousand dollars.
It is quite a big jump from 2 million, 771 thousand.
What is the reasoning behind this.
Mr. Chairman, the 1999-2000 revised estimates were numbers that were supplied to us by the GNWT and we use those figures.
Of course there is no historical tracking of that, so the 2000-2001 Main Estimates are a more accurate reflection based on a good portion of the current year's or the past year's operations.
So that should be more reflective of actual revenues and expenditures.
It seems that we are going to be getting some revenue but then again there is the alcohol and drug committees that do not seem to be provided any funding.
Are they going to be given contributions for operations & maintenance and what is that income going to be used for.
This is a revolving fund explicit to the operating costs and for the sales of liquor products themselves.
The member's question about alcohol and drug committees and any work they undertake is a Health and Social Services Department funding issue.
Historically the funding comes from those areas.
The community alcohol and drug committees do a lot of preventative work, especially in my community.
They are very useful in my community but they are not provided any funding.
If they are funded under Health and Social Services it creates a problem.
Maybe you should consider providing funds for the community alcohol and drug committees because they do a lot of very useful work.
Mr. Chairman the member brings up a good point.
As I indicated that type of funding program needs would be more adequately addressed from the Department of Health and Social Services budgets.
Yes some government departments do not know the important work the committees do in the communities.
Perhaps just to let the communities know that there is some funding from Health and Social Services that can be provided to the committees.
I agree with the member.
Chairperson (interpretation): 3-10.
Finance and Administration.
There is a difference in funding for Baffin, Kivalliq and Kitikmeot.
The Baffin region only has 980 thousand as opposed to Kivalliq and Kitikmeot.
The Kivalliq is more and the Kitikmeot is more than the Baffin.
Why is this.
Mr. Vardy: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The reason for the Baffin regional financial service's operations being smaller is that the decentralisation to Igloolik has not taken place yet.
So most of the regional staff in Iqaluit are former regional staff of the GNWT in the Baffin region.
They applied for the jobs of headquarters operations in finance.
We have started to staff the Baffin office but it will not be built up to staff for the next year in Igloolik.
That is the main reason we have not reached the full size of our operations in our budget estimates.
Under the Baffin region there is 980 thousand dollars for 2000-2001.
Perhaps in the next three years I just wondered whether it would be the same amount as Kivalliq and Kitikmeot.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Vardy.
Mr. Vardy: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Baffin regional office will have 17 persons compared to 16 in the Kivalliq and 14 in the Kitikmeot.
So the Baffin regional office will be the biggest of the three regional offices.
I am getting confused.
Perhaps your answers are correct but what I am trying to get at is that I just wondered if the Kivalliq staff is using more operations & maintenance because they make more wages.
What is the case.
The reason why there is more compensation and benefits in the Kivalliq region is because that operation is fully staffed whereas the Baffin operation is not yet fully staffed.
And it will not be until 2001-2002.
Do not forget we have to think about the smaller communities.
So when the smaller communities have more money in their budget we would be happy about that.
This is just information from the members that usually want to have more funding for the smaller communities than the larger communities.
We should be happy with the amount of money at this time.
I believe earlier this session I was asking the minister responsible, I do not know whether it was finance or human resources, I asked in regards to the surplus that we had from last year.
At the time I was inquiring about it, it was indicated many those funds were as a result of not having the government fully staffed.
I believe at the time I asked the minister when they are budgeting for this year whether they were going to budget under the presumption they were going to be fully staffed. I believe at the time he indicated that the way that they were going to be developing a budget was as if they were fully staffed.
I am just wondering, this 769 thousand dollars, how many staff is that for.
I was under the impression that the budgets were being developed as if all the offices were going to be fully staffed.
We did our budget under the assumption that there would be 10 positions filled for the Baffin region of the 17.
We do not know yet what it will achieve.
It will depend on the response to our job competitions and also linked with decentralisation plans of the Department and the Government.
Right now finance is slated to move to Igloolik in the summer of 2001 for regional operations for Baffin.
So the outcome we will have to see as we get later in the year.
But our budget and the budget for all departments I guess, assume that there will be a number of vacancies that will exist in the department.
As exists in government departments in every jurisdiction.
Under the Main Estimates and we have the Main Estimates and the Capital Supplementary Estimates.
It has departments listed such as the Department of Public Works under substantiation sheets.
The last item that was discussed in the Main Estimates and in here they are totally different.
I am not sure which one is the most recent one.
Under the Main Estimates under Department of Justice.
There is also the book that we have.
They do not seem to be typed the same. I am not sure if these things are newer than the other ones.