EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Your officials were told to go check the nets and look after it because the HTOs don’t have any money. Some of them were not approved.
On page I-17 in the business plan, one of your priorities for 2008-09 is to “Complete the Nunavut Climate Change Adaptation Plan.”
Could you give us a brief outline on exactly what is covered here?
I’ll have Mr. Lamb respond to that question.
Mr. Lamb
The department has been working on an adaptation plan. It addresses issues in a way that combines western science with IQ, looking at the vulnerability of communities and wildlife species, and so on, and the adaptive capacity of Nunavut.
It also looks at infrastructure, community planning, health and safety, energy and waste management, and potential increases in business opportunities.
The plan is scheduled to be ready by 2009 and I should just mention that the process of developing this plan has involved consulting with specific communities on certain parts of climate change adaptation.
So, for instance, Clyde River and Hall Beach have been consulted on issues of sea level rise, coastal impacts, and so on.
So could the minister or his officials explain to us: is that work currently being done by consulting firm or is it being done internally?
I’ll get Mr. Lamb to answer the question.
The department has been working with Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian Institute of Planners, and various communities and hamlets in order to develop the Climate Change Adaptation Plan.
I think that’s good work. At one point, and I was probably with the wrong department, we were dealing with an adaptation plan issue.
I also always think that transportation is somewhat impacted by climate change in some regions like the Kivalliq region.
In some years, it occurs we have an earlier breakup of ice.
I would think that, given the fact that we have a very short shipping season, your department may want to look at whether or not that area should be looked at in order to try and expedite cargo coming in and also maybe realign shipping routes so that we can take advantage of a longer shipping season.
As Mr. Lamb stated, we’re looking at economic opportunities to try and see if we can have a longer shipping route and how we can expedite the cargo coming in.
We are working with Economic Development and Transportation on this issue. The drafting of the report should be completed by 2009.
At that time, we will know exactly how we can utilize that and extend the shipping season to Nunavut.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) I think that that would be very good, Mr. Chairman, so I encourage the minister to look at all these issues on an ongoing basis.
I noticed a few days ago, but I’m not sure what it’s called in Inuktitut, the plastic shopping bags that we use are absolutely no good for Nunavut. Nunavut is a vast piece of land and you see plastic bags all over the place. There’s even a song that was composed by a Northern Quebecer regarding plastic bags.
He thought it was a seal and wanted to shoot it but it was a plastic bag floating in the water.
What is your department going to do about eliminating the use of plastic bags? I believe there’s legislation in Alaska that bans the use of plastic bags.
Why haven’t you considered doing something like that?
We are currently working on this that we are quite excited about because those plastic bags litter our land.
Economic Development and Transportation, Community and Government Services, and our department are working together on whether they’re going to proceed banning plastic bags.
If were going to make regulations, we will also work with the Department of Justice as they are the ones who draft legislation.
This is what we want to do in the future, we would like to see this as a universal part of law used all over Nunavut.
We’re going to start first in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and in the Kitikmeot, and we will have better understanding within a year and how we can better the regulations in the future.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) I believe you should be writing a report because some companies or other entities outside of Nunavut would be opposing it they make a lot of money.
When we do recycling, why don’t we recycle the plastic bags?
I know they won’t be sent down
There should be a program where they collect the plastic bags because these shopping bags are all over the place in the hinterland where there’s wildlife when we go out hunting. They’re an eyesore and they’re not biodegradable; at least tin cans can rust and deteriorate.
Perhaps the minister can discuss this further because we have to stop using plastic bags. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
We are currently documenting and dealing with the issue of biodegradable and degradable materials. There should be biodegradable bags or papers and we will continue to work on the issue.
Our government had mandated us to deal with this issue, so it would be ideal if the members support us and give us their suggestions on how we can use less plastic bags.
We’re on page I-5. (interpretation ends) Branch Summary.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $12,746, 000.
Chairman: We will go back to page I-3.
Environment. Detail of Expenditures.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $16,126, 000.
Chairman: Are you agreed that the Department of Environment is concluded?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Do you have any closing remarks?
Yes, I would like to thank all of you, my officials, everyone that is providing support, and also my staff upstairs who are watching.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the minister and his officials from the witness table.
What is the wish of the committee at this time?
(interpretation ends) Once again, I’m going to ask the committee: what is the wish of the committee?
Some Members: Opening comments.
Chairman: Okay. Ms. Brown.
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Community and Government Services
Hon. Levinia Brown: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to appear before you today to review the 2008-09 Main Estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Community and Government Services has many roles to play in the delivery of programs and services for local government, government services, petroleum products, procurement, Office of the Fire Marshall, and acid management.
CGS has a budget exceeding $155 million with 345 positions in 14 communities.
Although CGS has a very large budget in comparison to other departments, there’s very little flexibility in our programs as much of our funding is flowing through dollars, such as municipal transfer payments, building leases and utility budgets.
We are proposing to increase our budget estimates this year in a number of areas to compensate for forced growth.
The main areas of increases include: utilities management; $3,881,000, water and sewage funding; $731,000, grants in lieu of taxes; $420,000, the Community Transfer Initiative; $285,000, maintenance, building and equipment; $2,134,000.
Mr. Chairman, CGS continues to invest significant resources to ensure that we continue to improve services and programs to our client groups.
Over the past several years, we have greatly improved the GN procurement process and services and the reporting of this activity.
In the past year, the department has increased training for project officers, added five new project management positions to improve capital project administration and better meet client department needs and expectations.
Last spring, we initiated a project management review where we sat with both industry and all project management personnel along with our client groups in order to improve our construction management and ensure we are meeting the needs of the clients and the public.
We continue to offer over 6,000 training days a year to municipal employees through our collaboration with the Municipal Training Organization, MTO.
The efforts we are taking to improve services will continue in the new year and I will commit to keeping this committee up to date on our activities and outcome of our efforts.
The Petroleum Products Division continues to manage the Fuel Provision Mandate for the GN. As you are aware, the global oil market pricing is very unpredictable and the price the fuel is at record highs.
PPD has no control over these costs but it is diligently working to make improvements.
The first area of improvement is through the competitive proposal process for supply and transportation activities and purchasing of fuel and delivering it to communities economically and safely.
A request for proposals for the Eastern Arctic Marine Fuel Transportation and the RFP Kitikmeot Fuel Supply and Marine Transportation were issued late last year.
The department is currently in the process of awarding the Eastern Arctic Marine Transportation Contract and presently evaluating the proposals with the Kitikmeot Fuel Supply and Marine Transportation.
In addition to this, the department continues with substantial energy management initiatives which include improving the efficiency of building design, lighting, heating systems and the maintenance and operations of these assets.
All of these efforts are aimed at reducing our costs associated with utilities.
Mr. Chairman, with respect to Nunavut emergency management, the department has been working hard to improve the response programs available to the public for any type of emergency.
We continue to work with community star organizations, hamlets, government agencies, and individuals in assisting and coordinating the RCMP, military and the community groups in response to an emergency.
These efforts will continue again this year.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to briefly mention the Building Canada Fund process that we have outlined to all members as it is not in our operations and maintenance budgets and was in the budget address highlighting some capital projects for various communities.
It is the government’s intent to introduce a supplementary appropriation to increase the capital budget for 2008-09 this spring to include the Building Canada Fund projects.
The GN will be following the established capital planning process to identify capital projects with for fund with a condensed timeframe. I would like to assure the members they will be included in the consultations.
Mr. Chairman, I hope that these brief comments give an appreciation of the wide range of programs and services that my department has.
The vision of our future is one of partnership, collaboration, and continuing to meet the needs of all client groups to better support communities and the needs of Nunavummiut.
I now look forward to your questions.
I would like to ask the Chair of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Housing and Economic Development if he has opening comments.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I’m not ready right now. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Chairman (interpretation): Pardon me?
Mr. Curley (interpretation): You asked me if I was prepared. I’m not prepared at this time. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Evyagotailak. There’s a motion on the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable.
Speaker (interpretation): Item 20. (interpretation ends) Report of the Committee of the Whole. (interpretation) Member for High Arctic, Mr. Barnabas.
Third Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Item 22. (interpretation) Orders of the Day.
A reminder of a meeting of the Regular Caucus tomorrow morning at ten o’clock in the Tuktu Boardroom.
Orders of the Day for March 11:
Speaker: Thank you. (interpretation) This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, March 11, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 20:30
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Pages 3666 – 3764
Opening Prayer 3666
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3666
Report of the Committee of the Whole 3763
Orders of the Day 3763
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 3666
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Community & Government Services 3667
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Finance 3732
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, 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.
Good afternoon, Mr. Premier, Ministers, Members, and Nunavummiut.
Pursuant to Rule 18(1), I seek unanimous consent of the House to proceed immediately to Item 19 on the Orders of the Day.
The member is seeking unanimous consent of the House to proceed immediately to Item 19.
We will proceed directly to Item 19 in our Order Paper.
I ask members to remain at their desks as we proceed with Committee of the Whole with Mr. Barnabas in the Chair.
We wish to continue with Bill 23 and the review of the Department of Community and Government Services, followed by the Department of Finance, the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Justice, and if time permits, the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Does the committee agree that we proceed with the Main Estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services?
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Community & Government Services
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort Ms. Brown’s officials to the witness table.
Welcome, Ms. Brown and your officials.
For the record, please introduce your officials, Ms. Brown.
On my left is my Deputy Minister, David Akeeagok, who is known by everyone, and on my right, you probably know him, Mike Rafter, who is the Director of Finance in our department.
I would like to remind members that our proceedings in Committee of the Whole are being broadcast.
Does the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Housing and Economic Development have opening comments?
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) Yes, I do.
Can I proceed?
Thank you. I would like to welcome all of the Nunavummiut who are watching the proceedings. We don’t usually go straight to Committee of the Whole.
I am pleased to provide you with opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Housing and Economic Development on its review of the 2008-09 Main Estimates and Business Plan of the Department of Community and Government Services.
The standing committee notes that the department’s proposed 2008-09 operations and maintenance budget of $155,288,000 has increased approximately 43 percent since the 2004-05 fiscal year.
During the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, members took the opportunity to raise a number of issues and concerns.
The standing committee notes that the department’s business plan indicates that its legislative priorities for 2008-09 include a review of the regulations under the Lotteries Act and a review of the Conflict of Interest Act.
The business plan also indicates that the department’s review of the Consumer Protection Act has been delayed.
The standing committee stresses the importance of ensuring that our constituents benefit from modern consumer protection legislation because we don’t have such an Act at this time.
Following its September 2007 retreat, the Cabinet announced that it had directed the Department of Community and Government Services to “present solutions for the future management of large-scale projects and materials transportation that could benefit from economies of scale.”
The minister indicated that her department has been working to increase its staff capacity in the area of project management.
The standing committee will continue to monitor this issue closely and notes that the department’s business plan indicates that it is working to “improve capital project management and delivery by reviewing practices and processes, as well as soliciting feedback from the private sector through questionnaires and meetings.”
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Finance has indicated that it is working with the Department of Community and Government Services to develop a new GN policy on the use of public-private partnerships.
The standing committee looks forward to the tabling of a new P3 policy, and encourages the government to work closely with the private sector to identify innovative ways of addressing Nunavut’s infrastructure deficit.
Mr. Chairman, I’ll be speaking in English.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, the standing committee also welcomes the recent announcement of the signing of the Canada-Nunavut Framework Agreement under the new Building Canada Infrastructure Fund.
The standing committee urges the government to work closely with all MLAs and the Nunavut Community Infrastructure Advisory Committee with respect to identifying key priorities for new investments.
Mr. Chairman, while the standing committee recognizes that the needs of communities in Nunavut greatly exceed available GN resources, a consultative approach to capital planning and priority-setting is important.
The standing committee also stresses the importance of investing in areas with the greatest potential for fostering economic growth.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Community and Government Services is responsible for preparing the GN’s annual reports on departmental contracting, procurement and leasing activities.
The standing committee is pleased that the minister has tabled these reports in a timely manner. However, Mr. Chairman, these reports do not include information on the procurement, contracting and leasing activities of Crown corporations and agencies, such as the Nunavut Housing Corporation and Nunavut Arctic College.
The Legislative Assembly prepares and tables a separate annual report on its contracting activities. The standing committee urges the minister to work with her Cabinet colleagues to enhance the government’s transparency by ensuring that similar information is tabled on an annual basis for the government’s Crown agencies and corporations.
Mr. Chairman, this department provides a range of critical services to municipalities. The standing committee notes that the department’s business plan indicates that its priorities for 2008-09 in this area include the continuation of its water and sewage pilot project, the completion of a municipal taxing model and the establishment of a Granular Program.
The department’s proposed budget for core funding to municipalities in 2008-09 under the Municipal Funding Program is unchanged at just over $34 million.
The department’s proposed budget for its Water and Sewage Funding Program is increasing by 13 percent from $5.5 million in 2007-08 to $6.3 million in 2008-09.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee is pleased that the department recognizes that the quality of granular materials varies greatly between communities, and has initiated a Nunavut-wide study on this issue.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee also remains supportive of NAMIX, the Nunavut Association of Municipalities Insurance Exchange.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s business plan indicates that a priority for 2008-09 is to “investigate and undertake an open-market feasibility study as outlined in the Annual Resupply Evaluation Report.”
The standing committee recognizes the importance of the annual sealift and looks forward to the results of this study being tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Chairman, the provision of safe drinking water to our communities is a fundamental responsibility of government.
Last fall, the standing committee raised a number of questions regarding the extent to which Nunavut’s communities meet the national Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
Although the standing committee was pleased to note that the department has been working with the Municipal Training Organization to develop courses for municipal water treatment plant operators, the standing committee continues to recommend that the department prepare and table in the Legislative Assembly a comprehensive report on water quality in all of Nunavut’s communities.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee is concerned that the department’s 2008-09 main estimates project that the Petroleum Products Revolving Fund will have a deficit of $9.5 million.
The standing committee also notes that the department’s business plan indicates that it has been implementing recommendations made by consultants to comply with the new federal regulations concerning tank farms.
Mr. Chairman, the business plan indicates that “GN facilities are compliant except for our resupply pipeline. Given the unique circumstances with our pipelines from the shore manifolds there remains ongoing discussion respecting regulatory compliance.”
The standing committee will monitor this issue with attention.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the 2008-09 Main Estimates and Business Plan of the Department of Community and Government Services.
Individual members may raise their own comments and concerns as we proceed with the consideration of the department. (interpretation) Thank you.
Before we proceed, I would like to remind the members of the following: according to Rule 77(1), you have ten minutes to speak, and according to Rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of the Chair, a member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion but not until every wishing to speak has spoken.
Beware that you will have many questions and I know that you will respond accordingly.
I would like to send my greetings to all of the relatives in Sanikiluaq.
First of all, I would like to say that the residents of Sanikiluaq are going through a hard time because they’re looking for an individual. Although this may be the case, this is unavoidable. I am happy to note that the missing person’s mother is now in Sanikiluaq and I also appreciate the Department of Community and Government Services for their assistance in the search and rescue efforts of the Hamlet of Sanikiluaq.
I am also very appreciative of the efforts of our local search and rescue team as they have spent countless hours now searching from island to island, and they have now combed the entirety of the Belcher Islands. I am grateful for the assistance of the department as they have paid for a plane to search for about 30 hours. However, it is unfortunate that even with all of the search and rescue efforts that the missing person has not yet been sighted.
I wanted to note that I also have some news of another problem that has cropped up in my constituency of Sanikiluaq and that’s in regard to fuel supply issues we have faced.
We are continuing to experience problems with the local fuel truck as it keeps breaking down, seemingly when we need it the most this winter. It should not have been allowed to deteriorate to that condition and I have already raised that issue here in the House to the Minister of Department of Community and Government Services, especially as it impacts those who own their own homes since they have to go and retrieve fuel on their own to refuel their homes.
I believe that this should not be the case, but I cannot determine if this is due to poor management or mechanical issues.
The issue is that there could be dangerous liability issues if people have to refuel their own homes since the government is responsible for fuel and fuel delivery in the communities. If anything should happen, then the person would have to sue the contractors responsible for the fuel delivery services.
No one should have to retrieve fuel using five gallon jerry cans to refuel their homes and this has to be something that the department prioritizes and resolves.
When we reach the matter of the PPD, I will be raising questions in regard to how the department deals with issues affecting fuel delivery services in the community. That is all for now, Mr. Chairman.
We send our condolences to those who are searching for the individual and his relatives.
I welcome Minister Brown and her officials today.