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And I want to join in offering my condolences on behalf of my constituents, members of this House, to all of his family, but most particularly to his wife Dorothy and their children and also his father Joe Arlooktoo and Henry Zoe, another former colleague.
Member’s Statement 069 – 1(6): Rental and Mortgage Scales
Mr. Speaker, living in Nunavut is very expensive and we all know that, but I like living in Nunavut.
Many people in Nunavut own their own homes.
That means maintaining their own homes, besides providing food and clothing for their families.
I understand that the mortgage and rental scales in Nunavut are carried over from the Northwest Territories.
I’m wondering if this government is looking at a Nunavut version of rental and mortgage scales.
At the appropriate time I will be directing questions to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
This time last year I was auctioned off for an hour of my services during the trade show.
I was bought by an individual that’s in the gallery here today; Mr. Michael Roberts of Nortext, the publisher of Nunatsiaq News.
I was grateful to learn that what he’s asking me to do is not labour intensive so I’ll be asking each of you to sign a flag, to provide the proceeds to daycares throughout Nunavut.
So, that’s it, it is an honour and a very good service that he’s requested of me that would be very helpful for the children of Nunavut.
So, thank you, Mr. Roberts and welcome to the Assembly.
Question 064 – 1(6): Expected Lapses in 2002/2003 Main Estimates
Mr. Speaker, I’m sure he’s anticipating this and my question today is for the Minister of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday’s Budget Speech projected about 17 million dollars is expected to be lapsed in the 2002–2003 Main Estimates.
I know that, if I was doing some budgeting myself, for my own purposes, if I needed 900 dollars and was asking for one thousand, I’d be asking why he needs that extra 100 dollars.
And that seems to be what this budget is doing, asking for money that they know that they are not going to spend.
I’d like to ask the minister in what areas these lapses are expected to come from.
Mr. Speaker, excuse me.
Mr. Speaker, ordinarily lapses come from throughout government.
It’s government-wide.
Some departments go over and others are under in different areas and there is sometimes over the course of year, of course, transfers between expenditures within departments and between departments as well.
In this case, yesterday’s summary, the fiscal position, we were expecting 17 million dollars of lapses on the operations and maintenance side and 15 million dollars of lapses on the capital side.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister indicate if there is a portion or what portion or whether it be a percentage or an amount of these lapses that come from unfilled staffing positions.
Do they have a projection of surplus funds in the staff as a result of being under staffed?
Mr. Speaker, the lapses as I’ve indicated are broad and government wide.
Each department has different levels of staffing and vacancies and different levels of where they move unexpended funds from staff vacancies through programs over the course of the year.
So it will be very hard to get the specifics of each department and each position or vacancy levels if that is what he is referring to without a lot of work being entailed to do that.
All I can say to the member is there is 17 million dollars of operations and maintenance lapses government wide expected from the current 2001-2002 year.
Mr. Speaker, the government overall in its summary there indicates it is projecting an overall surplus of 1.6 million dollars.
Every year the government has introduced numerous supplementary appropriations that exceed that amount.
Is the minister projecting with these lapses they won’t see any supplementary appropriations in the next year?
Mr. Speaker, I would expect that there are always supplementary appropriations.
In fact I will be introducing a supplementary appropriation notice later this afternoon in respect to the first supplementary appropriation for 2002-2003 to deal with Capital carryovers.
So over the course of the year this will continue to be the case of this government as has been past practice.
Mr. Speaker, I guess just a point of clarification.
Maybe if the minister, for the record, can indicate that the government according to his budget and the main estimates that he addressed yesterday is going to be spending 14.4 million dollars more than what we are expecting to take into revenue.
The way that it is showing a 1.6 million dollar surplus, it is showing 32 million dollars in lapses.
Is that basically we are counting that money twice.
Is the 32 million dollars included in the first expenditures and then also as a credit down below in the lapses?
Mr. Speaker, it is not being double counted.
I don’t know where this member is getting this from.
It is not part of the expenditures of this year because the expenditures have been laid out before the Assembly in the Main Estimates that we are going to be reviewing for the operations and maintenance of 609 million dollars and there has already been 70 million dollars in Capital that has been approved last fall.
All I can say is the 1.6 million dollars operating surplus is projected on a cash flow basis for the current fiscal year.
That is what is on the summary of the fiscal position that we are referring to.
Question 065 – 1(6): Will the Capital Project Budgets Keep Dropping
Mr. Havioyak: I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Finance from the budget speech yesterday and also the Tabled Document.
In the Capital projects for 2002 there is about 9 percent of your budget that is going to capital, which is a drop from last year.
And also there are lots of capital projects that should be looked at each year and as you go on, I think there are more projects that need to be in this, to be worked on.
I guess the question is will this continue to go down.
I mean, it’s going down each year.
It’s getting smaller all the time.
Will this trend continue?
Mr. Speaker, the last year, the 2001 – 2002 year, capital expenditures were targeted at 71.2 million dollars.
This year it’s 70.3 million, so it’s not that much variation.
I guess maybe if the member’s referring to the revised estimates where you have a number of 96.9 million over the course of the year; there were some adjustments made, capital carryovers.
For example, as I indicated earlier, in the question from Mr. Tootoo, there is a capital carryover coming forward this week.
In respect to capital carryovers from the 2001 – 2002 year, that will be added to this year to ensure that the capital projects that were on the books are finalized.
I hear and understand your response.
The last year’s capital was deferred to the 2002 – 2003 projects.
But as well, this difference increases compared to the previous estimates.
Will that happen again this year in terms of the capital projects?
I’m not sure, Mr. Speaker, if I’m understanding the member’s question but from the capital expenditures that are outlined 2002 – 2003, 70.3 million dollars.
That was approved this past fall.
There will be additions to that over the course of this current fiscal year if that’s what the member is asking.
Because like I said, there’s capital carryovers from this past current year that’ll be added to this year.
There may be special warrants as the result of emergency situations that are required over the course of the year that would add to that as well.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Thank you very much for your response.
I just wanted a response.
There were a lot of capital projects that are still on the shelf and these don’t get completed.
They should have been started, but they get shunted off somewhere and disappear.
I understand you will add on to capital projects next week for the 70 million dollars that will be used.
Perhaps, next year that would increase to 100 million dollars perhaps.
But I just wanted to find out exactly, for these projects, perhaps they are overlooked as far as capital items are concerned.
Are these capital projects closely looked at?
These projects for 2002 – 2003 in the Main Estimates perhaps are put aside.
I’m not sure about the 70 million dollars.
As you stated, next year it will be increased.
For example, 2001 – 2003, 71 million was used.
As far as the 96 million did you indicate that this will all be used, the 71 million dollars.
Did you increase it by 26 million dollars, why is that?
I understand where you are coming from but would that happen again next year.
Over the course of this year, they did the capital appropriations and all those increases come before this legislature in the form of supplementary appropriations to be approved.
Question 066 – 1(6): Change to Mortgage and Rental Scales
My question is directed to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation about mortgage payments and rent scales for public housing.
The rental scales have not been changed yet.
Will there be further studies or changes in the near future in regards to paying rent for public housing?
A short additional question, I thank the minister for a brief response and I understand his response.
I want to ask the minister when the changes will be effective and when will we see the rental scale changes in Nunavut?
Do you have a definite date, this fiscal year or next fiscal year?
Mr. Speaker, I would expect that we would have something, more than likely in place within the next two to three months.
Yes, I understand the response; that we expect to see changes in two to three months.
I just wondered if they change the rental scale, will the rent be lower.
I guess Mr. Speaker, it’s hard to say yes or no, because it will impact individuals differently depending on what their income levels are.
Question 067 – 1(6): Nursing Program Funds are Less Than the Law Students
My question is very short.
Why are the people taking the nursing program getting less money than the Akitsiraq Law School students?
Mr. Speaker, the short answer is that the Nunavut Nursing program is a program that is sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Services in conjunction with and cooperation with Arctic College.
It is run as a program under the college with all the auspices of the college program.
Mr. Speaker, the Law School Program is a separate one-off program that is unique as it has been outlined in the past by the Premier and in this House.
Yes, we realise that, if I could say it in English, all the students are unique.
It’s not only the law school students that are unique but the nursing program is unique as well.
Would the minister try to provide more funding for the nursing students, at least to a comparative level that is provided to the students of the Akitsiraq Law School because we want the students to complete their courses and on top of that, we are always talking about needing nurses in the communities in Nunavut.
I wonder if the minister could look into seeing that the nursing program students get as much funding as the Akitsiraq Law School students.
Mr. Speaker, one of the things that I put in place as Minister of the Department of Health and Social Services three years ago when we started this program, we realized that we needed to be able get more Inuit in professional occupations such as nurses.
At the present time Mr. Speaker there is only, to my knowledge one Inuk nurse operating or working in all of Nunavut.
I believe that person is in your home community of Arviat, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, after saying that as an extra incentive and looking at what has happened with programs at the college Mr. Speaker, I have put in place a bursary program of up to 10 thousand dollars per each nursing program.
Mr. Speaker, the caveat to that program that I have put in place and what the member has been requesting is that I have to now as Minister of Health and Social Services through our department matched those bursary funds with corporate sponsorship.
Mr. Speaker, we have been very successful as I have said in this House in the past, we have contacted several large corporations who have committed to funding the nursing bursary program in Nunavut over a multi-year period and that sponsorship Mr. Speaker and to seek sponsors is continuing through my office.
Mr. Speaker, it is so good to hear that the government is working together on this.
Therefore we will be expecting to see an increase in financial support to nursing students in Nunavut as much as law school program students.
The minister indicated last year that he was going to look into working with the Department of Education to make sure that the students are staying in the nursing program and also getting the support that they need to complete their course.
Has he done this Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Speaker, the member is correct. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the House especially, the Health committee who have been supportive of the bursary program as well as the extra work that we have put into making this program successful.
Mr. Speaker, at the present time our projections for this fall indicate that there are 23 students who will be enrolled or in place in the nursing program.
That includes year one, two and three and the access year.
At the present time the college is forecasting eight students to enter the access year, eight students from year one, three students in year two and Mr. Speaker, in year three, four students.
We expect Mr. Speaker by the year 2006-2007 in four years time to have graduated about 11 nurses in that program who would be working in the field in Nunavut.
I think Mr. Speaker that, in itself, it will be quite a success.
I think at this time I would like to request the minister to give us the list of students and how much money they are supported with by this government to continue their program, to finish their nursing program.
We are aware that we all support the law school program and we need lawyers in Nunavut.
But let’s face it, health as a people in Nunavut is an essential service.
What I am requesting is, what kind of financial support that this government is going to be providing to nursing students.
Are they going to get housing like law school program?
How much financial assistance are they going to be getting?
Hon. Ed Picco: Well Mr. Speaker, let me say right off the top in April 1st 1999, two major decisions were taken by the government at that time.
Number one Mr. Speaker, was to integrate the health and education boards and I believe Mr. Speaker number two, with actually the leadership of Mr. Arvaluk at that time, to institute the nursing program.
I believe Mr. Speaker, at the top of my head, the total cost of the program is 750 thousand dollars, which includes the cost of financial assistance.
Mr. Speaker, every student, as the Minister of Finance has just announced in the budget, needs help and support through Student Financial Assistance.
That is why, excuse me Mr. Speaker, this government increased the Student Financial Assistance amounts.
At the same time, Mr. Speaker, I know that the nursing students here or other students who have to come to Iqaluit or leave their home communities receive housing.
Mr. Speaker, each nursing student received a bursary of ten thousand dollars and each student in the Access Program, would receive a bursary of fifteen hundred dollars.
That is in place at the present time.
And Mr. Speaker, I also want to point out as the member has said before to me, that financial consideration is just one type of support that we should be offering our students, the other is some of the logistical as well as administrative support to our students.
In most cases, the nursing students are mothers; they are not like the students in the south, Mr. Speaker, sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen years old who got out of school.
Most of our students are mature adults.
In the case of our nursing students, Mr. Speaker, they are women who are twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old and older, who have children and are full time parents.
Mr. Speaker, I think that we need to be able to take that into consideration.
On the final question that the member asked about the total costs of the program, Mr. Speaker, in consultation with the Minister of Education and the Finance Minister, I will see how much information can be made available.
I know that we are not supposed to give individual amounts by names, but I can probably come up with the total costs of the program per year.
Question 068 – 1(6): Job Training Drop-outs
This is a question for the Minister responsible for Education.
Ever since the Government of Nunavut started three years ago, the grade twelve graduates in the communities after graduation have started seeking employment.
They are able to continue their education in other places after their grade twelve education.
In Iqaluit, for example, and Cambridge Bay, there are those Inuit who want to further their education and who may do so.
How many students were not able to continue their training or did not complete their courses, can you tell me that.
Can you clarify that comment; is this in regards to grade 12 or the students?
Are you talking about on the job training or high school drop-outs?
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): I am sorry that I was not clear on this.
I am talking about Grade 12 graduates from the communities, once they want to further their education they could go into on the job training.
How many students were not able to continue their education with on the job training?
How many gave up and just went home?
Can you let us know this?
I am sorry I am unable to reply to the member as I don’t have the numbers of the students who gave up in front of me.
However, they will be available for your information.
I will find out more about it.
Are you talking about the whole of Nunavut, or each region?
I am talking about the whole of Nunavut, no matter who they are, no matter what programs they are taking, as long as they are taking on the job training under Education.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, for the whole of Nunavut, as long as they are under Nunavut Arctic College and our programs, I will make sure that the numbers are available to you and I will find out more about it.
But for programs outside of Nunavut Arctic College, I wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly how many are giving up, but for those students within Nunavut I will find out more about this.
Yes, if this comes true, then that sounds good.
I would like to see the numbers of graduates and students who drop out of the education system.
How much money was wasted and how much money was used for those students who dropped out of these programs.
Because this costs a lot of money and it requires a lot of money to travel in Nunavut, especially since we are limited to air travel.
Because of that, I would like to find out more about the drop-outs and their numbers as it relates to our fiscal risks.
And how much money was wasted because we want to know exactly how much money we have spent on the students and how much money we plan to use for the next three year business plans especially.
Yes, I replied that through Nunavut Arctic College I will find out more about this and I will make sure that you have that information.
It’s going to take time to review them and perhaps some of the drop-outs will be able to go back to school because there are different reasons for dropping out.
Sometimes it is family issues, health issues but there has to be a reason why they were not able to continue their education.
So keep that in mind and that’s why we want to find out more about the reasons and the money used.
Question 069 – 1(6): Renovations to Women’s Shelters – Increase of Budget
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we talked about the budget and the finance minister presented the budget.
It was good to hear at the beginning about the Health Department. It was mentioned that 31 million dollars will be available to start different programs in promoting the well-being of Nunavummiut and it will also include the 1.7 million dollars of new money for Community Wellness Programs.
I am referring to the facility which is in my colleague’s riding of Nanulik, within the community of Chesterfield Inlet.
There is funding for the renovation of this facility which is a result of the facility being too old.
My question to the minister is, is the 650 thousand dollars additional funding for a total of 1.6 million dollars for facilities in Chesterfield Inlet, are we going to be including the Women’s Shelters with this additional funding of 650 thousand dollars that will be used to put additional monies into the Women’s Shelters, or will they receive their own renovation funds?
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the member is correct.
That is included in the numbers given yesterday in the House.
Representing my other community, the community of Taloyoak has a women’s shelter that has been in operation for 8 years and it has never received an increase in funding and everything is getting more expensive.
I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if there’s going to be further funding allocated for that shelter since there’s going to be a huge increase in your department.
Are we going to be seeing additional monies for salaries and benefits of the employees and the operations and maintenance of the shelter?
Mr. Speaker, first of all, the increases given by Mr. Ng yesterday in his budget address were well welcomed by the Department of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, the family violence shelters that the member is talking about and a lot of the members here in the House know, have not had any increases since 1992.
Mr. Speaker, this government for the first time, the Department of Health and Social Services, we actually have the luxury now of having some money now to be able to provide monies to the shelters and I appreciate the support of the members for that.
Mr. Speaker, the money that is given to the shelters is an unconditional grant.
Mr. Speaker, all family violence shelters in Nunavut will receive an increase.
Mr. Speaker, that increase will be contingent on the mental health strategy being passed with the health budget in the Assembly.
With that increase to the family violence shelters across Nunavut, those shelters have the opportunity of using that money for wages, benefits or indeed other O and M expenses.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker for that excellent response.
My communities I’m sure are very pleased as I am.
But it’s been approximately eight years since the previous NWT government that there has been no increase in the operations and maintenance and now there’s going to be an increase with this government.
My last question, Mr. Speaker, some of the employees have been employed in those shelters for a number of years but they have never seen any increments in their salaries or benefits.
Are we going to be able to see an increase in their salaries and benefits?
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, there will be increases if the budget is approved and passed with every family violence and safe house in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the total amount of those increases varies across the board.
They are in the range of an eight to ten percent increase in funding for the shelters.
Mr. Speaker, the option is available to each individual organization or community group Mr. Speaker, or independent society that operates these shelters on behalf and for the people of Nunavut, to use that money for wages, benefits and salaries.
The grant to them is unconditional which means they have the opportunity to decide what the money is used for.
Question 070 – 1(6): Advertisement of RFPs - Timeline
I will direct my question to the Minister responsible for Public Works and Services.
My question is about the RFPs and the advertisements that go out.
How long are they supposed to be advertised, two weeks, one month?
Speaker: Minister responsible for Public Works & Services.
Mr. Speaker, the advertisements each vary in the length of time they are out.
Some are out for a longer time, others it is rather short, it depends on the responses.