EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, in the context of that and in the context of some of the other statements that were made, for example, under some of the abuse a couple of years ago in some of the communities, we looked at it on a case by case basis under the income support program.
That’s something Mr. Speaker, we would be doing again once the money or the cheques start to flow. It is our understanding by just listening to the media reports that still might be some time in coming.
Recently, the federal government announced an Energy Cost Benefit program to help Canadians deal with high energy costs.
Payments under the program will go to families who receive the National Child Benefit supplement.
Will Nunavummiut, receiving these benefits, have their income support reduced?
There are some issues around income support and the monies that are generated through other sources of income, other than, for example, the member mentioned bingo.
Mr. Speaker, this is not in the same context and that’s something that we have to look at as a government, within that program.
It also reflects some of the other jurisdictions who would have a similar issue, with the residential school pay out.
Again, with the possible federal election, in the next few weeks and months, issues may change on timing and so on.
So, that’s something, Mr. Speaker, that we as a government we’re looking into, not only on the logistics side, but also on the financial side.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister recently agreed to suggestions made by regular MLAs and others that co-op dividends no longer be clawed-back by the GN. Is he looking at exempting any other sources of income in this way?
The member is correct, we just recently moved, in the last budget cycle to exempt co-op dividends. That was something that co-op members across Nunavut had asked us for, for a long time, to exempt income dividends from co-op payments as reportable income for income support.
We are also going to do the same thing, in answer to the member’s question for the federal program that is coming out in regards to any type of fuel tax credit that may be available, or cheques that may be available to our Elders and seniors and people in low income situations.
So, that’s another exemption that we’re looking at.
Question 088 – 2(3): Identifying Nunavut Beneficiaries in the Priority Hiring Policy (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, in the Minister’s Statement this morning or earlier or somewhere in a different time zone, earlier this afternoon, he indicated in the revised priority hiring policy that one of the things he eliminated was the responsibility for applicants to identify their eligibility for priority consideration.
Given that and taking that out of there Mr. Speaker, my question is this, how does the department plan to identify someone who qualifies under that policy or not.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Those people who applied had to indicate whether they were beneficiaries but we encountered some problems, especially when they had to identify it a lot of times, they forgot the little box to indicate whether they are beneficiaries or not.
We obtained the list from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated of the beneficiaries and it’ll be our responsibility to check whether they are beneficiaries or not.
What it was previously, the applicant had to indicate if they were beneficiaries.
But we encountered some minor problems, and now, it’ll be our department that will check to make sure they are beneficiaries or not.
I hope I answered his question.
Mr. Speaker, if I understand the Minister correctly the department, whenever they receive an applicant they are going to be cross referencing with the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated beneficiary list.
Mr. Speaker, how is the department going to determine that list is accurate and I know sometimes all beneficiaries are not on that list, so how are they going to determine that list is accurate for using it for that purpose.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): What this is it is continually updated with new names of all the beneficiaries and we have that list. But if somebody applies for positions, Human Resources will cross check with the list but before it was up to the individual who was applying for a job whether they were beneficiaries or not.
And if they mistakenly miss that to check that off then that created problems. So we will go through all the applicants and check with the list which as we have it from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
Mr. Speaker, so I wonder how the department is going to determine if that list is accurate.
But, also Mr. Speaker, under the priority hiring policy it is my understanding that there were some changes made to also accommodate local northerners that were non-beneficiaries. So, will that be put into that policy?
Are they still going to be required to say that they are local northerners, even though they are not a beneficiary, and if the minister and his department are going to be checking just for beneficiaries, how are they going to determine the other priority levels for hiring?
Speaker: Minister Tapardjuk.
The way it is, we look at the beneficiaries to give them priority.
After that, then we go with the Nunavummiut, which includes anybody who lives in Nunavut, who is a long-term resident.
We could consider them as Nunavummiut if they have resided in Nunavut for one year and have obtained a health care card.
We would consider them as Nunavummiut and the rest would be others who apply.
So, for the way it is now, the beneficiaries are given the priority, and second the Nunavummiut, and third others.
That’s how it is at this time, Mr. Speaker.
Again, I understand how the three levels work, but what the minister is indicating is that they are going to use another list that isn’t coming from the government, that there may be gaps in for an individual to determine just the number one priority of the government.
There’s absolutely nothing in there that sets up how they are going to differentiate between priority two and priority three, between Nunavummiut and other.
How are they going to determine that?
He mentioned that they have a health care card, but it’s not a requirement to put down your healthcare number on an application and I’m pretty sure it’s a breach of privacy for the Department of Human Resources to go to the Department of Health to find out whether that individual has a Nunavut health care card.
So, I would like to ask the minister: how do they plan on differentiating between the three?
I mean there’s only one and even that one, we can’t guarantee its’ accuracy, but between Nunavummiut and other, how are you going to determine that?
Is it fair to have, basically it’s a two-tiered system that if you are from Nunavut, you have to put that on there, but if you are a beneficiary, you don’t have to?
How are they going to determine what the other priority levels are because it seems to be missing there?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): With that, it’s a new system that we are putting together in our department, and of course, with this policy, there is room for improvement.
We will put a priority on the beneficiaries in order to increase the number working in the Nunavut Government. We definitely have to increase the number under Article 23 in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement; there has to be a priority.
And then for the second level, they are Nunavummiut whether they are Qallunaaq, Inuk, or a non-beneficiary because we know who the long-term residents are; they are going to be easy to identify.
And for the others, for example, anybody from the south who has applied, they will be put on as a last priority.
I want to make sure that I’m getting the message across here, but this is the only way that I can answer. There are going to be three levels.
Question 089 – 2(3): Arctic College Research Institute (Netser)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education on the Arctic College Research Institute. We hear that we have one here in Iqaluit and one in Igloolik.
How much is the Arctic College spending in terms of operation of both buildings in Nunavut?
It is my understanding that all the money that we had for operations and maintenance for those buildings was transferred out of the Department of Education and indeed, to Community and Government Services.
So, on the operations and maintenance costs, I don’t have those number values with me.
When would he have the figures for us and why do we have to have two institutes in Nunavut?
I can provide the numbers to the member as early as tomorrow morning, or indeed I might have them this afternoon in the Committee of the Whole, which I can bring to the member.
On the issue of the two buildings themselves, Mr. Speaker, they serve dual purposes. They provide not only logistic, but also administrative support to the college.
On the NRI side of things, the Nunavut Research Institute here, for example, is the major base of operations for advanced scientific work that occurs in Nunavut.
It helps facilitate permitting and so on, on behalf and for southern scientists and research groups that come forward to do research in Nunavut.
Mr. Netser, your second supplementary.
Do we need both institutes in Nunavut?
(interpretation) Because of course, they say that they don’t have enough money. What we’d like to know from the minister is exactly how much they use for operations and maintenance.
We have very limited financial resources.
Is it necessary to have two institutions?
At the present time we believe there is some opportunity with some economies of scale when we look at the two institutions, with the two facilities that the member is talking about.
One of the biggest concerns that we had, for example, were the operations and maintenance dollars that were being expended directly by the college, out of the college budget.
We were able to transfer those dollar values and costs to the Department of Community and Government Services.
At the same time, the member is correct; those costs will still have to be covered by the Government of Nunavut.
But, at the same time, we believe that there are some economies of scale with having two.
That’s a discussion Mr. Speaker that needs to be engaged in with the Board of Governors for the college when we are doing our review, and that is something that will be occurring with the next board meeting of the Board of Governors of the college.
Tabling of Documents. Prior to that, if you are going to be tabling a document, make sure the pages come and get them.
Tabled Document 036 – 2(3): Priority Hiring Policy (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a document regarding the priority hiring policy.
Tabled Document 037 – 2(3): Annual Report of the Director of Child & Family Services, 2004-05 (Aglukkaq)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services for the fiscal year 2004-05.
Tabled Document 038 – 2(3): FPT Ministerial Meetings (Brown)
Tabled Document 039 – 2(3): Procurement & Contracting Report, 2004-05 (Brown)
Tabled Document 040 – 2(3): Nunavut Gasoline Quality Report, 2004-05 (Brown)
I would like to table three documents.
Mr. Speaker, the first one is in regards to a meeting we had down south of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers on Nunavut. The second, Mr. Speaker, is the Report on the Nunavut Petroleum Products for the year 2004-05.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to table another document, the contract report for 2004-05.
Tabled Document 041 – 2(3): Nunavut Business Credit Corporation Board Policies (Kilabuk)
Tabled Document 042 – 2(3): Government of Nunavut Memorandum of Understanding with Nunavut Tourism (Kilabuk)
Tabled Document 043 – 2(3): Safe Harbours – Healthy Communities & Airports for Nunavummiut & Their Economy (Kilabuk)
I wish to table the following documents; first, the Nunavut Business Development Board Policies, also, Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut’s Memorandum of Understanding with Nunavut Tourism and lastly, I would like table the Safe Harbours and Airports for Nunavummiut and their Economy.
In addition, I distributed the Transportation Strategy 2001 in the last government to each Member of the Legislative Assembly for their information.
Speaker (interpretation): Tabling of Documents, Mr. Akesuk.
Tabled Document 044 – 2(3): FPT Ministerial Meetings (Akesuk)
I wish to table a document on Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministerial meetings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Tabling of Documents, Premier Okalik.
Tabled Document 045 – 2(3): Deputy Minister Travel Fiscal Year 2004-05 & Ministerial Travel Expense Summary Report for Fiscal Year 2004-05 (Okalik)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a document regarding the Deputy Ministers’ Ministers’ travel to meetings in 2004-05.
Tabled Document 046 – 2(3): Pension Administration Report for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2005 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 047 – 2(3): Audited Financial Statements of the Retiring Allowances Fund for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2005 (Speaker)
Honourable Members pursuant to Section 21(d) of the Legislative Assembly’s Retiring Allowances Act, and Section 20(b) of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I wish to table today; the Pension Administration Report, as prepared by the actuaries of the plans, Hewitt Associates, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005.
Tabled Document 048 – 2(3): Audited Financial Statements of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Fund for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2005 (Speaker)
Honourable members, pursuant to Section 20 of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I wish to table today the audited financial statements of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Fund for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005.
Tabled Document 049 – 2(3): Report on the Payment of Member Indemnities, Allowances & Expenses for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2005 (Speaker)
Tabling of Documents. Pursuant to Section 36 of the Legislative Assembly’s and Executive Council Act, I wish to table the report on the payment of member indemnities, allowances, and expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005.
Back to the Orders of the Day. Item 14.
Motion 002 – 2(3): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Kilabuk)
I have two notices of motions here.
I give notice that on Wednesday, November 30, 2005, I will move the following.
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay, that notwithstanding Rule 4, that when the House concludes its present sitting in Iqaluit, it shall adjourn until Tuesday, February 21, 2006.
Motion 003 – 2(3): Ending Domestic Violence in Nunavut – Notice (Kilabuk)
I give notice that on Wednesday, November 30, I will move the following motion:
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit Centre, that the Legislative Assembly affirm its commitment to supporting measures to reduce and eliminate domestic violence in Nunavut.
FURTHER I MOVE that this House, including all elected officials and office holders at the municipal and regional level, join the Members of the Legislative Assembly in this commitment.
Further, I move that the Members of the Legislative Assembly demonstrate personal leadership by participating in public education efforts to promote the unacceptability of domestic violence in any form and to provide positive role models.
Motion 004 – 2(3): Member for Nattilik be Removed from the Executive Council of Nunavut – Notice (Tootoo)
I give notice that on Wednesday, November 30, 2005, I will move the following motion:
I move that the Member for Nattilik be removed as a Member of the Executive Council of Nunavut.
Speaker (interpretation): Your notice of motion, do you have a seconder for your notice of motion? Mr. Tootoo.
Notice of motion is out of order.
Bill 02 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #2, 2005-06 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #2, 2005-06, be read for the first time.
Bill 03 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #2, 2005-06 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baffin South, that Bill 3, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act #2, 2005-06, be read for the first time.
Bill 3 has had its first reading.
Bill 04 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #4, 2004-05 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nattilik, that Bill 4 - Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act #4 2004-2005 be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 4 has had its first reading.
Bill 10 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act – First Reading
I apologize, Mr. Speaker.
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act, be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 10 has had its first reading.
Bill 02 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #2, 2005-06 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #2, 2005-06, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of Nunavut to defer the capital expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
There are no comments to the motion.
The motion is carried and Bill 2 has had second reading and can be referred to Committee of the Whole.
Bill 03 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #2, 2005-06 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Baffin South, that Bill 3, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act #2, 2005-06, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of Nunavut to defray the operations and maintenance expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
The motion is carried and Bill 3 has had second reading and can be referred to Committee of the Whole.
Bill 04 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #4, 2004-05 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nattilik that Bill 4, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act #4, 2004-05, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of Nunavut to defray the operations and maintenance expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal ending March 31, 2005.
The motion is carried and Bill 4 has had second reading and can be referred to Committee of the Whole.
Bill 1, Bill 2, Bill 3, Bill 4.
We’ll take a short break until 4:15.
>>House recessed at 15:53 and Committee resumed at 16:25
The meeting will come back to order. There are Bills 1, 2, 3, and 4 that we have to deal with.
We wish to continue with the review of the capital for Education followed by the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Minister Picco would you and your officials go to the witness table.
(interpretation) Thank you. Welcome.
If you could introduce your officials, Mr. Picco.
Mr. Chairman with me at the Witness Table this afternoon on my immediate left is the Capital Planner for the Department of Education, Mr. Lorne Levy and my immediate right is Ms. Pam Hine, Deputy Minister of Education.
Chairman (interpretation): Welcome Ms. Hine and Mr. Levy.
We are on page G-8.
I think Mr. Alagalak has the floor.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Chairman I decline.
During last week’s discussion on that item, it was somewhat a perception in Rankin Inlet with the number of college programs not only for the town of Rankin but for the communities of the region as a whole, and there was I think a perception that was presented here that the facility there accommodates all types of students including single and married couples.
Is that correct that the current facility houses single students, as well as family students from outside of the Kivalliq communities?
Mr. Chairman, my understanding is that is incorrect. The accommodations provided in Rankin Inlet are for single students. At the same time we have leased some units in the community for married accommodations and because of some of the issues that were raised last week in the House by the Member we instructed the College to go forward immediately to the newspapers to do another ad to find accommodations in the community for those married people.
Certainly, Mr. Chairman that is welcome news to the students not only for family units but for other students from outside the region that come in and therefore include students that have more than one term program that they are attending in Rankin; my appreciation to the minister.
Can you communicate to the town officials or education officials that you would send a copy of that information to me because I am not sure how many units will be called for with your announcement?
I can say to you that it is very important news to the students.
I also would like to ask my last question with respect to the $460,000 allocation, it appeared last week that this is for planning of site developments and other plans for the future accommodation.
Am I correct in that they are not actually going to be for constructing units next year?
As I was explaining last week, during the deliberations, the $460,000 is in place for design as well as some of the site development work that needs to move forward.
And one of the issues that had come up in the past was the lot selection issue and some of the work that needed to be done with the lot in Rankin Inlet. So, that’s the basis of the money here in the budget.
Under Tangible Assets.
Kivalliq Region. Total Kivalliq Region. $2,110,000.
Chairman: Thank you. Kitikmeot Region.
I don’t have a specific question about the elementary school, but I do have some questions about other potential capital planning projects in the Kitikmeot, and in particular, for the one in Cambridge Bay.
That would be the future of the new Nunavut Arctic College campus facility.
I’m sure the minister and his officials are aware that some of the facilities in Cambridge Bay are at least 40 years old and maybe older, and they are not very conducive to classroom facilities.
I know you have done the best you can with the facilities, but they are not up to current standards, and the facilities are spread all over town.
The thing about the campus is that you know it’s based in Cambridge Bay. It’s a regional facility, and it’s for all of Kitikmeot. Students come from elsewhere across Nunavut and we just recently opened the new housing.
It’s very nice, by the way, the 28 families of the students that are staying at the student housing, I think, are some of the happiest people in Cambridge Bay.
So, if Rankin Inlet gets some facilities, I’m sure that folks down there will be happy. We have these new accommodations for students, which makes life easier on the home scene, but the classroom facilities are not up to standards.
I’m wondering if the minister could update me on what they are planning in terms of funding over the next two or three years to provide new facilities.
In January or February, Mr. Levy and his team will be in Cambridge Bay reviewing the facilities there and meeting with Fiona Buchan-Corey, who is the Director of the Campus for the Kitikmeot in Cambridge Bay, to look at the infrastructure needs of the community.
And the member is correct; we have a nice accommodation now, the very best of accommodations for our students in the community.
That facility, the college facilities themselves leave something to be desired and there is some movement within the community as well as the board of governors of the college, and myself as minister, that we would like to be able to amalgamate and integrate our facilities under one roof as it were in the community of Cambridge Bay.
It’s also tied into the Nunavut Arctic College board of governors. They will be reviewing their capital plan, and that capital plan reviewed by the board of governors then comes to me as the minister and is then incorporated into the Department of Education plan.