EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
To what extent will the Government of Nunavut’s new NNI Policy, which comes into effect on April 1, 2017, apply to contracts for medical travel, duty travel, and cargo shipments on scheduled airlines?
Written Question 013 – 4(3): Community Transportation Initiatives and Small Craft Harbours Programs (Akoak)
My written question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Community Transportation Initiatives and Small Craft Harbours Programs.
Expressing the information in a comparable format to that which was provided in Return to Written Question 9 – 4(2), what were the Department of Economic Development and Transportation’s activities and expenditures under its Community Transportation Initiatives Program and Small Craft Harbours Program during the 2015-16 fiscal year?
Written Question 014 – 4(3): Enforcement of the Liquor Act (Sammurtok, A)
My written question is to the Minister of Justice, Enforcement of the Liquor Act.
Broken down by community and category of offence, how many charges were laid for alleged contraventions of the Liquor Act during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years?
With respect to fines imposed during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years for contraventions of the Liquor Act, what is the total amount of money received to date from offenders?
As of June 1, 2016, how many individuals are currently incarcerated in territorial correctional facilities as a consequence of sentences imposed for contraventions of the Liquor Act?
As of June 1, 2016, how many matters involving alleged contraventions of the Liquor Act are awaiting consideration before the Nunavut Court of Justice?
Written Question 015 – 4(3): Government of Nunavut Expenditures on Overtime Pay (Angnakak)
My question is for the Hon. Keith Peterson, the Minister of Finance.
Expressing the information in a comparable format to that which was provided in Returns to Written Questions 11 – 3(3) and 7 – 4(2), what were the Government of Nunavut’s expenditures on overtime pay for indeterminate, term, casual, and relief employees during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years for each of its departments, Crown agencies, and territorial corporations?
Tabled Document 165 – 4(3): Report on the Review and Reform of Income Assistance and Economic Development, June 2016 (Kuksuk)
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to table the Report on the Review and Reform of Income Assistance and Economic Development, June 2016.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents. The Hon. Minister responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council, Mr. Johnny Mike.
Tabled Document 166 – 4(3): 2016 Annual Report of the Utility Rates Review Council of Nunavut (Mike)
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to table the 2016 Annual Report of the Utility Rates Review Council of Nunavut.
Tabled Document 167 – 4(3): Government of Nunavut’s University Feasibility Study, Phase I Analysis, February 22, 2016 (Quassa)
Tabled Document 168 – 4(3): Government of Nunavut’s University Feasibility Study, Phase II Analysis, April 19, 2016 (Quassa)
I am pleased to table the Government of Nunavut’s University Feasibility Study, Phase I Analysis, dated February 22, 2016 and Phase II Analysis, dated April 19, 2016.
Tabled Document 169 – 4(3): Responses from Airlines from Canadian North, First Air, and Calm Air on Codeshare Agreements (Taptuna)
I am pleased to table the Responses from Airlines from Canadian North, First Air, and Calm Air on Codeshare Arrangements.
Tabled Document 170 – 4(3): 2014-2015 Annual Report of the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal (Peterson)
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I am tabling the 2014-15 Annual Report of the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal.
Tabling of Documents. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Ms. Ell-Kanayuk.
Tabled Document 171 – 4(3): Comprehensive Report on the Activities and Expenditures of the Energy Secretariat, 2015-2016 (Ell-Kanayuk)
I am pleased to table the Comprehensive Report on the Activities and Expenditures of the Energy Secretariat, 2015-16.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Tabling of Documents. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Ms. Ell-Kanayuk.
Tabled Document 172 – 4(3): FPT Report on the Ministers of Agriculture Meeting, Charlottetown, PEI, July 14 to 17, 2015 (Ell-Kanayuk)
Tabled Document 173 – 4(3): FPT Report on Energy, Mines Ministers’ Conference (EMMC) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, July 19 to 21, 2015 (Ell-Kanayuk)
I am pleased to table the following two FPT reports:
FPT Report on the Ministers of Agriculture Meeting, Charlottetown, PEI, July 14 to 17, 2015;
Secondly, FPT Report on the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety, Ottawa, Ontario, January 28, 2016.
Tabled Document 174 – 4(3): Extended Health Benefits Policy (Ell-Kanayuk)
I am pleased to table the Extended Health Benefits Policy.
Tabled Document 175 – 4(3): Speaker’s List of Outstanding Statutory Tabling Requirements (Speaker)
Thank you, Members. (interpretation ends) I wish to table today a list of outstanding statutory tabling requirements.
This list is current as of the end of the June 8, 2016 sitting of the Legislative Assembly. (interpretation) Thank you.
Bill 16 – An Act to Amend the Travel and Tourism Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Aggu, Mr. Quassa, that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Travel and Tourism Act, be read for the second time.
The motion is carried and Bill 16 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Bill 19 – Unlawful Property Forfeiture Act – Second Reading
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 19, Unlawful Property Forfeiture Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill provides for the forfeiture of property used to engage in unlawful activity or acquired from the profits of unlawful activity through civil legal proceedings.
Bills 17 and 18 with Mr. Akoak in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 16:24 and Committee resumed at 16:50
Welcome, Members, (interpretation) Inuit who are watching and listening to the proceedings.
(interpretation ends) In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bill 17 and Bill 18.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to proceed with the review of Bill 17, followed by Bill 18.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 17?
Bill 17 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2016-2017 – Consideration in Committee
I would now like to ask the Minister responsible for Finance if he has officials that he would like to appear before the committee.
I have two officials that I would like to appear before the committee.
Does the committee agree to let Minister Peterson’s staff go to the witness table?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Chairman, to my right is Chris D’Arcy, Deputy Minister of Finance, and to my left is Lori Kimball, Deputy Minister of Community and Government Services.
First of all, I would like to remind visitors, officials, and MLAs, we have translators. It’s okay to come up and take a breath there once in while.
I am here today to present Bill 17, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2016-2017.
Bill 17 is a supplementary appropriation for 2016-17 capital totalling $122,591,000.
This appropriation addresses carryovers from the 2015-16 fiscal year to the 2016-17 fiscal year.
There are two types of capital carryovers in Bill 17. Regardless of type, all of the projects have been approved in previous capital plans and have funds appropriated to them.
The first type is approved capital projects where there is a financial or contractual commitment to continue the project into the next fiscal year.
We have been calling these projects “FAM compliant.”
Mr. Chairman, approval of these carryovers is technical in nature. These projects are ongoing and Bill 17 ensures their continuation.
The second type is projects that we have not been able to start in previous years. These are the “Non-FAM compliant” projects.
If this is not done, the funding will lapse and the project will either be dropped or, possibly, be included in a future capital plan.
There are a total of 121 projects in the carryover request. This is 15 more than last year.
[$131,000] for the Office of the Legislative Assembly for improvements;
$8,754,000 in nine projects for the Department of Finance in support of Nunavut Arctic College operations and includes the Kitikmeot Mine Training Centre – Student Residence phase, three community learning centres in Iqaluit, Whale Cove, and Grise Fiord, a new student records system, and the Rankin Inlet Trade School;
$754,000 in two projects for the Department of Justice covering some minor capital and renovations to the Nunavut Court of Justice;
$994,000 for the Department of Family Services for renovations to the Rankin Inlet Adult Group Home;
$23,475,000 in 32 projects for the Department of Education and includes schools for Baker Lake, Cape Dorset, Arviat, Igloolik, and Naujaat, as well as repairs and renovations to several schools;
$500,000 for the Department of Culture and Heritage in support of heritage facilities;
$11,556,000 in seven projects for the Department of Health, which includes the repair, renovation, or replacement of several health facilities, including the Baffin Regional Hospital, as well as medical diagnostic equipment;
$2,087,000 in 10 projects for the Department of Environment covering wildlife office renovations and replacement and territorial park development;
$48,459,000 in 44 projects for the Department of Community and Government Services covering a wide range of municipal and community infrastructure projects; and
$25,881,000 in 14 projects for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation covering a number of airport improvement projects, replacement of the Motor Vehicle Information System, the Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre, and small craft harbour planning.
I just want to remind the members that the contents of the minister’s opening comments are covered in the pages of the bill.
Please save your questions for the page-by-page review.
We will now proceed to the page-by-page review of the supplementary estimates starting on page 4. Office of the Legislative Assembly.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Total Assembly Operations. $131,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $131,000. Agreed?
Prior to raising my question related to these figures, which we systemically reviewed as well as a personal review, this written item crops up on more than one occasion, which I would like to get clarified and in the English version, specifically 1, 2, and written reports towards the end. The footnotes include the page numbers and other details, stating these other items are listed as future “new” projects for 2016-17.
I would like a reminder as to the specific meaning of this statement.
It means that these particular projects were approved in previous years, but there are no contractual commitments outstanding against those projects at this time.
If we wish to have those projects to be continued, we have to carry them over and get approval again.
We are on Finance. Capital. Not Previously Authorized.
Thank you for that explanation. Do I understand that we have previously approved these projects and you didn’t have an opportunity to start them?
Why were these projects not able to be started? There must be various reasons why projects aren’t started. I would greatly appreciate it if the minister could provide an example.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A possible reason for contracts not being awarded could be a delay or there could be some changes to the design of a facility that had prevented them from going to an RFP. That would be one potential delay.
Another potential delay is capacity issues. There are so many projects and they just couldn’t get around to the tender process at the time. It was better to carry the project over.
Chairman: Thank you. We are on Finance. Capital.
Not Previously Authorized. Total Centrally Administered Funds. $8,754,000. Total Department.
Mr. Alexander Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is just a request for clarification on the (interpretation ends) Nunavut Trade School. (interpretation) Where is the (interpretation ends) Nunavut Trade School (interpretation) located?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Nunavut Trade School is located in Rankin Inlet.
We’re on Finance. Capital. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Centrally Administered Funds. $8,754,000. Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $8,754,000.
Chairman: Thank you. Page 6. Family Services.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Total Corporate Management. $994,000.
Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) We worked on this last year and we had an agreement stating that the work would be proceeding.
During the year of 2016-17, we are trying to approve funds again for it. (interpretation ends) When is this adult group home renovation going to be started?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. An RFP for renovation was issued on April 15, 2016 and it is anticipated that construction will begin in the fall of 2016 and be completed by the end of the 2016-17 fiscal year.
Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I understand, the minister is saying 2015-16 were the years or 2017. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
It is anticipated that the construction will begin in the fall of 2016, this current fiscal year, and then be completed by the end of the 2016-17 fiscal year, the end being March 31, 2017.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Total Corporate Management. $ 994,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $994,000.
Page 7. Justice. Capital.
Not Previously Authorized. Total Directorate. $160,000. Total Registries and Court Services.
Not Previously Authorized. $594,000. Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $754,000.
Page 8. Culture and Heritage.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Total Directorate. $500,000.
I just need a reminder.
It’s talking about facilities. Is that buildings as a plural? Can the minister remind me what this involves?
I believe it’s one facility known as the Kenojuak Cultural Centre and Print Shop Project.
Culture and Heritage. Capital. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Directorate. $500,000. Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $500,000.
Chairman: Education. Capital. Not Previously Authorized.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On this page is the Gjoa Haven school renovation. I may be mistaken, but ever since I became a member four or five years ago, it seems like it is always under renovation and the work never seems to end.
When is this scheduled to be completed?
This particular project, I agree, it has been a very long time. I believe it was first started planning in 2004.
It went on the capital plan in 2006-07, and here we are in 2016-17.
I believe the sheet says that it’s a 12-year project. Apparently, the pyramids were being built faster than the school.
Currently, the project is anticipated to be complete later this year by, I believe, November 2016.
That’s our information.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I fully support that Mr. Akoak and his community deserve a very nice high school, as we all do.
Renovating a school for 12 years is a little much in my humble opinion.
(interpretation) I would like to ask this question. As this renovation was happening, there were always things that came up. They always found things that needed fixing and then other things that needed fixing again.
Was that the cause of the delays? Did they just keep finding things that needed renovation?
The planning for that particular project, I believe there were two schools involved, but the planning was done at a time when the capital planning processes were, I guess for lack of a better word, weak.
As Mr. Enook will recall, in the Third Assembly, the MLAs and the government spent quite a bit of time tightening up the capital planning process. FMB approved the capital planning process in 2010-11 and then we introduced the new capital planning process handbook.
I just forget the name of the chart that provides a lot of details about how the planning should be done. Of course, we established a project management office to provide a lot of oversight and support to project development officers.
We also spent a lot of time in the early going on planning and design so that we can bring the projects in before they were introduced into the capital plan.
Rather than have class “X” estimates, which I would say are very weak numbers, we would try to get them down to class “A” estimates so that there’s a firmer number where we could anticipate if we went to market that we could get competitive bids in the range that they were estimated at.
Mr. Chairman, I’ll ask Mr. D’Arcy to provide some more details on that particular project for Mr. Enook.
As the minister said, we’re actually talking about two or perhaps even three projects that ended up getting rolled into one. We did start the project many years ago, 12 years ago, and assigned it a project number.
As the project matured, as they kept going on, they also kept finding difficulties with the school and kept refining the project.
From there, it morphed into doing another school altogether and then finally came back to do the exterior envelope on the school.
In the current way we do capital planning, they would likely have been discrete projects that wouldn’t have been a 12-year project or a never-ending Gjoa Haven high school project. However, that’s where we are now.
The work we guarantee should have been done and is necessary, and I’m sure that the students in Gjoa Haven are the better for it.
Chairman: Thank you. Next name on the list, Mr. Rumbolt.
One line item here it states, “Sanikiluaq New School Planning” for $44,000 and I’m not aware of any new school being planned in my community.
When I look at the substantiation sheets, it’s actually for the school that was built like five years ago.
From reading the substantiation sheets, it says, “$44,000 for warranty work.”
It’s now five years later. Can they explain why we’re keeping warranty work for $44,000 over five years? Usually warranty is done within a year or two.
We believe that is for warranty work.
I previously stated that it says there that it is for warranty work.
My question was: why would there be ongoing warranty work for five years after the school is completed?
At what point in time would you consider this project complete?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Chairman, Mr. D’Arcy will answer that question.
From time to time, there is some warranty work that lags on where we can’t get the contractor to fix something or there was some deficiency in the building that still remains to be corrected.
We don’t have the information on what specifically is happening in that school, but I’m sure that the Department of Education could share it with Member Rumbolt.
That’s fine with that.
I think the biggest point I’m trying to make is the heading. It says, “Sanikiluaq New School Planning.” It probably should say something like “Paatsaali School Completion” rather than a new school planning.
It’s kind of misleading.
The other question I have is there is a line item there for Sanikiluaq’s Nuiyak School generator for $400,000. According to the substantiation sheet, the reasons for delays in the capital project were for supplying of material and shipping challenges.
I’m wondering if we can get some information on whether these issues have been ironed out so that this project can get underway and completed this year.
The information that we received on that particular project is that the replacement generator has been ordered for the school and it should be delivered on the sealift this summer.
I have a question on the Iqaluit Security Project for the Aqsarniit Middle School. I think this is project year 3.
I’m just wondering why it’s taking so long to put a security system in place. Also, project year 3 and then I look at the class cost estimate being a “D,” that tells me that we don’t know a lot of information about this, yet we’re spending money.
If you can just comment on that.
I will ask the Minister of Education if he can respond to that question.
Minister Quassa, are you prepared to answer the question?
Hon. Paul Quassa: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Perhaps the member could ask the question again.
I’m sorry, but I didn’t quite understand the question, Mr. Chairman.
You have a project here for the Aqsarniit Middle School. It’s the Iqaluit Security Project. It’s in its third year.
It looks like the construction budget was $200,000. Carryover is $79,000. You’ve spent a little over $100,000, but the class estimate says “D.” That means you don’t know very much about the project or how much it’s going to cost, yet money is being spent.
You’re in your third year.
I’m wondering: why the delay? Why is it taking three years to put a security system in place, and why are you spending that kind of money when it’s only a class “D” estimate?
In regard to this project, we’re reviewing various schools, not just this school.
The development of this project is quite slow. I want the member to know it is moving forward.
We are pushing to complete it as we want to install security systems in all schools.
This school was one of the first schools that we started with the project. I want the member to know that this project will be completed.
I still have a question about the class “D” estimate. My other question is, in the substantiation, in regard to the background information, it says, “The Iqaluit District Education Authority has selected Aqsarniit Middle School to try a new type of entrance control phone. If this is successful, the project costs will be greatly reduced.”
I don’t really understand that; if you can elaborate on that.
How will the project cost of this be reduced?
This is the first school that is getting this type of work done on it. I’m just wondering if the minister can elaborate on that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I stated in my opening comments, these capital projects were previously approved, so we’re carrying them over.
This particular project was tendered twice unsuccessfully. That’s one of the reasons it had to be carried over.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of work that goes into preparing capital projects with carryover substantiation sheets. I know we have discussed many times over the years, updating all the details. It’s a class “D” cost, but I would suspect that it probably should be more a class “A” because they have gone to tender on it.
For those of us who are reviewing these substantiation sheets, we’re also a little bit in the dark and we’re trying to approve money here and wanting the information before we do approve because we don’t like to be “rubber stampers.”
When we see a “D,” I think it is a concern for all of us. Just to keep that in mind, when I turn the page and go to Pangnirtung, I know it’s year 1, but they have also spent some money for the Pangnirtung Alookie Foundation and it’s also a class “D.” I’m just bringing that to your attention.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s all that I have.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
As I commented earlier to Mr. Enook, we have significantly enhanced and strengthened our capital planning process over the years and continue to do so. A number of projects will get introduced to the capital plan at a class “D” level, but then the planning and design are ongoing. When we go to tender, it’s usually around a class “A.”
I’ll ask Mr. D’Arcy to give more details. He spends a lot of time during the day on capital planning and finance to ensure that we provide as much information as possible for the committee to consider when we have these discussions.
Yes, these capital carryover substantiation sheets are an update to the original capital substantiation sheet that this House has previously voted on. The capital carryovers are to re-appropriate funds that have already been approved. These are not new projects that are coming under scrutiny.