EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. The clock is running out for question period but Mr. Barnabas is waving his hand quite anxiously so you will have the last question Mr. Barnabas.
Question 577 – 1(3): DEA Staffing Process
Mr. Speaker, my last question will be directed to the Minister of Education.
Mr. Speaker, we did table a set of recommendations to the Department of Education and I believe that the minister has to respond before 120 days are over.
When the department became responsible for the DEAs, the local people elect the DEAs and they are in there for staggered terms.
Would the upcoming process with the DEAs, since they are going to be responsible for staffing and so on how is that going to work.
There is going to be no change from the present procedure.
Like we said in our report to the Standing Committee on Education, we have said that the DEA staff will stay on as the staff of DEAs and on July 1, the other staff will become employees of the Department of Education.
There is a difference between the DEA staff and the Department of Education staff and they have different benefits.
How are the staff of the DEAs going to be handled if they have to be disciplined and how are they going to know that they have to be disciplined.
How is the Department of Education going to handle this.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that we all know and are proud of the people because of course the Hamlets and ourselves were elected by the people out there.
Again, for the same reason we are also proud of the DEA board members because the people elected them.
They are not going to be under the Department of Education so if anybody needs disciplining then the DEAs will be responsible for taking the appropriate action.
Question period is complete.
Moving on to item 7.
Returns to Written Questions. Returns to Written Questions.
Tabled Document 101 – 1(3): Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth, Business Plan
I would like to table a document from the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth, their Business Plan for the year 2000/2001.
In accordance with motion 14 – 1(3), the business plan for Culture, Language, Elders & Youth is referred to committee of the whole.
Tabled Document 102 – 1(3): Nunavut Tourism Business Plan
I would like to table a document produced by Nunavut Tourism, business plan for the year 2000/2001.
Uqaqti, I give notice that on Thursday May 4, 2000, I will move the following motion.
I move, seconded by the honourable member for Cambridge Bay, that notwithstanding rule 4, that when this House adjourns on Tuesday May 2nd, 2000, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, October 18th, 2000, unless the business of the House currently under consideration concludes on Wednesday, May 3rd.
In which case the House shall enter a period of extended adjournment on that date.
Further that any time prior to October 18th, 2000, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its' business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time.
And, Mr. Speaker, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.
Speaker: Item 17.
Motion 28 – 1(3): Extended Adjournment
The motion is passed.
Bill 13, tabled documents 41 – 1(3), tabled documents 61 – 1(3), tabled documents 93 – 1(3), tabled documents 97 – 1(3), tabled documents 101 – 1(3).
Just a reminder to members before we break off.
I would ask that members would try to remain in the House after question period so we can get through the business at hand.
It really does not look very good back home when the folks are looking at empty chairs here.
Another comment before we close off.
In reference to the points of order that were delivered today, I would want to once again, state that when these decisions are made they are non-debatable, the matter is closed.
However, if a member or one of the members that has been effected by these decisions, if they want to meet privately in my office, they can feel free to do so.
According to the authority vested in my under motion 3 – 1(3), the committee of the whole will stay in session until it reports itself out, with Mr. Iqaqrialu as Chairperson.
Prior to returning to the House at 1.15 lunch will be provided.
>>House recessed at 12.15 and resumed at 1.24 p.m.
Item 19: Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters  Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, we have a quorum.
We can begin with Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Tabled Document 41-3, 61-1(3), 91-1(3), 101(3).
This is our business for today.
Under Committee of the Whole we started out with Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
The Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs had his opening remarks and we would like him to go to the witness table with his officials.
Mr. Premier would you go to the witness table with your officials.
Premier Okalik if you could introduce your officials.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
On my right, everybody knows my executive assistant and Ken MacRury Deputy Minister of the Secretariat.
General comments from the members to Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Any questions from the members.
Maybe you think I look like Mr. Okalik.
A question was posed from Mr. Iqaqrialu in regards to 41-1(3) under consideration in Committee of the Whole.
The Main Estimates 2000-2001 and Capital Estimates, in regards to pre-budget consultations 1999-2000, there are community concerns in the consultation report and some concerns were brought up by way of a question by Mr. Iqaqrialu.
We were told in regards to the consultation reports that the community concerns would be considered.
There are also many community concerns about education.
For instance in Pond Inlet, we had concerns about education in Pond Inlet and there were about 30 percent of the people concerned about education.
Other communities had a 5 percent concern on education.
My question is if you are going to be following the consultation reports of concerns of the communities.
Will you use those consultation reports and the concerns of the public when you are dealing with the Main Estimates in the coming year.
My staff or the finance people gathered the pre-budget consultation reports.
As the Finance Minister stated that when they do the five-year planning they will be using the pre-budget consultation reports.
I can not really answer that question because it is in regards to budget preparation and we have gathered some information to our departments as to how the communities can be best involved in the budget preparation.
We as a government would like to make sure the community concerns are met through this report.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Okalik.
In item number 41(3) under pre-budget consultations report, and the questions that I asked a while ago and the Main Estimates and the Capital Estimates for the year 2000-2001.
If we finished with the Main Estimates I just wondered if the question that I asked you are you going to be trying to use the Main Estimates and the Capital Estimates in the pre-budget consultation report in your preparation of the money for Government of Nunavut.
Chairperson (interpretation): I just wanted to tell Mr. MacRury that he is not wearing a tie.
I would like to recognise him even though he does not have a tie.
Thank you, Mr. Okalik.
In regards to the consultation tour, the Department of Finance was responsible for that and I am not involved in it.
What I could do is answer some questions that are in my department.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): With the Capital Estimates in the Tabled Documents, it is 41-1(3).
Main Estimates 2000-2001.
I believe if we approve that that is going to go ahead.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): We had approved the Capital Estimates and I am sure that they will go ahead.
We have not completed some of the departments.
I think once we complete everything they will go ahead.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): In Tabled Documents 41-1(3) and we will be going line by line with the Main Estimates.
They will go ahead once that is approved.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Yes.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): This will be my last question.
I had a question in regards to the Tabled Documents 41-1(3).
I had questions with the consultations report.
Once Bill 13 is approved they will go ahead.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): I cannot say whether we are going to be implementing everything that is in the pre-budget community reports.
But we will use the statistics.
As the Finance Minister said we will be using the numbers that were gathered.
We were not able to implement everything but in the future years I would be pleased if we implement everything in the report.
Mr. Barnabas: In regards to implementing the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy policy.
Now that the Nunavut Information and Privacy Commissioner has been appointed by the Legislative Assembly what progress has been made in this area.
Hon. Paul Okalik: To date the access to Information and Privacy Commissioner gave a workshop to our employees on January 18 of this year.
We are currently holding a competition for an information manager to assist with access to information requests, and hope to fill this position in 2 to 3 weeks.
Any general comments or questions.
If there is nothing further I will then move on to the Main Estimates.
I have a question in regards to Maliganik Qimirrujiit.
There is 670 thousand in here in 2000-2001.
Did they use all of the money that was set aside for the Law Review Commission.
Last year the Law Review Commission was not implemented until well into the year.
We did not use all the monies that were budgeted.
They will be a commission for the full year.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs are now responsible to review the businesses incentive policy and Article 24 which is the contracting policy.
Have you indicated these tasks were given to the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
We are now co-ordinating through the Department of Public Works instead of our Department.
We take on some of them that are initiated and then we give them to the appropriate departments.
The Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated are working together to date as said in the Clyde River Protocol.
I would like to know from your department what kind of plans you have for giving us a progress report in regards to the Nunavut Land Claims agreement and the co-operation between the different parties.
I am not quite sure whether we are going to have a report but I can give you an update on what we have been doing to date.
Over this year we are going to be doing some reviewing on the laws in regards to Article 5 of the NLCA.
We are going to work with the Department of Sustainable Development so that they will adhere to Article 5.
We have also set aside 1 million dollars for the Inuit Employment plan and there is also Article 25 that we will be working on this coming year.
We are working on various projects as a department.
We work with various government departments and NTI on how the Government of Nunavut can implement the NLCA.
I do not want to be the only one asking questions.
You have five jobs that will be working under the Communications department.
I would like to know exactly how the Government of Nunavut, looking at the decentralisation plan, how the communication system strategy is going to work, and how the guidelines for consultations are going to be used.
I can say that the four jobs have been identified but there is one job that is still not filled.
These employees will use the information that has to go out and collect data and statistics.
If you want to work on statistics or gathering data you can use our department.
We are not going to have offices in different communities.
We are looking at compiling data and statistics with this department.
It is not going to be a whole year but every year if required we will be gathering statistics using the smaller communities.
I would also like to thank the Premier for giving the appropriate response.
To date I just wondered…I will be saying it in English. (interpretation ends)
Pursuant to the Northern Accord, Devolution and the Northern Leaders Forum.
I would like to get some answers on that.
It does not matter if you speak in English or Inuktitut.
Today we have been dealing with a lot of stuff working with the Northern Leaders and they have assisted me in any way that they can.
We will be meeting with them further at the end of the month in Brandon, Manitoba.
We will be meeting about our concerns as leaders, as Premiers, as to how we can have a better direction as government.
In regards to the Northern Accord, we have had some help and support last year.
We met as Premiers and we did support the Nunavut Government and the GNWT in regards to the Northern Accord and for royalties as well that we have requested.
We met and we have been gathering information as Premiers to give to the Federal Government in this regard.
As to the other Governments such as Greenland, we will be signing an agreement with them this year to in regards to trading between the people of Nunavut and Greenland.
Those are some things that are on-going that we are dealing with at this time.
I just wanted to get some clarification as to the Intergovernmental Affairs agreements that have been signed to date whether the Premier will be tabling them in the House.
In regards to contracting back services with the GNWT and Government of Nunavut reports.
There are many agreements that we have signed to date.
We are gathering them up and we will be tabling them to the House when they are ready.
Last question that I have to the Premier.
This fall the Committee will be doing public consultations and then they will be meeting about the Auditor General's report.
The Premier's department has…
(interpretation ends)…total of 7 percent in evaluation and statistical services.
What has the department accomplished to date in terms of staffing and distribution for an internal audit and evaluation of Nunavut programs.
To date we have two vacant positions.
Perhaps this fall we will fill all the positions.
There are different job descriptions and mandates for these positions, and along with the Executive Council, if they have suggestions, we will have to get positions that review the work of the cabinet and the implementation of the Bathurst Mandate.
There is also a data collector that has been hired to gather information for the Government of Nunavut such as statistics that tell us the rate of unemployment in Nunavut communities, so as cabinet we can look at what we have to do as government to support the communities more.
That way we will be able to find out which communities need employment and we as government can have the information to do our job properly.
My question is, many people have been expecting in regards to Article 24, the contractors in the communities have been expecting the policy to be introduced by the government.
I just wanted to know from the Premier as to how much work you have done in regards to Article 24 so the communities can take advantage of the contracts that are tendered.
Especially in regards to following Article 24.
Mr. Premier if your can respond to Mr. Puqiqnak's question.
We used Article 24 to bring about the NNI policy and we started using that NNI policy on April 1.
My department was dealing with Article 24 collecting data and everything else.
Now we are using it today.
On that subject, I would like to thank the Premier and his department for working on these issues and also working with NTI.
One thing that we hope to see with this government is that the smaller communities that have also tried to get contracts with the previous government, although they were ready they were not able to get it with the previous government.
Usually the contracts are taken on by southern provinces like companies from Vancouver.
They have to pay for their meals and accommodations and so on when there are companies in the North that are able to provide the services.
I think since the creation of Nunavut the communities are looking forward to obtaining more contracts than they did previously.
I think there is a desire in the communities.
I am saying that on behalf of Nunavut.
Since that is more of a statement I support my colleague's statement.
The reason why we are working on that issue is because it is very important to us as a government.
It seems to have helped so far.
This has been agreed upon already and it has been implemented.
We worked on it as regular members.
I am sure there will be a review process and we will be updated.
At this time I have no more names on my list.
Mr. Chairman, in the Premier's opening comments he mentions the fact that the total operations & maintenance budget for his department was reduced.
However, looking at numbers in the main estimates it shows there is an increase in the O&M of about 46% and the numbers that I did from information that we received showed a 5% increase after the new functions that were taken on.
I was just wondering if you could explain how that 4% reduction.
To make a small comment first.
Maybe because of dialect differences I do not understand it when you say … Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): I can say that there has been an increase but it will just be for the interim.
Operations and maintenance have all decreased and the only increase is because we have started Maligarnit Qimirqujiit which is 650 thousand.
There is also the Nunavut Power Corporation Implementation Secretariat.
There is 720 thousand in there.
We are also taking the NPC Implementation Secretariat 2.6 million and Decentralization Secretariat, which is at 560 thousand this year.
They are not going to be ongoing and that is the main reason that there is an increase with these new tasks.
However, the operations and maintenance have decreased.
I do not know which way to answer you but that is what has happened this year.
We will deal with those when we go into the Main Estimates.
We will get into the Main Estimates at the appropriate time after general comments.
Mr. Tootoo do you have any other comments at this time.
Since I have no other names, Mr. Barnabas.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you. I have a question.
Your department has made a statement saying that they expect to be 90% of capacity in the year 2000/2001.
We have been told that there has been high turnover.
I will speak English again.
(interpretation ends)…to achieve this in the department…(interpretation)…will that occur if you are sticking to your plan, with the Inuit Employment Plan.
I would like clarification on that.
It does not matter when you go through the interpreter but when you say… I do not understand it though.
I do not know how to respond to your question.
There are times when staff would like to move on to another department, you can't stop them, if they want to move on.
Personally, I am very happy with my department because approximately half of our staff are Inuit and we would like to increase that number.
We have been able to make appointments to the positions and would like to increase the numbers.
We are providing training and would like to see more Inuit in the management positions.
We will also be looking at the ADMs and we will be providing more training, if they stay with one job in one department they will learn as much as they should about the Nunavut Government.
If they are going to move to the highest positions they have to be fully trained on the systems of the Nunavut Government.
They have to be properly trained so that they will be able to do their job to the best of their ability.
We do performance reviews to find out who is ready and who needs further training.
I think that we will have to find an Inuktitut word for the word "detail".
There has been a decease of 12 in the directorate for the year 2000/2001 and 2002/2003.
Why is that the case, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): I apologize Mr. Chairman, are we in detail now.
Would you re-phrase your question please Mr. Barnabas.
Mr. Barnabas: No, we are not in detail.
The Chairman said that he would not understand the word "detail" when somebody says that.
We are not in detail this is a general question.
There is a decrease of 12% in the year 2000/2001 and 2001/2002.
(interpretation ends) What is the reason for this decrease.(interpretation) I am sorry I am making an error.
Obviously the decrease in operations for this year….I do not understand his question.
Mr. Barnabas, please rephrase your question.
Staffing and decentralized positions, in the directorate for the year 2000/2001, 2002/2003.
For your information of the members we will be getting into the main estimates.
We will get to those once we are done general comments.
At this time, Mr. Barnabas, any further comments or questions.
If there are no further general comments or questions, I would like to move on to the main estimates.
Capital estimates, there are no capital estimates.
We will then go onto the main estimates.
Page 2 – 4, in the main estimates.
Page 2 – 4.
Do you have it. Mr. Tootoo.
I am just wanting to ask some questions in that area.
Do you want questions in that area right now for 2 – 4.
Chairperson (interpretation): We will get into the details and you can ask your questions at the appropriate time.
Directorate, Executive & Intergovernmental Affairs, branch summary, operations and maintenance.
Total operations and maintenance, 1 million 798 thousand.
Mr. Chairman, I notice an area under the directorate is the management of the senior personnel secretariat.
I am just wondering if the Premier could provide us with a little bit of an outline, or some detail on what the responsibilities for that secretariat are.
Hon. Paul Okalik: The main role of the secretariat is to evaluate each of the Deputy Ministers and Assistant Deputy Ministers.
The secretariat mainly provides a co-ordination role through the secretary, Ken MacRury.
We assess each of the ADMs and when there is a Deputy Minister that becomes vacant then we assess each of the ADMs, which ADM might be ready and we try to provide as many opportunities for the ADMs to be trained.
In some cases we shuffle the ADM positions so that each of the ADMs gains exposure to different government departments and learn more about government.
They will then be in a position to move up once they have had exposure and are properly trained to go up to the Deputy Minister level.
So the senior personnel secretariat provides a number of functions and we try and meet at least twice a month.
For example, this week all the ADMs are in town to learn more and to talk to each other and they get the assistance of elders in those meetings.
So it is not just a matter of learning how government works but also getting assistance from elders.
There are a number of functions.
Mr. Chairman, I think that is a crucial role in any organization is the evaluation of the people and its' programs.
I hope that the work that this area doesn't go unnoticed.
The Premier, Mr. Chairman, mentioned the fact that it would be the senior personnel secretariat that would recommend any shuffles or moves of either DMs or ADMS.
Would that include any relocation of any of the ADMs or the DMs as well.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Yes, in the past there have been relocations and there will likely be more.
It is the role of the secretariat to discuss options, not just for government, but for the personnel effected.
If there is going to be a relocation, often times the effected employee is assessed and evaluated and we often check if they are agreeable to being relocated in some other community.
Mr. Chairman, this function I know is new, the senior personnel secretariat.
Would that have been a function that is new that would have fallen within this area or is that something that prior to the senior personnel secretariat getting established that was handled by each department.
The mandate of the senior personnel secretariat was approved by cabinet in April of last year.
It is co-ordinated through my office.