EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
If I understand him correctly, I think what this has done where the department has taken a look at historical spending in the past and where there has been lapsing of dollars in one area, we’re looking at other areas where we don’t have enough resources.
So it’s just a matter of re-profiling dollars.
Rather than saying we need that extra money there and we’re not using it in that area, we’re moving it into areas where it can be used.
So there is absolutely no impact on any of the programs or services as a result of that.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
I apologize for not raising my hand, but we have time.
I want to ask about (interpretation ends) Adult Literacy, (interpretation) which is a priority for Nunavut and we have to try to increase it, especially as it is required for jobs.
With the adult literacy program, it states that it will not be a priority until 2013-14.
It also shows a budgetary decrease of $10,000.
I would like this clarified as I imagine there is a reason for it not being a priority for this government. I would like to know what the reasons are for not making it a priority issue.
Again I want to reiterate that the reduction, I think, is just a salary adjustment type thing and there is no impact on the programs or services as a result of that.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): If that is the case, will it be adjusted for 2012-14? I just want it clarified.
Do I understand this will not be decreased but it has been calculated to adjust the operational budget?
I would like to get that clarified, Mr. Chairman.
It’s my understanding that it’s actually, as I indicated, salary adjustments in that area and in other areas, there have been increases in O&M funding to allow for travel and things like that.
Again, as I indicated, there is no impact on the programs or services; it’s actually giving them more ability to have a little bit of O&M dollars to work with.
I have no more names on my list. G-9. Branch Summary.
Education. Adult Learning and Post Secondary Services. Total Operations and Maintenance. $10,803,000.
Chairman: Page G-11. Branch Summary.
Education. Curriculum and School Services. Total Operations and Maintenance. $18,991,000.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Under school services, the department has been working on the new curriculum for several years and resources for both primary and secondary grades.
This has been in development for quite some time, with meetings in Arviat and other communities.
What is the current status of curriculum development?
We have heard in the past that the teachers themselves have had to produce their own curriculum to be used in elementary schools.
How much work has been completed on this item, Mr. Chairman?
As the member quite clearly points out, in the past, there was not a lot of curriculum in Inuktitut.
I think there has been a lot of work over the years to develop not only curriculum but materials and resources for teachers to use in the classrooms.
A made-in-Nunavut curriculum, a course like the Aulajaaqtut program, is one that has been developed for grades 10 to 12 and now we’re looking at developing that similar type curriculum for the middle school area and other areas.
There has been a considerable amount of not only curriculum resources that have been developed.
If you look from 10 to 12, as I pointed out, the Aulajaaqtut courses on health, wellness, self-esteem, values, leadership, and positive relationship building; there have been three Inuktitut language arts courses developed; there have been three social studies units developed; three science courses on land, oceans, and weather; some communications stuff; entrepreneurial programs. That’s in the high school area.
In the middle school area, they have done language arts development, again social studies, some science stuff on diversity, and other areas in sciences is underway right now.
They are currently working on a curriculum, teaching resources, and learning materials for grades 1 to 3.
It would be bilingual integrated units that teach health, social studies, science concepts, and language arts skills.
They are looking at moving forward in looking at developing similar stuff for grades 4 to 6.
So that’s just a little bit of an example of some of the work that has been done.
I thank the minister for his clarification.
When we were first attending school, the teachers would give us lessons, although we didn’t quite understand everything they were saying.
Today the situation is completely different based on my knowledge.
With respect to new teachers who arrive for the first time in our communities, they must suffer from culture shock when they go to the school as they don’t understand the Inuit language or culture and Inuit are trying to repatriate their cultural values, such as a welcoming environment in the schools. What about other services for these brand new teachers who are arriving into the Inuit homeland and will be teaching in Nunavut for the first time?
Are there orientation packages for new teachers coming into the communities who are not familiar with our culture and environment? Do they have a cultural orientation for the new teachers going into the communities?
If you can at least give us an indication as to what kind of orientation programs you have, Mr. Chairman.
I believe there is some type of orientation to new education staff going into a community.
I think they receive some type of a package from our regional school operations divisions. They also meet with the principal.
As far as anything else in there, exactly what it entails, I would be happy to provide the member with more detailed information if I have missed anything there.
I think orientation is a must because sometimes we have problems with teachers due to the lack of information.
It would be nice to get that information.
What I have noticed as well is that the Young Men’s Engagement Project was established in previous years. Can you describe some of the successes and challenges experienced by this initiative to date and what specific activities are planned for these youth?
It has become obvious that there are more females graduating from school than young men.
So how did this Young Men’s Engagement Project go in previous years?
This is an initiative that took place in Pangnirtung. I believe that there was some third party funding involved to interest young men to continuing learning.
It’s my understanding that most of the activities that they participated in took place outside of the school. There were things like small engine repair, construction of huts for the spring camp program, and other practical and hands-on initiatives.
I think it was recognized that this initiative that went on there has been considered to be very successful.
We want to be able to use the lessons that we have learned in Pangnirtung with that program in order to change the way we do business with schools so that young men find school more interesting and challenging for them.
As I had indicated before, we’re looking at developing a multiple options type program, which would take those kinds of things into consideration.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Your department has been developing new graduation requirements for Nunavut students.
What curriculum work is being done to ensure that Nunavut high school graduation requirements are comparable to other Canadian jurisdictions so that graduates have the basic skills necessary to enter into post-secondary studies anywhere in Canada?
As I indicated earlier, I think we’re sending any new curriculum that we’re developing to be offered in the high school system to different universities and other post-secondary institutions in the south to make sure that they meet their entrance requirements. That’s something that we did with the Aulajaaqtut program and the Inuktitut language arts programs.
I said that these have been accepted as meeting their entrance requirements at about 26 different universities and colleges across the country.
As any new stuff is developed, we are planning to do the same thing to ensure that anything we roll out will have the requirements and standards necessary for students to be able to get credit towards and have that course recognized by a post-secondary institution.
I have no more names on G-11. Branch Summary. Education.
Curriculum and School Services. Total Operations and Maintenance. $18,991,000.
Chairman: Page G-12. Education.
Branch Summary. Income Support. Total Operations and Maintenance. $3,016,000.
Is that the correct reading?
With regard to income support, I’m just wondering: is the demand for income support rising each year and, if it is, what kind of percentage are we seeing the increase?
With the committee’s indulgence, I would ask that Ms. Okpik be excused from the witness table and if it would be okay with members if we brought in Ms. Sandy Teiman, who is the Director of Income Support.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Tootoo. (interpretation) Is it okay with the committee?
Chairman (interpretation): Sergeant-at-Arms, if you can escort Ms. Okpik out.
Minister Tootoo, for the record, please introduce your official.
I just wanted to make sure I recognized her by her right title earlier and I did. So I would like to welcome at the witness table Ms. Sandy Teiman. She’s the director of income support for the Department of Education.
Minister Tootoo, I was actually waiting for a name, but Mr. Rumbolt, can you ask your question again, please, for Ms. Teiman.
With regard to income support, I’m just wondering if the demand for income support is on the rise throughout Nunavut and, if it is, what kind of percentage of increase are we looking at each year.
I don’t know if it’s as a result of the increase in students going to post-secondary institutions or getting more training that’s an increase in that area.
We have actually seen a slight decrease and that number dropping over the last few years.
In 2008, there were 15,523 individuals on income support, which is roughly about 50 percent of the population. In 2009, it dropped to 14,037, which is about 44 percent of the population. In 2010, there were 13,716, which is roughly 41 percent of the population.
It’s nice to see a decrease in that department.
On a different note, I have asked the minister through his office this question and I would like to ask again for the record. Often, income support recipients escort medical patients to southern hospitals. Sometimes the escorts could be out of the community for a month or maybe even two months, depending on the reason they are escorting certain people.
However, they are still on income support and they still have expenses at home but are unable to physically go to the income support office.
My question is: what expenses are still covered by income support for this type of client and what process does the client have to take to ensure that they receive the benefits?
I’ll take a first stab at this and if I miss anything, I’ll ask Ms. Teiman to supplement my response.
Mr. Chairman, first off, I just want to thank the member for bringing this issue to my attention.
I think it’s important to recognize that any individual who is making a commitment to escort someone to the south for medical is greatly appreciated.
I know a lot of people who are working a lot of times can’t afford the time to be able to do that.
Having said that, Mr. Chairman, the individual would still be eligible.
If income support is paying their rent or the utilities if they have a house, those expenses would still be covered.
It’s my understanding that the only benefit that they wouldn’t get is the food allowance because when they are out on an escort service, their food is provided at one of the boarding homes in the south that they are at or even could be here in Iqaluit that the meals are provided for them.
Also, Mr. Chairman, they are also eligible to receive any portion of a clothing allowance that they may have if they have stored it or used it.
Having said that, Mr. Chairman, if the individual is single, if they are part of a family, the member has a family, the rest of the family still gets the food allowance that they would be eligible for.
Hopefully that clarifies it.
I think the only other most important thing is if an individual knows that they’re going to be asked to go out as an escort on medical travel, it’s important that they contact their income support worker prior to them leaving and all of that would be explained.
I think in some cases where that doesn’t happen is where you could run into problems and having to go back and try and redress them.
If that is happening, we do value that service being provided to the patients, but it’s important that the clients inform the income support worker prior to them leaving.
Under G-12, like the other branch summary activities, travel and transportation dropped significantly in this particular activity and other particular activities that we just went through.
What accounts for this drop in travel and transportation?
The decrease in travel and transportation had to do with the electronic case management system. It was part of the funding that was identified for the training component of it and we have now moved it into the maintenance component, so that’s why there’s a decrease.
I have no more names on G-12. Education. Summary.
Income Support. Total Operations and Maintenance. $3,016,000.
Chairman: We will go back to page G-3. Department Summary. Education.
Detail of Expenditures. Total Operations and Maintenance. $224,765,000.
Chairman: Are we agreed that the Department of Education is concluded?
First off, I would just like to thank my officials for preparing me for today.
A lot of hard work goes into putting our binders together, as I’m sure everyone knows.
I would thank them for all of the hard work that they have put into being able to put me in a position where I can answer the questions that the members have.
I would also like to thank all of the members for the support and the comments and suggestions that they have made.
I think that this government has said that education is a priority and I think we have seen, through the questions that the members have raised, their support for education being a priority of this government.
I look forward to moving ahead with some of the plans and initiatives that we’re going ahead with this year.
I look forward to providing members with updates on how things are going and continue to look to get feedback from them as to how we can continue to improve these things as they come up.
Thank you to your officials. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, if you can escort the officials out, please.
We will now proceed to the next department with Mr. Schell in the Chair.
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2011-2012 – Consideration in Committee – Community and Government Services
I would now like to ask the Minister of Community and Government Services, Minister Kusugak, to make his opening remarks.
Thank you for the opportunity to review the… .
Chairman: Sorry, Mr. Kusugak.
We don’t have quorum.
We have to wait until we get one more.
Okay, go ahead now.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): I thank you again.
I wanted to say “thank you” three times anyways.
I want to start by thanking you for the opportunity to review the 2011-12 main estimates and business plan for the Department of Community and Government Services in Committee of the Whole.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, as I have stated before, the Department of Community and Government Services has a large mandate, which includes programs and services for local government, government services, petroleum products, procurement, protection services, informatics, and project and asset management.
Our budget exceeds $360 million and we have 344 positions spread over 14 communities.
Mr. Chairman, I believe CGS’ budget for 2011-12 speaks to government’s commitment under Tamapta to support and strengthen our communities.
In our proposed budget, municipalities will receive an additional $6.7 million in funding.
This funding will go to support basic operations, mobile equipment, and maintenance funding for facilities.
Mr. Chairman, we all know that municipalities provide basic services that affect Nunavummiut on a daily basis.
In order to provide these services, they need to be adequately funded.
We realize that municipalities have not received an operating increase since 2005.
I am pleased to announce that they will receive an operating increase of $4.4 million in the fiscal year 2011-12.
In 2009-2010, the GN implemented the Equipment Block Funding Program for communities, enabling them to purchase or lease heavy equipment on an annual basis.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to inform the committee that this year, we have increased the funding to $2.5 million.
This will ensure that each community receives over $100,000 annually to make their own decisions to suit their own mobile equipment needs with the appropriate funding.
Mr. Chairman, CGS continues to invest significant resources in training to ensure that we continue to improve services and programs to our client groups.
We continue to offer over 6,500 training days a year to municipal employees through our collaboration with the Municipal Training Organization (MTO).
My department works closely and collaboratively with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities and the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators to ensure that we are meeting their requirements for training, not just what we think they should have.
Mr. Chairman, over the last five years, the Government of Nunavut has been able to access over $320 million of federal funding to assist us in building infrastructure in the territory.
Through such programs as gas tax, the Building Canada Fund, and the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, as well as the GN’s own capital programs, we have made great strides towards providing needed infrastructure in the territory.
While we still have much to do in this year’s budget, the government has made an investment in protecting the assets we have built by approving over $3 million for maintenance funding for these facilities.
This funding will be used to properly maintain the facilities that have been built in order to get the most value from the buildings, make them healthier places to work, and extend their useful life.
This will also help defer costly capital expenditures.
Over the last two years, the GN will have invested almost $10 million in maintenance funding.
Mr. Chairman, CGS is committed to the efficient use of our scarce fiscal resources and investing in the maintenance of our facilities is a smart way to do this.
The Petroleum Products Division continues to manage the fuel provision mandate for the GN. The global oil market and currency trends also continue to be very unpredictable.
The department is working hard to improve procurement practices and moderate the cost impact to Nunavummiut by capitalizing on lower prices whenever they become available through the early purchase of fuel.
Again this year, Mr. Chairman, PPD will buy and store the fuel required for the eastern Arctic resupply. This initiative allows the Government of Nunavut to try and maintain fuel prices at their current levels.
The unseasonably warm winter to date is also having a positive effect on our fuel inventories that is used for heating and power production.
Service delivery to Nunavummiut by the GN will be enhanced through the upgrade of the wide area network, local area network, and municipal area networks, also known as WAN/LAN/MAN.
CGS is working with the Department of Finance and QEC, as well as our other contracted suppliers, to build the new WAN/LAN/MAN infrastructure. This is a very large project, Mr. Chairman.
It has taken a number of years of planning and is also part of the Strengthening Financial Management program.
Two satellite hubs, one in Ottawa and one in Iqaluit, are now completed and we are in all communities in Nunavut installing communication antennas, running fibre to each GN building in addition to structured cabling within the buildings.
We anticipate completion of this project within the next fiscal year.
We hope to begin moving to the new GN network beginning this year.
The Tamapta Action Plan will be supported through these and other technology improvements.
Improved communications with government will be a priority for CGS through a variety of resources and call centre technologies and working with other GN departments and the communities.
Greater bandwidth will be available for the education of our children and adults, our new health care technologies using video and document transfer online, and justice video court appearances.
Mr. Chairman, with respect to Nunavut emergency management, the department has been working with hamlets to assist them with the development of emergency plans for each community.
CGS continues to work with many jurisdictions to improve the response programs available to the public for search and rescue.
We will continue to work with community search and rescue organizations, hamlets, and individuals in assisting in coordinating the RCMP, military and community groups in responding to searches.
The territorial fire strategy implementation also continues and is providing a substantial amount of training and equipment to local fire departments throughout Nunavut, helping communities protect assets and people against fire.
There will be some effective fire prevention initiatives as CGS works with Education to teach kids how to be fire safe.
Mr. Chairman, I hope my comments give an appreciation of the service centred mandate that my department has.
There continues to be great value in partnerships and collaboration as we work together to meet the needs of our government departments, communities, and the needs of Nunavummiut.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: I do, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Sergeant-in-arms, please escort the minister and witnesses in.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Sorry, Mr. Chairman, I didn’t hear you.
Chairman: For the record, minister, please introduce your witnesses.
Mr. Chairman, to my left is Kathleen Lausman, Deputy Minister for the department, and to my right, Alma Power, Director of Finance.
Does the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development have comments?
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development on its review of the 2011-12 main estimates and 2011-14 business plan of the Department of Community and Government Services.
The standing committee notes that the department’s proposed 2011-12 operations and maintenance budget of $184.69 million has increased by approximately 7 percent since the introduction of the department’s 2010-11 main estimates.
The number of positions in the department is 344. This is an increase of seven PYs from its 2009-2010 business plan.
The department’s 2011-14 business plan indicates that the department is continuing to review the Consumer Protection Act, the Lotteries Regulations, and the Fire Prevention Act.
The standing committee looks forward to ongoing updates on these legislative initiatives.
Members were pleased to see that the GN listened and acted on the concerns that we raised on the need to protect municipal employees and their pension plans.
The standing committee looks forward to further progress on the department’s plans to “Work towards updated pension plan legislation to regulate the NEBS pension plan for municipal employees in Nunavut and NWT.”
Mr. Chairman, the department’s proposed budget for municipal transfer payments is increasing from $48,686,000 in 2010-11 to $55,282,000 in 2011-12.
The standing committee is pleased to see an increase in funding allocated under the Municipal Funding Policy, which is used to assist municipalities in delivering programs and services.
The department’s draft 2011-14 business plan indicates that one of its 2012-13 priorities is to “Develop options and present recommendations for improved municipal funding.”
The standing committee is also pleased to see that the department will be working to improve municipal funding and looks forward to receiving updates on this important issue.