EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In the new system, although I don’t have the briefing notes in front of me, the government can make an appointment to the board, along with Nunavut Tunngavik.
The total number of members is set at five appointments from the government and they sit for a period of three years.
The (interpretation ends) appeals board, (interpretation) as it was called in the past, would be renamed as the (interpretation ends) NNI Tribunal. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the business plan on page 188, (interpretation ends) it talks about initiating “activities to further support community economic development initiatives…” Who does the department work with on a regular basis to achieve that goal?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): I’m sorry, Mr. Chairman, I only heard part of her question, so if she could ask that question again.
Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) On page 188 of your business plan, under Priorities (2015-16), you talk about how you work with communities to “support community economic development initiatives…” I’m wondering exactly who you work with within the communities.
I’m looking for page 188. Perhaps my deputy minister has that information, so I will ask her to respond.
What we do is we work with the communities and we work with the economic development officers. We work with hamlets. We work with other government departments that have offices in the communities.
What we try to do, especially with the hamlets, is work with them in looking at their community economic development plan and then try to see how we can assist them with accomplishing their goals.
With regard to community economic development plans, are they all up to date?
If a community doesn’t have one, how are they assisted? Is this something they do on their own or is this something the department will help them with?
I can say that if communities request assistance from (interpretation ends) Economic Development, (interpretation) we are able to provide support to them.
Perhaps my deputy minister can respond as to how many economic development officers there are in each community, as I don’t have that information.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Ms. Rowe, do you have that information?
How up to date the plans are in each community definitely varies from one community to another.
The one problem that we have encountered is there is a high turnover of economic development officers, which then leads the plan in different stages.
If they do not have a plan, we assist them with funding and we also fund their economic development officer.
We work with the hamlets closely to make sure that their plan is either up to date or, if it’s not, helping them bring the plan up to date.
Is that something that the economic development officer would do automatically, to ensure that their plans are up to date?
Is the economic development officer’s work plan under your oversight? Is that something that you look at through a contribution agreement?
We work with the community economic development officers who are hired by the hamlets.
They are trained on an ongoing basis, but there are turnovers. People quit and we have new people coming in all the time.
That has been happening for a very long time now.
We have the community economic development officers meet once a year for a training session.
At that time, we have agreements between the hamlet and (interpretation ends) Economic Development (interpretation) on how we are going to work together on economic development in the communities.
One of the things that have often come up, to everybody’s interest, is when we talk about economic development initiatives at the community level, we always want to know how many businesses were created and maintained, did people get jobs, and how many people came off income support.
Is that the kind of information that you would collect through these contribution agreements?
My deputy minister handles those agreements, so she can respond to that, Mr. Chairman.
What we do is, in our contribution agreements, we specify reporting requirements.
Everyone who signs a contribution with us is required to provide reporting to us.
What we now are just starting to work on is trying to combine all the information we gather from all our different programs and through other agencies, for example, Community Futures, to try to get statistics in place that we can rely on.
The one thing is that now when someone reports that they have created five jobs, what we’re doing is we’re asking them, “What were those five jobs? Are they full-time jobs? Are they part-time jobs?
Are they seasonal jobs?”
We’re getting much better at asking and requiring that information from people, but we are just getting started at the level of being able to combine all the information together.
Once you have all that information, how will you use that information?
First of all, we would use that information to ensure the municipalities are meeting the objectives that were in the agreement, some of which are the community economic development plans and strengthening, supporting the participation of Nunavut communities in economic development opportunities and initiatives, and supporting the ability of the municipalities to leverage other funding.
I just want to come back again to community economic development plans because you just mentioned it again.
Under whose initiatives do these plans get developed?
Some don’t and some do.
I’ll just leave it at that.
It’s the hamlets’ responsibility. We provide them with $190,000 a year made available to each community to do those types of work.
We don’t go to them and tell them how to do their work; they have to initiate that process themselves.
Thank you, Mr. Itsivautaaq.
I think it’s an important component for future economic development initiatives and perhaps it should be a discussion once the economic development officers meet because I know they meet once a year.
Just one more question in this area.
One thing that’s always lacking is capacity. For example, when somebody wants to start a job, who is going to write the business plan is a challenge at the community level.
How do you address that?
I would like my deputy minister to respond to that through you, Mr. Chairman.
What we do is small businesses that are looking to get a business plan done in a community can apply for funding through either our Small Business Support Program or they can apply to the Baffin Business Development Centre to seek funding in order to hire someone to do their business plan.
We also provide some tools to them if they are interested in trying to write the plan themselves, in which case there is information available online which is basically how to write a business plan. It’s already set up for them, so they basically just have to fill in the information.
Now, it might not be at the same level as a professional business plan that is written, but at the same time, you get the business much more involved in what they are setting out to do instead of having someone else write things for them. There is a benefit to both.
I’m going to go on to a different area here, page 189 of your business plan.
I note with interest that you’re working with “communities and other stakeholders to assess potential for alternative energy systems in Nunavut.” The status that you claim is that “The department is working with the Nunavut Housing Corporation to determine the feasibility of solar hot water systems…” Has this assessment been completed?
Can the minister tell us if she expects this to maybe start as a pilot project in some communities?
I did not seem audible for a bit.
With respect to that, in 2015-16, the (interpretation ends) Energy Secretariat (interpretation) held discussions with various Nunavut government departments, including the Nunavut Housing Corporation, to initiate the review of the solar hot water, perhaps to create electricity in future buildings.
We imagine the study will cost about $7,000 and that is the purpose. To date, the study is still in its infancy as discussions are still ongoing.
That’s very interesting. I look forward to finding out more about that.
Under the same department, what other alternative energy things are you looking at for the future?
Maybe to give an example, I read with interest in a country where they were using all their garbage to produce energy and that they were buying other countries’ garbage.
Is that something along those lines or are we working towards other alternative energy systems in Nunavut maybe in other areas?
That was Norway that is buying all the garbage.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk: Thank you, Itsivautaaq. (interpretation) I also thank my colleague for that question.
At this current time, the (interpretation ends) Energy Secretariat (interpretation) is up and running, but we currently lack staff and have advertised positions to remedy that. However, as it stands now, we are understaffed.
Nonetheless, every year, we have paid $50,000 in membership fees to the (interpretation ends) Arctic Energy Alliance. (interpretation) In conjunction with that group, we are studying energy conservation initiatives that we have produced as well in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Arviat, and Cambridge Bay.
We also took the opportunity to visit private homes to conduct a thermal imaging test designed to spot leaks and drafts, such as via their doors or windows.
We used monies from this fund to conduct these tests.
It has been pointed out to me on K-7 under the Energy Options Working Group that there’s actually no budget whatsoever. That doesn’t look very promising.
Can the minister tell us why there’s no money put towards that area?
I will refer that question to my deputy minister.
Our compensation and benefits is the largest item for the Energy Secretariat. We also have $50,000 that gets paid to the Arctic Energy Alliance through our contract services.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Rowe. Ms. Angnakak.
I take it that they don’t go to meetings or anything. They would just stay here because there’s no travel budget, or is that part of the travel budget of your other staff members as well?
I would like my deputy minister to respond to that question.
The only travel cost that the Energy Secretariat would have would just be travelling with the minister to attend federal/provincial/territorial energy meetings.
Those costs are covered in our travel for corporate management.
When we talk about alternative energy systems in Nunavut, it makes me think of the dam project.
Is this department part of it?
Is this secretariat part of that work?
This is the responsibility of the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
It probably just adds to the list of things I don’t understand about the government.
They’re talking about energy efficiency and alternative energy sources, and then QEC is doing that too.
Why aren’t you guys working together? How do you see yourselves working together, if you’re not now, and what would you like to see?
We do have a very good working relationship with the Qulliq Energy Corporation. For example, we worked closely with them when they were putting in a (interpretation ends) solar system (interpretation) for their building.
Regarding the dam to generate electricity, we have a very close working relationship to find and develop cheaper energy once it has been built.
We work closely as we look at what may not seem too visible and slightly different things.
In keeping with alternative energy systems, in your business plan, you talk about the 2015 Oil and Gas Summit where leadership was provided to develop stakeholder consensus on a proposed strategic environmental assessment where you wanted to address petroleum exploration and development.
Over the years, I have always heard that it’s just too expensive to do that kind of work in the Arctic. Is that the determination of your department as well and, if so, why are we working in this area still? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that question.
This is something that is very useful. The Nunavut government had a meeting in January 2015 to talk about petroleum exploration and how we can rely on that in the future.
The report will be tabled in the House and we will provide a copy to all the individuals that attended the meeting.
We’ve had meetings with companies, but it is in the planning phase. There still has to be many studies done. We all know that there is seismic exploration in the eastern part of the Arctic.
We can’t talk about that because it’s in the courts.
Ms. Angnakak: I’ll leave it there for now.
Chairman (interpretation): Before we proceed, it is now almost lunchtime, so we will take a break and resume at 1:30 this afternoon.
We will take a lunch break at this time.
>>Committee recessed at 11:42 and resumed at 13:29
Chairman (interpretation): Good afternoon, my colleagues and Nunavummiut. Welcome to your committee once again.
We will continue where we left off.
I would just like to remind you as we proceed that we are on page K-4.
I’ll just follow my list of names and we will begin with Mr. Joanasie.
Good afternoon, Minister Ell-Kanayuk, your officials, and Nunavummiut who are listening to the proceedings.
Yesterday, in your opening comments, you stated that there’s $292,000 that you will be setting aside to be used for country food distribution. Is the $292,000 for only one PY?
That’s my first question, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you.
Let me look for the information.
It would be for one PY. I believe his question was how much we would set aside for that one PY. This money is for the Country Food Distribution Program in Nunavut.
I saw it in here, but I can’t find it at this time. Perhaps my deputy minister can respond to that question.
The question was: is the $292,000 for one PY?
I believe that was Mr. Joanasie’s question.
This $292,000 would go to the department, not just for salary and benefits, but also for travel.
Do we understand that it would be for salary and benefits, as well as the office?
You are agreeing with me, so I understand that correctly.
Would this individual be travelling to each of the Nunavut communities over the year?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Yes, part of it would be for travel.
I don’t have the information on whether this individual will be going to all Nunavut communities.
Do you have a breakdown of the $292,000? Can we have a breakdown of the salary, benefits, and travel?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Perhaps my deputy minister can respond to that question.
Chairman (interpretation): Can you repeat your question, Mr. Joanasie?
In your opening comments, you indicated that $292,000 would be set aside or it’s re-profiling funding in the amount of $292,000 to create a PY. Could you give a break down of how much will be used for salary and benefits for this person and how much is set aside for travel purposes? That’s what I’m trying to find out.
The detailed breakdown of the $292,000 is not in my briefing note, so I will refer it to my deputy minister.
We don’t have the exact details of the breakdown, but I can tell you that what is happening with the program is that we have a full-time position now that will support the country food program.
With the remaining amount of money, that money will be used for the country food person, the employee to be able to travel to communities to assist communities in preparing applications for the program for community freezers.
We want to make sure that all the money is used in a given year and so this will support that initiative.
That is a little disconcerting to me, especially if the salary is that high.
If I may, I would propose a breakdown in this manner: $200,000 for salary and benefits and $92,000 for travel purposes. That still seems rather extravagant for a single employee.
Can you provide a more detailed breakdown?
As an example, I imagine it hasn’t been planned out properly, although I know that changes are forthcoming for the job description for the country food position. Nonetheless, this is a large amount just for one position’s travel budget. I wonder: is the salary range set for this position?
The actual salary will not be that high for this position, but as we all know, travel within Nunavut is extraordinarily expensive when touring communities.
It seems plausible that the travel budget would most likely be spent entirely. It includes travel as well as meetings within communities.
If members recall, in the 2014-15 fiscal year, an amount of $254,000 was approved for this country food fund and the majority of funds were used for community freezers.
However, the fund hasn’t been used completely. We wanted to change the amounts based on the feedback from the communities that once they had the freezers, there were no funds for maintenance.
To ensure that fund is utilized further, as well as to see if communities can use that funding, we decided to conduct a comprehensive review. It was decided that one employee responsible for this program would suffice and that position would liaise with the communities on the program and eligible projects.
That is why it is now set up that way.
Where would this position be located?
The position would be based here in Iqaluit.
Why can’t it be located in Baker Lake?
Why did you choose Iqaluit? Is that the only place with adequate space or did you not bother to consider any smaller communities where employment opportunities are hard to find?
Did you not consider smaller communities in your deliberations?
Or even Pond Inlet.
At this time, we cannot respond to that question.
Perhaps we can use your intermediary role to submit the response later on.
Neither of us was here when that decision was made or rather, my deputy minister was not present for this decision.
For my own understanding, are you informing the committee that after your research into this matter, you will submit the response via the Chairman?
Is that what I understood your response to be?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Yes, you understood correctly.
We will look forward to that information.
I have asked this question on a number of occasions. On March 10 last year, I asked the same question in the House about the Iqaluit airport.
We know that it is a contract that was awarded and there is a clause in there where there has to be a certain percentage of Inuit workers.
Could you give us an update on the Iqaluit terminal and what the Inuit employment percentage is and so on?
Minister Kanayuk, I know and I do realize that we’re going to be going to transportation, but I’ll leave it at your discretion whether or not you want to answer this question now.
Sometimes I can’t see the little light that goes on in front of me, Mr. Chairman.
I do recall the member asking questions on the Iqaluit terminal.
Their Inuit employment rate is set out in an agreement and their obligation is 18.09 percent for Inuit employment.
They are a little over what they agreed to.
In your business plan for 2016-19, it is on page 189 and that’s why I asked that question. It also indicates on the third bullet that the contractor has submitted the monthly monitoring reports. Will those reports be tabled in the House?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): We have a coordinator working on this at this time. However, it’s not going to be a monthly report; it’s going to be an annual report.
We look forward to seeing a copy of that report. It indicates here that the contractors are, I think, audited on an annual basis and that there will be one due in April.
Is it possible for your department to produce those reports and table them in the House? That’s my question.
As a reminder, we are on K-4.
Following my list of names, Mr. Qirngnuq.
I would like to ask the minister for more information on page 186 of the business plan. We’re on page K-4 and on pages 186 to 187 regarding the Directorate, I would like more information on the Energy Secretariat.
It’s not included in the budget, but they have set aside $697,000. Can the minister give us more information on what this $697,000 will be used for?
Madam Kanayuk.
On page 187 of the business plan, he’s talking about the Energy Secretariat. It is identified as $697,000, but we’re on K-4 under Corporate Management.
It’s contained in there and it’s not written separately.
Yes, it’s clear now. My second question is still on page 187, fifth paragraph.
I would like information on Sustainable Development. Is that for land surveys or is it for airports?
Under Sustainable Development is “the GN’s participation in processes mandated by the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement for environmental assessment, land use planning and general monitoring.” Through discussions, they review where they stand and how they can move forward.
Is the money divided by the hamlets for their use?
This is more towards the meetings of the assessors on where things stand today.
They cooperate on many things. They’ve had negotiations with many people from the government, Inuit, the regional Inuit associations, the federal government, and other people involved in the planning and regulatory activities.
They do that type of work.
Within the year, how many times do they travel to the communities to identify land? That’s my question.
I would like my deputy minister to clarify that.
The people who are employed in this division work on environmental assessments. It’s not that they’re travelling to communities. They are actually attending meetings, but also reviewing information that comes into the department.
Whether they go to one community annually, we never hear about it when they travel. Do they actually go to the communities?
I’m asking that for clarification.
They don’t travel so much to the communities, but they would go to a community if they were holding a meeting there.
On page 187 under training and development, it was mentioned this morning.
With respect to the training program, do they train the development officers in the communities?
That’s my question and if you don’t understand me, I can elaborate.
I also thank him for that question.
For the community economic development officers, in the 2016-17 training program, Economic Development contributed $50,000.
The community economic development officers from the hamlets travel once a year for training to a community and that’s how the money is spent.
To further clarify, the $50,000 is only for that one training program.
The operating funding is over that amount.
Is it divided by the communities or used only for one community?
I’m sorry I wasn’t clear, Mr. Chairman. The expense in 2016-17 of $50,000 is for training for all communities. It’s only for the economic development officers getting together when their training workshop is being planned.
Moving on, this question was asked earlier, but I need clarification on hydro development.
What kind of hydro development is it? Is it within the communities or outside the communities?
The work being done by the Qulliq Energy Corporation is an example that my cabinet colleague can use to answer the question.
If there was going to be hydro development in Iqaluit, for example, it would be targeted not just for Iqaluit.
I think they would look into involving nearby communities, but that would involve additional spending. If the Qulliq Energy Corporation was planning a project like that, they would have more to speak about it.
We are more into saving on energy consumption, although hydro development plays a part, as it would bring a reduction in energy costs.
We would be working with them on that basis.
I just have one question. It’s on 187 and it was touched on a bit by Ms. Angnakak.
The NNI Secretariat is responsible for the facilitation, coordination, and implementation. In this area, it talked about penalizing companies that didn’t hire enough people or got rid of some people. I’m just wondering: how severe of a penalty do they get?
Would it be big enough to deter them from saying, “We will just pay the fine and get other people to come in”?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you. My deputy minister will respond to that.