EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It includes staff travel for our annual training conference. As I indicated in an earlier response, Minister Mike provided a response to the standing committee with the actual breakdown of what’s included in that item, which was provided fairly recently.
I actually don’t have a copy in my binder right now, but it was provided to the standing committee fairly recently.
In addition, as the minister indicated in his letter, the expenses included in other expenses and the breakdown of the budget is done under the guidance provided by the Department of Finance.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) That question was asked.
When my colleague, Mr. Enook, asked about the same type of question under I-7 for the $821,000, the response was that it was for travel and an officers’ conference.
Now there is another $832,000 and we get the exact same answer that it’s for travel and officers’ conference.
I’ll put it simply.
I think, for next time, they should put a separate line item because that’s a lot of money for other expenses and I’m sure it’s all legitimate, but we are asked to approve these budgets and all we have is what is in front of us.
If it’s a line item in the main estimates, it should be broken down in the business plan so that we can look it up and maybe we can, but I’m not that familiar with which heading it might be under.
Is this other expense in the business plan, though?
The minister has deferred to his official, Mr. Pinksen.
All expenses are included in the mains and reflected in the business plan.
I do understand the concern that it’s a large chunk of money without a breakdown.
I will discuss, with the minister’s direction, with our director of corporate services a way to address it and I certainly understand the concern from the member.
This is just a statement; my questions are done. Between the two line items, it comes out to $1.7 million that we are asked to approve with no breakdown of what it is.
I would suggest that next time, give us an idea of what this money is being used for because these are public funds.
I’m sure everything is being used correctly, but we don’t know that.
All we know is what is in front of us and, if it doesn’t state what it is in front of us, we are asked to approve, in this case, $1.7 million without knowing exactly what we’re approving.
I didn’t hear a question, so I will move on. I have recognized everyone who wishes to ask questions on this page and as such, we will move on. Branch Summary.
Environment. Program Management. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $21,346,000.
I wasn’t given an opportunity to ask about caribou and I had some questions and I believe it’s on I-5.
Welcome to our meeting, Minister Mike and your officials.
Caribou management was discussed this morning.
As a department, I would like to understand how you’re going to oversee all the planning that is done and all the things that are being set up for caribou.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For Baffin Island caribou management, we’re requesting to have a technician in the Baffin and that’s why we’re asking for some of the extra money. Caribou management in the Baffin is going to be an issue for a while, so we’re asking for an additional PY, if it can be approved, to have someone in charge of caribou management and it would be based in Igloolik.
Chairman: Thank you. I would appreciate it, when we’re starting a particular branch or a particular page, if you raise your hand if you have any questions at the beginning.
The caribou moratorium is in effect now and you will need to be monitoring the population of the caribou to see if they’re rising or still dropping. When are you going to do more surveys of caribou in the Baffin?
The caribou moratorium has brought out a lot of different kinds of knowledge since the discussions started. We probably missed the opportunity to gain more knowledge.
Caribou roam freely and the caribou have no idea we are concerned about them and they function as they always have.
We have to be careful as to the ban to ensure that later generations benefit from our actions today. The elders say the caribou shall return and they did return.
Now they are low in numbers and we have to be aware and be informed as to the caribou on Baffin Island and elsewhere too.
I don’t know if he answered my question, but let me rephrase it. They stated that they will develop a caribou management plan before the end of 2015. From that plan, will it be possible to find out when you plan to do another population survey of Baffin Island caribou?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): As I said, the surveys and the desire to know about the caribou will dictate some of our work plans.
Do I understand that in the business plan, we will find out when you would do another caribou survey, for example, in 2015? Maybe in 2016-17, would another survey be done then?
To go on to something else in the business plan, one of the priorities for 2016-17 in the third bullet is to “Support and enhance role of HTOs by enhancing relationships with co-management partners.”
How do you see that rolling out in 2016-17?
I’m not sure which page that is on, so if I can get the page number.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Joanasie, please clarify what page you are on.
In the Inuktitut version, it’s on page 152. In the English version, it’s on page 141.
It states, “Support and enhance role of HTOs by enhancing relationships with co-management partners.”
It’s one of the priorities for [2016-17] listed in the third bullet. I hope that clarifies it, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I now understand what you are asking about.
I can respond by saying that right now, in our fiscal year, it became kind of obvious that we needed to make a plan, although it is a little late.
The HTOs and our wildlife co-management partners have to be able to run certain things under agreements and be able to manage certain kinds of wildlife themselves through an agreement. Managing things is becoming more and more difficult, so we want to give more support to the hunters and trappers organizations in the communities and other wildlife co-management partners.
We want to give them more support so that they can all manage better.
We hear that Inuit need to be able run more things on their own. To that effort, the local HTOs can be effective co-managers and we have recognized that, so that’s one of the reasons.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Chairman.
Again, I think that if you read it, you can understand it. Regarding the HTOs, I know they do have some power through the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, especially through Article 5.
Reading this, would it give more power to the hunters and trappers organizations?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): In Nunavut, there are various organizations that deal with wildlife in the regions and in the Nunavut communities. There has to be a better working relationship amongst all the parties involved.
It would streamline our system and I think we all have to have more information.
There’s Article 5 that deals with a lot of issues and because of that, there has to be a closer working relationship among all parties that deal with wildlife. We have to make it a better working system.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Branch Summary. Environment.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $21,346,000. Agreed?
Chairman: Thank you. Department Summary.
Environment. Detail of Expenditures. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $25,754,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Do members agree that we have concluded the department?
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation): You can now make your closing comments, Minister Mike.
He is just detailing the dialectal difference.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to appear before you. I would like to thank my ministerial colleagues and my officials, especially NWMB, NTI, and all the people who are involved in wildlife issues.
I would just like to add that wildlife, the environment, and dealing with those issues is quite hard.
I think that if we have a close working relationship, we would have an easier time dealing with the issues.
I know I’m not the only one who has thought of it like this. We have to follow the rules.
We are trying to do the best we can.
Some of them are going to be hard. Some, I’m sure, will be easier.
Regarding the caribou moratorium or some of the wildlife, we would like to have a proper management system set up.
Regarding the moratorium and caribou behaviour, we have to look at a better system.
Even though we have management plans, we don’t know where the caribou are going to migrate through next.
They will increase at a proper time. I don’t know when that would be.
We have to work closely together, even though there are some challenges.
Before we move on to the Department of Culture and Heritage, we will take a five-minute break.
>>Committee recessed at 13:58 and resumed at 14:08
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2015-2016 –Culture and Heritage – Consideration in Committee
Chairman (interpretation): Good day to the people of Baker Lake and Nunavut.
We will resume our committee meeting. (interpretation ends) I would now like to ask the Minister of Culture and Heritage if he has officials that he would like to appear before the committee.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Does the committee agree to let the minister’s staff go to the witness table?
For the record, Minister Kuksuk, please introduce your witnesses.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I say “good day” to the Nunavummiut watching the proceedings.
This afternoon, with me here to my right is my Deputy Minister, Joe Kunuk, and to my left is Teegee Akande.
I hope I pronounced it correctly. He’s our (interpretation ends) manager of finance. (interpretation) If necessary, we also have Gideon Joamie, (interpretation ends) Director of Policy and Planning. (interpretation) Those are who we are today, Mr. Chairman.
Minister Kuksuk, you may now proceed with your opening comments.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to appear before the committee to present the Department of Culture and Heritage 2015-16 main estimates and business plan.
Culture and Heritage holds a leadership role within the Government of Nunavut for the preservation, development, and enhancement of Nunavut’s culture, heritage, and languages for Nunavummiut.
Mr. Chairman, in keeping with “Good government through wise use of our resources,” the department aims to hold regional workshops that will highlight our revised grants and contributions policies.
Our overall budget for 2015-16 in grants and contributions is $7,162,000.
Keeping Nunavummiut informed about the grants and contributions will ensure that the department is accountable, fair, transparent, and reflective of community needs and Inuit societal values.
Within our Official Languages Branch, we are continuing to coordinate the implementation of language programs and services across the government, including providing community contributions and supports to other initiatives that implement the Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to indicate the level of commitment we have put into supporting initiatives aimed at revitalizing and promoting the use of Inuktut among youth in our communities.
The department provides a total of $1.6 million in grants and contributions that support the preservation, use, and promotion of Inuktut.
This year, in collaboration with language partners, the department will develop language planning and management tools for communities, including a strategy to promote and revitalize the use of Inuktut in the media, arts and cultural sectors.
Iksivautaaq, since the creation of Nunavut, Culture and Heritage has provided grants to community radio stations across the territory. The societies that operate FM radio stations provide a valuable service to the communities that they are in.
Community content is determined locally and typically includes public announcements, music, fundraising bingo, and issues of local interest, including search and rescue.
Mr. Chairman, Culture and Heritage intends to increase its contribution budget this year to support more community radio stations across our territory.
These radio stations are important tools to our communities. They also contribute positively to enhance and strengthen the use of Inuktut on a daily basis.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Does the chair of the standing committee have opening comments?
As Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness, I am pleased to deliver the standing committee’s opening comments on its consideration of the 2015-16 main estimates and 2015-18 business plan of the Department of Culture and Heritage.
The standing committee notes that the Department of Culture and Heritage’s proposed 2015-16 operations and maintenance budget of $25,697,000 has increased by 0.08 percent since the introduction of its 2014-15 main estimates. The number of positions in the Department of Culture and Heritage is 90.8.
This is the same number of positions as the previous fiscal year.
The standing committee recognizes that the department concentrates its efforts on cultural and heritage initiatives, as well as language initiatives and the implementation of Nunavut’s official languages legislation, in particular, the Inuit Language Protection Act and the Official Languages Act.
The Department of Culture and Heritage’s 2015-16 main estimates include a total of $7,162,000 in funding for grants and contributions programs. This constitutes approximately 27.87 percent of the department’s total operations and maintenance budget.
As members will recall, the Commissioner’s Opening Address that was delivered in this House last year announced that one of the government’s priorities is to “ensure funds provided to organizations, communities, and individuals adhere to better accountability practices that achieve the outcomes this government expects from its investment.”
Mr. Chairman, members will recall that a number of my colleagues have identified this issue in their opening comments of departments under consideration of the Committee of the Whole.
The annual report on grants and contributions identified the programs under which funding was provided. However, the actual purpose of the funding is often not clearly explained.
Although members recognize the need for the government to safeguard information of grants and contributions recipients, the purpose and goals for which public money is being provided to entities must be disclosed.
The department’s 2015-18 business plans indicates that “a revised Grants and Contributions Policy has been approved.”
The standing committee was pleased to receive the updated Grants and Contributions Policy and is looking forward to it being tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
During the minister’s recent appearance, the standing committee raised a number of concerns about the accountability and annual reporting practices of the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit, the Inuit Language Authority for Nunavut.
While the standing committee recognizes that annual reports for the 2009-2010, 2010-11, and 2011-12 fiscal years were tabled in the Legislative Assembly in 2014, the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit’s 2012-13 and 2013-14 annual reports have not yet been tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The standing committee also recommends that future Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit annual reports contain more detailed information regarding its expenditures and outcomes and that they be tabled in a more timely manner.
The standing committee recognizes that the implementation of official language legislation is a priority of the department. The 2015-16 main estimates indicate that there is a reorganization of departmental programs within its Official Languages Branch to include the creation of the “Inuktut Affairs Program” and the “Francophone Affairs Program.”
During the minister’s recent appearance, the standing committee was pleased to be informed of the department’s plans to lobby the federal government for increased funding for official language promotion across the territory for both the French and Inuktitut languages.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee recognizes that the road to a standardized Inuktitut writing system is a long one with many stakeholders involved. The standing committee looks forward to the tabling of the comprehensive report of the Inuugatta Language Conference.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee is aware that a significant number of Nunavut’s cultural artefacts are still in storage in other jurisdictions across Canada.
While the standing committee recognizes that memorandums of understanding are signed to store Nunavut’s heritage artefacts, it also recognizes that millions of dollars are spent annually to finance this temporary solution.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee supports the department’s ongoing efforts to work with partners and stakeholders, including private entities, towards innovative, long-term solutions for the protection and showcasing of our territory’s heritage artefacts within our territory.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee recognizes that the department has a number of programs, initiatives, and services to support both Nunavut’s elders and youth.
Members encourage the minister in his efforts to establish links between these two important sectors of our population, especially in efforts to address pressing social issues such as suicide or elder abuse.
Mr. Chairman, a priority of the department’s 2015-18 business plan is to “Develop a government wide Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Strategy that is culturally relevant with tools for monitoring & implementing of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in government programs, policies and services.”
Mr. Chairman, a number of concerns have been raised in the Legislative Assembly regarding the implementation of Inuit traditional knowledge across this government.
During the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, a number of concerns were raised regarding the role, governance, and authority of both Tuttarviit and the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit.
The standing committee looks forward to reviewing the revised terms of reference of both Tuttarviit and the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit.
The standing committee also recommends that the department table the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit’s annual reports on a more timely basis, as the last tabled annual report was for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2015-16 main estimates and 2015-18 business plan of the Department of Culture and Heritage.
I would like to remind my colleagues that the contents of the opening comments are covered under different branches of the department. If you have detailed questions, please ask them under the appropriate branches.
General comments. I don’t see any show of hands for general comments.
We will begin the page-by-page review.
The first one is page F-4. Culture and Heritage. Branch Summary.
Directorate. I would like to remind my colleagues to raise your hand ahead of time before we get to the actual page so that I can put your names down.
My question for the minister, in the 2013-14 fiscal year, your department spent over $7 million on grants and contributions.
I’m wondering: how does your department go about evaluating and measuring the success of its grants and contributions spending programs? How do you know what people say they’re going to do with the money is actually done with the money?
How do you go about your audits?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Culture and Heritage, Mr. Kuksuk.
That’s a very good question posed by the member. When we start dealing with the grants and contributions for our programs within the department, the higher level officials usually monitor the proposals, whether it be an application, to review them once they are submitted, and they look at the goals. If their objective qualifies for grants and contributions policies, then they review the application.
I hope I’m coming across.
I think what I’m trying to get at is once somebody is already qualified and they have already received the contribution agreement, what kind of audits does your department do?
Do you do spot audits to make sure… ? Let’s say if I put in an application for a grant and you gave me that money and I told you that I was going to do certain things, how do you know that I have actually done those things that I said I was going to do in my proposal? How do you go back to check?
What kind of accountability do you expect of your applicants?
I also thank the member. I understand her now.
To monitor the success and evaluation of the grants and contributions, I’ll have my deputy minister respond, Mr. Chairman, if it’s okay with you.
Mr. Kunuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The applicants, according to their application, are provided funding twice. The first phase is the initial funding and we review and look at the actual expenditures that they had to ensure that they follow their goals and objectives.
They then make a report. We look at the report. They have to write a report before we grant the second phase of funding.
That is how we monitor.
After a year, the reports are audited. We ask for audited reports from the applicant to make sure that they used the funding for whatever they were going to use it for. That is how we review them.
In the first review of the report, we look to make sure that they are using the funds for what they were going to use it for and if they did not use the funding appropriately, we ask them why and we hold the funding back until they provide that information to us.
Can the department or the minister tell us how many times they have withheld funds because of non-compliance or just not doing what they said they were going to do?
Hon. George Kuksuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There have been none so far.
Your department’s grants and contributions policy expired on December 31. When will you be updating this policy?
The policy has been approved.
It will be new and it is on the website already. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
I think I meant to ask, actually: when are you going to table it within the Legislative Assembly?
I would like to table it during this winter session. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I’m going to go on to something else. I’m going to go on to Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit. It says here that under section 23 of the Inuit Language Protection Act, it requires that the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit prepare and submit an annual report to the minister within nine months after the end of every fiscal year.
The 2012-13 and 2013-14 annual reports have not been tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
What is the status of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 annual reports and when will they be ready for tabling in the Legislative Assembly?
I again thank the member for that question. My deputy minister can elaborate on the question, if it’s okay with you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
The 2012-13 annual report has been done and we’re just in the process of reviewing how the money was used. For 2013-14, we were just reviewing the report, but the money that was being used is also being reviewed and it has not been given to the minister yet.
As soon as we have the 2013-14 annual report, the minister will have to review it before it’s tabled.
Your department’s draft 2015-16 main estimates indicate that you have eight PYs in the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit. Are all of these positions currently filled and, if not, which positions are currently vacant?
I again thank the member. Mr. Chairman, at this time, of the eight positions, seven are filled. For the final eighth position, if my deputy minister can explain that, as I don’t have that information with me. (interpretation ends) Thank you.