EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
This represents an increase of approximately 4.9 percent over the number of positions accounted for in the government’s 2014-15 main estimates.
However, the government’s most recently tabled quarterly employment report indicates that there were 1,144 vacant positions across the government as of June 2014, which represented a vacancy rate of approximately 25 percent.
It is important that the Financial Management Board be mindful of the need to control growth in the number of government positions at a time when departments and Crown agencies face significant challenges in filling their existing vacancies and roughly one-quarter of the government’s jobs stand empty.
It is also important for the government to be mindful of the Minister of Finance’s own comments to the Committee of the Whole of March 19, 2014, when he publicly informed Members of the Legislative Assembly that the government would be, from a budgeting perspective, “…in a very difficult situation if [it] were 100 percent staffed.”
It is also important to note that approximately one-third of the government’s total spending is on compensation and benefits for its own workforce.
For the 2015-16 fiscal year, this amounts to over a half a billion dollars.
The Minister of Finance serves as the Chairperson of the Public Agencies Council.  However, an annual report on the activities of the Public Agencies Council has not been tabled in the Legislative Assembly since June 10, 2010, almost half a decade ago.
Ministerial letters of expectation to the GN’s five largest Crown agencies and territorial corporations for the 2014-15 fiscal year were tabled in the Legislative Assembly on November 4, 2014. Responses to the letters of expectation were tabled on the same date.
The standing committee urges the Public Agencies Council to ensure that the 2015-16 Ministerial Letters of Expectation are tabled in the Legislative Assembly during the upcoming spring sitting of the House.
On October 28, 2014, the Minister of Finance tabled the government’s 2013-14 annual report on grants and contributions made by all departments during that fiscal year.
Between the 2004-05 and 2013-14 fiscal years, the government’s grants and contributions expenditures amounted to approximately $3.0 billion.
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, and I quote, “ensure funds provided to organizations, communities, and individuals adhere to better accountability practices that achieve the outcomes this government expects from its investment.”
This objective was also included in the Minister of Finance’s 2014 Budget Address.
The standing committee notes that the department’s proposed 2015-18 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for the 2015-16 fiscal year is to “Undertake an audit of departmental grants and contributions policies to determine compliance with the Financial Administration [Manual].”
It is important that the government’s work in this area clearly distinguish between ensuring that grants and contributions payments are being made in compliance with existing authorities, and evaluating the extent to which grants and contributions expenditures are achieving their stated objectives and providing value for money.
Mr. Chairman, members are of the view that an important element of this initiative will be to also examine ways in which to enhance the transparency of the government’s public reporting and disclosure of its grants and contributions expenditures.
For example, the government’s 2013-14 annual report on grants and contributions spending indicated that a significant number of financial contributions were made to commercial enterprises.
Although the annual report identified the programs under which funding was provided, the actual purpose of the funding is often not clearly explained.
Although members recognize the need for the government to safeguard proprietary information of private entities, the purpose and goals for which public money is being provided to private entities must be disclosed.
This, in turn, should assist the government and all Members of the Legislative Assembly in evaluating the extent to which grants and contributions expenditures are achieving their objectives and providing value for money.
As members will recall, the Commissioner’s Opening Address that was delivered in this House last year announced that another one of the government’s priorities is to “review government programs to determine what works well, what needs improvement, and what should be discontinued in order to focus our limited resources and enable success.”
Mr. Chairman, the business plans of both the Department of Finance and the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs indicate that they have been working to develop a request for proposals to undertake an “operational audit of GN programs.”
This request for proposals was issued on January 30, 2015, and closed on February 20, 2015.
It is noteworthy that the RFP indicates that the operational audit is “…premised on a review of 325 programs.”
Mr. Chairman, the passage last year of fixed election date legislation has resulted in certainty regarding the lifespan of this Assembly and government.
Given that the program review initiative has the potential to result in recommendations for significant changes to programs, services, and the structure of the government itself, it is essential that these be presented to Members of the Legislative Assembly for their consideration well in advance of the dissolution of the current legislature.
The department’s proposed 2015-18 business plan indicates that the budget for its Liquor Enforcement and Inspections Division will increase from $451,000 in 2014-15 to $733,000 in 2015-16.
This constitutes a 62.5 percent increase.
Amendments to the Liquor Regulations under the Liquor Act were published in the April 2014 edition of Part II of the Nunavut Gazette.
The new provisions provide that “a maximum of $500,000 per fiscal year, as defined in the Financial Administration Act, may be paid out of the Liquor Revolving Fund for expenses related to education campaigns promoting the socially responsible use of liquor under section 59.1 of the Act.”
Mr. Chairman, one of the praiseworthy initiatives undertaken to date by the government in this area includes a safe driving campaign during the Christmas and New Year’s festive season.
It is important that the next annual report of the Nunavut Liquor Commission account in detail for expenditures and activities in this area.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s proposed 2015-16 main estimates include $10.51 million in funding for the Nunavut Electricity Subsidy Program.
On a government-wide basis, the GN plans to spend approximately $39,929,000 on utility costs during the 2015-16 fiscal year.
The government raised $23,489,000 in payroll tax revenues during the 2013-14 fiscal year.
The standing committee continues to recommend that the minister begin the practice of tabling an annual report in the Legislative Assembly on the administration of the Payroll Tax Act to account for such issues.
The Department of Finance is responsible for administering the territorial Tobacco Tax Act. Amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act were passed by the Legislative Assembly in February 2012.
The government raised $16,133,000 in 2013-14 from tobacco taxes.
However, given the inelastic nature of demand for tobacco products, it remains unclear if increases in tobacco taxes have actually had any impact on reducing smoking rates in Nunavut.
The tax on loose tobacco will rise from 14 cents per gram to 20 cents per gram. Based on current consumption, these measures will produce additional revenue next year of $3 million.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee again urges the minister to table information in the Legislative Assembly concerning the actual amounts that have been allocated for smoking prevention and cessation programs.
The standing committee emphasizes the importance of timely tabling in the Legislative Assembly of key departmental publications, including the government’s Public Service Annual Report and its quarterly Inuit employment reports.
For example, the 2012-13 Public Service Annual Report was not tabled in the Legislative Assembly until May 29, 2014. The 2013-14 Public Service Annual Report has not yet been tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
During the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, members also emphasized the importance of expanding the range of information contained in future editions of the Public Service Annual Report, including department-by-department breakdowns of direct appointments approved by the cabinet, absenteeism rates, and information concerning the employment of disabled persons in the public service.
Mr. Chairman, a new Public Service Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly in 2013.
Part 6 of the new Public Service Act concerns the disclosure of wrongdoing. Part 8 of the new Public Service Act concerns the appointment of an ethics officer.
Part 6 of the Act comes into force on the earlier of April 1, 2015 or a day to be fixed by order of the Commissioner.
Approximately 2,150 students, 75 percent of whom were beneficiaries, have participated in this program since 2001.
The standing committee was pleased to note that the department’s proposed 2015-18 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for the 2015-16 fiscal year is to “Expand employment opportunities for students in non-decentralized communities.”
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2015-16 main estimates and 2015-18 business plan of the Department of Finance.
Mr. Akoak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 16 and the main estimates, and would like to report progress.
Monica. (interpretation ends) The motion is in order.
Item 22. (interpretation) Orders of the Day. (interpretation ends) Mr. Clerk.
Just a reminder that there’s a meeting tomorrow morning at ten o’clock in the Nanuq Boardroom, the meeting of the Regular Caucus.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 19:49
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Pages 2264 – 2345
Opening Prayer 2264
Ministers’ Statements 2264
Members’ Statements 2267
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2269
Oral Questions 2269
Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters 2286
Tabling of Documents 2286
Notices of Motions 2287
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2288
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2344
Orders of the Day 2344
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2264
117 – 4(2): Minister Absent from the House (Quassa) 2264
118 – 4(2): Pan North Territorial Marketing Award (Ell) 2264
119 – 4(2): Progress Report on the Northern Adult Basic Education Program Innarnut Ilinniarniq: Enhancing Adult Basic Education in Nunavut (Quassa) 2265
120 – 4(2): Conservation Officer Conference (Mike) 2266
121 – 4(2): Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and NTI (Taptuna) 2266
256 – 4(2): New Health Centre for Arctic Bay (Shooyook) 2267
257 – 4(2): Sanikiluaq’s Eiderdown Industry (Rumbolt) 2268
258 – 4(2): Appreciation of Clyde River’s Piqqusilirivvik Centre (Keyootak) 2268
420 – 4(2): Employment Equity in the Public Service (Angnakak) 2269
421 – 4(2): Gjoa Haven’s Swan Lake Bridge Project (Akoak) 2270
422 – 4(2): Baffin Island Caribou Management (Keyootak) 2272
423 – 4(2): Status of Medical Transportation Contract (Mikkungwak) 2274
424 – 4(2): Aviation Program Positions (Enook) 2275
425 – 4(2): Gaps in Homelessness Planning (Hickes) 2276
426 – 4(2): Management of the Public Service (Savikataaq) 2278
427 – 4(2): Promotion of NHC Homeownership Programs (Sammurtok) 2280
428 – 4(2): Workers Working on Iqaluit Airport Project (Joanasie) 2282
429 – 4(2): Construction of Multilevel Apartments (Shooyook) 2283
430 – 4(2): Permanent Social Worker for Repulse Bay (Mapsalak) 2285
Committee Report 007 – 4(2): Bill 1, Bill 11, Bill 12, Bill 13, Bill 17, and Bill 19 (Savikataaq) 2286
111 – 4(2): Enhancing Adult Education in Nunavut (Quassa) 2286
112 – 4(2): Pension Administration Report, March 31, 2014 (Speaker) 2287
113 – 4(2): Response of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut to the October 29, 2014 Report of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts (Speaker) 2287
114 – 4(2): Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut on the 2013 General Election and Rankin Inlet South By-election (Speaker) 2287  115 – 4(2): 2015 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut on Corrections in Nunavut (Speaker) 2287
020 – 4(2): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Mikkungwak) 2287
Bill 20 – Legislation Act – Second Reading 2287
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2015-2016 – Finance – Consideration in Committee 2288
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2015-2016 – Economic Development and Transportation – Consideration in Committee 2308
Speaker (interpretation): Good afternoon, Nunavummiut.
Members, ministers, (interpretation ends) Premier, (interpretation) our staff and interpreters, welcome to the House.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Government Leader, Mr. Quassa.
Minister’s Statement 117 – 4(2): Minister Absent from the House (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day, my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, today, I wish to advise my colleagues that the (interpretation ends) Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation) will be absent from the House due to illness.
I apologize as I can’t find my statement here.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to apologize, I will have to find it and make my statement later.
Speaker (interpretation): Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Ms. Ell.
Minister’s Statement 118 – 4(2): Pan North Territorial Marketing Award (Ell)
I am delighted to announce that Nunavut, together with our partners the Northwest Territories and Yukon, have won the Marketing Campaign of the Year Award from the Travel Industry Association of Canada.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, this award is given to an organization that has devised and implemented the year’s most outstanding tourism marketing campaign or initiative.
This year, there were more than 200 nominations.
As the chair of the Pan Territorial Marketing Consortium, Nunavut Tourism played an instrumental part in the campaign’s success.
Our successful entry was a commercial campaign that ran during the first season of The Amazing Race Canada.
In addition, this success should not come as a surprise - Nunavut has been recognized amongst the finalists in three of the past four years.
Mr. Speaker, as our government and all Nunavummiut work to diversify and strengthen our economy, it gives me real pleasure to see our territory standing out among the big players in the tourism industry.
I would ask all members to join me in celebrating this significant achievement and recognize the kudos and positive publicity it brings to tourism in Nunavut and to our beautiful territory. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 119 – 4(2): Progress Report on the Northern Adult Basic Education Program Innarnut Ilinniarniq: Enhancing Adult Basic Education in Nunavut (Quassa)
I’ll try it again, my colleagues.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, as Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, it is my pleasure to share with my colleagues the 2012-14 Progress Report on the Northern Adult Basic Education Program that will be tabled later today.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, the five-year investment by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency has allowed Nunavut Arctic College to enhance and revamp its Adult Basic Education Program to better serve adult learners by developing and delivering culturally relevant and sustainable programs.
The Northern Adult Basic Education Program Project (NABEP) has developed our Adult Basic Education Essential Skills Program to meet national standards in numeracy and literacy and is helping prepare Nunavummiut to enter the modern workforce.
Mr. Speaker, midway through this exciting initiative, we can already see dramatic impacts in Nunavut classrooms.
Communities are offering new adult basic education programs, enrollment has increased dramatically, and adult educators are teaching using integrated teacher resources for Inuktitut language and essential skills development.
Since the start of the program enhancements in the winter of 2012, student enrollments have improved from 103 students to 238 students in 2014, representing a twofold increase.
Highlights include the delivery of 48 programs in 20 communities each year, hiring 27 local Inuit instructors to support instruction, as well as contracting 177 elders to work with student learners.
Mr. Speaker, the work accomplished under Northern Adult Basic Education Program funding has been possible because of the dedication of Nunavut Arctic College staff, students, and our funding partners, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Nunavut Arctic College continues to work toward enhancing the Adult Basic Education Program in an effort to continue to raise enrollments and completion rates for adult learners so that they may continue with further studies and obtain better jobs in the future.
Minister’s Statement 120 – 4(2): Conservation Officer Conference (Mike)
Good day to the people of Nunavut and Pangnirtung. (interpretation ends) Conservation officers’ conference.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to offer my congratulations to the 30 Department of Environment conservation officers who recently participated in an intensive two-week training conference here in Iqaluit from February 2 until February 12.
(interpretation ends) The annual conference is an opportunity for our officers to refresh their training and learn some new skills. (interpretation) The conference also provides a forum to discuss issues, new trends, and importantly, successes. (interpretation ends) Some of the training courses that were delivered are:
Environmental Outreach
Inspections and Investigations; and
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight another success of this conference.
For the first time ever, all of the training was developed and delivered by five of our own officers. I am pleased to share with my colleagues this important step in the capacity building of our conservation staff.
(interpretation ends) I am very proud of the department’s officers for their hard work over the past few weeks and am sure that they are returning to their communities excited to apply new skills to their work. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 121 – 4(2): Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and NTI (Taptuna)
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated announced a tentative settlement agreement with Canada concerning the implementation of the 1993 Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
Mr. Speaker, the details of the settlement are to be disclosed by the parties soon.
In the meantime, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate its president, Cathy Towtongie, and Canada on reaching an agreement.
We have been working to improve Inuit employment in the public service since 1999.
With this agreement, we look forward to working with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on an arrangement to support this underfunded sector of our public government.
Mr. Speaker, we want to work with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to put in the proper systems and programs to train our Inuit workforce.
We want to provide Inuit with the necessary skills through education and training so that they are afforded the same opportunities as all Canadians and are part of a representative workforce in the Government of Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 256 – 4(2): New Health Centre for Arctic Bay (Shooyook)
I say “good day” to Nunavummiut as well as all of my colleagues. Good day to my fellow residents of Arctic Bay and my constituents in the High Arctic.
I rise today to speak about a more pleasurable issue to my colleagues.
I am quite proud of our predecessors, especially the MLAs who represented the High Arctic.
They represented the region with all of their abilities and fought for infrastructure the communities wanted.
As the representative of the High Arctic, I now understand the dilemma they faced.
Nevertheless, this is what I am happy about and I doubt it will suddenly do a 180.
I am proud of the municipality in our community, as they are our local government and part of their long-term plans was to implement the capital plans.
I am proud of their work.
Mr. Speaker, I was just provided information which made me quite thrilled, and this is about the future community health centre that was debated. When I first sat as the MLA for the High Arctic, I had asked that it be put on a priority list and fought for it.
Mr. Speaker, we were informed this morning about an announcement that the construction of the health centre will begin this upcoming summer. It also includes a five-plex that will be built in the community.
Mr. Speaker, I am completely proud of this development and I ask all my colleagues to share in my celebration. To analogize, I have scored for the High Arctic as I have obtained the infrastructure that the Inuit of our community wanted built.
Member’s Statement 257 – 4(2): Sanikiluaq’s Eiderdown Industry (Rumbolt)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express support for the renewal of the Sanikiluaq eiderdown industry.
Mr. Speaker, as members are aware, for a number of years, Sanikiluaq had an active eiderdown industry. However, due to a number of factors, such as fluctuations in international demand and lack of government funding, the industry experienced a slowdown.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to inform the House that plans to restore the eiderdown industry are underway.
Just last week, the Government of Nunavut’s Economic Development and Transportation, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and the Hamlet of Sanikiluaq announced a total contribution of $175,857 toward this initiative.
I would like to publicly thank Ministers Ell and Aglukkaq, as well as the Mayor of Sanikiluaq, Frank Audla, for their support.
Mr. Speaker, this joint investment from the municipal, territorial, and federal governments is an excellent example of an inter-jurisdictional partnership. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this strategic investment will significantly support the revitalization of Sanikiluaq’s eiderdown industry.
Mr. Speaker, this is also an example of an economic development initiative that utilizes a sustainable and renewable resource unique to our territory.
It will provide employment opportunities to the people of my constituency as well as warm, high-quality eiderdown products to people across the world.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in acknowledging this excellent investment.
Member’s Statement 258 – 4(2): Appreciation of Clyde River’s Piqqusilirivvik Centre (Keyootak)
I rise today to express both my pride and sense of accomplishment.
As we are aware, Clyde River houses the school that teaches Inuit culture which is called Piqqusilirivvik.
I want to express my delight in the residents of Clyde River, as they warmly welcome the students who attend that school from all over Nunavut.
Just recently, students enrolled for classes and there are 23 students from all over Nunavut, with some students from Clyde River itself.
The semester will be ending on May 22 this spring.
Some of the students are away from their home communities for long periods, as they come from all over Nunavut from 15 different communities. With the eight students from Clyde River, that makes up that class.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to share in this celebration and to extend our gratification to the people of Clyde River, as the students spend quite a lot of time in the community and the residents are very hospitable and welcoming.
I ask my colleagues to share in expressing our pride in the community.