EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I was wondering if the Minister could tell me if these same designs are not being used in all the communities.
I am thinking along the same line that we could build the same model of arenas in all the communities.
Perhaps the reason why we do not use the same design is that there are different construction workers from companies and we try to get the lowest bid.
I think that is one of the reasons why the design is different.
It is evident if the communities would like to get the same arena design. The blue prints are completed but one of the problems that we experienced is that the communities vary from each other, like the foundation is different from one community to another.
I can tell the member that we expect to have all the plans completed.
Question 557 - 1(3): Budgeting Policies
Mr. Speaker, my question is probably most appropriate to the Minister of Finance.
I would like to ask the Minister in budget development process, if he could explain a little bit how that happens to departments.
Through that whole process, do they develop a policy and pick up how much they need, or do they just put numbers out and say this is what we need without having any policies or programs in place for them.
Mr. Speaker, for this particular budget development process all departments brought forward programs that they wanted to have financed for the up coming budget that we are reviewing now.
As I have indicated in the past there was a significant amount of requests, quite frankly there was probably from my recollection, about 80 million dollars worth of requests that were over and above for what our fiscal resources allow.
So what happened was that the Financial Management Board over the course about 3 to 4 working days spread all over a couple of weeks, reviewed each of the submissions that were brought forward by the departments.
They tried to determine the priorities and approved different submissions after an extensive review and debate on each of those submissions.
I thank the Minister for that description on how that is reviewed.
In the review take on his last answer, every item in the departmental budget that comes forward, it sounds like it is scrutinised quite thoroughly.
In doing that review of the departmental budget are there descriptions of what and how those funds are going to be distributed so that the department defend their numbers to FMB, this is how we are going to spend, this type of thing.
Mr. Speaker, yes that is the case.
Each Minister has to bring forward their own submissions on behalf of their departments and speak to those submissions and they are quite detailed submissions.
Also of course the presentation from the Ministers one each of those submissions.
So, then one would venture that to get any program or any funding out, there should be a good explanation and some criteria for the dollars to go along with the dollar allocation.
It should be, from what I heard from the Minister a description of the program and how it is going to be distributed and everything else like that.
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated the additional submissions for incremental program dollars, whether they are in the operations & maintenance side or the capital side that each Minister brought forward, yes.
In respect of on-going programs as it would have been part of the 1999-2000 budget that were being renewed as part of the overall budget development process.
In other words the money, the dollars that would have been expected to be carried on.
There was not obviously significant review or details surrounding that because they were on-going programs.
Final Supplementary. Mr. Tootoo.
So then if the Minister is correct, they are saying any on-going programs would I just assume, that they would carry on as is.
Only new programs would have been brought to the attention of FMBS for a cabinet decision.
Mr. Speaker, generally yes Mr. Speaker, except if there were changes expected from on-going programs.
That would have to go back to either cabinet if there are policy changes or the financial management board if there was a result in financial changes to those programs.
Oral Questions. Oral Questions.
Question 558 - 1(3): Nunavut Power Corporation
I will be directing my question to the Minister of the Power Corporation.
Since we are now working toward a stand alone Power Corporation in Nunavut I was wondering if the Minister could tell me what position in you are in today in the process.
If the Members know the transition agreement that was signed approximately one year ago between the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and the Office of the Interim Commissioner which was grandfathered into Nunavut.
Under that option we set up our own Power Corporation as the Member knows.
In the line item in the budget of the Premier and Executive there is some money in there for staffing and bringing it up to capacity for the Nunavut Power Corporation.
So in this role today Mr. Speaker, I am the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Power Corporation here in Nunavut.
I am not the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation that is why I asked the question because I do not know all the information.
I would like to supplement my question. In Clyde River the increase of utility rates, I was wondering is where your position is at with that one.
Speaker: Minister responsible for the Power Corporation for Nunavut. Mr. Picco.
Mr. Speaker, my position and the Government Nunavut has not changed on the new power plant and the new power rates in Clyde River.
It is the same as it was last year.
It is the same as it was six months ago.
The same as it was in February when the Member asked me that question.
It is the same today.
So the rate will increase from 30 to 40 percent.
We have seen it documented.
So this has not changed.
Can you tell me this has not changed.
Speaker: Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. Mr. Picco.
Mr. Speaker, over a year ago now I went to Clyde River with the member.
We met with the Mayor and the Council of the Clyde River Hamlet with some senior officials with the Power Corporation to discuss the rate.
The Power Corporation estimates that the new plant put in and based on the community’s rates now we have in place.
The rate the power rate in Clyde River would increase between 35 and 40 percent.
That is our best guess.
After saying that Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times now in this House to the people of Clyde River and to the Member that we as a the Nunavut Government and Nunavut Power Corporation realise a 40 percent increase in the rates in Clyde River are not acceptable.
We maintain that same stand.
Before any rate increases in Clyde River there is an opportunity through the Nunavut Utilities Board where the community of Clyde River would be an intervenor.
They would have intervenor status. We would pay for them.
There are several mechanisms to go through before there is any rate increase.
Mr. Speaker, we know 40 percent increase in Clyde River is not acceptable and we will do what we can as a Government as I stated before, to negate that type of increase.
I hope that answer gives some level of comfort to the member and I thank him for his question and his interest on behalf of the people of Clyde River. For the 17th or 18 time that he asked me this question.
Oral Questions. Mr. Nutarak.
Question 559 - 1(3): Sanikiluaq Power Plant Fire
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Community Government & Transportation.
We heard about the state of emergency in Sanikiluaq due to the destruction of the power plant.
How is that going to affect the Nunavut Governments budget.
We have a contingency plan where we set aside some money for emergencies.
If we are going to have to build a new power plant than we will get the money from the insurance and very possibly we might use Nunavut Government’s money.
But it will be reimbursed and we will probably spend about 100 thousand to construct a new plant.
The majority of the dollars used will be paid for by insurance.
Supplementary. Mr. Nutarak.
Again to the same issue in regards to the sudden destruction of any power plant.
I was going to direct this question to the Member for Sanikiluaq.
I wanted to know what the population is in Sanikiluaq.
With the increased population you have to keep up with the power demand.
My question is what is the total population in Sanikiluaq.
Mr. Speaker, because the previous financial questions involve more than one department and not actually directly the Government of Nunavut I would like to respond to the members supplementary question.
My understanding is there are approximately six hundred people in Sanikiluaq.
Just on his earlier question on whose is paying for what.
The Power Corporation is a crown corporation.
It is not a government department or agency.
They have insurance coverage.
In respect to actual cost of the Power Corporation in some of their insurers they would pick up some of those costs.
There maybe some additional costs to the Government of Nunavut in assisting in getting the community up and running during the temporary period until the power corporation fully re-establishes permanent power in the community of Sanikiluaq.
In that particular instance, the Government of Nunavut obviously would pay all costs that are required to help the community.
But there is also the possibility of some Federal assistance through the Federal disaster program which the Minister of Community Government & Transportation would work with his counterpart at the Federal level and through his officials help off set some of Government of Nunavut costs in that situation.
I directed my question to the Minister of Community Government & Transportation and the Minister of Finance. So I will ask my question to the Minister of Finance in regards to insurance.
How long does it take to get your insurance money. Does it take 6 months or a year.
How long does it take.
Mr. Speaker, it depends a lot on case by case bases and specific circumstances surrounding the claim.
Obviously the bigger the claim the larger the period required to recuperate or replace whatever the facility is that may have been lost.
So it is based a lot on progress in replacing the insured asset. So it defers to what the size and magnitude of each project where there may be insurance coverage.
Question 560 - 1(3): Education Funding for Clyde River
Mr. Speaker I have asked this question numerous times.
This is probably the last time that I am going to be asking this question to the Minister of Education. It is in regards to the 1 million, 500 thousand dollars that was slated for Clyde River.
I would like to know from the Minister whether this 1 million, 500 thousand have been deleted.
Speaker: Minister responsible for Education. Mr. Arvaluk.
It was approved during this session and it is still there.
Oral Questions. Oral Questions. Mr. Barnabas.
Question 561 - 1(3): NNI Registration Deadline
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Public Works.
How long does it take for businesses or small businesses if they are going to be trying to build office space, for example what is the timeline for the department of public works to respond to those businesses or small businesses.
Speaker: Minister of Public Works.
Which letters are you referring to.
The forms or could you clarify your question because I did not quite understand you in Inuktitut.
But I understood the timeline.
Would the Member clarify what types of correspondence or letters that he is asking about.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that she will respond to me in writing.
Those businesses are registered under the BIP.
They have to be registered under NNI now.
Does that mean that they will not be eligible to apply for contracts or to try for contracts if they are not registered.
Whether they are awarded a contract or not, we follow the policies.
I do not know which contracts are going to be awarded to a business or small business. For those who were registered under the BIP, I do not know who will be awarded the contract or not.
For those businesses or small businesses those that were registered under BIP were given forms to be registered under NNI.
The deadline was for April 27 and they got their forms on April 25.
The forms were in her office for a whole month.
Why is it that you waited so long when there is contracts that have be awarded out there.
Speaker: Madam Minister.
It was supposed to have been brought out in March.
We had short deadlines and our Premier wanted to get it passed as soon as possible.
We discussed the NNI when we were in Rankin Inlet and possibly what held us back was because it took a long time to get approved.
In regards to your comments saying that the forms were in my office for a month. I will find out why that was the case and see if your comments are true.
Since you are the only one that has raised this I will speak to my staff and find out what the situation was and I will respond to you in writing.
My last question, if the forms are not sent here as soon as possible then they will not be registered in the NNI.
I just wondered whether the contractors would be able to be considered for a contract if they are not registered.
I just wondered if the contracts comes out and then the shipment made will the individual that bid on the contract be considered even though their forms have not been approved.
I just wondered whether the individuals that sent out those papers to her department would be considered even if they were late.
The officials that deal with contracts deal with the individuals that are bidding certain contracts and they go by the policy and rules.
I am not exactly sure what is happening at this time and I will be meeting with my officials and reply to the Member in person.
Oral Questions. Oral Questions. Mr. McLean.
Question 562 - 1(3): Evaluation of Nunavut Education System
The Government of Nunavut has been in place exactly one year, one month as I heard it from my Honourable colleagues from Kugluktuk.
Does the Minister have any plans to do a comprehensive evaluation of the education system in Nunavut.
To find out to see if it meets the needs of Nunavummiut.
Yes, I stated in several occasions that all of the education programs are under review.
Some of them are going faster than others.
The curriculum development for example, 10 year plan and the capital 20 year plan.
The other programs that we carry out for example cultural inclusion program whether it is relevant approached or it has been bandaged type of a program.
I will be eagerly awaiting that report.
In his evaluation of programs and services and other options that are being presented to his department that they are looking at, will they be studying kindergarten to grade 12 programs and seeing that they are effective within the schools.
Is there somebody going to see that programs are being evaluated that they are being taught properly.
Speaker: Two questions there.
I think the first part is already being looked at quite well through our consultation process with the Education Act.
We have sent out the second draft of the Education Act, there have been very good suggestions coming out of that one.
Although it doesn't really relate to the Education Act, the comments as to how we can improve our education system, the delivery, the administration and the quality and the standards that should be used in the schools.
The other part is more ongoing and on a smaller scale, that is what programs are we delivering that can be done better if they are done differently.
So those two are the components.
However, if we have been charged to do a comprehensive review then we will have to look at that because that will require special funding to do it.
But right now we have been doing most of our in-house review, especially the reviews from the previous government respecting education, and we have asked ourselves as professionals as to if most of them are relevant for Nunavut or if they should be looked at more comprehensively.
My final supplementary on this one is that the reason I am asking is because we probably have an 85% drop out rate in Nunavut at this time, give or take 5%.
Usually when students get into grade 10, 11, 12 they're writing the Alberta curriculum exams and a lot of them fall off because a lot of them don't have the basic skills in English, math and sciences to pass these tests.
That's where our drop out rate starts to increase.
Can the minister commit to finding out if the programs from kindergarten to grade 9 are effective enough to give the students the skills so when they get in to grades 10, 11, 12 they can pass these tests and receive their graduation diplomas.
I have asked that question and many parents have asked that question.
Yes, we will look at all the aspects of educational programs from kindergarten to grade 12, with a goal to improve not only the quality of the education but the graduation rates.
I think the member is very well aware that the success of these students not only relies on the educational process as an institution in the school, but also the society.
How the society deals with the importance of education.
So we have been having a very intensive discussion with our staff members and the DEAs about how we can have the attitude of the society to change its' views on the importance of education.
I am very happy that this government is taking education as a priority and it certainly will be sending a message to the parents and look at our own programs as to how we can make anything successful.
One of the things that we have found out so far is that you have to have the parents participate themselves with their own creative element, upgrading programs, at least to appreciate the need for a good education.
So this is one of the first steps.
The second step that we'll also be looking at is how do we make our delivery programs in the schools with our curriculum and materials so that it excites students rather that boring them.
So those are a number of ideas that have been discussed with the professional consultants, with the citizens themselves and with the teachers and parents.
Question 563 – 1(3): Budget Process Cycle
I was reviewing my Hansard from previous weeks and if the minister remembers me asking about the capital budget delivery cycle.
I reviewed his answer at the time and he said yes he would look at doing it in the fall and then everything else went basically that we did and it's not worth it to do.
I would just like to ask the minister if he plans on doing an analysis at looking at having a capital delivery cycle having the budget developed for the fall and will he be providing that information to the House.
Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated in response to the honourable member's questions, it was taken into consideration and as I said, I didn't think it would be doable or as doable.
I guess the practicality of having two budget sessions was a consideration as I said.
In the past the GNWT tried it and it was proven to be, although you do approve your capital earlier and don't have to have timelines imposed upon us like we have in this current session.
It wasn't that beneficial with that one exception.
I guess having said that, we anticipated that we would get the whole Main Estimates, capital and so on, earlier to the Assembly in the next budget cycle and that's the avenue that we are pursuing for the next budget cycle.
I can understand if at least in the past it was done on a trial basis by the GNWT, Mr. Speaker, and guess it didn't seem to be feasible.
Mr. Speaker, I think we all understand the diversity that the previous GNWT government had, where it had communities that didn't have road access, year around access, and communities that were on the road system.
So I could see where that could cause some problems there with that type of a system.
However, here in Nunavut, every single community that we have isn't accessible by road and requires sealift.
I am just wondering if in that light I think it is a little bit different circumstances than those faced by the GNWT.
If the minister would consider taking a look at that possibility.
Mr. Speaker, yes we would be willing to take a look at it but, as members know, right now we are trying to put together a draft five year planning document for members and Nunavummiut across the territories so we can have a better indication of what we want to try and do from a capital perspective.
So it would be a matter of trying to tie that work in at the same time and I can certainly take a look at it and report back to the committees on that.
I look forward to seeing that.
In regards to the five year capital plan that the minister indicated.
I believe that he said earlier that he plans on having that plan ready for this fall.
I am just wondering if that is something that members will be able to review and also be able to take back to the communities for a consultation on.
I guess my concern and it is through history, which showed that these five-year capital plans were always developed but not always followed.
Some people I believe said here in the House that they had something on the five-year capital plan for more than five years now.
So I guess that's where some of the concern would be and I think by doing that cycle earlier in the fall it may help eliminate some of that problem.
So I do again ask that it be something that we seriously as a government look at doing.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated again, in respect to the draft five-year capital plan, members will have an opportunity to review it.
That's the whole basis of trying to develop one.
I go back to saying I guess, that we are concerned about having things put into the five-year capital plan because there are expectations once you have put something on paper.
That's the concern and the issue surrounding the development of a realistic and deliverable five-year capital plan that our government wants to undertake.
Once we see it on paper then we want to be able to commit to delivering that within the term of our government.
That's why we want to take care to make sure that it's done in a positive manner, in a realistic manner so that there aren't failed expectations of people having something in that five year draft capital plan.
Question 564 – 1(3): Status of New Social Housing
We all understand I think it was last summer that the communities understood that the 26 communities would be receiving 100 public housing units.
I am sure that the construction of these 100 units will require contractors.
Since your department is responsible for awarding contracts, are you now working towards getting the contractors at this time.
We are in the process of working on the contracts.
As we have stated before, during the committee of the whole sessions, there are contractors in our communities at the local level.
It is evident that these local contractors will not be able to put in a bid, but there are two communities, Uqsuqtuq and Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven and I am sure that they will be putting in their bids because they have worked on contracts in the past.
Sometimes we do get contractors from outside the community.
If possible I would like to see our local contractors at the community level being awarded those contracts to build those units.
I was wondering if your department could focus on the local contractors.
According to the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy which was passed in this House, we will follow those criteria, but at this point we are now working on those.
I myself as the Minister responsible for Public Works, I cannot encourage the staff to give contracts to specific companies.
It is against my policies and I cannot interfere with the awarding of the contracts.
But I do understand your concern, that the local contractors, we should all work together to hire them and I am sure that the Members of the Legislature are aware of this.
We would like to contract local companies and I am sure that the Members of the Legislature would like to see the local contractors being awarded the contracts.
That's why we came out with the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy, so as to enhance the private contractors at the community level.
I am sure that the local contractors will develop through the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti but Mr. Speaker, I cannot tell you who will be awarded contracts.