EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Alternatively, people can use the regional offices in Nunavut to submit their requests to, such as the Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, and Baffin regional offices. The offices are staffed with various managers looking after these (interpretation ends) programs (interpretation) in the various areas. Our main office and all regional offices are open to these types of information requests about our (interpretation ends) programs (interpretation) and we can provide the information on assistance programming.
Mr. Sammurtok: Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2013-14 annual report also indicates that there were a total of 293 pending and waitlisted applications and 55 declined applications for homeownership programs as of March 31, 2014.
Can the minister explain how the Nunavut Housing Corporation helps waitlisted and declined applicants reapply for homeownership programs?
With regard to the question from the member about how and for what purpose the appeal process is used for determining complaints, the other side to this is what other assistance would be provided if a complaint was lodged against a tenant.
Mr. Speaker, I can’t respond today what the reasoning is for denying the applications. I don’t have the details surrounding the issue the member was querying about. I don’t have the information.
Perhaps in the upcoming sitting days, I will have the information the member wanted. I will first do some research to see if the information is available and I will respond later on.
I am aware of situations in Rankin Inlet where individuals have spent thousands of dollars to undertake necessary repairs or improvements to their home.
These individuals may have been eligible for assistance under the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s program guidelines.
However, because they were unaware of the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s programs to provide assistance in these areas, they did not apply for help until after the work had been completed and the money had been spent.
Will the minister commit to reviewing the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s policies to allow for appeals of these situations on a case-by-case basis?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for asking a question on that issue again.
Mr. Speaker, based on my earlier response, there are various (interpretation ends) programs (interpretation) to assist private homeowners, including subsidy programs run by the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
We have regional offices in every region. LHOs can be your avenue to request this information if you don’t know what kind of subsidies may be available.
We also have NHC offices offering these different (interpretation ends) programs (interpretation) and the managers looking after the programs are Inuit and some are fluent in the language.
Mr. Speaker, with respect to the question posed by the member, these offices can be reached to request the various programs offered in Nunavut.
Question 428 – 4(2): Workers Working on Iqaluit Airport Project (Joanasie)
Mr. Speaker, my question will be directed to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Last week, my line of questions was related to the Iqaluit airport. I would like to get further information on this issue.
First of all, I would like to ask the minister if she is aware of Nunavummiut who aren’t from Iqaluit who are working on the project.
The project is through a contract. With respect to numerous employees under the contract, I am not aware of that level of detail.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) During the Committee of the Whole’s review of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation’s 2015-16 capital plans, MLAs were informed that an audit of the Arctic Infrastructure Limited Partners’ compliance with the provisions of Inuit engagement in the project was underway and that once complete, the results will be provided to members.
I would like to ask the minister if she can indicate when we can expect to receive these results.
I thank the member for that question. Mr. Speaker, I answered this very question last week and it’s the same answer.
The report is being tallied as we speak. It will be completed by the end of the month. I should be able to table something for the spring session.
My final question is whether the minister can make a commitment with respect to the (interpretation ends) Arctic Infrastructure Partners (interpretation) so that they can start hiring Inuit in particular from other communities outside Iqaluit, such as Cape Dorset and Kimmirut, as well as other smaller communities.
We have asked for Inuit engagement reports. We don’t specify where they are from.
If that is the wish of the member, I’m not sure if we can do that, but I will look into it.
Question 429 – 4(2): Construction of Multilevel Apartments (Shooyook)
My question will be directed to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
In my constituency community of Arctic Bay, I heard a person speaking on the radio that lodged the idea in my brain which I feel is a good idea related to our housing challenges.
I would like the minister to properly inform me if this is impossible.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: when considering housing projects, has your department ever taken into consideration this idea and does your department have an approach for a Nunavut-wide strategy to construct large, multilevel residential buildings, such as apartments?
Currently there are no apartments in the communities and I wonder if the department has considered apartments as part of their strategy to face the housing challenges or if there are no plans to this effect.
Hopefully my question is understandable, and I would like my first question to be on whether the department has ever considered apartment buildings to house our residents.
If I understood the member’s question, I would like to first thank the member for his question.
With respect to multilevel residential buildings, such as apartment buildings, if I understood that to be part of his question, to look at multilevel buildings such as those built in the southern cities and actually here in Iqaluit with the high rise, if the member was indeed speaking about buildings such as these apartment buildings, we don’t have any plans to construct these types of buildings.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As well, I thank the minister for that response as I know this was an unexpected issue.
What I was trying to ascertain here with my reference to apartment buildings wasn’t the multilevel apartment buildings, but more like a two-storey building that can house twice as many tenants, two floors, one lower and one higher.
This was brought up as a possible solution to house our elders, those without caretakers as there are no overnight workers, but there are daytime caregivers. Due to these reasons, the idea was to have a two-storey building housing the elders on the lower floor and to have their relatives on the higher floor.
Currently, elders with grown children are usually too far away and they prefer having them closer at hand, and when circumstances dictate that our children live on the other side of town, it becomes a lot harder to visit amongst families.
Mr. Speaker, has this ever been considered for a future building of two-storey buildings? I would like to see at least one pilot project to see if it would work here in Nunavut.
Has this ever been considered?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for his question.
Mr. Speaker, with the challenge we face with housing shortages here in Nunavut, with thousands of people waiting for housing, we are looking at cheaper options, as well as whether we can make more units following a basic plan and our limited funding.
Mr. Speaker, the units currently under construction as well as past buildings built last year or the year before are part of the current strategy we are following. Perhaps the five-plex units or even the large ten-plex, single-floor units are the ones being built.
Mr. Speaker, we plan on constructing more units in this fashion, as it is a fairly cheap design. At this current time, we don’t have any other building designs being reviewed such as what my colleague was referring to.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my executive colleague for clarifying that matter to my understanding.
Just to continue that example, we are faced with a severe housing shortage in Nunavut.
Current buildings in the communities include single-person dwellings.
The units are like bachelor units that can only house one person, yet we face housing shortages in the communities.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to see more options for all future negotiations with the federal government, if the funding is to be continued, to research more building designs that can meet our current needs, such as the two-storey building idea.
Will the minister and his officials start reviewing this idea or is the department stuck on that basic design?
I would like more information to enable me to understand the issue.
I also thank the member again for raising that issue in his question as it is a good question.
Mr. Speaker, we try to look at the most beneficial and least expensive option when reviewing the housing issue. We are limited in funding for the housing shortage and we haven’t looked at larger buildings or more buildings for that matter.
We are trying to look at all of our options and we have an annual review. The strategy we are working on, the (interpretation ends) Blueprint for Action on Housing, (interpretation) includes these issues as well as the idea the member raised.
It will be included in that review as part of our future strategic direction related to housing and for our plans to that effect.
Question 430 – 4(2): Permanent Social Worker for Repulse Bay (Mapsalak)
Mr. Speaker, I have raised questions about this issue in past sessions about Repulse Bay’s situation. We have a social worker who works part time and is only at the office during certain hours.
Currently, we have another worker in the community who will be providing services temporarily.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister provide details on exactly when the community will have a full-time social worker located in Repulse Bay?
I also thank my colleague for enquiring about that position.
With regard to the actual date, I don’t have that information presently, but once my officials have briefed me on the actual date of the Repulse Bay social worker hiring, I can pass that along to the member.
I wonder if the minister can look into this issue or if she is already aware of what the barriers are to hire a full-time social worker in Repulse Bay. The services are a necessity to many of our residents and they note the lack of services when only temporary social workers are trying to fill the void.
What is the reason for the lack of progress in hiring a permanent social worker in Repulse Bay?
I thank the member as well for asking about the barriers.
We aren’t really involved in this process and aren’t aware of the difficulties associated with hiring a social worker in the community.
However, we usually know when a community is having difficulty hiring social workers, as there aren’t very many local residents applying for these positions.
We would prefer that local people apply towards these positions or alternatively, to take courses relevant to the vacant position in social services. The courses are offered in Cambridge Bay and the courses now include university designed courses to ensure we have properly trained workers in our future.
With respect to the actual barriers, we don’t have the information written anywhere, but we understand the need to look into this issue. Once I have that information, I will provide it to my colleague.
The time for question period has expired. We will move on.
Committee Report 007 – 4(2): Bill 1, Bill 11, Bill 12, Bill 13, Bill 17, and Bill 19 (Savikataaq)
I wish to report that the following bills have been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and are ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole:
Bill 1, Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan Act, as amended and reprinted;
Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Corrections Act;
Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act;
Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Vital Statistics Act, as amended and reprinted;
Bill 17, Write-off of Assets Act, 2012-2013; and
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Bill 1, Bill 11, Bill 12, Bill 13, Bill 17, and Bill 19 will be placed on the order paper for March 12.
Item 13. (interpretation) Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) I have some. (interpretation) I’m sorry. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Education, Mr. Quassa.
Tabled Document 111 – 4(2): Enhancing Adult Education in Nunavut (Quassa)
I am very pleased to table the 2012-14 Innarnut Ilinniarniq, Enhancing Adult Education in Nunavut, Progress Report on the Northern Adult Basic Education Program.
I have some.
Tabled Document 112 – 4(2): Pension Administration Report, March 31, 2014 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 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)
Tabled Document 114 – 4(2): Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut on the 2013 General Election and Rankin Inlet South By-election (Speaker)  Tabled Document 115 – 4(2): 2015 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut on Corrections in Nunavut (Speaker)
As required by the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I wish to table today the Pension Administration Report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.
Also, I wish to table the response of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut to the October 29, 2014 Report of the Standing Committee on the Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts.
I am also tabling the Chief Electoral Officer’s report on the 2013 general election in Nunavut and the subsequent by-election in Rankin Inlet South.
Finally, I wish to table the 2015 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut on Corrections in Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you.
Motion 020 – 4(2): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Mikkungwak)
I give notice that on Thursday, March 12, 2015, I will move the following motion:
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Aggu, that pursuant to the provisions of Rule 2, that when the House concludes its winter 2015 sitting, it shall be adjourned until May 26, 2015.
Bill 20 – Legislation Act – Second Reading
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Iqaluit-Manirajak, that Bill 20, Legislation Act, be read for the second time. (interpretation) Thank you.
The motion is carried and Bill 20 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
>>House recessed at 14:59 and Committee resumed at 15:25
Good afternoon, Nunavummiut (interpretation) who are watching or listening to the proceedings.
We wish to continue with the review of the 2015-16 Main Estimates of the Department of Finance, followed by the Department of Economic Development and Transportation and, if time permits, we will commence the review of Nunavut Arctic College.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with the main estimates for the Department of Finance?
To my right is Chris D’Arcy, Deputy Minister of Finance, and to my left is Peter Tumilty, Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance.
A reminder to members that the contents of the minister’s opening comments are covered in the branches of the department.
If you have detailed questions, ask them under the appropriate branch.
Please turn to page C-4.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $2,998,000.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $8,294,000.
C-6.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $1,600,000.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $26,303,000.
Page C-7.
I would just like to go back to C-7.
The government’s current collective agreement with the Nunavut Employees Union expired on September 30, 2014.
As of today, what is the status of the collective bargaining with NEU?
Mr. Chairman, Finance and NEU have had a couple of sessions together. We’re expecting to go back to a meeting with them in April.
In the department’s proposed business plan for 2015-18, it indicates that one of its priorities for the 2017-18 fiscal year is to “Negotiate Nunavut Employees Union collective agreement.”
Does this refer to the current round of bargaining?
Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq, could you let the minister know what page you are on?
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you. I should have looked it up first.
I just have to find it here in a minute. Just move on to the next person, I guess.
My line of questioning concerns the issue of the government’s management of sick leave.
Let me begin by asking this question: on average, what percentage of the public service is absent from work on any given day due to illness?
Mr. Chairman, that’s a very difficult question to answer.
We don’t have that information. We can’t estimate on any given day. We just don’t have that ability at this time.
That kind of surprises me. Is sick leave tracked? Do you have an idea?
You must have some kind of idea.
Is it 10 percent? 50 percent? Can you give us a rough estimate on how many people, on average, are absent from work on any given day due to illness?
Mr. Chairman, there’s no secret that there is a lot of absenteeism in the public sector. We do offer generous sick leave benefits, I think up to 15 days per year.
The sick leave is calculated on an individual basis and I believe we aggregate it at the end of the year.
Part of our plan for this upcoming fiscal year is to implement a leave and attendance module in our ePersonality program which would give us more capabilities to calculate that kind of data for Ms. Angnakak.
Let me go on to my next question.
Approximately how many GN employees are currently on some form of long-term leave due to illness or disability?
We didn’t bring that level of detailed information. If Ms. Angnakak wants it, we can get it. We just didn’t bring it here today.
Yes, it would be very nice if we could get that information.
As the minister is very aware the federal government is currently trying to make fundamental changes to the sick leave system for the federal public service.
Although I am not expert, of course, on any of these details, it is of my understanding that the federal government wants to move away from the concept of bankable sick days to short- and long-term disability provisions.
Is our government looking at also moving in this direction?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Ms. Angnakak for that question.
I have been following the federal government’s initiative with great interest over the year to see how it’s progressing, but I can tell Ms. Angnakak that the Government of Nunavut has no plans at this time to follow in a similar direction.
Can the minister tell us why they decided not to follow the same suit?
It is an issue or initiative that hasn’t come up on our radar. We are focused on other areas.
That has not been an issue for us at this time.
I’m going to go back to the sick leave.
I’ve had a couple of constituents approach me to discuss the issue of sick leave. I’m sure that the minister has also constituents who face the same situation where people exhaust all of their sick leave credits due to long-term illness.
Although disability insurance helps to protect incomes, it’s not always sufficient.
One suggestion that I have heard from a number of constituents is to allow employees who have the good fortune to be in good health to be able to transfer some of their sick leave credits to other employees who are not so fortunate.
It is my understanding that some employers in North America allow this.
Is this an idea that the minister would be open to exploring?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Ms. Angnakak again for that interesting question.
Mr. Chairman, it’s the first time I have heard of such a thing where an employee in good health at maybe 400 days can start transferring his or her sick leave credits to other employees.
We have to do a lot more research before we could even comment with any intelligence on that item.
I would like to encourage the minister to look into that. It might be a new way of doing things.
With the way people get their health care here, a lot of people have to go away long term, like if they have cancer or some of those things that take a long time.
It might be a way of helping those employees.
That’s all for me.
As I said, we have to do some more research before we could even comment or consider something like that.
Chairman: Thank you. We are on Branch Summary. Finance.
Comptrollership. Mr. Hickes.
I would just like to start off with hopefully an easy one for the minister. When will the 2013-14 Public Service Annual Report be ready for tabling in the Legislative Assembly?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Mr. Hickes for the easy question.
It’s ready to be tabled anytime.
Just to clarify from the minister’s response, will that be tabled before the end of this sitting?
I would like to move over and I’m sure the minister was paying attention when I was asking the Minister of Family Services yesterday regarding summer student employment and linking academic studies to job placements for summer students.
I was wondering if the minister had anything to add from Minister Ugyuk’s comments yesterday.
Mr. Chairman, I think it’s a good discussion topic for Mr. Hickes to follow up on.
In our Human Resource Strategy we tabled last fall, we did state in there that we want to encourage summer students to work in our various departments and public agencies. We were very successful last year.
I think we had over 200 summer students working across Nunavut in, I think, 18 communities, so we’re hoping to expand it to other communities.
We encourage departments to develop work plans for summer students so that they can work in areas that they may pursue in their post-secondary careers, whether they go to college or university or tech schools.
We obviously hope that when the students graduate from post-secondary, they will come back and choose the Government of Nunavut as their employer.
Before I go back to you, Mr. Hickes, I would like to welcome Mr. Daniel Shewchuk to the House.
Welcome, former Minister Shewchuk.
I would like to stay with the summer student employment theme.
In the business plan on page 28, the third bullet speaks to expanding “student employment opportunities for students in non-decentralized communities.”
What specific actions are being considered to accomplish this goal?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Mr. Hickes again.
We have identified the communities where students have not been hired over the last several years.
We are making efforts to contact the hamlets and representatives of the hamlet councils and the SAOs. We are talking to departments to see if they have offices in these smaller communities where they can place students.
Has the minister’s department officials considered providing a wage subsidy to private enterprise to hire summer students?
It’s something we would consider if other attempts to hire through hamlets and through our GN offices in the communities are unsuccessful.  Obviously our main focus is on public sector experience, training, and work.
We hope that with our GLOs and other representatives in the communities, we can raise the profile of the summer student program there, but if it’s unsuccessful, then we may consider subsidies for private sector.
Just to go a little step further from that response, how will you measure success for one, and what kind of timeframe would you be giving your department officials to decide whether further steps are necessary to encourage summer employment?
I believe the summer student program runs from the middle of April until the end of August.
A lot will depend on the numbers of applications that come in from the different communities to our regional offices and to the Iqaluit office here.