EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I’m going to go onto NNI Policy procurement on 169 of your business plan. As you know, as we all know that the NNI Policy has been under review for quite a while now. I’m just wondering where we are at with that review at this time.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the member for her question.
Mr. Chairman, this is just the beginning of the review of the NNI Policy.
Looking at the NNI Policy, Article 24 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement has to be included in the NNI Policy. We want to keep doing the review as much as possible.
We are not the only ones reviewing this NNI Policy.
Other government departments are helping us review the NNI Policy, as well as NTI. At present, we have not completed reviewing the NNI Policy because we are waiting for NTI. What we have to do is work together with all the departments and NTI in order to do some more review.
The next name on the list, Mr. Hickes.
I’ve just got a couple of questions under this branch.
My colleague brought up the topic of the Energy Secretariat.
One of the things that I brought up during the minister’s appearance for the Minister of Housing was working with tenants in public housing to try to come up with some kind of incentive program furthering their own external education program that they’ve got through the calendars.
Has the Minister of Economic Development responsible for the Energy Secretariat spoken to the Minister of Housing regarding this program?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The member asked whether I talked to the Minister of Housing, who I am. I don’t know whether he is asking if I have spoken to myself...
…or if it’s another minister.
How did that conversation go?
Are they going to be looking at involving the Energy Secretariat and energy efficiency programs to assist the Nunavut Housing Corporation with some energy programs with the public housing units?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank my colleague for his question.
I myself, the Nunavut Housing Corporation, the Energy Secretariat, when this is being looked after by economic development... .
Maybe I can get Mr. Long to respond to that question, if it’s okay with you, Mr. Chairman.
That’s a very reasonable thing to do. Conserving energy is one of the things the Energy Secretariat is planning to do something with, and we have touched on the idea of public housing being a place where it would be very beneficial.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the department for that response.
As we all have learned and as we all know, there is a lot of money expended in social housing, and any way to mitigate some of those expenses would be money and time well spent.
I would like to touch also; my colleague touched onto the review from the NNI Policy. I would like to take it just a little step further.
There are a number of recommendations that were part of the NNI comprehensive review. Now that that report has been tabled for a period of time, has the minister’s department had a chance to go over those recommendations and evaluate the possibility of implementing… ? What is their take on the recommendations that were part of that review?
As I stated earlier with respect to the NNI Policy, we have to work with the other departments and NTI.
Mr. Chairman, if you do not mind, I will have my deputy minister respond to that question.
At this point, we are as a working group within the government. The NNI Secretariat and the procurement departments, specifically CGS and the Nunavut Housing Corporation, are drafting a new policy using the recommendations of the two documents that were tabled in this House.
When they have completed that work, it will go to cabinet for a request for a decision to negotiate with NTI. Given a “yes” on that, we will proceed with that document into a negotiation with NTI and work out the final details.
We have a draft that is in progress at this point and we anticipate that by the fall, we will be able to go to cabinet with that request.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank both the minister and Mr. Long for that response, and I look forward to seeing how that progresses.
Along the same parameters, is the Contracting Appeals Board for NNI part of that same policy? I’m not 100 percent familiar with it.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Yes, they are included in there.
I thank the minister for that response and clarification.
One of the concerns that have been brought to my attention with the appeals board for NNI, obviously, in the opening comments from the committee chair, of which I found very interesting as I am now part of that committee, it took a lot of the questions away that I was going to ask your department today.
I think you can thank the committee’s hard work and interpretation of your department, and I hope you really take their comments to heart.
One of the concerns that have been brought to my attention regarding the appeals board is they do not really have any teeth with the department. Just as an example, I’m aware of a contract that was appealed and the recommendation from the appeals board was to put it back out to tender after a one-year term versus the three-year term that it was signed for, and that recommendation to date has not been followed by the department. This leads me to think that there is not a lot of teeth to this appeal board.
I would like to get how the minister feels about that.
If I understood the member’s question properly, he is asking me, whether the contractor doesn’t think that he is being treated properly and if he would go to the appeals board, how I feel about that.
As far as I know, there is little bit that I know about this, but I’m not really sure exactly what the appeals board would do. I can’t really have an opinion if there was somebody who went to the appeals board, so I can’t respond to that.
I apologize if I wasn’t clear, Mr. Chairman, and maybe it was a poor choice of words.
What I’m looking for is: during this review of the NNI Contracting Appeals Board as part of the policy, will they be looking at adding more, again I’m using the word, teeth or more authority to other government departments on their appeal recommendations?
I believe I understand the question now, but in regard to appeals, not just our department but other departments will have to work with the appeal process.
I would like my deputy minister to respond to the details.
That is a very good question and it’s one that is under serious consideration at this time.
There is one school of thought, I think.
Maybe the procurement departments would like to see it with no teeth at all and perhaps there are others who would like to see it with a full set of teeth. At this point, that debate is raging and in due course, consensus will be reached, but it is not settled at this time.
As you know, the appeals board only makes a recommendation and has a fairly limited scope. There is some desire to see that scope expanded and there is some other desire to see it not. It’s an interesting discussion.
Maybe it’s just a comment. Within the opening comments from the chair of the committee, it talks about adding a broader spectrum of appeal to that board and I hope that is seriously considered.
My colleague touched on this a bit, country food distribution.
On page 168 of your business plan, in 2013-14, you had just under $1 million budget and now for 2014-15, it’s almost $1 million more.
Are there plans that we should know about?
That is an excellent question and I do want to hear the response, and I want everyone to be on the same page and have the same understanding on how the country food distribution is set up.
I will have to have my deputy minister respond because he has the numbers in there. If you don’t mind, Mr. Chairman, I will have Mr. Long respond to that question.
The budget is lower for 2013-14.
We’ve had a slow uptake to this program, but hunters and trappers organizations are getting more excited about it, so that part of it is being used and starting to be used a bit more.
As we slowly resolve the issue of O&M for community freezers, more communities will become interested in building community freezers. I think it’s clear now that CGS will provide O&M funds for it and a fear of not having money to operate it, I think, is slowly going away.
The official stated that the funding source going out was slow. Can the minister indicate how much of the funding last year was used up, if it was?
In regard to the funding, I believe our finance controller can response as to how much was expended last year.
Through you, Mr. Chairman, if you don’t mind, I would like to have Ms. Winmill come to the witness table.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the official in.
Ms. Winmill.
Ms. Winmill: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have the number from 2012-13. It was roughly about $358,000.
What they did when they did the business case for this funding is we realized there were a lot of people who had to get on board with this program, including CGS, for the O&M cost.
The first couple of years this program was in effect, the numbers were a lot lower.
With giving history and how our programs had progressed in the past, especially looking at the SCIP and CIIP program, the funding was back-loaded to ensure that once word got out on the program and went around the territory, the pickup would be greater in the later years of the funding.
I thank Ms. Winmill for the 2012-13 budget.
Is the 2013-14 budget available?
I would like Ms. Winmill to respond to this question as well.
Chairman: Ms. Winmill.
Ms. Winmill: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
No, not at this time, but I can provide it tomorrow.
Going on to another matter, on page 169, I just want clarification on the fourth bullet from the bottom.
It says, “Perform a Nunavut energy end-use demand study and survey.”
Can the minister just explain what that is?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): I’m sorry, Mr. Chairman.
I didn’t quite hear the member because I was working with my papers and I could only hear my papers shuffling.
I apologize. Can I have the member repeat the question?
On page 169 of your business plan, the fourth bullet from the bottom, it states, “Perform a Nunavut energy end-use demand study and survey.”
I just want to know what that means. What is it? Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Long, my deputy minister, will respond to that.
This is the use of power that is being studied and surveyed. They are attempting to determine some patterns of energy use in Nunavut.
That is currently underway. It should be complete by the end of June. This is probably a document that we would be happy to table in the fall.
Going on to the next page of your business plan, the fifth bullet from the top says, “Develop options for an energy efficient support program for Nunavummiut.”
Is there any funding associated with this program?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the member’s question.
Before I respond, if there is funding for this program but develop options for energy efficiency support program there are various programs that we want to plan for within our department in Nunavut. We are working with Arctic Alliance we will discuss the energy efficiency support and look for energy efficiency support program and I know for sure that the funding that the member asked about I’ll have Mr. Long respond.
Developing the options for energy efficiency support will be a follow-up to the study we just discussed.
In that we will be looking for methods of encouraging people to be more energy efficient. So perhaps assisting them with ways to seal their houses tighter, insulation, and things like that.
At this point we do not have a budget for that. I anticipate that would come in the following year, in 2015-16, after we have developed a program and have it approved.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you and I think this will be my last question.
On the same page, the last bullet, “Work with communities and other stakeholders to asses potential for alternative energy systems in Nunavut.”
Can the minister elaborate on what other alternative energy systems there are?
Since this is part and parcel to my deputy minister’s response but it’s evident, I’m sure, and the deputy minister has a supplement response to the member’s question.
I guess there will probably be several alternative energy types that will be explored. Waste heat is an example is one. Solar, windmills, that sort of thing is…those types would be considered as alternative energy sources.
I said that was my last question and it was. This one is just my last statement.
For alternative energy source, I think, in that category, a power line up from Manitoba to Kivalliq would be a pretty good choice.
Chairman: Okay. The next on my list, Mr. Mikkungwak.
First of all, I would like to say ‘hello’ to the people of Baker Lake and Nunavut.
In your business plan page 166, the sixth bullet (interpretation ends) “To ensure culturally appropriate and respect for workplace for staff by providing quality training and development opportunities in maintaining open communication across departments.”
(interpretation) How do you normally go about implementing this?
I would like my deputy minister to respond to that because he is very much aware of it. I would like him to respond to that, please, if it is okay with you, Mr. Chairman?
Mr. Long: Before I can respond, I need a little bit of help because our pages are numbered differently.
Can you give me the heading of where you are and hopefully I can find it.
Chairman: Corporate Management. Objectives. Sixth bullet on page 166.
Mr. Long: Number six?
Chairman: Anytime…
I think we are working on this. We are certainly trying to follow Inuit societal values and working hard to ensure that that is built into all of our job descriptions, it is in our training plans and it concerns decision-making and Inuit societal values are used in meetings.
As we go through ongoing training, this is reinforced and will continue through meetings across the department.
We are opening communications. We are also using a newsletter that comes out monthly.
Committee Motion 001 – 4(2): Extended Sitting Hours (Enook)
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know what time it is. Pursuant to Rule 6(2), I move that the Committee of the Whole continue its sitting beyond the hour of daily adjournment.
Again, all those in favour.
My second question is also on your business plan.
On page 167 of your business plan, (interpretation ends) the fourth one, “Community Economic Development Officer Training,” in that very first sentence, it states, “The Community Economic Development Officer Training program ensures municipal community economic development officers can acquire the appropriate skills they need to identify and support economic growth opportunities in their communities.”
In that same page, if you go to the second last one, “Nunavut Economic Developers Association,” in that very last sentence, “The Nunavut Economic Developers Association also coordinates training and certification...”
When you look at those two, they both identify training. What would be the difference?
If it’s okay with you, Mr. Chairman, I would like Mr. Long to respond to that question.
The community economic development officer training, $50,000, is money spent on actual training.
The Nunavut Economic Developers Association and their function there as coordinators organize the training and assist the economic development officers in going to the training courses.
Flipping onto, staying on that business plan, page 168, the Nunavut Strategic Opportunities Fund, who is that particular fund targeted to?
Mr. Long can also explain what this money is for, if it’s okay with you, Mr. Chairman.
This fund was used to pick up strategic opportunities. In other words, when there was an opportunity to create employment or an economic opportunity that didn’t fit in any of our other programs we would use that one. As you can see from the budget, it’s $25,000 for this year and in the future it has disappeared.
That funding is used in other places.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the same page, 168, about the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
I know it is obvious that in Nunavut the mining companies are getting more and more close to becoming active. How does it help businesses and communities in that regard?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can you clarify that question, please?
It is a corporation. The Nunavut Business Credit Corporation. How does it help?
I may have misunderstood your question. If it’s ok with him and you, Mr. Chairman, I would like him to repeat the question.
The minister is asking for clarification.
Maybe in looking at this Nunavut Business Credit Corporation and seeing the economic boom with industry, whether it be exploration or mining within our territory which we see coming forth.
For private businesses or the community itself, when you look at the first sentence there, “The Nunavut Business Credit Corporation is a territorial corporation that supports and promotes economic growth.”
How specifically is this particular corporation assisting communities with economic growth? In what essence?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand the question now. It’s a good question.
Mr. Chairman, the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation that you’re talking about is for Nunavut businesses and people to benefit from. With the mining industry getting started in the three regions of Nunavut, this actually helps businesses for start-up costs if they’re going to be working with the mining companies or other things. It can be used to help a business start up and that is the whole intention of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
If a person who has an existing business wishes to expand that business, the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation can be utilized to do that. It can really benefit private companies in Nunavut. The fact that the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation can provide financing.
I guess the reason why I asked that question is, having seen industry work within my community, just outside of my community, when an industry wants something or they want particular contractors to start working or do particular work, they do not wait.
Industry time is industry time, which is very different from civil time.
When a private business within a community is seeking assistance from this corporation, what is the turnaround time?
There are different sources of funding and this is not the only corporation.
There are other sources of funding.
Our department is one of the departments that can provide some credit. The situations would be different. The turnaround time in providing major funding would be different.
However, if you don’t mind, Mr. Chairman, I would like to have Mr. Long elaborate on it.
It’s because some can take long time and others would take a shorter time. Perhaps Mr. Long can provide a clearer answer.
At the initial stage of requesting a loan, either for a new business or for a business to expand, there’s a period of time when the owner is gathering up papers and getting all of his stuff organized, all the documentation that the loan fund would require to make a decision.
I would say today, when an application is complete, the money should be disbursed within three months.
I thank the minister and officials for the response.
What happens to the local private business that finally gets the assistance after waiting for three months when the industry, as I indicated, does not wait and has already ventured off to another private company? What happens then?
I’m sorry that I’m unable to respond to the question.
However, if Mr. Long has a response, it’s at his discretion.
I don’t want to make a guess as to what would happen.
Mr. Long: That’s a good question and there are really two answers to that.
If everything is complete, it could happen a bit faster than that, but I don’t think banks would move much faster than that either. On a $1 million loan, you’re talking about going and getting legal documents drafted and that sort of thing.
The other thing that, I guess, the wise thing for a small business to do is if they are looking for an opportunity to tender, then they would be smart to go to the NBCC and say to them, “I’m looking for this opportunity. I would like to apply for a loan. I will not ask for the funds until I get a contract.”
So then they would be proactive, they would be ready to do the expansion or have the working capital when they need it.
So it kind of cuts both ways.
Chairman: I have no more names on the list. Economic Development and Transportation. Branch Summary.
Corporate Management. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted $13,794,000.
Chairman: Next page. Branch Summary. Economic Development and Transportation.
I think we are K-5. In the request for the funding, the budget. 2013-14 budget request.
It would have been $395,000 relating to travel assistance to communities.
Municipalities that were in there, however, in 2014-15 it is no longer there.
Where did it disappear to?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the member for that.
I will have Ms. Winmill answer this one.
The funding doesn’t go anywhere.
Actually it disappears as of this year.
It was part of the community trust fund from the Department of Finance. That funding has since ceased.
It will not be continued.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) That is why I asked the question. Why does it cease? (interpretation) Why did it not continue?
I would like to hand this over to my deputy minister, Thank you.
Mr. Winmill: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
It was only ever intended as a 3-year program.
Last year was its final year. It was funded through the federal trust. That was a one time funding provided for that specific purpose.
The department, however, continues to support the tourism and cultural industry initiatives through our existing programs either through other contribution agreements in which we had, such as making the strategic investment program.
I think this was quite useful for the communities to access.
Did you try and address and impress upon the federal government that this was an important source of money?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): For the supplementary, I would like Ms. Winmill to elaborate more on it.
That was funding that was provided to the Department of Finance.
They were the ones that, through a business case, provided us with the $395,000, so they were in charge of that program.
Did your department go to cry at the Department of Finance to have that proceed?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Again, I would like Ms. Winmill to respond to this question, if she wishes.
The money was no longer there. It was provided as one-time funding through the feds.
Also, in the 2014-17 budget request, it says that in 2014-15 that you were going to review the Travel and Tourism Act and Regulations.
What specific amendments are being considered to the legislation and when do you plan to introduce them at the Legislative Assembly?
We are dealing with it.
We are in fact doing a review, in terms of the specific time it will begin but I think Mr. Long can answer that better than me.
Our Tourism Act was inherited from the Northwest Territories so it came here as one of their acts in 1999. We have not seriously updated it since then, so we’re looking at quite a number of changes in the tourism industry.
For example, there is no reference, whatsoever, to cruise ships or… within the Act. So, how do our tourism officers inspect such a thing and then deal with it? So, we have to include those types of things and then just, the rest of it is to review it line by line.
One of our other objectives within the tourism strategy is to simplify the regulations, so we need the Act to change to allow that sort of thing to be considered, as well.
I would suggest that those are probably the two most significant matters in there.
While we are on this subject, if I could be permitted to ask, some of us have addressed this issue and the yachts and the cruise ships, if they seem to be going wherever they could go and they are everywhere.