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(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in this House and share the accomplishments of two young brothers originally from my community of Arviat.
Mr. Speaker, I’m talking about Samuel Robert Qapuk Tilley and Calvin Frank Owingayak Tilley.
Mr. Speaker, they are both succeeding in the aviation field, with the older brother Sam working as a pilot for Canadian Helicopters Ltd. Sam is named after his grandmother, Leetia Qapuk.
Although he is a young fellow, he has already been working as a helicopter pilot since 2011.
Mr. Speaker, Calvin, the younger brother, named after the late David Owingayak, is also a pilot for Keewatin Air.
He completed his studies in Moncton and has been flying since June of 2013.
Mr. Speaker, I want to highlight the achievements of these two young men because I am proud that they are working hard and using their education.
I think other young Nunavummiut can find inspiration in their success. To all those girls and boys who are dreaming to become pilots some day, I say, “Go for it!”
Member’s Statement 165 – 4(2): Pangnirtung Firefighter at Competition (Mike)
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity.
I say “good morning” to the people of Pangnirtung and Nunavut.
I wish to make a statement today regarding Alex Kilabuk, who is a resident of Pangnirtung.
He competed in the firefighting competition and successfully joined the Nunavut team.
He is a young man.
His team was working cohesively, although they aren’t always undertaking training.
Minister Sammurtok made a statement about the past competition and firefighters in our communities.
Alex participated in this and he is quite driven to succeed in everything he does.
It is obvious that during firefighting competitions and in fighting fires, strength, speed, quickness, and endurance are instrumental and only people with these attributes are able to participate. Alex is one of these types of people.
I wanted to share with you and to take pride in Alex’s accomplishments. On behalf of my fellow Pangnirtung residents, I want to share in celebrating his accomplishments.
Further, I want to also acknowledge his teammates on Team Nunavut, as the team was comprised of mainly young people.
Due to this fact, I also want them acknowledged.
Additionally, I would like to extend my congratulations to Alex Kilabuk’s parents and I urge my fellow Pangnirtung residents to acknowledge Alex’s continuing participation in this field.
Member’s Statement 166 – 4(2): Happy Birthday to Wife Elisapee (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this is still the morning, I wish good morning to all.
I also want to share that today is also my wife’s birthday, so I wish her a happy birthday. I hope your day is pleasurable, my dear wife, and to everyone else who is celebrating a birthday today in Nunavut.
Today, although it is (interpretation ends) Halloween, (interpretation) the English term doesn’t really have a corresponding term in Inuktitut.
Albeit that may be the case, I urge everyone to exercise caution in our community of Igloolik and everywhere else in Nunavut.
Please take caution and watch over your children, as they will be going trick-or-treating throughout Nunavut. That is now the practice in this day and age.
Perhaps I will just reiterate that I wish my wife a very happy birthday on her special day.
I say “good morning” to the people of Netsilik, as it is very early in our area.
I wish to take this opportunity to recognize my mother who is in the Gallery, Mary Ittunga from Taloyoak.
I am grateful that she is attending a workshop here, as well as my aunt Ivviaq, who is also called Sarah Takolik, who is teaching a course on Inuit healthy living in schools and teaching about traditional Inuit culture.
They completed the course yesterday.
I want Sarah Takolik, my aunt, along with my mother to know that I love them.
As well, a resident of Kugaaruk, Sam Inaksajak, who is a school counsellor, welcome to the House.
This fine morning, I also see my handsome husband, Nauyaq Ugyuk. Welcome to the Gallery.
Minister Kuksuk made a Member’s Statement earlier today talking about two young men in this territory who are reaching for their dreams and are achieving them.
I would like to bring attention to their mother, a constituent of mine. I have known her and her husband for a number of years.
I would like to draw everyone’s attention and welcome to the Gallery Joy Tilley.
My colleague just mentioned it, but when I was talking about the pilots, the mother of those two pilots is here and I would like Ms. Tilley to be welcome. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Uqaqtitsijii.
Question 265 – 4(2): Human Resources Management (Angnakak)
Under Nunavut’s Public Service Act, the minister is required to table an annual report in the Legislative Assembly on the management of the public service.
This important publication provides comprehensive information on the state of our public service.
The 2012-13 annual report was not tabled until May 29 of this year.
When will the 2013-14 annual report be ready for tabling in the House?
Mr. Speaker, we are currently in the process of getting approval of the report and tabling in the House.
Thank you to the minister for his answer. We look forward to seeing that.
The most quarterly report on Inuit employment in the public service was tabled on March 14, 2014.
This report provided information up to December 31, 2013.
When will the quarterly reports covering January to September of this year be ready for tabling in the Legislative Assembly?
Again, it’s an operational issue. My department gathers that information and when that information is available, we will be providing it.
We also look forward to receiving that report.
The current business plan of the Department of Finance indicates that one of its priorities for the current fiscal year is to work with the Department of EIA to “finalize the GN Public Service Human Resources Strategy and begin [its] implementation.”
Can the minister provide us with an update today on where this initiaitve is at?
I can report that that is finalized.
I have approvals to table it and I’ll probably table it next week.
Question 266 – 4(2): Public Service Act (Hickes)
Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I brought attention to an issue that one of my constituents and a member of the public ran into, being accused of feeding an MLA inside information from a department. Most recently, my colleague, Mr. Enook, sounds like he has gone through a very similar situation.
I want to revisit the issue of what rules or guidelines are and should be in place concerning the rights of public servants to raise questions, concerns, and ideas regarding government programs and services with the elected Members of this House, especially in cases where the public servants are related to or acquainted with a member.
Mr. Speaker, I’m going to start my questioning to the minister from a slightly different angle, which I hope will help show why all MLAs should be thinking about the best way to approach this issue.
Mr. Speaker, the minister is a Member of the Legislative Assembly and I am sure that he has many constituents come to him with questions, concerns, and ideas regarding government programs and services.
Can the minister clarify what guidelines or rules are in place under the Public Service Act or the GN’s Code of Values and Ethics concerning the ability of public servants to communicate with ministers or MLAs?
Mr. Hickes is, indeed, correct. I know most of my constituents personally in Cambridge Bay and I probably know the other 35,000, or fairly close, from my travels across Nunavut, so I hear a lot. A lot of people tell me a lot of things.
Public servants are free to talk to whomever they want to, but they have to be cautious. The Public Service Act provides clear guidelines on what you can say and what you can’t say, and the Code of Values and Ethics.
You can’t speak about the information that you receive through the course of your employment, but you can talk to them about ideas and issues in your community.
If an individual has any doubts, refer to the Public Service Act, refer to the Code of Values and Ethics, and talk to their supervisor.
I’m sure all of us will be going through the Act in a little bit more detail within the parameters of these concerns.
Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, I am also eagerly awaiting the appointment of Nunavut’s first ethics officer under the new Public Service Act.
I know that the minister likes to be prudent and to not prematurely commit to things, but I would like to ask him if he would be willing to commit to asking the ethics officer to undertake a detailed review of the whole issue of what rules or guidelines should be in place concerning the ability of public servants to communicate with Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Again, I don’t want to commit, but through my officials, we will take your request under consideration.
I’m sure that whoever the new ethics officer is will want to familiarize themselves with our public service and with the process of our Legislative Assembly, noting that we are a consensus government and not party politics. We are a very small jurisdiction.
Most of us are related to or know everybody in Nunavut.
It is a special and unique territory.
They will take those factors into consideration.
I thank the minister for that portion of his response as well.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has primary responsibility for the Public Service Act.
What message does he have today for members of the public service and management with respect to their rights under legislation to raise concerns and ideas with Members of the Legislative Assembly?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Mr. Hickes for the opportunity to make these statements.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s no secret that this government is very committed to our workforce, to our employees, through our efforts through the Public Service Act and the Code of Values and Ethics.
We will be tabling the Human Resource Strategy next week to support our employees and to support the entire workforce of departments and territorial corporations.
We really do value employees and there are many mechanisms in place. We have collective agreements. We’re in negotiations with NEU now.
We have the Human Rights Tribunal. We have a number of, within departments, workplace harassment and bullying policies and workplace support policies.
We have many opportunities and programs to support all employees.
We do believe that our employees are valuable and we urge them to work with their supervisors and managers.
Conversely, we want our managers, supervisors, and deputy ministers to respect our employees and support them where they can; performance management, performance appraisals, and offer training opportunities.
I don’t know what else I can say on a Friday morning, but we really do depend on our public service.
Through the long-term service awards, I had an opportunity last week, along with my colleagues, Premier, and many of you here, to recognize 20-25 and 30-35-year employees.
It’s very good to see that there are people making careers. The public service is where you can have a long career and there’s nothing better than serving the people of Nunavut. That’s for all public servants.
Question 267 – 4(2): Qulliq Energy Corporation Contracting and Procurement (Rumbolt)
An issue that was discussed in detail during this week’s consideration of the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s capital estimates concerned the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s practices with respect to requiring contractors to use local businesses and facilities, including locally owned hotels.
I want to ask the Minister responsible for QEC about its practices in these areas.
Can the minister confirm whether or not contractors that are hired by QEC to perform work in Nunavut communities are required to have their staff stay at locally owned hotels?
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m aware that in the majority of communities, there are little trailers that QEC owns and uses to keep our costs down and keep the rates down for our ratepayers here in Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that a company named Tetra Tech has been engaged by QEC to perform technical work in Sanikiluaq. Would the minister commit to reviewing what contractual conditions are in place with respect to having the company’s employees stay in the community’s locally owned hotel while they are in the community?
Minister responsible for the Energy Corporation, Mr. Okalik.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I’m aware that the company was awarded through a competitive process and that I will see what the situation is. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I recognize that the issue of whether or not the government’s NNI Policy should apply to QEC’s contracting and procurement activities continues to be under review.
This is an issue that our standing committee noted in its report yesterday to the House concerning our hearings on QEC.
Can the minister indicate what practices QEC is currently following in order to maximize opportunities for Inuit and locally owned businesses?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Currently, the Qulliq Energy Corporation has been continuing on with past practices, but I have directed them to make sure that they try and follow NNI in the meantime while the NNI process is being reviewed. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 268 – 4(2): Kivalliq Inuit Centre Concerns (Sammurtok)
Good morning to my fellow residents of Rankin Inlet. I forgot that my grandchild, who is in Pond Inlet, is celebrating a birthday. Have a good day, Avvaq.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health.
Mr. Speaker, a number of constituents have come to me or gone on the radio with concerns and issues relating to the service at the Kivalliq Inuit Centre.
Occasionally, flights are cancelled and a patient is unable to return home. Even though they were originally staying at the Inuit centre, they are not allowed to return and stay there until they can get a flight home.
It is especially difficult for elders who cannot always communicate with hotel staff.
Can the minister clarify what procedures are in place to ensure that patients who cannot get home as planned can continue to receive services from the Kivalliq Inuit Centre until they can fly home?
I may not have understood his question completely about the patients who had flown to the south, most likely Winnipeg, to the Kivalliq Inuit Centre, and are trying to get home.
The patient’s itinerary for accommodations and air travel are arranged for them, including transportation to and from the airport.
A number of my constituents have found it difficult to communicate with the staff at the Kivalliq Inuit Centre because many of the staff do not speak Inuktitut.
Can the minister indicate whether or not the contract with the Kivalliq Inuit Centre requires that staff be able to speak Inuktitut and, if not, why not?
We have a boarding home in different places, not just the Kivalliq Inuit Centre.
We have boarding homes in Yellowknife, Edmonton, Ottawa, and in other places where patients have to go see doctors.
They are set up through contracts. They have to look for their own drivers and people who do that. The process lays out how they can hire their staff.
With regard to the ability of a staff member to speak Inuktitut other than the staff required to interpret, that requirement doesn’t apply to all positions aside from the drivers.
This is generally tied to finding someone who has a driver’s licence that is applicable to their location. There are some bilingual drivers who are hired by these facilities, if they are living in the south, but finding a competent driver who also speaks Inuktitut isn’t very easy.
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends)A number of my constituents have reported that the staff at the Kivalliq Inuit Centre are not very respectful.
For example, they ask the clients to move even when they are still eating their meals. This is especially hard for the elderly.
Can the minister clarify what steps clients can take to have their concerns addressed and ensure that services improve at the Kivalliq Inuit Centre?
Clients of medical travel with concerns should contact the Medical Travel Office and, if they are still unsatisfied, they may contact the Patient Relations Office.
Question 269 – 4(2): 2015-16 Capital Plan (Joanasie)
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Happy Halloween.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, although we have completed the review of the corporation’s capital estimates for 2015-16, I noted that the Nunavut Housing Corporation tabled its projected construction report for 2015-16, which identified three communities that were prioritized for land availability and infrastructure capacity to accommodate new construction of public housing units.
Can the minister indicate if there were any communities with a greater need for public housing but did not have land availability and/or adequate infrastructure capacity?
As per our earlier statements about this issue, some lots that were identified or selected in the communities for the construction ran into land issues, possibly due to not properly identifying the land.
One community is facing that here in the Baffin region, as per his question. Here in Iqaluit, land management is challenging in trying to find spaces for constructing buildings and the lack of space resulted in that challenge.
Did I understand clearly that only one community identified for a project wasn’t able to proceed due to not identifying a lot for development or was it due to running into problems with the lack of resources or capacity in the community?
Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk.
When units are going to be allocated to the communities, there are several factors requiring resolution and to review them.
An example is land availability and whether lots are available or alternatively, the community may not have capacity to accommodate the facility’s energy needs.
Either the limit of the power generation, for example, of (interpretation ends) power generating plants (interpretation) that are providing power to the community may require a review if new facilities are being built. Will the power be adequate?
There are many issues that require careful review and that is the process we follow.
I do understand the process the Nunavut Housing Corporation follows, as there are policies outlining requirements as they start to allocate units and identify where units will be built.
Nevertheless, as the minister stated, there are factors that can impact this process, such as the availability of land or even the power generation capacity in the community.
With these issues requiring review, although that may be the case, I now want to ask the minister this question: what has the Nunavut Housing Corporation done to work with the hamlets or other departments on this issue, including other corporations?
Here I will use an example of the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
What is the level of collaboration that exists when trying to address land and power generation capacity limits, as well as other challenges faced by the communities?
As per my earlier response, we conduct a review to assess local capacity, whether that is the power infrastructure and the ability to accommodate additional power needs.
This is just an example to respond to his question.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation works with the Qulliq Energy Corporation as well as the local LHO, and in some cases, with the local hamlet, to address these issues when contemplating the construction of large units.
There are various factors we need to address, such as what I alluded to earlier.
Land availability, power generation capacity, and other local resources must be able to accommodate the additional needs and we have to work with various entities I mentioned earlier. We communicate our needs, they communicate their resources, and this is how we resolve the challenges we face in constructing units.
Question 270 – 4(2): Grants and Contributions (Savikataaq)
Earlier this year, the minister’s Budget Address announced that the government will, and I quote, “review processes for monitoring grants and contributions to ensure that we receive good value from these agreements.”
Earlier this week, the minister tabled the government’s 2013-14 annual report on grants and contributions, which indicated that it spent $392 million on grants and contributions during the fiscal year.
Can the minister update the House on what work has been accomplished to date with respect to ensuring that we are receiving “good value” for these expenditures?
Mr. Speaker, under one of our FAM directives, 801, there is a requirement for all departments to ensure that the funds that they give out to recipients, whether it’s a grant or a contribution, are properly utilized for the purposes intended.
There are accounting requirements in the agreements. We rely on the departments to ensure that the funds that they do approve for recipients are used for the purposes intended.
We do the reports, but the departments work with the recipients to ensure that they comply with the agreements.
The government provides grants and contributions to hundreds of different organizations and individuals on an annual basis, and I fully recognize that it would be impossible to audit each and every recipient.
However, I believe that it is important that a number of recipients do get audited each year, which helps to deter waste or abuse.
Since the minister usually has facts and figures at his fingertips, can he give us a rough idea of how many audits of grants and contributions recipients take place each year?
Unfortunately, today, I don’t have those specific facts and figures at my fingertips.
Again, individual departments are responsible for ensuring that the recipients use the funds for the purposes intended.
They approve the funds. The funds are appropriated by departments and departments can allocate through their programs.
The agreements are with the recipients.
Of course, they are free to put conditions and reporting requirements in the agreements.
Our purpose is to ensure that the departments are following up on that.
We are planning, in 2015-16, to have our internal audit services review the control processes for grants and contributions to ensure that the process is working and if there are necessary requirements to improve.
Again, we have FAM Directive 801. It is fairly straightforward for departments to ensure that the funds that they provide to individuals, entities, and organizations are utilized for the purposes intended.
The government provides millions of dollars in contribution funding each year to the businesses of Nunavut.
Can the minister indicate whether the government has an overall framework in place with which to evaluate the success of this funding in helping businesses to create jobs in our communities?
A lot of the grants and contributions that the government does provide to recipients go to municipalities, housing organizations, our territorial corporations, subsidies, electrical subsidies, and other programs.
Through those programs, we do know directly or indirectly that jobs are being created.
Again, we’re looking through our grants. Our program review will probably be looking at those kinds of information requirements to see that the programs we do have available to Nunavummiut are meeting the policies and directives of the government.
As the Premier mentioned last week in a question, there’s going to be a process that’s going to be undertaken with care and due diligence, and we do want to make sure that we do get good value for public monies. That is something we will look at.
There’s no point in having a $2 million program if we’re not getting some value with that program.
We will be looking at whether the money is being utilized for the purposes intended.