EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Question 112 – 4(3): Status of Decentralization (Enook)
Mr. Speaker, my questions will be for the Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, whose department has responsibility for coordinating the government’s decentralization initiative.
Mr. Speaker, it has always been my understanding that if the government eliminated or transferred a decentralized position out of a given community, it would create or relocate a new position into the community to ensure that the overall number of decentralized positions in the community won’t go down.
My question for the minister is quite clear and short.
My question is: is this still the government’s policy, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, that is our policy. Where there are decentralized positions, we try and maintain the 60 percent number outside of Iqaluit. That is one of the things that we adhere to.
If some positions are moved or transferred, we usually write a letter to the respective Member of the Legislative Assembly to inform them of the changes.
At the end of the day, we do make our best efforts to put another position in there if a position is moved out of a certain decentralized community.
As the minister is aware, a total of 459 decentralized positions were established under the Government of Nunavut’s decentralization model. Pond Inlet received 57 decentralized positions.
Can the minister confirm for me that the 57 positions in Pond Inlet will not be decreased?
At this time, I don’t have the specific numbers for Pond Inlet.
Once I have those numbers, I will certainly take a look at that, but our aim as a government is to ensure that the numbers remain constant throughout our decentralized communities.
The member from Tununiq is right about the 459 positions that are out there and we make our best efforts to maintain that number outside of Iqaluit.
I have an idea of the 57 positions, as I got it from the government’s documents. If you don’t know them, I have them here.
Mr. Speaker, during Friday’s sitting, I did not receive a clear answer from the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation regarding the status of departmental positions in the community of Pond Inlet that had been impacted by the government’s recent decisions concerning CARS services.
As the minister is well aware, this issue has also impacted the communities of Kugluktuk and Rankin Inlet, and my colleague talked about that.
Will the minister commit to working with his cabinet colleague to provide a clear update to me in writing on this matter before the end of the current fall sitting?
I believe that the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation has taken that question as notice from another member on the CARS contract cancellation.
Mr. Speaker, some of these positions that the member speaks about were federally funded.
There are two positions that were federally funded. Once the contract was let to some other industry group, those positions were moved out from that contract cancellation.
One position was vacant at the time and another position, I understand, was by a person from Pond Inlet who has taken on another position with the federal government.
Question 113 – 4(3): Plans to Repurpose Building 534 in Iqaluit (Hickes)
I would like to direct my questions today to the Minister responsible for Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, I’m sure the minister was listening very closely to the proceedings during Committee of the Whole when we had Nunavut Arctic College up with the original planned repurposing of Building 534 to be utilized to fulfill some of the college’s needs.
At that time, it was switched over to Building 1085.
At this time, I would like to ask the minister: what are the repurpose plans for Building 534 here in Iqaluit?
I will have to take the question as notice and get back to the member.
I’m sorry. (interpretation ends) The minister has taken this as notice.
I shall go on to the next member. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 114 – 4(3): Hazardous Waste in Nunavut (Angnakak)
Mr. Speaker, on previous occasions, I have raised the concerns regarding the lack of adequate solid waste facilities in Nunavut.
As the minister is aware, his department commissioned the Evaluation of Pilot Projects report which was completed in March of 2010 and it provides information on the feasibility of implementing recycling projects in the territory and other issues related to solid waste in Nunavut.
This report indicates that “hazardous waste is a very large problem in most communities within Nunavut” and that “storage of old vehicle batteries, waste oil, mercury switches from old appliances, CFCs from old refrigerators and freezers and other hazardous wastes,” well, they are piling up in our communities.
Can the minister indicate how his department is working with municipalities so that they could monitor the current solid waste sites in Nunavut and ensure that these sites are not being properly used to dispose hazardous waste?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for that question.
Regarding the waste issues, whether they may be hazardous or not is… . Perhaps I’ll state it in this manner. The priority issues such as community waste management, which are managed locally, include representatives from my department.
With respect to waste management, particularly the metal wastes as well as pollutants, such as batteries, and other hazardous materials requiring specialized work are some of the reasons that affect a community’s operations. Some communities are managing their wastes properly while others are facing challenges.
These issues and the various challenges we face in managing our environment result in the department following waste management regulations and legislation.
The department utilizes all resources to try to deal with community waste management and to try to improve capacity locally.
This includes hazardous waste management of such items as batteries and other issues.
The Department of Environment has developed some initiatives towards this challenge.
With respect to waste management and landfills, what I can say at this time is that we have to collaboratively face these challenges both as government departments and other organizations. We try to work closely with local governments, the hamlets, to deal with these issues.
Mr. Speaker, the Evaluation of Pilot Projects report provides information on the estimated costs of implementing a hazardous waste removal program in each community, and this can range from approximately $32,000 in Grise Fiord to $1.4 million in Iqaluit.
Can the minister indicate what communities currently have an operational hazardous waste management facility or a hazardous waste removal program?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to waste management, each community varies with the management of their facilities.
With regard to your question, I have to look into exactly how they manage the facilities and if there are any operational hazardous waste management facilities in the communities.
The Department of Environment works very carefully in regard to dealing with hazardous waste management. We work with the municipalities and others as well.
Member South Baffin, Mr. Joanasie.
Question 115 – 4(3): Clean-up of Burnt School (Joanasie)
Today, I would like to direct my questions again to the Minister of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, on Friday, I asked the minister about the status of plans to clean up the remnants of the school in Cape Dorset.
I will be quoting him from the Hansard from that day, although I understand they are unedited transcripts and not the final versions.
The minister indicated there was a meeting with local officials on October 27. When does the government expect to resolve the issue related to tendering this project? Does the minister know exactly when the tendering project will be?
On October 27, my officials, including officials from the Department of Education, travelled to Cape Dorset where they held meetings with local organizations according to my briefing notes. They met with the hamlet council and other organizations.
First of all, I extend my thanks to the Cape Dorset representatives for these successful meetings regarding the school burning down in Cape Dorset and this is what was conveyed to me.
However, with respect to the clean-up of the rubble, this issue is still being discussed.
As per my previous statement when questioned about this matter earlier, this month was when I said I would have a better idea of what we will do for the clean-up of the rubble.
The minister also indicated that a crusher is part of their plans that will be shipped to Cape Dorset next year.
This is kind of concerning because it seems an unnecessary delay in cleaning the old school and may increase the costs of the clean-up.
What I want to ask about now is this: does this metal crusher form a necessary need in the clean-up process?
Actually, that is how it is structured in this year, which is already more than halfway and the clean-up of the burnt rubble.
There are still metal leftovers of the old school comprising the rubble which is causing safety concerns, but there are no signs of actual hazardous materials. When school structures burn, the majority of the hazardous materials streams out with the smoke, at least according to the hazardous materials evaluation teams. That is where it stands now.
Yes, that metal remnant would form the majority of the clean-up work, according to the briefing notes from my departmental staff. If it takes a year for the clean-up, perhaps by this spring, that information will be available.
This is in relation to the metal rubble requiring clean-up and that crusher is part of our consideration for the possibility of delaying it for another year for this proposed clean-up.
As per my statement last week, the optics of the school burnt site isn’t very pleasing. I encourage the minister and his Department of CGS to work on the contracting process and contractors or the hamlet to work on the clean-up contract work at the earliest possible convenience.
However, I now would ask the minister as I seem to have two different dates that have been mentioned, either this year or prior to the next fiscal year for the clean-up work.
I want to ask the minister which date is the one to go by, if he knows whether it will commence prior to the winter or would it commence in the next fiscal year of 2016. Will it be in the summer of 2016? Which date is the right one?
We are all aware that it is already delayed as fall is upon us and the clean-up work requires that it be done by a contractor, although this is still under discussion.
There haven’t been much movement since last week, but they are included in the discussions on the start date.
With the clean-up work already being delayed due to various reasons, the Department of Community and Government Services isn’t the only department involved, even when we have stated our priorities for the clean-up. If it looks like it will be delayed, then spring is the next window to commence the clean-up.
Yes, we are quite aware of the fact that this isn’t a picturesque site and one that shouldn’t be left there, but we will look at ways to make this a safer zone, perhaps by fencing up the site for the safety of the public.
Question 116 – 4(3): Status of Inuit Employment at the Qulliq Energy Corporation (Enook)
On June 2, 2015, the minister tabled the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s latest corporate plan in the Legislative Assembly.
This document indicates that the Qulliq Energy Corporation has a total of 29 executive, senior management, and middle management positions.
However, only two of these positions were filled by beneficiaries at the time the report was tabled, which means that almost 95 percent of the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s management positions are filled by non-beneficiaries.
Mr. Speaker, it’s perfectly clear to me that the Qulliq Energy Corporation needs to be significantly more aggressive in promoting Inuit employment.
Does the minister agree?
Mr. Speaker, I have met with the board of directors on three or four occasions and every time, we have discussed that, discussing that there should be more Inuit employment encouraged through internal programs and training once we have Inuit employees and encourage them to take training to progress through the management system up to corporate executives.
Also, we encourage people in the trades.
I was up at the recent trade show last month. We had a booth there and we have booths at most trade shows to encourage people to seek out opportunities with QEC.
We also did that in Cambridge Bay at the Kitikmeot Trade Show.
We are actively encouraging Inuit employees to look at QEC as a place to begin a career or continue their career.
Can the minister provide a clear explanation as to why the Qulliq Energy Corporation has such a low number of Inuit beneficiary employees in management positions?
I can’t provide a clear explanation. People can pursue career opportunities at QEC. They’re advertised.
When the management positions are open, they’re advertised. When the trades positions are open, they’re advertised. Other positions are advertised.
I think we’re fully staffed or very close to being fully staffed with our human resources side at QEC.
As the Minister of Finance, I have delegated those authorities to the president. Again, I have encouraged the board of directors and the management to encourage and do more to promote Inuit employment within the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
The Qulliq Energy Corporation’s current corporate plan indicates that its Inuit Leadership Development Program aims to, and I quote, “increase employment for NLCA beneficiaries at the professional, management and senior management levels.”
I would now like to ask the minister: can he confirm how many participants are currently enrolled in this program as of today?
I thank Mr. Enook again for those questions.
It’s very important to our government and our territorial corporations.
Mr. Speaker, as I said before, we encourage Inuit to apply under Article 23 and all government positions, including our territorial corporations.
Last October, I tabled our GN Human Resources Strategy for 2014-18 in the House here for all deputy heads of all government departments and territorial corporations to encourage Inuit employment and training and support those who are within our organizations.
With respect to a detailed answer to his question, I believe there are at least two Inuit beneficiary employees on that program.
The Hon. Member for Iqaluit-Tasiluk, Mr. Hickes.
Committee Report 003 – 4(3): Report on the Review of the 2013-2014, 2015-2016 Business Plan and 2012-2017 Strategic Plan of Nunavut Tourism (Hickes)
I rise today… . Actually, I’m just going to sit while I’m doing this, right, Mr. Speaker? It’s going to be a long one.
Mr. Speaker, I sit today to present the report of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts on its review of the 2013-14 Annual Report… .
Oh, sorry. I do have to stand?
So I do rise today.
…on its review of the 2013-14 annual report, 2015-16 business plans, and 2012-17 strategic plan of Nunavut Tourism.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut Tourism’s mission statement provides that the organization is a not-for-profit membership association which encourages tourism development by providing specialized knowledge and expertise in five key areas: marketing; research; industry development; training; and visitor services.
Mr. Speaker, the organization was established in 1996 and is incorporated under the Territorial Societies Act.
Although Nunavut Tourism is not a public agency within the meaning of the Financial Administration Act or a public body within the meaning of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, it is important to note that most of its core operating funding is approved by the Legislative Assembly through its annual consideration of the main estimates and business plan of the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
*See Appendix for full text of Committee Reports 3 – 4(3) and 4 – 4(3).
Mr. Speaker, the core operating funding provided to Nunavut Tourism by the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Economic Development and Transportation has increased from $1.8 million in the 2014-15 fiscal year to $3.08 million in the 2015-16 fiscal year. This represents an increase of over 70 percent, Mr. Speaker.
The terms and conditions of the funding are set out in annual contribution/partnership agreements between Nunavut Tourism and the Department of Economic Development and Transportation. It should also be noted that Nunavut Tourism receives additional funding from such entities as the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
During the Legislative Assembly’s sitting of March 11, 2015, a motion was adopted during the proceedings of the Committee of the Whole to invite representatives from Nunavut Tourism to appear before the standing committee to, and I quote, “account in detail for the association’s expenditures, activities, and initiatives.”
The motion was considered and passed during consideration of the proposed 2015-16 main estimates and business plan of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
The Government of Nunavut’s current Sivumut Abluqta mandate statement provides that one of its objectives is to, and I quote again, “Encourage and support economic development initiatives that build on and add value to identified areas of potential, including the harvesting, arts and tourism sectors.”
The Government of Nunavut’s current Sivumut Abluqta mandate statement also provides that another of its objectives is to, and I quote, “Review government programs to determine what is working well, what needs improvement, and what we should stop doing in order to focus our resources on enabling Nunavut’s success; and ensure recipients of Government of Nunavut funds are providing the outcomes we expect from our investment.”
Mr. Speaker, transcripts from the standing committee’s hearing are available on the Legislative Assembly’s website.
Along with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Nunavut Tourism was one of the three tourism partner organizations that cooperated in the development of the territory’s current Tourism Strategy, which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on May 16, 2013.
Mr. Speaker, the importance of tourism to the territorial economy has long been recognized. The Tourism Strategy indicates that “In 2011, tourism-related businesses generated more than $40.0 million in revenue, and represented 3.2% of overall Nunavut Gross Domestic Product.
Accommodation and outfitting businesses alone employed 1,258 Nunavummiut.”
However, the strategy also describes the challenges facing this sector of the economy.
It notes that “The tourism industry in Nunavut remains underdeveloped” and that it faces “a lack of quality tourism products, insufficient training for tourism, operators, inadequate investment, and a lack of organizational capacity and co-ordination among tourism organizations.”
The chairperson of Nunavut Tourism’s board of directors and the organization’s chief executive officer appeared before the standing committee from June 3 to 4, 2015.
The hearing took place in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly. The hearing was also televised live across the territory and was open to the public and news media to observe from the Visitors’ Gallery.
Transcripts from the standing committee’s hearing are available on the Legislative Assembly’s website.
I would like to take a moment to highlight the thematic areas that the standing committee has addressed in its report:
First, the governance relationship between Nunavut Tourism’s board of directors, its management, and the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Secondly, the transparency of Nunavut Tourism’s financial and operational reporting.
Thirdly, the appropriateness of Nunavut Tourism’s current mandate, including its capacity to successfully fulfill all of its current responsibilities in such areas as destination branding, market research, industry advocacy, management of visitor centres, and provision of tourism training and business aftercare services.
It also reports on the extent to which Nunavut Tourism has effectively cooperated in the government’s ongoing review of such legislation as the Travel and Tourism Act.
It also includes the extent to which Nunavut Tourism has effectively cooperated in the government’s development of a new marine tourism management plan that is to address concerns that have been raised regarding the activities and impact of cruise ship traffic.
Mr. Speaker, it reports the status of various tourism-related initiatives, including Nunavut Arctic College’s Nunavut Tourism Training Program.
Mr. Speaker, I would note for the record that the standing committee is requesting that the government provide a comprehensive response to this report pursuant to Rule 91(5) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.  With that, I move that the report of the standing committee be received by the House and entered into the record as read.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member has moved that the report of the standing committee be received by the House and entered into the record as read. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Speaker (interpretation): There is agreement. (interpretation ends) Reports of Standing and Special Committee on Bills and Other Matters. Hon. Member for Iqaluit-Tasiluk, Mr. Hickes.
Committee Report 004 – 4(3): Report on the Review of the 2009-2012 and 2013-2015 Summary Reports of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit (Hickes)
And I will rise today to present the report of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts on its review of the 2009-2012 and 2013-15 summary reports of IQK.
The 2009-2012 and 2013-15 summary reports of IQK were backdoor tabled on August 31, 2015 pursuant to the provisions of Rule 44(2) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
The most recent appointments to IQK were made on March 19, 2009 and March 1, 2013.
The 2009-2012 and 2013-15 summary reports detail the activities and recommendations of the IQ committee during these periods of time.
On June 1, 2015, the Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a motion to amend the terms of reference for the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts to, and I quote, “explicitly address the integration of Inuit societal values and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into laws, policies, programs, and services of the Government of Nunavut, including the holding of public hearings on the annual reports” of the IQ committee.
In June of 2015, the standing committee announced its plans to hold televised hearings in the fall of 2015 to enable members of the standing committee to consider in detail and in a public forum the most recent annual reports of the IQ committee.
Similar televised hearings concerning the Qulliq Energy Corporation and Nunavut Tourism were held in September of 2014 and June of 2015 respectively.
The September 23, 2015 appearance of witnesses from the IQ committee before the standing committee took place in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, transcripts from the standing committee’s hearings are available on the Legislative Assembly’s website.
The adequacy of the Department of Culture and Heritage’s public reporting practices on the activities of the IQ committee and the extent to which the terms of reference for the IQ committee reflect its actual structure and responsibilities.
The extent to which the Government of Nunavut as a whole provides formal responses to the recommendations of the IQ committee.
The extent to which the Government of Nunavut is using a clearly defined process to ensure that its laws, policies, programs, and services reflect IQ and the extent to which the Government of Nunavut is monitoring its initiatives to ensure that its day-to-day operations and delivery of services reflect IQ.