EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
What is a realistic number, because this is what the budget is now, so what actually is a closer number that would represent Nunavut?
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Galbraith.
I am not all exactly sure what the authorized limit actually means.
It is not necessarily a budget figure, I believe that they would have to, should they exceed this in sales or expenditures, they would have to go and get some sort of permission.
But yes that is a GNWT figure, 60 million dollars and then you can see that the east is more active because we do sales at 40 million dollars a year and the west comes in at half that much.
One final question and a point of clarification.
If this figure is not accurate and we're being asked to pass this budget and the figure is not accurate…what figure would more closely reflect the Nunavut situation?
Chairperson: Ms. Thompson.
Mr. Chairman, we are just borrowing Mr. Galbraith from the regional office, he is not a headquarters person, we are just borrowing him from the region.
He is doing us a favour by being here, so just be patient and bear with us.
When I became the Minister of the department we just had three staff, that was the DM, the ADM and another ADM or a secretary.
For two days I just had two staff in headquarters, so just bear with us, he is doing us a favour, we will get you the definite numbers if they are not here, we are not asking you to approve what you don't think should be there, we are not trying to pull anything, but we are short of staff.
My apologies, Thank you.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Galbraith, if you could perhaps clarify the figure?
I just want to emphasize that the authorized limit is the upset limit so to speak.
It is an arbitrary number, they tried to get it as accurate as possible, but this number included the west.
The numbers below there, the income and expenditures, the salary and wages was put together by our team, in Rankin Inlet and was put into the budget, and these numbers are right on.
Chairperson (interpretation): Did you get the clarification you wanted Mr. O'Brien?
Mr. Chairman maybe I am not as informed on this issue as I should be.
I don't want to cause any confusion or embarrassment to the Minister or her staff and I realize that they are a very new department and so on.
But I think what I am trying to do is just get this straight in my mind, and in the other members that are here, in their mind.
This is, I think, a very significant barrier, we are talking about a large number of dollars here.
I will ask a question, maybe Mr. Mrazek, because I know he has been around for quite a while, he may be able to shed some more light on this.
If for example, the authorized limit is 60 million dollars, if that weren't utilized, could that money be used for something else?
Mr. Mrazek: What I would like to answer is that finance is not my background, and I cannot really make that comment or commitment as to what could be done with the balance of the money.
As Mr. Galbraith said, basically the money is not really in the budget from that standpoint.
It is a maximum limit to which Petroleum Products can buy fuel or any other thing.
They cannot go anything over that, but they always stay below.
Chairperson (interpretation): Madame Minister, perhaps you could shed more light on the matter.
What you are approving is the two numbers and those are the numbers that make sense.
These are Main Estimates, what we would think that we would be spending, but as Mr. Mrazek has just indicated, this is not the actual number, it goes below that.
What you are approving is 39 million, 807 thousand, if you are wanting to approve it.
I am just trying to sort out more details about the revolving fund itself.
Can the revolving fund be used, for example, to construct a capital project?
Can the revolving fund be used for anything other than petroleum products?
It strictly deals with the purchase of petroleum products.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Thank you Mr. Chairperson, I know Mr. Ng would really like to answer that but I will answer it for him anyway.
This is strictly for petroleum products, Thank you.
I am going to beg the indulgence of the members and they might know better, but maybe I am just asking, would a better way to explain this revolving fund authorized limit, would be like a line of credit?
So there is no actual cash involved from any other sources within government dollars.
Is that a simpler way to explain it?
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Thank you Mr. Chairperson, I might refer this to the Finance Minister.
He wasn't listening, was he.
Did you get the question?
Chairperson: Minister Ng.  Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you Mr. Chairperson.
It is my understanding that this is like a line of credit, it authorizes the petroleum products fund to purchase inventory and then use the inventories to recover the costs of supplying that inventory.
This isn't an approval item, this is actually an information item that we are debating here.
So I don't know if that clarifies it, it is supposed to be revenue neutral, whatever you bring in it goes back out in expenditures and inventory.
Chairperson (interpretation): I believe that question was answered.
Mr. Anawak, I believe you wanted to make a comment or question?
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Not to the matter, I just wanted to tell Ms. Thompson, in respect to the Granular Program Revolving Fund, I know that they stockpile in some communities.
I have noted twice in Broughton, Clyde River and Rankin Inlet, that the granular materials usually have a written thing, "this is owned by DPW, do not trespass".
I am just wondering about that.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Anawak.
You stated that you were talking about some other matter, I just saw a do not trespass sign on the granular stockpiles, I believe that is more of a comment than a question.
I have had a question for the longest time, although I approved it earlier the 60 million for the revolving fund, but as I was getting more information, I started seeing the 39 million, 807 thousand, and if that was to be approved, then what would the remaining amount up to 60 million be used for?
It is like this, the petroleum is purchased from wherever they purchase it then it is transported to the community and as the community sells the petroleum, the income is used to offset the cost of the purchase and it is just a see-sawing form, because whatever is used to purchase is paid back by the revenue from the sales.
Chairperson (interpretation): There are no more people I have written down for questions.
These are just information items on some of the details we have been talking about.
Detail, work performed on behalf of third parties, the distribution of budget, I believe these are just informational items.
Let's return to 6-3, Operations, detail of expenditures.
This is in respect to the details of expenditures, operations & maintenance, total operations & maintenance 67 million, 132 thousand dollars.
Are you agreed?  Some Members: Agreed.
Total Capital, is 5 million 769 thousand dollars.
Total expenditures, 72 million 901 thousand dollars. Are you agreed?
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Are you agreed to the Directorate Budget?
Do you agree that the report of the committee is complete? Everyone is agreed.
Thank you Madame Minister.
Minister Thompson and your officials, Mr. Mrazek and Mr. Galbraith.
I thank you for taking the opportunity to present these to the committee.
In highlighting your budget estimates for the fiscal year, I am sure that the members will now know these details.
Ms. Thompson do you wish to make closing remarks?
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): I just wish to thank you for approving the budget estimates for my department.
Your committee has been considering Bill 1 and Committee Reports 1, 2, 3 and 4.
I would like to report progress.
In respect to the motion, is there a seconder.
Mr. Ng has seconded the motion, the motion is on the floor.
All those in favour. All those opposed.
Orders of the Day, item 22, before we reach that I would like to recognize a visitor in the Gallery.
When we were the GNWT the old Deputy Premier, Mr. Goo Arlooktoo.
As well one of Mr. Irqittuq's constituents, Mr. Isaac Mablick.
Please feel welcome, all of you visitors.
In respect to the orders of the day, item 22, Third Reading of Bills.
Third Reading of Bills.
Before we move to item 23, I would like to inform you that at 7 o'clock, the Ministers and MLA's will be playing floor hockey at the Arctic College Residence and I think we will try to play hockey when the arena is ready and we will play against the media, and we will have to start practicing now in order to beat the media.
Orders of the Day, item 23, Orders of the Day.
Thursday, May 20th, 1999, caucus meeting here in the Parish Hall.
Orders of the Day for Thursday, May 20th, 1999
4. Returns to Oral Questions
5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
6. Oral Questions
7. Written Questions
8. Returns to Written Questions
9. Replies to Opening Address
10. Replies to Budget Address
11. Petitions
12. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
13. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
14. Tabling of Documents
15. Notices of Motions
16. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills
17. Motions
18. First Reading of Bills:
1 - Boards of Management Dissolution Act
2 - Divisional Education Council Dissolution Act
19. Second Reading of Bills
20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters:
21. Report of Committee of the Whole
22. Third Reading of Bills
23. Orders of the Day
At this time the House stands recessed until Thursday, May 20, 1999 at 1.30 pm.
>> House Recessed at 5.13 pm.
DAY 7
THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1999
Pages 227 - 259
Prayer 227
Members' Statements 227
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 230
Oral Questions 231
Written Questions 233
Tabling of Documents 234
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 235
First Reading of Bills 235
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 236
Orders of the Day 258
Thursday May 20, 1999 227
43 - 1 (2): Importance of Literacy, Birthday (McLean) 227
44 - 1 (2): Urgency of Passing on Traditional Knowledge (Alakannuark) 227
45 - 1 (2): Sympathy for Bereaved Family (Puqiqnak) 228
46 - 1 (2): Equitable Staff Housing Allocation (Tootoo) 228
47 - 1 (2): Congratulations to Coral Harbour Teacher Education Program Graduates (Arvaluk) 229
48 - 1 (2): Congratulations to Coral Harbour Teacher Education Program Graduates (Thompson) 229
66 - 1 (2): Allocation of Staff Housing (Tootoo) 231
2 - 1 (2): Contract for Medical Boarding Home Services, Keewatin Health and Social Services Board and T.C. Enterprises (McLean) 233
9 - 1 (2): Purchase of Old Nursing Station, Hamlet of Baker Lake (McLean) 235
10 - 1 (2): Transfer of WCB Positions (McLean) 235
11 - 1 (2): Trip to International Year of Older Persons Conference (Puqiqnak) 235
FIRST READING OF BILLS
Bill 2 - Boards of Management Dissolution Act 236
Bill 3 - Divisional Education Councils Dissolution Act 236
10 – 1 (2): Elders Involvement in Law Review 241
11 – 1 (2): Federal Gun Registration Policies 241
12 – 1 (2): Support Community Justice Committees 241
13 – 1 (2): Mid Year Progress Report 242  Thursday May 20, 1999
Thursday May 20, 1999
Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. Olayuk Akesuk, Honourable Jack Anawak, Honourable James Arvaluk, Honourable Levi Barnabas, Honourable Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Mr. Kevin O’Brien, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Puqiqnak please start the opening prayer.
Before we go to Item 2, I would like to make an announcement, it’s not urgent.
During this meeting I will be giving the members an opportunity, but you will have to realize that we do have House rules and we will have to adhere to those rules, before they are changed by the Rules Committee once the Rules Committee is struck.
Please write down what you would like to see amended in the House Rules.
We will have to adhere to those rules prior to their being changed by the rules committee.
Item 2, Ministers' Statements.
Item # 3, Members' Statements.
Members' Statement 43 - 1 (2): Importance of Literacy, Birthday
Recognizing that our children are the future leaders of Nunavut it is imperative to give them the tools leading to their success.
We can do this by installing in them at the earliest possible age, the importance and benefits of literacy.
I believe that literacy is very important and should not be overlooked, it is crucial that the Government of the Nunavut acknowledge the seriousness of this issue by continuing to support literacy.
I would also like to take this opportunity to wish my son Kyle Siksinaaq McLean a happy 8th Birthday and I’d like to be there today.
Members' Statement 44 - 1 (2): Urgency of Passing on Traditional Knowledge
There is a need to educate young people about survival on the land and this includes Harvesting as well as processing the meat and the skins.
Our Elders who are knowledgeable in this area are dying off, therefore it’s urgent get the Elders to teach these skills right away.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Alakannuark, the statement you just made was pretty understandable.
Members' Statement 45 - 1 (2): Sympathy for Bereaved Family
Yesterday we had a long meeting and I called home to Uqsuqtuuq, they had a burial yesterday in Uqsuqtuuq, this girl was 17 years old has had seizures since she was a child.
She died during a seizure at 17 years old, so I would like all of us here to think of her family and to show our sympathy for the family members.
Speaker: (interpretation): As a Member, and on behalf of the Legislative Assembly, we will send a letter of condolences to the family.
Members' Statement 46 - 1 (2): Equitable Staff Housing Allocation
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you Speaker.
Mr. Speaker I rise today to speak on the matter of staff housing, not only here in Iqaluit, but in the rest of our communities.
I think we all agree that the employees of the Government of Nunavut deserve to be in adequate accommodations.
I am concerned that there seems to be multiple levels operating, especially here in Iqaluit.
We understand from the Minister of Human Resources, that there’s a staff housing policy in place that has been carried over from the GNWT and that there's an allocation committee for Regional staff housing and also an allocation committee for Headquarters staff which was set by the Office of Interim Commissioner prior to March 31st.
Some of the new staff units here in Iqaluit have only been allocated by the OIC housing allocation committee to Headquarter staff and the GNWT staff have been allocated older staff housing units, such as white row units and the units in the high-rise have gone to the regional staff and they've been allocated by the GNWT allocation committee.
I hope now after April 1st, there is only one standard and that all employees, whether their Headquarters or Regional Staff are being allocated housing based on their need for suitable, affordable, adequate housing.
It is my understanding, that there's some staff, that are not in suitable housing, they and their families are not in housing suitable for them and they’re waiting for the new units such as the Urbco Units up the hill to be allocated.
I hope that these decisions can be made very quickly, so that this new housing can be occupied and we can have staff with the higher morale associated with having proper housing and being involved in a fair and equitable staff housing policy.
Members' Statement 47 - 1 (2): Congratulations to Coral Harbour Teacher Education Program Graduates
Hon. James Arvaluk: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker I’m pleased and proud as the Member from Nanulik to extend my congratulations to the first graduates of the community Teacher Education Program in Coral Harbour, who are graduating today.
These graduates have taken the first step to success and whether they go on to further study or go directly to the workplace they are the future of this new Territory.
These graduates also will be the teachers of the future generations to come.
We did not achieve Nunavut alone, nor have they achieved graduation alone, therefore I would also like to thank their families, friends and teachers for the support they have given them throughout their studies and trying times.
Education is not accomplished alone and the support of others is essential, our culture is one of collaboration and connectedness.
We must continue to celebrate the sense of community and sharing.
Education does not necessarily mean textbooks alone, it also includes the community and sharing culturally and I would like to congratulate these students on their success.
That’s a real position that you have worked hard to obtain and you deserve the honour accompanied by the success.
That is for the students in Coral Harbour.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Arvaluk.
Since we’re all new, I would like to remind everyone, that you as a Minister of Education, cannot say that you make this announcement as a Minister, you have to make those kinds of statements under Ministers' Statements.
I just wanted to remind everyone, that’s the procedure and as you stated the Nunavut Minister of Education, if you’re going to say such a statement, you should have done that during the Ministers' Statements.
Mr. Arvaluk
Hon. James Arvaluk: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker, when I first heard the statement saying Nunavut Minister of Education, when I was speaking in Inuktitut, it’s not going to appear as Nunavut Minister of Education in the Hansard.
Members' Statement 48 - 1 (2): Congratulations to Coral Harbour Teacher Education Program Graduates
Mr. Arvaluk, I would like to extend my congratulations to the community of Coral Harbour as I used to be from there.
We apologize that we will not be able to attend your dinner this evening on behalf of the graduates.
I would like to extend my congratulations also to the graduates.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Ms. Thompson.
Item # 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Item 5, Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Hon. Jack Anawak: (interpretation): Though I no longer represent this person, I still would like to recognize this person in the gallery, who used to work with us in Parliament and he was very essential during the negotiations of the Land Claim Agreements.
I would like to recognize Peter Itinnuar who worked very hard on behalf of the creation of the Nunavut Government.
Please be welcome to our meeting Mr. Itinnuar.
Mr. Speaker I would like to welcome to the gallery Mr. Ian Rose, constituency of Iqaluit east, now an employee of the Department of Education with the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Hugh Lloyd with the Department of Executive, Government of Nunavut and Mr. Dwayne Wilkin from Nunatsiaq News covering us today.
I would like to recognize a person who has to move to Iqaluit, quite some while ago and who I grew up with in Clyde River, her name is Leah Inutiq and her daughter next to her.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Welcome to our meeting, recognition of visitors in the gallery.
I’d also would like to recognize some constituents, I’d like to recognize Catherine Dallas who’s a former employee of the NWT Housing Corporation, who is now with Policy in Community Government, Housing and Transportation and Marianne Ran Itinnuar back there who is also a constituent.
Mr. Speaker, I’d also would like to recognize a well known constituent, Mr. Jimmy Echo, back there also known as the Inuk Elvis, I’d like to recognize those people.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Tootoo and welcome to those people in the gallery.
Mr. Kilabuk
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
As Members of the Legislative Assembly, we make comments about these people back home and missing them.
At times we don’t recognize the spouses of our employees.
I would like to recognize Patrick Best and his wife, I would like to welcome them and I would like to recognize them.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Kilabuk.
Oral questions item # 6, on your orders of the day.
Question 66 - 1 (2): Allocation of Staff Housing
My question is for the Minister responsible for staff housing, I believe the Minister for Human Resources.
As the Minister indicated the other day in Committee of the Whole, that there were two levels of staff housing, one the new staff housing that was for Headquarters employees and also existing stock that GNWT had prior to April 1st.
Mr. Speaker I’m wondering if the Minister could inform us as to whether this staff housing is for all government employees or is there a distinction between headquarters and regional staff.
Mr. Speaker, right now as I indicated there are two different approval mechanisms and I also believe I have indicated, that’s why we're trying to co-ordinate a new staff housing policy and take into consideration all those factors.
We also have the issue of staff housing in our regional centres as well that we’ve inherited, so there is a multitude of issues that has to address.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, there are two approval mechanisms in place, in my understanding we have staff housing for Government of Nunavut employees, period, and I don’t understand why there needs to be two levels of allocations, I wonder if you can explain that.
Mr. Speaker, I believe I indicated that we inherited both mechanisms and both policies for allocations.
One, and he recognized it in his statement as well, one from GNWT on the regional allocation for regional positions, and one at the Headquarters level, that was inherited from the Office of Interim Commissioner.
So right now one of the issues, quite frankly, is how do you deal with that?
Do you pull them together and if that were the case, for example, you have dedicated headquarters positions that are targeted for headquarter staffing.
So if you were to open it wide open right now and regional staff were to move into all of those units and there were no available units for incoming headquarters staff, that would jeopardise the staffing up of headquarters departments of the Government of the Nunavut.
So those are the kinds of issues, as I have indicated, that have to be addressed.
One other issue, quite frankly, the people probably haven’t realized and I think that we have to address that as well, is what about our employees right now that are in public housing?
Are they entitled to the Government of Nunavut staff housing as well, because that will have an impact, if we're trying to be consistent, how we treat all our employees then all of those issues have to be addressed and that’s not a matter of doing something overnight.
It has to be looked at and explored in some form of these.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Mr. Tootoo
Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated that there is basically segregated housing, I’m wondering Mr. Speaker if he feels that it’s fair as members came on staff with the GNWT prior to April 1st and are in certain accommodations, because that’s all there was available at the time.
Do they have to be stuck in those accommodations, while we have existing units that are sitting empty and I believe we're paying for them.
I’m just wondering Mr. Speaker, how that can be justified by the Department.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I would respond that we’re trying to bring some consistency to the overall housing policy of the Government of Nunavut, whether they be at the Regional level or Headquarters level.
That’s what we're working toward and we'll do it as quickly as possible.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Oral questions.
I’m sure you can correct me if I’m wrong, I’m just wondering if I can ask another question to the Minister responsible for staff housing.
He indicated in his earlier statement that he was worried about those units that were slated for headquarters positions.