EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Again, I would like to ask the minister if they can further review that and see if it something that would be considered.
Speaker (interpretation): Ms Aglukkaq.
I just received a note from the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College that there is a bursar, and there are three regional finance offices for the Nunavut Arctic College in the three campuses.
To respond to your question, I did say as part of my response yesterday that we are looking at all the Crown agencies in Nunavut, supporting legislation, policies, and practices to try and improve the reporting of public accounts as an ongoing effort.
This week, or perhaps Monday, I will be tabling the mandate letters for each of the Crowns.
That will make it very clear across the Crown agencies what is expected of them for the financial reporting, program reporting.
Going back to your question, did we look at it?
Yes, we explored all options in terms of whether to keep it at March 31 or a June fiscal year.
Why report twice in one fiscal year?
Is that responsible?
We felt that to have a fiscal year end at June for the college was more in line with the mandate of the organization.
To do two year ends in one year was not one that we favoured.
This fiscal year end for the college will remain at June.
I think there is a little confusion.
I am not looking at two different year ends.
We are looking at one year end.
That would be consistent with all the other Crown corporations and councils and the minister has indicated that the programs have to do another year end report for their third party funding.
It is not a year end report, it is when the program ends.
I do not see why the programs cannot accommodate that; when they are done, they have to do a final report for a program anyway.
It does not matter when the year end is, they still need to do that.
Again, and I think by not looking...
... looking at trying to bring the public accounts in line and tightening up financial accountability at the college, it is kind of like an oxymoron if they are saying they are going to leave it like that and yet they want to try and improve the process.
If they would look at that and see if they would take a further review, then see if there really is a difference, because I think the programs have to do a report anyway, at the end of the program.
It is not the program instructors that are doing the reports or doing the stuff for the year end.
It is the financial administration people that are doing that.
I fail to see the rationale behind that and maybe the minister could explain it a little more clearly.
Back in the 80s and early 90s when I sat on the college board, when it was one college at that time, there were problems with trying to deliver programs and, at the same time, report on those activities with the fiscal year end of March 31. The budget that we received overlaps between two fiscal years.
So, now, when we go for funding, we receive funding in the fiscal year of the college, which is June to whatever, and we report on that basis.
Before, it was difficult because we had to report to March 31.
We received a program that started in December, we had to do year end reports at March 31 and then start a new program for April 1 on, for the remaining portion, and then complete another financial report and a program report, which is again included in another fiscal year’s financial year end.
So, there are actually two year ends because it overlaps between a fiscal year; the year end of the program and a fiscal year end.
So, we did explore that and when we put forth a change with the college, at the time, it was much easier to seek funding that was in sync with our financial reporting requirements.
The legislation that we have for Nunavut Arctic College is the same as the one in the Northwest Territories.
Yes, we have issues around corporations and agencies filing their reports on a regular basis.
The last seven years they have not met the timelines.
We recognize that and we are trying to deal with that.
Every year we have come closer to the month that they are legally required to report.
But that will take time.
We continue to work with them.
Yesterday there was a question that was raised about how in the Northwest Territories the reports are on time.
The Northwest Territories has been in place for a long time, and we want to work and meet those targets as well in Nunavut.
We will be working with the agencies, and the mandate letters will be distributed.
We are reviewing all the legislations and the policies of the Crowns.
That will be an ongoing effort.
We would like to try and improve and address a lot of the concerns that are being raised here, but it does not happen overnight.
So, there are ongoing efforts and we are dealing with those issues regularly.
Question 375 – 2(2): Update on School Bus Services for Coral Harbour
In January of this year the minister went to Coral Harbour and had a meeting with the district education authority, and the question from the DEA was to get a bus, because, of course, of the safety of the children.
They had requested a bus at that time, and I would like to get an update from the minister in regard to their request.
The community of Coral Harbour is the only community in the Kivalliq that actually does not have a bus available for the students.
The member has been very vocal in the House on the issue, especially over the amount of snow and so on that has caused safety issues within the community for students to get to school.
Working with the Kivalliq regional office of the Department of Education, we put out an RFP for busing services for Coral Harbour.
There was only, I believe, one submission.
That has been reviewed and analyzed by the department to look at what opportunities are there to help with securing a bus.
At the same time we also need to look at the operation and maintenance costs of a busing service and ensure that there is a licensed driver in place.
If those are going to be the reasons to delay the acquiring of a bus, if there is no bus driver available, that would be most unfortunate.
Of course we have to make all those decisions before sealift arrives. Are we going to be able to have all those things in place so that we can get the bus on the sealift?
We would be in a position this fall to have the bus service available for Coral.
We’re trying to determine what size of a bus is needed.
The issue around the licensing of the bus driver may be covered off by having a program in place, if needed, to train people on airbrakes and so on.
In most communities, because of water trucks and so on, there are trained people on the ground.
The other issue is to look at the storage of the said vehicle. We’re working with the hamlet in Coral Harbour to be able to store the bus during the winter months and so on.
Those are the types of logistic work that need to be done.
We’re working with the DEA and, again, I would hope to be in a position as minister to be able to have something in place for the people in Coral Harbour in 2005-06.
Again, the bus purchase itself has to be part of the capital planning process for the government.
Speaker (interpretation): Supplementary, Mr. Netser.
Mr. Netser (interpretation): There is someone in Coral Harbour that has a business with garages.
Under the government of the Northwest Territories, I know that Kugluktuk received a bus.
Would we be able to be provided with a bus in the same way that other communities were provided with a bus?
Again, I think everyone realizes that there are some safety issues involved, and as I said, this community is the only one in the Kivalliq that does not have a bus service.
Right now, there are about five communities that have come forward to the department looking for help with busing.
So, what we would like to be in a position to do, as a department, is to help facilitate that for the community.
Again, many of our communities are getting bigger and they’re spread out more. Ten years ago maybe there wasn’t a need for busing, and now there is a need in the majority of our communities.
Indeed, I think it is a stated need in Coral Harbour, so we’re trying to move forward on it.
If the department was in a position to help purchase a bus, then the DEA would look after the contract of hiring the bus driver and working out the logistics in the administrative and the operations and maintenance costs side of it.
That’s the position that we’re taking, and the chair of the district education authority has been working closely with our regional office to help support that.
Again, I hope to be in a position in the fall to be able to facilitate the bus service there.
That is part of the capital planning process.
The buses are in the capital plan.
There have been other requests coming in from other communities like Kimmirut, for example, who are now requesting a bus.
That’s something that we’re looking at.
I am going to speak in English.
(interpretation ends) If someone decided to go ahead and buy a bus in my community for the school in Coral Harbour, would the Department of Education be willing to contract with this person to deliver the services?
I believe later today we’ll have the opportunity to talk about sole source contracts.
What the member was talking about was having a sole source contract in his community.
If for example, there was a contractor who actually purchased a bus that was conducive to the needs of the District Education Authority and was on the ground with it, then, Mr. Speaker, by all means, working with the District Education Authority we would try to access that opportunity within the community.
There isn’t enough competition or business in any community to have three or four bus companies working, especially in our smaller communities.
So, if there was a purchase of a bus, then Mr. Speaker, we would try to help out with the operations and maintenance costs and so on, to have that bus in place.
In the mean time, we have spoken with the District Education Authority to discuss if there is an opportunity for the Department of Education to move forward to help purchase a bus and then have the District Education Authority do the operations and maintenance.
So, that’s where the discussions are right now.
The RFP closed on April 22, I believe.
I would hope to be in a position, in the next week or so to be able to better update the member as to where we are with the busing service and to try and have it in place by 2005-06.
Again, it’s part of the capital planning process.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome, Mr. Kilabuk, to the Assembly.
Question 376 – 2(2): Policy on Visitation of Patients
I have asked this question before but have not yet received a response.
It was a little confusing.
There is a patient from Sanikiluaq who, along with their family, has been out of the community for health services in the South for some time.
The family and the parents escorted and have been supervising their child at the hospital.
Now, the patient is getting a bit healthier.
I’m just wondering if there is a specific policy as to whether all of the family could be brought down South to visit the patient involved.
Yes, I do understand the member’s question.
My colleague informed me of this situation a few days ago.
My staff is looking into this issue as to how they might be given support.
In regard to whether there is a policy in place or not for this particular issue, the nurses and doctors are usually in charge of this.
They have procedures and policies in place which they have to follow.
I do feel for the family involved.
They have been at the hospital in the South for a long time.
At the moment I am not able to respond to you, but once I receive all the information from my staff I will relay this message to you.
If this is indeed like that, traditionally, if I can say, with relatives and families, it lessens the burden on the family and speeds up the healing process to a certain extent.
It’s not going to be on a continual basis.
This was not deliberate.
At least if that person could see his or her family, because we have to consider that person. Once I meet with her I’ll be able to get better clarification and understanding.
Question 377 – 2(2): Update on the Gasoline Tax Issue
We all know about the political situation in Ottawa these days.
It’s very tenuous.
The government is hanging on by its finger tips.
Significant amounts of federal funding may be at risk for Nunavut.
Funding is critical in the future of Nunavummiut.
My question for the minister: can the minister update the House on what the situation is with respect to such initiatives as the transfer of gasoline tax revenues and the new funding promised under the Northern Strategy.
The current situation is that the gas tax is part of the bill that is before the House, in the House of Commons, and that includes the bills related to childcare, the bills for the Northern Strategy, funding the gas tax, the revenues and changes to our formula.
That is all before the House, and we have been watching the federal politics, monitoring where they are at with that.
Everything is at risk at this point in time.
Should they vote against the bill, we are back to the drawing board.
Could the minister tell the House when she last spoke with her federal counterpart, Finance Minister Ralph Goodale?
The last we spoke was shortly before his budget speech this year.
I thank the finance minister.
The finance minister made a comment that everything’s at risk, and we’re back to the table.
Can the finance minister tell the House if the Government of Nunavut has contingency plans in place in the case that events in Ottawa delay or cancel the new funding arrangements, and if so, what are they?
The funding that has been promised to us from the federal government, if passed, would be very good news for us.
If it is not passed, then what we have internally to do is to look at all the programs designed with the assumption that this funding would be in Nunavut, so we would have to go back and re-evaluate the programs and the priorities before implementing or delivering some of these programs.
The money that the federal government has allocated or assured would be with us, it is really dependent on how the opposition reacts to it.
Should it not go forward, we will be re-visiting our financial books and looking at the impact of not receiving this funding in this fiscal year and go back to the drawing board of lobbying again with a new government or the old government, however this works out.
It sounds like we are in a very serious situation as a government as events unfold in Ottawa.
Could the minister perhaps give us some idea of what initiatives or capital projects are scheduled, budgeted, in 2005-06 that are contingent on gas tax revenues?
As the members knows, we deal with the capital plans in September, October, so we have not made any commitments by community, as far as I know, for the gas tax revenue.
That funding has yet to be voted in the House, in the federal government.
So, the normal capital planning process exercise is in place with our existing dollars, but no commitments have been made under the gas tax revenue sharing arrangements until such time as that money is our hands.
Question 378 – 2(2): Maintenance and Improvements to the Larga House
I would like to ask a question about tabled document 121-2(2).
This was tabled by the Minister of Health and Social Services in accordance to Mr. Arreak’s line of questioning.
It became evident when we met in Ottawa that the term of the Norterra contract for the Baffin Larga House management is going to be over in three years, March 31, 2008.
We saw there were renovations required because there is a shortage of space in the kitchen and dining room and they need to get washing facilities in the rooms.
Looking at all the improvements that are required, it will cost over $2 million.
That was determined by Norterra.
There was a request for proposal that will be released 12 to 18 months prior to construction.
If Norterra is not going to be receiving the contract, and if the contract is given to another entity, Norterra will lose over $2 million worth of materials to do the maintenance work on Larga House.
I was wondering what the Department of Health and Social Services is doing now.
We still have three more years before the contract term is up.
What is the department going to do about all the renovations that need to be done?
I would like to thank my colleague for his questions.
This month, the stakeholders recently held meetings in regard to this issue.
They are still using this contract but are making plans for the future.
I will be able to provide you with additional information after their meetings.
We go back and forth, and once I get definitive information, I will be able to inform my colleagues at the cabinet level.
So, once I receive any new information I will inform the member.
My question is, when we visited Larga House, it was evident that there are safety issues that we have to deal with.
Patients who have just been operated on and some elders that are quite old need staff to supervise them over night.
Though I’ve discussed this issue with the minister, do we receive inspection reports from the inspectors? I think there are codes that have been broken including capacity codes.
Do we receive reports so that we can make improvements on the issues that arise?
I would also like to thank my colleague.
I would like to thank Baffin region for taking care of their region.
They have been quite concerned about the lack of space.
Just recently, after the incident down South, the RCMP did an investigation and they wrote a report.
I will be able to provide a copy of that report to you so that we can all have the same level of understanding.
The building down there will have to meet all the codes in Ontario.
I am aware of that and I would like to thank the member.
As we discuss the issue of where the maintenance is required, the building has room for improvement.  It will require additional costs from the Department of Health and Social Services to improve the dining room and they need additional washroom facilities, and especially the patients with physical disabilities have to be properly serviced.
The building has to be up to code.
We have been seeing some problems in regard to this issue.
I was wondering when you are going to be fixing up those problems before the three year term contract is up?
I also took part with my colleagues in a visit to the Baffin Larga House.
I learned a great deal about the boarding home down there.
I agree with my colleague.
Yes, the building is too small now.
It is filled to capacity right away.
The dining room is too small.
The kitchen is too small.
I have been told that they were going to enlarge the dining room but prefered to use that funding for something else.
We are doing a thorough review of the building and its contents.
I will keep you abreast of all the developments.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
I am glad that the minister will be providing me with the information for Nunavummiut, especially the Baffin region.
We are already experiencing critical issues, especially in the Baffin region.
In my riding there is a one-hour time difference with the South.
Information, I believe, should be provided to the public, especially when the office is closed down South, about when the office is closed down South.
The First Air jet finally arrives in my constituency of High Arctic and from there it flies back down South.
Usually it arrives in Ottawa at eleven o’clock at night, when it arrives on Saturdays.
And then the unilingual Inuktitut speaking people and the elders without escorts never really know where to go unless they are told by the officials.
Perhaps we need to provide this information to the public, because we have a time difference.
The flight is scheduled on Saturdays, and at times the drivers misses the patients and sometimes there is a lack of communication.
I was wondering if you can improve the communications at this time?
Your comments are very well taken.
I don’t have jurisdiction over the airline scheduling.
Sometimes they arrive very late.
That is one of the problem areas that we experience.
I will look into that further.
Questions period is over.
Written Question 031-2(2): Private Accomodation for Medical Travel Clients
My written question is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.
It has to do with private accommodation for medical travel clients.
For the following fiscal years, how many private accommodation nights were provided in Nunavut to: (i) patients and (ii) escorts under the Client Travel Policy?
a) 2003-2004
b) 2004-2005
For the following fiscal years, how many commercial accommodation nights were provided in Nunavut to: (i) patients and (ii) escorts under the Client Travel Policy?
For the following fiscal years, how many boarding home accommodation nights were provided in Nunavut to: (i) patients and (ii) escorts under the Client Travel Policy?
What is the average cost per night to provide accommodation in a Medical Boarding Home in Nunavut (e.g. Iqaluit’s Tammatavik facility)?
Expressed as a percentage by month for the following years, how often are Medical Boarding Homes in Nunavut full and unable to accommodate patients and/or escorts travelling under the Client Travel Policy?
What were the total costs, by the following years, to provide accommodation nights to patients and escorts under the Client Travel Policy in: (i) private accommodation, (ii) commercial accommodation and (iii) Medical Boarding Home accommodation?
Written Question 032-2(2): Nunavut Teacher Education Program
My written question is for the Minister of Education and it concerns the Nunavut Teacher Education Program.
For the following school years how many graduates of the NTEP program were employed in Nunavut’s schools as
(i) instructors (ii) teachers, (iii) principals, (iv) other?
e) 2004-2005
Since April 1, 1999, how many individuals have graduated from the NTEP program
With a Teaching Diploma?
With a Bachelor of Education Degree?
As of April 28, 2005, how many students are currently registered in the NTEP program and in what year of the program are they?
What percentage of teaching staff currently working in Nunavut public schools are beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement?
What percentage of current beneficiary teaching staff are teaching in Grades 9 through 12?
What percentage of beneficiary teaching staff are projected to retire from the Nunavut Education system in the following years?
a) 2005-2006
b) 2006-2007
c) 2007-2008
d) 2008-2009
e) 2009-2010
Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Written questions Item 8.
Tabled Document 129 – 2(2): Letter to Minister of Health and Social Services Regarding Funding for the Ilisaqsivik Society
I wish to table a copy of my letter to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regards to why we can’t get a definite response on the operations of the Ilisaqsivik Society.
Speaker (interpretation): Please forward the document to the clerk.
Bill 18 – Powers of Attorney Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Member for Baker Lake, that Bill 18, Powers of Attorney Act be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 18 has had first reading.
Item 18, Second Reading of Bills. Mr. Okalik.
I would like consent from my colleagues to waive the one day notice requirement to allow for second reading of Bill 18, Powers of Attorney Act.
Speaker (interpretation): The Minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62(1) to allow for second reading.
There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Okalik.
Item 18: Second Reading of Bills  Bill 18 – Powers of Attorney Act – Second Reading
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my fellow colleagues.
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baker Lake that Bill 18, Powers of Attorney Act be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill enacts a new Powers of Attorney Act to govern the use of powers of attorney for property and financial interests.
The Act describes springing and enduring powers of attorney, and sets out rules and procedures associated with each type.
Springing or enduring Powers of Attorney can be effective even if the donor becomes mentally incapacitated.
The Bill also contains consequential amendments to the Land Titles Act and the Public Trustees Act.
Merci, Monsieur le President.