EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
They’re not always updated to the current time that the departments or territorial corporations appear in the House. I will confirm all this, but it’s my understanding, like the minister said, that the daycare is a go-ahead.
With respect to the prior years’ expenditures, it does show $1.4 million roughly.
About $400,000 of that is for design and the other $1 million is for construction, but again, I just don’t think that actually happened.
I think there possibly are some errors in the substantiation sheet, but I will confirm that, Mr. Chairman.
For the next appearance, maybe the substantiation sheets should be thoroughly checked so that we’re not misled. I know that it’s not intentional, but it should be checked.
I still haven’t got any clarity on the additional $1.8 million in 2016. Is that to complete the project?
Yes, it’s for the completion.
That’s all I had.
Just make sure the substantiation sheets are up to date when we come here because as committee members, that’s all the information that we are given and we have to go by what we are given.
We don’t have any information from anywhere else other than what we are given.
We are on Nunavut Arctic College. Branch Summary. Headquarters.
Good afternoon to the minister and Mr. Ma. In Sanikiluaq, we only have a one-room Arctic College facility for our community learning centre.
It has been proven that there’s a need for an additional classroom in the community.
Back on March 17 of 2014, during Committee of the Whole, there were some questions raised concerning the need and the costs associated with renovating unused classrooms at the elementary school to be utilized as additional classrooms for our community learning centre.
At that time, Mr. Corneau was the dean of Nunatta Campus. He stated to us that they were looking at the option of renovating a classroom for our community learning centre at the Nuiyak School.
He went on to say that there are some preliminary estimates for the cost of renovations of being between $200,000 and $250,000.
What is the status of this project?
I would also like to thank my colleague for asking that question, the member from Sanikiluaq.
To date, it’s true that the classroom in Nuiyak School is being utilized. In addition, the local DEA has agreed to a five-year use of the classroom.
During the renovation process in July 2014, they opened the tender and closed the tender on August 13, 2014.
The lowest bid was around $321,550.
The company that put in a bid was from Quebec.
We’re working with the company and we’re in the process of signing the contract at this time.
We expect that in October, they will start the renovation.
We expect that the renovations will be completed by November 30, 2014 in Sanikiluaq.
As I stated earlier, Nunavut Arctic College works closely with the DEA in Sanikiluaq and the DEAs are working closely with the NTEP program. The NTEP program will start at that time and that’s what we expect.
I thank the minister for the information. At the end of his comments, he said that NTEP would be starting in the classroom, but it’s my understanding that NTEP was already started in my community and they are using a classroom from Nuiyak School.
I wonder if the minister can give me a little bit more information at what time this classroom will be ready for use as a community learning centre.
How is the department going to handle the equipment required at Arctic College for their communications that are presently in the old building?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the member for that question.
As per my earlier response, our expectation is that it will be completed by November 30, 2014 and it will be available for use after that.
Additionally, with respect to the latter question, maybe the president of Nunavut Arctic College can supplement my response to the member’s question, Mr. Chairman.
I’m not aware of what equipment needs to be relocated and moved.
However, what I will do is, once we’re done committee today, I will follow up on that and then, through you, we will get a response back to the member.
We’re dealing with the capital estimates for Nunavut Arctic College.
In the minister’s opening comments, he talks about the plan to develop the CLC in Iqaluit and how it’s progressing, that the site selection was completed last year, and that the design phase is scheduled to be complete in the 2015-16 year.
If my memory serves me correct, the construction was supposed to have been started this year.
Could the minister explain what has caused the delay of one fiscal year?
This issue has been raised by many residents of Iqaluit.
To date, we are continuing our discussion with the Department of Community and Government Services to see how we can revisit with the reasoning that the planned project for the community learning centre here in Iqaluit may require a larger facility. This is being reviewed now with that purpose in mind. We are collaborating with the CGS department.
Additionally, if this revamping will require further approval with this increase in size, primarily due to the reason that we are looking at that facility called the Ukiivik residence, we are revisiting this to see if we need to look at a larger facility.
We are currently reviewing it, thus the reason for the delay to the next fiscal year.
Mr. Rumbolt. Mr. Hickes, my apologies. Mr. Hickes.
I thought maybe Mr. Rumbolt had thought of another question in the meantime.
This is probably my last question, Mr. Chairman. In the draft capital estimates, it talks about a $1 million budget for ongoing lifecycle repairs and maintenance, yet the supporting documentation doesn’t list any projects, period, and none as a priority.
Are specific projects in mind for this budget allocation?
Yes, for this allocation, Nunavut Arctic College has requested $1 million for fiscal year 2014-15 for different projects or maintenance issues, such as the (interpretation ends) re-levelling of Iqaluit Q units, (interpretation) and you may know where the Q units are located, (interpretation ends) repair of the jewellery building floor (interpretation) in Iqaluit, (interpretation ends) renovate the computer lab, Nunatta Campus, Sanikiluaq, a relocation into a school and making necessary changes in the school to meet DEA and Department of Education requirements. (interpretation) These are some of the projects I spoke to that would be specifically funded from this allocation.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) We are on Nunavut Arctic College. Branch Summary.
Headquarters. Page M-3.
Last spring, there was an announcement at the mining symposium and I think it was one of the mining company spokesmen that came forward and they talked about presenting $5 million, I think it was, towards the government for an arctic university.
Can you tell us today if any further discussions have taken place and whether or not the idea of having an arctic university is going to be a reality?
This is part of the ongoing discussion being debated worldwide.
Now, Nunavut Arctic College has continually kept a close eye on this discussion and we are now reviewing how a university could be set up in our future.
It is obviously an idea that our sister territories are debating, as our three territories have discussed this idea, and to hold further talks on it down the road so that an arctic university is created.
To date, this discussion is growing, but unfortunately, there are no tangible plans for this initiative.
Nonetheless, this is a future long-term goal, but we are starting to expect that it will eventually become more than just an idea.
However, I just can’t provide an actual date on it.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Ms. Angnakak, you’re done.
Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College. Branch Summary.
Headquarters. Total Capital Expenditures. $4,802,000.
Chairman: Thank you. Back to page M-2.
Detail of Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $4,802,000. Agreed?
Do members agree that we have concluded Nunavut Arctic College?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. Minister Quassa, Nunavut Arctic College minister, if you have any closing remarks.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank my colleagues for their questions on our operations, and it is obvious that the questions raised are held by many Nunavummiut residents.
I certainly hope I provided adequate responses and I hope that was the case.
Also, I thank the individual sitting to my right, who is the current president of Nunavut Arctic College.
Furthermore, it is obvious that the projects we want to complete enjoy the support of the members and I am extremely grateful for that.
We will take a short five-minute break.
After the break, we will start the review on the Department of Justice.
>>Committee recessed at 16:00 and resumed at 16:14
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2015-2016 – Justice – Consideration in Committee
We will now resume our meeting.
I would like to welcome all the visitors in the Gallery who are watching the committee meeting.
I would now like to ask Minister Okalik: (interpretation ends) would you like to appear before the committee? Oh.
…officials?
I would now like to ask Minister Okalik: do you have officials that you would like to appear before the committee?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Does the committee agree to let the minister’s officials go to the witness table?
For the record, Minister Okalik, please introduce your officials.
With me this afternoon to my left is my Deputy Minister, Elizabeth Sanderson, and to my right is Chris Stewart, Manager of Capital Projects at our department.
Welcome. (interpretation ends) Please proceed with your opening comments, Minister Okalik.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to appear before the committee for the review of the Department of Justice’s draft 2015-16 capital estimates.
A total amount of $2,265,000 is being requested for the Department of Justice’s capital expenditures for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
With the opening of the overcrowding relief structure, or Makigiarvik, the department is preparing for renovations to the Baffin Correctional Centre.
This year, preplanning assessments are being completed to understand the scope of work that will be required in future years.
Next fiscal year, the department will develop designs to upgrade the facility to current building codes and to better reflect the needs of the facility.
The department requests $850,000 for this planning phase.
At the Nunavut Court of Justice, the department is seeking to use $655,000 to complete renovations and design. Renovations will provide office space for the sheriffs.
Design work for the addition of a wellness court for those who suffer from addictions and mental health issues will also occur at the same time.
To address any deficiencies in the overcrowding relief structure, which will be completed this fall, the department requests $50,000.
Lastly, $700,000 is being requested for minor capital expenditures, including renovations at the Sivummut building to accommodate new staff, building assessment and repairs to Illavut Centre, upgrades to the security cameras and duct cleaning at the Baffin Correctional Centre, three replacement vehicles and two additional vehicles to safely transport inmates and allow programming, replacement of beds with bunk beds to accommodate additional inmates at the Nunavut Women’s Correctional Centre, and various equipment for inmate programs.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much, Minister Okalik.
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness concerning its review of the proposed 2015-16 Capital Estimates of the Department of Justice.
Members note that the department’s proposed capital budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year is $2,265,000. The department’s capital budget was $900,000 for the 2014-15 fiscal year.
Members note that the increase in the department’s budget is a result of the renovation projects to be undertaken at the Baffin Correctional Centre and the Nunavut Justice Centre.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s proposed 2015-16 capital estimates include $700,000 for a variety of small capital projects.
These projects will include upgrades and repairs to existing correctional facilities and the replacement of mobile equipment.
Members continue to encourage the department to explore ways in which minor repair projects in correctional facilities could be used as vocational training opportunities for offenders as part of the department’s rehabilitation and skills training programs.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s proposed 2015-16 capital estimates include $665,000 in funding for renovations to the Nunavut Justice Centre.
Members recognize that amendments to the Judicature Act have resulted in an increased need for security personnel and infrastructure at the Nunavut Justice Centre.
Members note that the department intends to undertake renovations at the Nunavut Justice Centre in two phases.
The first phase will focus on renovating office space and the second phase will involve adding higher security measures to the existing facility.
Mr. Chairman, during the minister’s recent appearance, he indicated that his department is interested in implementing a “Wellness Court” within Nunavut’s current justice system.
Similar services in Yukon and the Northwest Territories have recently been established to divert offenders with mental illnesses, addictions, and cognitive impairments from standard correctional sentencing.
The minister also indicated that in the event of its establishment, this “Wellness Court” may be located within the Nunavut Justice Centre.
Members look forward to receiving ongoing updates on this initiative.
Mr. Chairman, in June of 2014, the Legislative Assembly approved $6,938,000 in capital carryover funding for the overcrowding relief structure project at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
Members note that the new relief facility is designed to accommodate approximately 48 low-security offenders.
During the minister’s recent appearance, he indicated that the new relief facility is scheduled to be completed in November of this year.
The minister also indicated that the facility may receive inmates as early as January of 2015.
Members are aware that the opening of this facility will help to address overcrowding at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
However, members also note that a number of inmates will be transferred to the new facility as renovations take place at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
Mr. Chairman, the department has included $850,000 in its 2015-16 capital estimates to begin work on renovations at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
Members are aware that these renovations are needed to bring the facility up to code and to upgrade its security systems.
Members encourage the minister to provide regular updates to the Legislative Assembly on the status of the upcoming renovations at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
Members recognize the importance of effective healing and rehabilitation programs in correctional facilities to help enable offenders to successfully reintegrate into their communities. Members also recognize the importance of incorporating cultural components in rehabilitation. Outpost camps can play an important role in achieving these goals.
During the minister’s recent appearance, members noted that the department is interested in establishing additional outpost camps in the territory. Members look forward to ongoing updates on this important issue.
Members continue to encourage the Minister of Justice to begin the practice of tabling an annual report in the Legislative Assembly on the state of the territory’s correctional system, including current and comprehensive information concerning the number of offenders in territorial correctional facilities, outpost camps, and out-of-territory facilities, as well as an accounting of departmental expenditures incurred under agreements with other jurisdictions for the placement of offenders.
This annual report may also benefit from including detailed information on the effectiveness of the department’s rehabilitation and treatment programs in reducing the rate at which individuals in territorial custody reoffend.  Members also look forward to next year’s report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly on correctional services in Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2015-16 Capital Estimates of the Department of Justice.
Colleagues, I would like to remind you that if you have any questions, please raise your hand.
We’re reviewing Justice.
Page E-3.
In your opening statements, you talk about a wellness court.
Can the minister tell us if the wellness court… ?
Before I ask my first question, maybe what I would like you to do is just elaborate a little bit further so that everybody knows what a wellness court is.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. Minister Okalik.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
That is on page E-5 and we’re not at that page yet.
If the Chair will permit me to go directly to that page, I can.
Ms. Angnakak: I was trying to ask questions about this because it’s right in his opening comments.
If he wouldn’t mind, I would prefer it now.
Chairman (interpretation): We haven’t gotten to the subject yet, but Minister Okalik, if you can answer this earlier rather than later.
We are reviewing this as it relates to people who use this service by other northerners, particularly those with drug and alcohol addictions and end up in the court system, which has set up programs specifically for them.
These treatment programs are tailored to each individual’s needs as deemed appropriate by judges.
Can you tell us, minister, if the wellness court will require its own chambers?
That is still uncertain.
The courthouse was built through the docket being dealt with through regular courts.
We will have to review that again if we are going to establish wellness courts and that is what we are trying to prepare for.
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the minister. I appreciate him answering these questions about the wellness court.
Can you also tell us how it will be decided when one must go through the wellness court versus the regular court?
Looking at its structure, the courts usually determine whether they need to go through the wellness court.
For the remainder, I’ll wait until we get to the page.
We will go back to the page now. Justice. Branch Summary.
Directorate. E-3. Mr. Hickes.
I just have a quick question. One of the projects under this budget line is correctional centre furniture for the women’s centre and it’s talking about adding bunk beds to increase the facility’s capacity.
As most people are aware and as we have been going through with the BCC issue of overcapacity all the time, there are sometimes security issues from inmates that are intended to be in individual accommodations. When they’re forced to bunk together, it can create some personality conflicts. Are there going to be additional security methods taken to alleviate any potential security issues?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The official to my right, Mr. Stewart, will answer this one.
To briefly answer that, the Nunavut Women’s Correctional Centre is looking to purchase some bunk beds to replace the single beds currently installed.
This does increase our capacity slightly.
Unfortunately, the building is quite small, so this will help us handle capacity issues in the short term and will not have acquired any additional security measures at this time.
Chairman: Thank you. Before we proceed, I would like to remind all members that if you are going to be asking questions, raise your hands so that I can see them clearly.
Mr. Hickes, please continue.
Also in that same line, it talks about a long-term solution (renovation/addition is currently being reviewed). I don’t see any monies for an assessment of that project. Is that going to be done out of the $700,000 that is being allocated under this budget?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Justice, Minister Okalik.
This relates more to the renovations needed at the Illavut Centre to be brought up to standards.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Like my colleague, Mr. Savikataaq, mentioned in the last department that was in front of us, a lot of the information we have to go by is the information that is provided to us.
It does state in there that an addition is currently being reviewed.
The minister just mentioned that it’s just renovations that they’re looking at.
My question there is: so there will definitely not be an addition in the review of this facility?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) We are on Justice. Branch Summary.
Directorate. Total Capital Expenditures. $700,000.
Welcome, hon. minister and your officials.
My question relates to your opening statement.
I want clarification on page 2 in English where it states that the office that is being worked on will be completed in the fall. Due to that, you are requesting $50,000.
Are you expecting that there will be deficiencies or that there might be deficiencies? This is the only question that I have.
That is on page E-7, but I’ll leave it to the minister to respond. Minister Okalik.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is being completed.
They always need to be inspected to ensure that they have been completed properly. If there are any deficiencies, they can be found through this process and then rectified.
I just have another question just following up on what my colleague, Mr. Hickes, was saying in regard to the Nunavut Women’s Correctional Centre needing to have additional beds.
Are you having an overcrowding issue at the Nunavut Women’s Correctional Centre now?
What’s going on there that you’re needing additional beds, yet the size of the building hasn’t expanded or made bigger or anything?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are happy that we don’t have an overcrowded women’s correctional centre.
However, we are just being proactive in looking toward the future in the event that more women get incarcerated.
Can the minister tell us how many women are currently incarcerated in that facility?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): I am sorry, Mr. Chairman, I don’t have the detailed information in front me, but we do know that the facility is not filled to capacity.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Justice.
Branch Summary. Directorate. Total Capital Expenditures. $700,000.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) We are on page E-5. (interpretation ends) Justice. Branch Summary. Registries and Court Services.
Total Capital Expenditures. $665,000.
With regard to the wellness court and the creation of space to allow it, has it been considered by the department to actually locate the wellness court in a different facility?
As I stated earlier, the facility has space available. Once we find out more about whether we need to expand the Nunavut Court of Justice, we want to be open to that idea, so it’s either way.
If we need to expand it, we will have to expand it.
We’re planning for either way.
The minister will have to forgive me. I don’t know this Act inside and out. Will new legislation need to be passed in order for the government to establish a wellness court in Nunavut?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes, we might have to. Looking at the process in the north, I believe that this can go forward.
We’re open to all aspects.
At such time that that legislation is being reviewed, will there be an impact on the federal government’s Bill C-10, with minimum sentencing requirements for specific crimes and sentencing?
We have no control over federal legislation. The people who are taken to the courts, it’s usually at the discretion of the presiding judges.
Therefore, it’s possible in the north.
We can learn from the other jurisdictions, especially the Northwest Territories, who have just established a new program along those lines.