EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Return to WQ 008 – 2(2) Dropouts and Truancy Rates in Nunavut Schools
Return to WQ 010 – 2(2) Staff Housing
Return to WQ 012 – 2(2) Rental Arrears and Tenant Damages
Return to WQ 013 – 2(2) Status of Nanisivik File
Return to WQ 014 – 2(2) Human Resources Statistics
Return to WQ 016 – 2(2) Salary Ranges for Senior Executives of Government of Nunavut Crown Corporations
Return to WQ 017 – 2(2) Water Sewer Services Subsidy Policy
Return to WQ 018 – 2(2) Social Assistance Payments
Return to WQ 019 – 2(2) Eyewear and Related Services
Return to WQ 020 – 2(2) Trades Training
Return to WQ 021 – 2(2) Medical Travel Costs
Return to WQ 022 – 2(2) Fuel Delivery
Return to WQ 023 – 2(2) Activities Conducted under the Fire Prevention Act
Return to WQ 024 – 2(2) 2004 Fuel Resupply
I am tabling the following 20 replies to written questions that were filed with the Clerk’s Office.
Replies to Written Questions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
Further, Mr. Speaker, the rules of the House require that such responses be written in the Hansard and this will accordingly be done so by means of a special appendix Hansard publication.
Tabled Document 058 – 2(2): Report to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut by the Chief Electoral Officer
Tabled Document 059 – 2(2): Statutory Requirements for Tabling of Reports and Other Documents in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Speaker (interpretation): I will be Tabling 2 Documents.
I am pleased to table the Chief Electoral Officer report.
And the second one today I wish to table, the Statutory Tabling requirements.
The list is updated regularly by the Legislative Assembly and tracks the status of legally tabling of required documents for government annual reports, financial statements and documents.
The current version of this document indicates what documents have to be tabled as of February 22, 2005.
I trust that all Members will find it useful in monitoring of timely production of Tabling of Legally required documents in this house.
Tabled Document 060 – 2(2): 2004 Annual Report of the RCMP “V” Division
I would like to Table 2004 annual report RCMP “V” Division and I urge all Members to review it carefully.
Tabled Document 061 – 2(2): Tabled Document 012 – 2(2) A Need for a Senior Citizens’ Home
I am once again tabling a letter from the Elders’ Committee of Kugluktuk which outlines for the elders’ facility to be established in our community.
I am also enclosing original signatures to the resolutions.
The resolution was made by Sam Kikkak and also seconded by Becky Hayokuk.
Sam Kikkak was one of the movers at that time and he also said the opening prayer at our opening ceremony here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, I hope the needs expressed in this document will be addressed by the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Tabled Document 062 – 2(2): Response to Petition 003 – 2(2) Demand for More Public Housing
Tabled Document 063 – 2(2): Returns to OQ 018, 067, 0105 and 111 –2(2)
I wish to table the following response to Petition 003 - 2(2), filed with the clerk’s office.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Returns to Oral Questions 018, 067, 105 and 111, which were also filed with the clerk’s office.
Tabled Document 064 – 2(2): Package of Materials on Ilisaqsivik Society
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a document that is in regards to Ilisaqsivik Society and the work well done by that society.
Speaker (interpretation): All tabled documents will have to be handed over to the clerk’s table.
Going back to orders of the day, Item 14, Notices of Motions.
Motion 007 – 2(2): Referral of Tabled Document 053 – 2(2) to COW – Notice (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 24, 2005, I will move the following motion;
I move, seconded by the honourable member for Cambridge Bay that Tabled Document 053 - 2 (2) be referred to Committee of the Whole for discussion and Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking to deal with my motion today.
Bill 8 – Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2005-2006 – Notice
I give notice that on Thursday, February 24, 2005, that Bill 8, Appropriations, Operations and Maintenance Act 2005/06 be read for the first time.
I’ll start off with the notice of motion that I seek consent of this assembly to deal with that motion today.
There was a nay.
We can’t proceed with it at this time.
We might find out that we have two other motions to do anyways, it just makes it more fun when that does get through to the Committee of the Whole despite the strong tactics displayed by some Members of this House.
Motion 005 – 2(2): Referral of Tabled Document 052 – 2(2) to COW
My next motion, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay, that Tabled Document 52-2(2) be referred to the Committee of the Whole.
A question being called.
Motion 006 – 2(2): Request for Comprehensive Audit of QEC and its Subsidiaries
Whereas the Auditor General of Canada has reported findings that significant concern to the Legislative Assembly with respect to the Nunavut Power Corporation, a subsidiary of Qulliq Energy Corporation;
And whereas the Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability has reported its findings to the House;
And whereas concern has been expressed by individual Nunavummiut, community leaders, the business sector and Members of this Assembly, with respect to the performance and accountability of Qulliq Energy Corporation;
And whereas the Qulliq Energy Corporation Act provides that one of the Corporation’s objects is to plan and provide for Nunavut’s long-term needs for affordable energy, taking into consideration Nunavut’s desire to enhance energy self-reliance and to conserve energy and energy resources;
And whereas the Qulliq Energy Corporation Act provides for the establishment in the accounts of Nunavut and accounts to be known as the “Affordable Energy Fund”;
And whereas the Government has previously stated its intention to transfer the functions of Petroleum Products Division of the Department of Community and Government Services to the Qulliq Fuel Corporation, a subsidiary of Qulliq Energy Corporation;
And whereas the authorized limit of Petroleum Products Revolving Fund was increased to $110 million in 2004;
And whereas the Legislative Assembly has approved $10 million in funding in 2004 to be provided by the Government of Nunavut to Qulliq Energy Corporation in the form of Conditional Contribution Agreement;
And whereas an independent and comprehensive audit of Qulliq Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries can reasonably be expected to provide information vitally necessary for sound decision-making in the area of energy policy;  Now therefore I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Quttiktuq, that the Executive Council of Nunavut, pursuant to Section 47 of the Nunavut Act, advise the Commissioner of Nunavut to request that the Auditor General of Canada conduct a comprehensive audit of Qulliq Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries and to report the findings to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut;
And further that the audit include an examination of the Government of Nunavut’s Petroleum Products Revolving Fund, the Petroleum Products Stabilization Fund, and the Affordable Energy Fund.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to my motion today, and I would like to state my appreciation for those members who have expressed support for it.
All members of the house are well aware of the degree to which the QEC’s financial situation and management problems have put severe pressure on our government’s overall fiscal health.
As we all know, a significant proportion of the GN’s available borrowing capacity has been eaten up by loan guarantees for the power corporation.
We are all well aware of the serious issues that were revealed in the Auditor General’s 2004 Report to this house.
We are all aware of the strong stance that this assembly’s standing committee took in its report of last November, the Government response to which is due very shortly, I would note.
I am certain that nobody would bet against me if I were to predict that we will be asked as a legislative assembly to provide yet more bail-out funding for the QEC in the coming months through another supplementary appropriation.
During the First Assembly, the government sought and received approval for major legislation to create the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
On March 28, 2003, the Minister of Energy told this House, and I quote, “Bill 29 is a beacon, it is a light to the people of Nunavut.”
Mr. Speaker, despite what the government told us at that time, the fact of the matter is that the power corporation has come to symbolize to the public at large a black, bottomless pit into which their tax dollars are being sunk.
The minister’s press release of January 27 of this year would appear to suggest that there might be a light at the end of tunnel.
Even though the announcement admits that the corporation is still in violation of its own laws with respect to its debt limit, and even though the announcement concedes that the corporation still faces significant financial challenges, the announcement does constitute some progress.
I think that this announcement might just be the first time ever that the government has ever stated honestly that things were less than perfect.
The minister deserves to be acknowledged for this deathbed conversion to transparency.
He also deserves to be acknowledged for his announcement of yesterday, in which he responded positively to the recommendation made by the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability with respect to the need to hold off on the PPD transfer at least until such time as the QEC gets a clean audit.
Mr. Speaker, the motion before us today provides us with a unique opportunity to demonstrate that we as Members of the Legislative Assembly will not stand by while one infected organ of government threatens the overall health of the rest of the body.
We have an opportunity to act responsibly.
Until this point, we have never exercised our ability to request Nunavut’s auditor to undertake a rigorous, comprehensive audit of a single body.
When we look at the tens of millions of dollars involved in the GN’s energy-related expenditures, it is clear that we need an independent, objective examination of what is going on.
Mr. Speaker, despite the major problems facing the corporation, the government is racing to move the multi-million dollar PPD function to a new subsidiary of the corporation.
The legislation establishing the QEC specifically provided for the establishment of an “Affordable Energy Fund” and we need to think carefully about this.
I believe that a comprehensive, top to bottom audit of the QEC will enable us as a legislative assembly to make sound decisions and choices.
It will reveal where action needs to be focused, expose what needs to be cut in the corporation’s administrative operations and help to identify and clarify what our best long-term energy policy options are.
It will also give us accurate information that we call all count on in making those decisions.
Mr. Speaker, I would urge all members to support this motion.
Speaker (interpretation): You can talk for 20 minutes to the motion.
The mover can go first and the seconder.
You have 20 minutes.
As a seconder of this motion, I am pleased to have the chance to speak to it today.
I was one of the members of the legislative assembly who reviewed the Auditor General’s report last year.
At that time, we raised a number of concerns and many of these are before us today.
(interpretation ends) This legislative assembly has been asked to in the past by the government to approve millions of dollars for direct funding for QEC.
Our constituents want to know and to be assured that this is being used wisely and in an accountable manner.
I believe that this motion is a positive step forward and I am pleased to have this opportunity to urge all members to support it.
Speaker (interpretation): Any more comments to the motion.
I would like to speak to the motion and I don’t have to read off notes and stuff because I wasn’t prepared to do that.
I am going to speak basically on what has been said.
I know we have 20 minutes to speak to the motion.
I will begin with the opening comments by the member to introduce the motion.
He talked about the death bed transparency and the awakening of the minister.
And this has history and I take offences by those comments.
First of all, for every member of the legislative assembly and if I am wrong, you can correct me, the Minister of Finance can correct me or the member can correct me.
If I am wrong, Mr. Speaker, as my understanding and I can point this out.
There have been several things that have been accomplished and done by the Power Corporation over the last several months since the audit of the Auditor General.
Mr. Speaker, last week the Auditor General of Canada met with the board of directors of the Power Corporation.
The board of directors consist of Mr. Simon Merkosak, the chair, and many other people well known in Nunavut, and now have been joined by Mr. Phillip Clark, who will head up the audit committee, as well as Cecilia White, a former banker now who is doing an internal audit of the power corporation, all recommendations of the Auditor General for Canada.
When the Auditor General of Canada met through teleconference with the board of directors last week, they went through what is called a management letter.
Many of the members here are in business; all the Co-ops, they understand the process for the management letter..
The member’s motion makes a couple of points.
First of all, it talks about transfer of PPD to the Qulliq Fuel Corporation.
As I said earlier, we reviewed recommendation number eight in the Standing Committee and we have been listening to what the members have said.
Mr. Speaker, I did announce in a press release, and I’ll do a statement on it tomorrow, about the decision not to move forward with the amalgamation of integration of PPD to the Qulliq Fuel Corporation because we have heard what the members have said in the recommendations.
So that has been delayed and postponed put on hold until the power corporation is on firm financial footing.
Everything what we said we would do; we have done.
So at that point the motion is moot because it is not occurring.
Mr. Speaker, the second part is an independent audit of the energy corporation and its subsidiaries.
The Auditor General of Canada does that right now.
That is what the Auditor General of Canada does, a comprehensive audits on the financial payable, accounts receivable and PPD revolving fund.
Now if I am wrong, the Minister of Finance can correct me.
If I am wrong, you can correct me.
That comprehensive audit is done right now.
So what the member is asking for has already been done.
We have put in the motion and we have put the PPD transfer on hold.
It’s not happening and we’ve filed the recommendations of the committee, Mr. Speaker.
Recommendation number eight, that is not occurring.
The motion asks for a comprehensive of the Petroleum Products revolving fund and as well, the motion asks for a comprehensive audit of the power corporation.
Mr. Speaker, am I asleep or something?
What happened last year when the members sat in this house and then in the meeting room upstairs, and had the Auditor General for Canada in the meeting room.
A lot of the members were here and went through the report of the Auditor General for Canada because it was a comprehensive audit.
Now, if you want to go and ask the Auditor General at some point, if I can ask the Minister of Finance, if you will write a letter to the Auditor General, tabled in this house and say are you performing a comprehensive audit?
That’s what’s occurring.
What the motion is doing in my opinion is that it is window dressing.
You’ve caused a motion to do something that we’re already doing.
It’s on hold, it’s not going forward, and we’ve followed the recommendations.
A comprehensive audit of the power corporation has just occurred and that’s why all this information that has come out publicly and transparently, we’re not trying to hide anything.
The member is rambling that this is a secretive world or something.
As soon as we were made aware of some of these issues, we brought them forward.
The only thing we haven’t done is probably react a bit faster on the GRA process, but we’ve gone through that.
Next week, I will announce the rate increases and then that will deal with the fiscal problem from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 and the Utility Rates Review Council report and the members will have an opportunity to look at it and debate it over the next six weeks in the House, it will point out some more observations and we will follow those up.
Mr. Speaker, I take offence to think that the member representing constituents and elected by the people and elected by the members in the House, that somehow there is something is going on that is misleading.
Every one of the cabinet ministers has had an opportunity to see this and on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday of this week, I will brief all the members on the Utility Rates Review Council report and go through the whole process.
So, in my mind, the motion is redundant because the comprehensive audit of the PPD, the comprehensive audit of the Qulliq Energy Corporation and the issues around moving the PPD into the Qulliq Fuel Corporation are moot because either they have occurred, they are occurring or they’ve been put on hold, they’ve been postponed for a year.
I did that announcement.
So my point, in conclusion on the motion, I appreciate the member bringing forward the motion and the seconder, but most of the issues are already being covered so why would you stand up and try move a motion if that’s already occurring.
It seems to me to be a little more than window dressing.
But if after the Utility Rates Review Council report comes forward and if there’s other documentation, then the House could have a motion like that.
The Auditor General is doing the job of the Auditor General, Ms. Sheila Fraser, I believe will be here again, in a couple of months and you will have the opportunity to question to her.
The Auditor General for Canada is above repute.
They are performing a comprehensive audit on the Power Corporation’s financial audit.
And indeed, one of the complaints of the Auditor General is that they are actually putting the books together for the power corporation.
You can’t ask for any better for that.
The Petroleum Products revolving fund is part of the framework of government that gets audited when the Auditor General does its complete work on the books of the Government of Nunavut.
So, that’s my point. I appreciate what the members bring forward, but why are we debating something that’s already occurring.
If I’m wrong, the Finance Minister can correct me.
I will table the Qulliq Energy Corporation annual report on Friday.
I made it public several weeks ago.
Any person in the public can get a copy of it and I will table it in the House.
So, with that, Mr. Speaker, I understand the principle behind the motion, but all the things that are being asked for are already being done.
I can only go by what I have.
So I don’t know why we would be doing it.
I don’t think there are any more comments to the motion.
The mover to the motion, Mr. Tootoo.
I just want to make it very, very clear for the Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation that the audit that the Auditor General has done was on Nunavut Power Corporation, not Qulliq Energy Corporation, and that’s what the motion is asking for.
The Minister has also said; I can only go by what I have and what they have given me.
He has said that in the past and used that in the past with the information provided to him by members of the corporation that after a while it is found out that it isn’t as accurate as it could have been.
That is the reason why I feel, and other members here feel, that it’s important on an energy function that’s something that is eating up a huge, substantial portion of our dollars that we need to ensure, we owe it to our constituents to ensure that we have accurate information as the Minister himself said: beyond repute.
The information and the audit done by the Auditor General of Canada will be above repute, not like what the Minister says: well, I can only go by with what I have with this information.
That’s what we have gotten from them in the past.
We need to know that we are looking at the right numbers and the right information so that we can make the best decision about our energy policy for Nunavummiut in the future.
We can only do that if we know that we have accurate information.
I think the example that I used earlier that wrong information was provided, again, that was not intentional, I am not saying that it’s intentional, but the fact, but it was a separate process, but that does tell you that that does happen.
I am not talking about the audit.
I was just wondering if you could ask the member opposite, let me finish what I am saying?
Speaker (interpretation): Please stay to the motion, the topic for the motion because I think you are going outside of the motion.
I guess what I am saying is we need to feel comfortable that we have accurate information to look at and who better to ask for an accurate picture of what’s going on than the Auditor General because if past predicts future, there have been mistakes made in the past and we can’t afford to make another one.
Again, I urge all Members to support this motion.
We will take a vote to the motion.
We will vote on this for favour, opposed, or abstentions.
First of all, all those in favour of the motion, please raise your hands.
All those opposed, please raise your hands.
All those abstaining, please raise your hand.
There was a count.
All those in favour and all opposed.
It was a tie.
I might be able to break it tomorrow.
I don’t know, maybe not.
I will be supporting those opposed because we haven’t had time to discuss it.
This motion is defeated.
Mr. Tootoo: Sorry I didn’t hear that.
I was having a meeting with my colleague from Cambridge Bay.
Speaker (interpretation): Item 19.
Motion 008 – 2(2): Adjournment for the Day
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Rule 46 I move, seconded by the Member for Nattilik, that the House adjourn for the day.
Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 23rd.
Tabled Document 52-2(2)
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 16:10  Nunavut Canada
Friday February 25, 2005
Pages 778 – 833
(Tununiq)
Opening Prayer 778
Budget Address 778
Members’ Statements 793
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 800
Oral Questions 800
Petitions 822
Reports of Standing and Special Committees 823
Tabled Documents 824
Notices of Motions 826
Motions 826
First Reading of Bills 829
Point of Order 830
Point of Order 831
Second Reading of Bills 831
Friday February 25, 2005 778
102 – 2(2): Child Protection in Nunavut (Curley) 793
103 – 2(2): No Infrastructure Plans for New Airport in Arctic Bay (Barnabas) 794
104 – 2(2): Lupin Gold Mine Closing (Peterson) 795
105 – 2(2): Election Results in Pannirtuuq (Kilabuk) 796
106 – 2(2): Congratulate the Music Society (Tootoo) 7976
107 – 2(2): Training Programs Needed in the Mining Sector (Alagalak) 797
108 – 2(2): Water Supply in Kugluktuk (Evyagotailak) 799
109 – 2(2): Thank Individuals (Aglukkaq) 799
142 – 2(2): Status of Pimmarsarvik Service Contract (Netser) 8010
143 – 2(2): Plans for Training in the Mining Sector (Alagalak) 801
144 – 2(2): Funding for Arctic Bay Airport (Barnabas) 803
145 – 2(2): Investigation on Water Quality and Treatment in Kugluktuk (Evyagotailak) 804
146 – 2(2): Organizational Charts Increase in PYs (Tootoo) 805
147 – 2(2): Consultation of Elders for Child Protection (Curley) 809
148 – 2(2): Status of West Kitikmeot Land Use Plan (Peterson) 811
149 – 2(2): Language of Instruction in the Schools (Netser) 813
150 – 2(2): Planning Stages for Multi-use Facility (Barnabas) 815
151 – 2(2): How Funds from the Federal Government will be Incorporated (Tootoo) 816
152 – 2(2): Liquor Warehouse for the Kitikmeot (Peterson) 819
004 – 2(2): Co-op Refunds and Income Support 822
003 – 2(2): Appointment of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut (Netser) 823