EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So that is where that amount comes from. We need to, with not only Clyde River, but with a number of the communities, look at those type of projects and find a mechanism to have a clear way of dealing with them so that there is some longer term commitment, so that the projects do get finished.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): I will keep these brief Mr. Chairman.
Now in respect to the contract that was planned for five years, which we signed, I will try to find out if that contract was signed for the fifth year and I will do research in our community and I believe that I will have more opportunity to meet with the Minister and his officials.
Because of that reason I will stop here.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Minister. Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, I am sorry but I think we might be mistaken as well, because if there really was a contract in relation to that project we would have to undertake a review.
Perhaps I could commit that we will look into the matter and discuss the matter with the member from Clyde River.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are still in the detail of capital for the Baffin region.
Mr. Chairman, I don’t know if the Minister is aware, if I could ask him, two years ago there was a harbour study done here in Iqaluit.
I would like to ask for a commitment from the Minister if he would review that study and take a look at some of the things that were identified in there for future possible capital projects within this department.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, we know that the tidal flats are very large and I am aware of that study.
We will do a thorough review.
Chairperson (interpretation): I no longer have anybody on my list.
In respect to the detailed capital, the Baffin total is 5 million 91 thousand, are you agreed?
The Keewatin region, the Keewatin total is 475 thousand.
Mr. Chairman, being that we are a new government now and looking at doing things differently, I think in the past, in the old system, there wasn’t a lot of attention paid to the eastern arctic.
There was a lot of time and effort and dollars spent in the western arctic.
Mr. Chairman I wonder if the Minister would be prepared to commit to putting together a committee of this House to review transportation in general.
Also to include, and I have spoken to the Minister of Health and he would be in agreement with this, into looking at transportation in general and also the possibility of this committee looking into a power source out of Manitoba.
We could do that together as one committee.
If the Minister could speak to that briefly I would appreciate it.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Thank you. Yes I will make that commitment because I have already mentioned a number of times that we want to take a look at the whole issue of transportation in the north and more general transportation issues, whether it is the possibility of an all weather road in the Keewatin, another look at an all weather road in the Kitikmeot region, the airlines, sealift.
I am pretty sure that there are some areas where we can really improve the transportation industry by using the expertise of the people up here who know the north.
So, yes I will make that commitment to look at some form of a committee or a task force utilizing the members from the House.
Chairperson (interpretation): I no longer have anybody on the list.
The detail of capital, the Keewatin total is 475 thousand.
The Kitikmeot total is 304 thousand, are you agreed?
The transportation total capital is 5 million 870 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Turn the page to 7 – 12.
Am I correct or am I wrong.
I think I am mistaken here the total capital is 5 million 871 thousand, are you agreed?
The total expenditure is 21 million 731 thousand, are you agreed?
Chairperson (interpretation): Minister Anawak.
Just a small comment.
I think you may notice that we had already agreed to the regional breakdowns, but there is a 1 dollar discrepancy, I just wanted you to notice that.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I believe the Finance Minister made that mistake; we are not to blame.
Chairperson (interpretation): Maybe he took off, yes there is a slight discrepancy here and it is 1 thousand dollars, it is 5 million 870 thousand dollars and the other total is 5 million 871 thousand.
We do not have the Finance Minister present how are we to proceed here.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Yes perhaps one was rounded off to 870 thousand and the other added up to 71, so we will blame the Finance Minister for this.
Chairperson (interpretation): Perhaps the Finance Minister could correct that discrepancy.
The figure in 7 - 12 and the figure in 7 - 14 have a slight 1 thousand dollar discrepancy.
Finance Minister, Mr. Ng.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Chairman I apologize for that error, I don't know quite frankly what it is, but I would just suggest that we approve the summary page 7 - 12 and the 1 thousand dollars can be adjusted one way or another later.
Chairperson (interpretation): The Minister of Finance has stated that this can be corrected.
Chairperson (interpretation): Turn to page 7 - 15.
Details of Grants & Contributions.
This is for informational purposes only.
The figures on 7 - 15 are just for information purposes and the details of work performed on behalf of third parties are just for informational purposes.
The other page, 7 - 18, distribution of budget for the Main Estimates, again these are informational items.
Let us return to 7 - 3, Mr. Tootoo.
Sorry, Mr. Chairman maybe I am getting ahead of myself, is the 7 - 3 the detail for the entire department?
Chairperson (interpretation): I believe he understood that on his own.
The detail of expenditures program summary.
The detail of expenditures for 99/2000 the total operations & maintenance 97 million 287 thousand, agreed?
Some Members: Agreed
Chairperson (interpretation): The total capital is 35 million 764 thousand, are you agreed?
Chairperson (interpretation): The total expenditures are 133 million, 51 thousand dollars, are you agreed.
Chairperson (interpretation): Are you agreed that the Main Estimates are finished?
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Minister Anawak for being so patient over a period of two days…
…and also I would like to take a short break.
We will have to deal with Mr. Havioyak's department and I would like to thank Mike Ferris and the other official, Mr. Rafter.
Thank you, all of you for coming before the Assembly.
Ten minutes, Mr. Nutarak, I believe wants to stop for ten minutes.
I would like to return to our agenda, to Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Chairperson (interpretation): I am sorry that is impossible, we are in Committee.
Only the Speaker can order a return to the agenda.
Ten minute break, thank you.
>>Committee recessed at 4.30 and resumed at 4.47
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you for coming back.
Following through with our agenda, we are going to deal with Culture, Language, Elders & Youth. We have the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
We can begin with this department.
Minister Havioyak.
Hon. Donald Havioyak: Thank you Mr. Chairperson.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth is a new Department within the Nunavut government.
The creation of this Department was recommended by the Nunavut Implementation Commission in its' Footprints II report.
Our mandate and services are unique and found nowhere else in Canada or for that matter in the world.
The Department is responsible for youth, elders and women's issues, providing a vital link between the people and the government.
Language, translation and interpretation services for the Nunavut Government are one of our key central department roles.
Our central department roles include managing the Territorial Archives and ensuring Government is compliant with the Archives Act and the Official Languages Act.
Currently, the Department is staffed by just over 90% Inuit members, which exceeds the Government of Nunavut Inuit Employment Target and we are very proud of this achievement to date.
Our Department has maximized its' decentralized plan with only the Deputy Minister's office and the Policy and Planning Unit located in Iqaluit.
Our Culture, Elders & Youth division is headquartered in Igloolik and our Language Division is headquartered in Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay).
I am sure you will agree that the presence of our Department will have a positive impact on the economic status of these two communities.
It will also be easier for the local people to visit and discuss their concerns with the officials staffed by Senior Personnel.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth budget is 6 million, 200 thousand dollars which includes resources to look after the Status of Women portfolio.
The budget of the Department includes the funding for many Language services that have government wide applications, as well as funding support in the form of grants and contributions to the Nunavut public.
At present the Dept is tasked with distributing just over 2 million 400 thousand dollars in grants and contributions to individuals, organizations and local governments.
The Deputy Ministers' Office, Policy/Finance Unit, Women's Issues, Language Bureau and the Culture, Elders and Youth Division.
The Deputy Minister's Office is responsible for the overall management of the Department and has a recommended budget of 285 thousand, 600 dollars.
The Policy/Finance Unit is responsible for the analysis of all departmental policies and provides policy, planning and financial advice and services to the Departments' senior managers.
This unit has a budget of 357 thousand, 400 dollars.
The Status of Women's portfolio provides senior management with advice and guidance regarding women's issues in Nunavut.
The budget of this unit is 637 thousand 200 dollars.
The Language Bureau is tasked to provide all Government Departments with translation and interpretative services as requested.
We are also developing the Nunavut Government's Language Policy.
They are also responsible for the administration of the Official Languages Act and make recommendations on the telecommunications and Radio/TV activities within smaller communities.
The budget of this Bureau is 2 million 88 thousand 600 dollars.
The Culture, Elders & Youth Division is responsible for managing the cultural, heritage and artistic health of the Territory.
The Division is the key link between Government and Nunavut's youth, elders and artists.
The Division is also responsible for providing direction and planning on issues facing the conservation and protection of Nunavut's heritage and culture.
We are working to incorporate Inuit Qaujimajituqangit (Inuit Traditional Knowledge) into the Government of Nunavut.
The implementation of IQ is being done with our Nunavut Partners, mainly the Nunavut Social Development Council.
Soon, we will be meeting with all the Cabinet Members to promote IQ in the Government Civil Service.
The Division co-ordinates the Territory's archaeology activities, archaeology-permitting process, historical records and grants authority of official place names and/or titles.
The Division is home for the Nunavut Archives and it administers the Archives Act.
The budget for this division is 2 million 892 thousand 900 dollars.
The formation of the Nunavut Arts Council is continued from the former NWT Arts Council.
Its role will be to recommend to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth on issues relating to cultural activities and artistic needs of Nunavut.
It's major responsibility will be to make sure that the arts community has a voice in promoting Nunavut's talented population in cultural issues, such as singing, story-telling, theatrical groups and others.
The role, mandate and tasks given to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth is vast and diverse.
It is a new mandate that is maturing and developing daily and which deals with complex issues and matters of Culture, Heritage and Language.
Each day our Department faces new challenges and hurdles in developing, staffing and leading this new Government department.
We have been tasked to ensure that the government complies with its legal obligations under the Archives Act, yet we have no facility to accomplish this.
Nor do we have the Capital dollars to build or plan this required facility.
We are tasked to ensure our heritage art, artifacts and significant pieces of the past are well documented and stored in Nunavut for the use and pleasure of all people.
However, we have no facility or capital dollars to build a Heritage Centre to store the people of Nunavut's art and artifacts.
Our past is kindly stored, Mr. Chairperson, by the Government of the NWT in Yellowknife.
Not available for our people to see, not available for our youth to learn from, not available for our elders to teach with.
I am sure all members here today would agree that we gain nothing as a Government by keeping the precious work of our ancestors and elders out of reach of our people.
I would also like to inform all of you that our Department has been working closely with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., and the Inuit Heritage Trust to explore ideas dealing with a Nunavut Heritage Centre.
Our goals are clear, Mr. Chairperson, however, so are our limitations.
I would like to conclude my comments by echoing the findings issued this week by the Standing Committee that recently reviewed our mandate, business plan and budget.
We clearly do not have the financial resources to adequately address or accomplish the tasks that have been given to us.
We look for the support of our members and their advice in helping us to map out new ways to do our business and complete our goals.
Chairperson (interpretation): Minister Havioyak would you like to ask your staff to come to the witness table?
Hon. Donald Havioyak (interpretation): Yes I will be asking my Deputy Minister, Peter Irniq, and also Mark Bain, our Director of Finance, please come to the table.
Chairperson (interpretation): Welcome Mr. Irniq and Mr. Bain.
Right now we will begin.
Mr. Alakannuark do you have any comments, do you want to make any comments?
I will be reading this document on Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
Mr. Donald Havioyak is the Minister for this department.
We met on this department on April 30th, 1999 and he talked about the Business Plan.
There were a number of questions that were asked at that time for this new department.
This is a very important department.
Members do have a concern and they spent a number of days on this department to make sure there is enough funding for this.
The department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth has less than 6 million dollars.
Contributions are 2.9 million …(no interpretation)…our concern is where the funding is coming from….and also…for the capital funding and we did not see any in 99/2000, the department has no funding for capital projects.
This department plays a key role in the preservation and revitalization of Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun language in Nunavut as well as providing translation services for the entire government.
The Minister advised us that French and Inuit Language services agreements are being…
…the Cabinet has publicly stated that it will function in Inuktitut and the Minister has stated to us that he will inform all departments that Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun should be used in all government meetings and written materials.
Members welcome this direction however, it is unclear how much of the departments funding is allocated to these tasks, particularly translation and interpretation services.
It seems to the members that the departments are scrambling for translation services and there is no clear direction as to who is co-ordinating these services and also how they will be used.
Members have no sense as to whether the budget allocated for these services is sufficient, but fear it is not.
The Committee was advised that there are four official languages in Nunavut, Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, English and French.
Members asked if the department is planning to bring forward amendments to the Official Languages Act in this regard.
There are currently eight official languages in the GNWT Act, which Nunavut has inherited and we are advised that the staff is looking at this.
No mention was made of the Official Languages Commissioner in this regard.
Members had a good discussion with the Minister regarding dialects and everyone agrees that we want to preserve the 26 dialects across Nunavut.
Members also asked about language training.
Members are concerned about Inuit who have to learn or regain their Inuktitut, whether they work for government or are in communities as well as non-Inuit members and staff of the government of Nunavut.
It was noted that Human Resources and Culture, Language, Elders & Youth staff would develop a training course in Inuktitut and French.
As a general observation the Standing Committee is concerned that this work seems to be at such an early stage of development.
It seems unclear from our discussions whether Cabinet or the department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth have to take leadership on these issues.
This seems natural given the sensitivity and importance of some of these issues, however, leadership is needed and Nunavummiut need to be involved, as some of these early decisions will have a large impact on how we all use, promote and preserve the Inuktitut language in Nunavut.
Recommendation; That as a first priority, the Government of Nunavut develop a language policy which clearly states which government information will be translated or interpreted and how these translation and interpreting services are co-ordinated and accessed.
That the department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth develop a clear plan of action to implement this policy.
That, in consultation with the Nunavut Social Development Council and other organizations interested in these issues, the Government of Nunavut develop a broad language policy discussion paper to consult with the people of Nunavut to reach consensus on how the Government of Nunavut should deal with issues such as the different dialects, spelling protocols, key government terms, and how future decisions should be made on these issues.
That the Government of Nunavut develop a comprehensive language training program for Inuktitut.
Nunavut Arts Council.
Members were advised that the department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth is planning to establish a Nunavut Arts Council and that appointments will be made in three weeks.
This body will have 136 thousand dollars for grants, 43 thousand for the Baffin, 25 thousand for the Keewatin, and 18 thousand dollars for the Kitikmeot.
Members look forward to hearing more about these plans as soon as the information is available.
Nunavut Territorial Archives and Heritage.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth has been tasked to operate the Nunavut Territorial Archives and oversee the archaeological activities in Nunavut.
Members were advised that there is no archival facility in Nunavut.
As this is legally required in order to store government papers, members were curious as to why no capital plans were presented for this needed facility and what the plans are for the coming year.
Members were advised that the department will be looking to develop a heritage facility in Nunavut.
Members expressed a desire to see artifacts and cultural heritage items such as photographs returned to their own communities as well.
Members know that it may not be necessary to create dedicated heritage buildings in every community.
Appropriate display cases could be established in existing buildings, such as schools, airports, Hamlet Offices, elders' centres and so on.
It was further noted that the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the Inuit Heritage Trust also play a role in repatriating cultural items to Nunavut.
Members welcomed an idea in the draft business plan for encouraging community based Inuit cultural/heritage groups to work on these types of projects and look forward to hearing the departments' progress on these issues.
Recommendation; That the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth develop a capital plan for an Archival facility and that, in consultation with the Inuit Heritage Trust and other interested organizations, the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth develop an options paper for creating heritage facilities in Nunavut which would include options for creating small facilities or displays in each community and options for partnerships for administration.
Inuit Qaujimajituqangit (IQ).
As noted above, all departments stated a commitment to make Inuit Qaujimajituqangit the foundation of the new government of Nunavut.
But, as members noted earlier, no department has articulated what this means.
As Culture, Language, Elders & Youth is the department which should provide leadership to the Government of Nunavut on these important principals, the standing committee urges Culture, Language, Elders & Youth to carry out the recommendations at the beginning of this report and involve Nunavummiut in this important discussion.
Elders and Youth.
As noted above, all departments stated a commitment to involve elders more in their policy development and programs.
As Culture, Language, Elders & Youth is the department which should provide leadership to the Government of Nunavut as to how this can be done, the Standing Committee urges Culture, Language, Elders & Youth to carry out the recommendations at the beginning of this report.
Most important is to determine the partnerships that will provide support to the elders' councils in each community so that they can participate fully in policy development and program delivery.
The Minister of Education spoke to our Committee about the need to create and store tapes, videos, and written transcripts of interviews of elders regarding their traditional knowledge.
Members are concerned that our elders won't always be with us and we need to do this right away.
Members also know of situations where irreplaceable materials have been lost or destroyed by fire.
The Committee was advised that the department was hoping to hire staff in the near future for senior youth advisor and elders advisor.
Members look forward to hearing more about the departments plans for elders and youth once these people have joined the department.
Recommendation; That, in partnership with the department of Education and other organizations with an interest in these issues, Culture, Language, Elders & Youth initiate a Nunavut wide program to ensure that we have interviews and other information from all of our elders, properly documented and stored for current and future reference, with duplicates in safe storage.
Status of Women.
Members were advised that the department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth now has responsibility for the Status of Women and that the funding which has been budgeted under EIA has been transferred to Culture, Language, Elders & Youth for this function, including 0.6 PY and 550 thousand dollars for grants and contributions.
It was noted that in the GNWT, this funding was given to the Status of Women Council, the Native Women's Association of the NWT and a grants program to community women's groups.
Members noted that in Footprints, this position was called an equality advisor under the department of the Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs and asked for an explanation of why this had been transferred from EIA to Culture, Language, Elders & Youth and why Culture, Language, Elders & Youth has now hired a senior advisor on women's issues instead of an equality advisor as recommended in Footprints.
No explanation was given during the meeting, and the committee looks forward to receiving this information.
Members were also advised that the new senior advisor on women's' issues is consulting with a group of women following the Nunavut women's conference in Rankin Inlet in March 1999 to develop an options paper for the new Status of Women's Council in Nunavut.
As this will be an important organization to represent women from across Nunavut, members look forward to hearing about these options as soon as they are ready for consideration.
Recommendation: That the department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth develop an options paper for a new Status of Women's Council in Nunavut for presentation at the Standing Committee.