EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would surely like to know what the role of the Nunavut Federal Council and if the Premier and his officials can at some point, maybe for our next sitting in April, if they could gather some information and just explain to us, as members in the House, what the role is of this Council is, how they benefit us as elected officials, and how they benefit all Nunavummiut.
I do not recall any Minister appearing before this council.
Maybe one of our officials have been invited to explain their housing situation in the past but other than that I don’t have any information to enlighten the members on anything else other than that.
We will try and request information and see what they’ve been doing and where they plan to go.
We’re on page B-8.
Yes I had one more question with respect to the cabinet.
We’re not 100 percent sure whether the cabinet Ministers are required to live in Iqaluit or whether they’re commuting and whether the policy was announced is flexible or not and if so, what kind of travel return home policy do you allow the Ministers to enjoy.
It’s flexible.
Each Minister decides whether they can live here depending on the work load.
I left it flexible and we provide assistance in terms of accommodations to our Ministers because that this their role to take part in our government and in particular, when we’re in session, yes, they have to be here.
So, that’s their job is to account for this house.
The only real factor that prevents it sometimes from taking part in the legislature is FPT’s that are crucial to Nunavut on any given day.
That’s the main factor that prevents us sometimes from taking part.
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Branch Summary.
Nunavut’s Cabinet.
Total operations and maintenance, $3.915 million.
I know, as I mentioned earlier, as all members are aware, all the benefits and everything that the members of the Legislative Assembly are tabled annually in the house and are required by law to be tabled annually in the house.
I know that cabinet Ministers receive additional benefits on top of those that get through the Legislative Assembly.
I’m just wondering if the Minister would be willing to commit to tabling what those additional benefits are for cabinet members that they get in their capacity as a cabinet Minister through the department because all of our regular member information is put out there and it’s only part of the executive council members’ information that is put out there.
Just to bring more clarity and openness to it, I just wondered if he would be willing to table that information on a regular basis.
All of our salaries as well are disclosed along with our colleagues.
Mine is public.
What else are we supposed to provide?
Mr. Chairman, I know, aside from probably yourself and Mr. Picco, ministers get a housing allowance, removal costs, so many trips, they’re allowed to go back to their home community if they have relocate here to fulfill their duties as the Minister.
Those are the types of things that I’m looking at.
I could do that further and see what we can do.
Total operations and maintenance, $3,915,000.
Executive B-9.
Executive and… Mr. Curley.
There was one question in the house that the term of the commissioner will be expiring at the end of this month.
So, I think by convention I know that mostly the Federal Minister normally seeks advice of the Premier, the Executive Council and it even use be whole caucus when I was in the earlier legislature.
So, in your view, the Federal Minister indicate whether or not there will be change and it is becoming rather short notice whether or not someone should pack and go and get to go home on 31st of this month for our current commissioner.
I know in the first government the Minister of Indian Affairs wrote to us for recommendation but in this instance that has not occurred.
It is a Federal appointment and I have not received any correspondence requesting the recommendation so far so, I await the decision of the Federal Government on this matter.
Yes, I understand it is a Federal matter by convention you know the Indian Affairs normally seeks some advice and so on.
Regardless of whether or not he will ask, as the Premier have you recommended anyone?
Or any change to that effect?
I have spoken with the Minister and have asked what is going to take place so, so far I’m waiting for an appointment.
Total operations and maintenance. $196,000.
B10.
The executive and intergovernmental affairs.
Total operations maintenance. $958,000.
Executive and intergovernmental affairs, branch summary on B11.
Total operations and maintenance. $629,000.
Going back to B14.
B4. Executive and intergovernmental affairs.
Details and expenditures.
Total operations and maintenance. $10,069.000.
I believe, are we agreed executive and intergovernmental affairs is concluded?
I thank all my colleagues for passing the main estimates for our departments and I’m sure that we have a lot work ahead of us and I thank all my officials and have a safe trip home and have a good rest.
>>Committee recessed at 16:34 and resumed at 16:49
Chairman (interpretation): We are now on the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, do you have any opening remarks.
Speaker (interpretation): Yes I do.
Chairman (interpretation): Go ahead, Mr. Speaker.
It’s a pleasure for me to appear before the Committee of the Whole today to present the 2005-2006 Main Estimates and Business Plan for the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
The 2005-2006 budget is the seventh budget since Nunavut came into existence.
Seven years later, our 2005-2006 main estimates project total expenditures of $13,262,000.
This is an increase of less than one percent since our first year of operation.
Although the budgets of most Government of Nunavut departments have increased substantially since 1999, I am pleased that we have been able to contain expenditures.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to take a moment to highlight some of our expenditure priorities for 2005-2006.
As members will recall from the Arviat Full Caucus Retreat, we have committed to establishing an Electoral Boundaries Commission in 2006.
Preliminary funding for this body has been built into our 2005-2006 budget, although I anticipate that the majority of the Commission’s work will be accomplished in 2006-2007.
Other priority areas for 2005-2006 include:
Continuing to expand, display and safeguard for future generations our extensive collection of Nunavut artwork;
Refurbishing the Assembly’s committee rooms;
Enhancing the functionality of our audio-visual equipment; and
Developing a new series of public information materials and brochures to inform Nunavummiut and visitors of the work of the Assembly.
At present, our Inuit employment level is approximately 50 percent.
Do you have any officials that you would like to bring here?
Speaker (interpretation): Yes.
Chairman (interpretation): Would you like them to go to the witness table.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, if you could introduce your officials for the record.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, on my right is John Quirke, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and on my left Mr. Steve Pollock, Corporate Affairs.
Welcome Mr. Pollock, and Mr. Quirke.
There are no comments from the members.
Office of the Legislative Assembly, Branch Summary. $6,345,000.
The Speaker’s office represents all members whether they are in Cabinet or in the Regular Caucus.
I have just a quick comment first of all.
The role of the Speaker in the Legislative Assembly is to serve all members and I just wanted to make a couple of comments and just one quick question.
First of all, I would like to thank the Speaker.
I think the Speaker has done an excellent job for all members.
He’s been fair and he’s done an excellent job outside and inside the Legislative Assembly itself.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Quirke.
I think it’s exceptional and I think the members just saw it in the budget.
The Legislative Assembly’s budget has only increased one percent since 1999 and when you look at the rate of inflation and so on, I think Mr. Quirke, the Clerk and his staff should be commended for their money management skills and I meant that in all sincerity and honesty.
I just have one question and it concerns the Electoral Boundaries Commission.
I would suggest to you because the population has increased and so on, the Electoral Boundaries Commission may be in a position where they’ll actually increase the number of members.
The building that we’re in right now was actually supposed to be a government office building.
We did not receive the federal incremental funding for a new Legislative Assembly Building.
NCC, through the good work that they did through their former CEO and President, who may be still around, here did an excellent job in having this building renovated and fixed to be an Assembly.
That’s one of the reasons why the library is on the third floor.
Most libraries are on the bottom floor because of heaviness and weight.
Given those conditions and so on, I’m wondering if the Speaker or the clerk could inform us if we’ve moved any steps further to see what will be the implications, based on the Electoral Boundaries Commission results, and the size of this current building and plans, for looking at another facility.
There has been an increase of only one percent and all the departments should learn from the Legislative Assembly’s budget.
If there are no more comments.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I would also like to congratulate the Office of the Legislative Assembly because John Quirke always welcomes all of the members, and our research staff, as well, are very receptive to us and even Mr. Pollock, that as ordinary members, we use a lot of support from them.
I would like to thank the staff and the Speaker.
What I wanted to do is I wrote a letter saying that I would like to have a better coffee area; that’s the only complaint that I have.
Are there any more comments from the members; questions; nothing?
Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Picco had some comments. $6,345,000.
Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Picco.
Very quickly, I am wondering if the Speaker or the Clerk’s Office could answer my earlier question when I asked that are we moving forward any type of logistic or administrative plans for the contingencies based on the Electoral Boundaries Commission and the issue with the possible redundancy of this facility.
Chairman: Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): We have to look at that.
Chairman: Mr. Picco, if you can wait.
I am wondering if there has been any administrative or logistic work done or would it be coming up in this fiscal year for those contingencies that we have just talked about.
That’s in regards to the possible redundancy of the current facility based on those expectations from not only the Electoral Boundaries Commissioner, but the staffing size of the current building.
And if that is the case because of the land acquisition issues, have they looked at okaying or looking at securing a site for such a facility?
Speaker (interpretation): I will let the Clerk respond to that.
Chairman: Mr. Quirke.
The answers to the questions raised by the Honourable Member is yes.
The administrative work has been done and everything in terms of what if, the Boundaries Commission does, in fact, increase the number of members in this Assembly, to a possible identification of land.
All of that work has been done.
Bear in mind, too, that we don’t know what the outcome of the Boundaries Commission’s Report will be and bear in mind, too, that we are looking at the fact that this facility has about 15 plus more years to go in terms of its lease.
So all of those things are being considered as different forms of options; remain in the building; we may be doing some modifications of the building, look at new facilities, and do modifications to the building, look at new facilities, and look at potential sites.
I think it’s prudent that the Assembly is asking in the direction that we should look towards the future and it’s a matter of seeing exactly what does transpire when the first Boundaries Commissioner Report comes out because that could accelerate the process.
Any more questions, Mr. Picco?
Hon. Ed Picco: Mr. Chairman, no thank you; that answers my question.
I just want to ensure that indeed, there was a plan in place and I understand that the life expectancy of this building has several years to go.
So it is prudent to be able to try to plan for the future and be proactive.
So, again, kudos to the Speaker and his staff.
The original question that I wanted to ask was: during the First Assembly, they would go to different communities to have sessions; I wonder if this is still being considered for the future.
Speaker (interpretation): If you wish to hold a session outside of Iqaluit, all of the members have to take a vote; first we take suggestions of communities, and then it’s up to the members; they take a vote and specify which community they would go to.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think it would be better if we went to a more central place rather than meeting mostly in the east.
What was the cost that time?
Speaker (interpretation): I’ll let John respond to that.
Mr. Clerk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The cost of holding the session outside of Iqaluit, when we had four of them are incremental costs or additional costs above our standard cost, was just under $1 million in total for all four and that does not include the cost of administration from the government departments; their costs were separate, but the Assembly’s cost indirectly was just under $1 million.
How about looking at it; was there an improvement like the way we meet; were there discrepancies or problems meeting in other communities?
Any move, no matter which move we did when we first went to Rankin Inlet, and then to Cambridge Bay and then to Pangnirtung, and then to Baker Lake, we always had the same challenges.
It was the logistical move of all our equipment, in particular our recording equipment for Hansard, and the ability to get it from A to B. When we went into Pangnirtung for example, we had three charters.
When we went to Cambridge Bay we basically filled up an entire 737 with our cargo.
So those are the types of challenges we faced.
It was no different in Baker Lake. The charters were hard to predict, the logistics of moving the equipment, and the set up of the facility, and they have all been in the high schools, they would normally take us three to four days to set up.
Although, I must admit once we finished it takes us one day to finish, to knock everything down.
And then the other challenge has always been in the accommodation on office space, but all in all they are basically the four main challenges that we always faced, no matter how many times we went, we always had those four challenges.
I believe we are on A-6.
I think we finished A-5.
During our Standing Committee meetings, the members from different communities; some members’ communities are quite far, and yet at the same time, their budget is almost the same, even with the members from Iqaluit.
I wonder if it has ever been considered to try it, especially when we have to bring in stuff and we have to pay for half of it we also have to pay our Constituency Assistants or even the Pages of the Assembly or the Sergeant-at-Arms.
I think our budget is just right.
Maybe it should be looked at the way they are used or spent or the distances and accordingly.
Speaker (interpretation): I’ll let the clerk answer that.
The member’s budgets, the constituency budgets, the constituency salary budgets, the other programs such as the Page’s Program, Sergeant-at-arms’ Programs are reflective of the made in Nunavut approach two years into the life of the Legislative Assembly.
Having said that, it’s been now 3 years plus since we have reviewed the criteria that established those budgets.
We have agreed that all those budgets programs that we offer to members would be reviewed by staff and we’d send it to the Management Services Board to allow for any changes wherever necessary.
So all of those programs are being reviewed.
In regards to the Page Program, I’ve asked about this before.
I wonder if the Speaker can support us.
When the pages are going to Iqaluit from our communities, we were asked that we have to pay for them ourselves.
That is why I’ve never brought anyone from Rankin Inlet because I use my budget for travel because if we bring in Pages from our community, we have to pay them but we were told we pay up to 50 percent.
I wonder if this program can be set separately so that those young people will have an opportunity to learn and more people would be able to come to our meetings.
So, that’s my request, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): I’ll let the Clerk respond to that.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Quirke.
Part of the review, as I had mentioned to the member from Arviat, the Pages Program is part of that review.
I am very confident that that particular program that the Management Services Board will actually make a decision on that program by the end of April because that program itself has been a work in progress and the briefing note, discussion paper on that particular item is just about complete and members of the Management Services Board will get an advance copy of it in the next week or two.
I’m certain that a decision on that particular program would be made by the end of April.
We’re on Office of Legislative Assembly.
Operations and Maintenance, $6,345,000.
A-6.
Operations and Maintenance. $5,147,000.
Page A-7.
Operations and Maintenance, $210,000.
Page A-8.
Office of the Legislative Assembly, Branch Summary.
Operations and Maintenance. $750,000.
Chairman (interpretation): A-9, Office of the Legislative Assembly.
Operations and Maintenance. $690,000.
Back to A-4, Office of the Legislative Assembly.
Operations and Maintenance. $13,142,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Do we agree that the Legislative Assembly is concluded.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and your officials.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you for supporting us.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for being a good Speaker.
Chairman (interpretation): We are going to X-1.
Summary of amounts to be voted.
Summary of Operations and Maintenance.
Revised amounts of $833,209,000.
Go to Bill 8.
In your white binder is Bill 8.
It looks like this.
We are on Bills 8.
Appropriations.
Operations and Maintenance Act, 2005-2006.
Chairman: We have a motion on Clause 3.
Committee Motion 006 – 2(2): Bill 8, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act 2005/06 of the Schedule Be Amended
I move that the schedule to the Bill be amended by striking out:
$16,278,000 in item 9, and by substituting it with $16,128,000
$132,655 in item 10, and by substituting it with $132,155,000
$833,859,000 wherever it appears and by substituting it $833,209,000
Chairman: The motion is in order.
Chairman: Ms. Aglukkaq.
Committee Motion 007 – 2(2): Bill 8, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act 2005/06 Subclause 3(2) Be Amended
I move that sub-clause 3(2) of the Bill be amended by striking out $833,859,000 and by substituting it with $833,209,000.
Lapse of Appropriation.
Chairman: Does the Committee agree to Bill 8 as amended?
Is the Committee agreed that Bill 8 is ready for Third Reading?
We wish to deal with the following Bills in this order: Bill 12, Bill 11, Bill 9, Bill 10, Bill 13, and then Bill 14.
Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?
Please proceed Ms. Aglukkaq.
I am going to read my opening for all of the four bills at the same time.
I am pleased to appear before the Committee of the Whole to speak to four proposed bills; Bill 9, Bill 10, Bill 11, and Bill 12.
Bill 9 is the 2004/05 Supplementary Appropriation for Capital #3.
This supplementary appropriation would provide funding of $1.289 million for the increased cost of the Kivalliq Health Centre, $255,000 for tenant improvements at the Igloolik Research Centre, and $490,000 for the purchase of three properties in Gjoa Haven for staff housing.
Bill 10 is the 2004/05 Supplementary Appropriation for Operations and Maintenance #3.
This appropriation would provide funding of $22 million to the Qulliq Energy Corporation to meet their current revenue requirements and funding of $1.1 million to address a deficit balance in the Petroleum Products Stabilization Fund in excess of its legislative minutes.
Bill 11, the Loans Authorization Act for 2005/06.
The purpose of the Loans Authorization Act is to authorize the Government of Nunavut to make loans to municipalities for land development and community infrastructures’ priorities.
This would benefit municipalities, which may not have the ability to borrow from commercial lenders.
The upper loan limit request is $1 million and loans would be based on application and review by a Debenture Committee comprised of the Departments Community and Government Services and Finance.
Bill 12, the Write-off of Assets and Debts Act.
The Financial Administration Act requires that all write-offs that individually exceed $20,000 be written off through a Write-off of Assets and Debts Act.
There are two components to this Bill.
The first component pertains to the write down of inventory for the Nunavut Development Corporation as part of its retail and wholesale operations.
The corporation has reduced prices periodically to solve slow moving items. For accounting purposes, this reduction in price is reflected in the value of inventory of $55,931 for fiscal year 2004/05.
The second component pertains to the write-off of debts that can’t reasonably collected; every effort must be made to collect the amounts owing before debt is written off.
The total amounts being written off is $189,880.16 for accounts owing to the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to answer questions from the Committee Members pertaining to Bills 9, 10, 11, and 12.
I have comments on Bill 12.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability has had the opportunity to review Bill 12, Write-off of Assets and Debts Act, 2004/05.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee had no objections to the proposed legislation and recommends the passage of Bill 12 to all members.
Individual members may raise their own comments and questions as we proceed.
Ms. Minister, do you have any witnesses you would like to bring to the table?
Please bring one of them over.
Could you please introduce your witnesses, Ms. Minister?
To my right is Bob Vardy, the Deputy Minister for Finance and to my left is Paul Suvega, the Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance.
Chairman (interpretation): Welcome Mr. Vardy and Mr. Suvega. (interpretation ends) Before we proceed, I would like to remind the members of the following: the rule 77(1) you have 10-minutes to speak, but according to rule 77(2) subject to my discretion each member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion, but not until every member wishing to speak has spoken.
Are there any general comments? Mr. Curley.
I would like to make a comment to Bill 11 and the main reason why I wanted to make a...
Chairman (interpretation): Wait, just a minute, Mr. Curley, (interpretation ends) we are dealing with Bill 12 right now. (interpretation) When we go to Bill 11 you can make your comment.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) We are dealing with Bill 12 at this point.
Are there any general comments about Bill 12?
(interpretation ends) Nothing. (interpretation ends) What’s the wish of the committee?
We are going to go clause-by-clause?
Chairman: Agreed to. (interpretation) We are going to deal with Bill 12. (interpretation ends): Write-off of Assets and Debts Act, 2004/05.
Go to the next page.
Schedule Part I. Assets Written-off.
Retail Arts and Crafts Inventory.
Total of $55,931, do you agree?
Part II. Debts Written-off.
Total of $189,880.16, do you Agree?
Go to Write-off of Assets, Clause 1, do you agree?
Clause 2, do you agree?
Does the committee agree to Bill 12 as a whole?
Is the committee agreed that Bill 12 is ready for third reading?
We will do Bill 11 and I understand Mr. Curley has comments on that.
Mr. Curley you have 10 minutes.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I am not going to take 10 minutes because we want to go home.