EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In terms of the Barriers to Business project, there was a final report that was submitted between the Departments of Justice, Finance, and Economic Development and Transportation.
I know there were a couple of things that were done last year.
There was How to Start Your Own Business in Nunavut, there was a guide that was released publicly last year from the department and there was also a guide that was developed by CGS; CGS is also involved on how to do business with government. So those are a couple that were developed.
The area of legislative and regulatory, in that area, as and when, if an issue does come up, we would be looking at particular impediments. We did have the Department of Justice take a look at some of the Acts that may impede a business starting. Those are just a couple of examples of what’s happened and the proposed plan in terms of legislative and regulatory barriers.
I really appreciate that answer.
I know how difficult it must be grandfathering some of these policies from the NWT and trying to change them in a very short period of time - with the old thinking and trying to get into the new thinking, and trying to recognize how long the smaller communities have been struggling while trying to go through all this red tape and trying to get their businesses going.
You probably noticed a whole lot of small businesses in our communities have partnerships with a lot of southern people from southern Canada because they have better information as to how the government works; a lot of information that my colleague was talking about earlier. We don’t know this information because they’re not being made available to us and when we don’t know them, we cannot apply for them.
I really appreciate the deputy minister’s answer.
Can I ask then: when do you expect to have some sort of a regulation or a reduction of regulations made available so that the small communities in our area can start reapplying and be encouraged to take on some local business development?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We support the local businesses, obviously, but it has to be driven from the community and we are there to help them.
Mr. Chairman, like I said, they have to come to us and ask for assistance in terms of putting a business plan together but it has to be community driven. We cannot go up to them and say, “I want you to start a gravel hauling business or a kayak building business.”
It has to come from the community and that’s what we’re there for: to help them succeed.
My question was not answered.
I applaud the department for trying to reduce the barriers to businesses that they’re working on right now.
I applaud them for that because I know the business will have to be community driven and they have been. Just come to Pond Inlet and you will see.
However, there are a whole lot of barriers and a whole lot of people come to me and say, “How do we go about this now? We just got a new issue and now we have to get a new WCB insurance,” coming back and forth all the time because of these barriers that need to be removed.
My question to the minister is: when do you expect to develop this new mechanism and when do you expect this to be ready for distribution as information to the communities?
It’s an ongoing program. Anytime somebody wants to start a business and wants to hire employees, they have to go through regulations in terms of complying with WCB rules, etcetera, insurance and all that stuff, but we are there to help the prospectors into achieving what they would like to do.
Mr. Arvaluk: Mr. Chairman, last June, last spring, the Minister of ED&T informed the Legislative Assembly that “The need to remove barriers will continue to be worked on by the government.”
You have been working on something. Now, my question is: can you show us some time in the near future what you have done to remove these barriers?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you. I said it’s an ongoing process and yes, we will show the member what we are doing in terms of reducing the barriers to business.
Before we move on to the next member, I would like to take this time to recognize Mr. Darren Nichol from Rankin Inlet. Welcome to the Gallery.
I would like to ask the minister, following up on my earlier line of questioning now that we’re on this page.
In your business plan, you have mentioned a number of entities - the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association, the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation, the Nunavut Economic Developers Association, the Nunavut Film, Television, and New Media, and it looks like the tourism associations.
Can the minister tell me how they set up the funding arrangements for all these different entities on an annual basis?
These entities come forward with a business plan to our department and then we make the decision on what they will get for their annual budget.
It seems to me, from my recollection or memory, that these entities seem to receive the same level of funding every year and surely their costs must be increasing.
Do they submit the same budgets every year, or have they submitted budget requests for additional funds but you just fix them at these levels?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) I will have my deputy respond to that question. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
The funding levels have basically remained the same for the last several years and part of the reason being the limited resources within the Government of Nunavut.
The position of the department on a number of these annual amounts is that they are to be used to leverage other sources of funding so that it’s not solely from the government and a lot of these organizations have been quite successful in terms of leveraging other sources of funding.
This is some funding they do get and a lot of these organizations can also access some of our other programs like the Strategic Investments program, which they do.
So the budgeted amounts that you have listed on these line items; are they for core funding, for wages and other expenses so that if the organizations wanted additional funds, they have to write a proposal and apply for funding to either the Government of Nunavut program or a federal program? Would that be correct?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Yes, the member answered his own question.
I wish I could answer all of the questions I ask so that I would get some answers.
Put me over there and all the...
You give these groups an annual contribution agreement but how do you issue the payments to them? Is it on a quarterly basis, or do you give them 50 percent or 75 percent so that they get cash flow and manage their money?
The member had a golden opportunity to come over to the other side of the House today but he declined, so he can’t sit here tonight.
Mr. Chairman, we have policies within these programs and all the policies are adhered to, and with the recent fiasco with the NBCC, we are going to be on top of all the programs to make sure that these policies are followed so that we don’t have another NBCC down the road.
In terms of the policy, what policy is it and what specific guidelines does it set out in terms of how much money you can advance to organizations?
The main policy that we use to provide this funding is called the Policy on Program Partnerships and there are at least three schedules. There is one called Organizational Development and that’s what a lot of these organizations get. The policy states that the payments would be on a quarterly basis.
Is there any discretion within the department or the policy to advance more funds then on a quarterly basis?
Hon. Patterk Netser: To Ms. Keenainak.
There is a provision in there that the organization needs to provide working capital requirements for the year and if they can demonstrate that their payments should be varied in terms of the quarter, the department is willing to take a look at that.
I thank the minister and Ms. Keenainak.
The Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation, I read in media reports where they were in some financial difficulties.
They were originally set up to serve 2,000 customers and they have 4,000 users now and then they went through a messy legal business affair with the Qulliq Energy Corporation, incurred some significant legal costs and anyway, they came out with some kind of a settlement.
Are you involved at all with the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation in terms ensuring their ongoing survival and providing their Internet service to Nunavut?
I would like the deputy to answer that question.
The department does have a vested interest in the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation. When the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation was formed, it was because of money that was available from the feds and it could not go to core government, so we do have a vested interest in this.
We have been monitoring the situation and we have been in contact with the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation.
In terms of the issue with the QEC, the department did pay for the mediator to see if they can come to an agreement, which they did.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister and Ms. Keenainak.
I realize they came to an agreement, but apparently, the financial terms are a little bit too onerous for them. They have other financial obligations as well. I think they have asked for some time.
Speaking on behalf of all the Qiniq customers, and I’m one of them and I’m sure many of my colleagues around here are as well, right across Nunavut, Qiniq provides a valuable service in terms of affordable Internet across Nunavut.
So I think we should be quite concerned about the ongoing future and survivability with this entity in terms of finding the resources to pay this settlement that is putting them in great danger.
So I’m wondering if the minister could comment: are you at all concerned that they may not survive and provide Internet service to Nunavut?
We are very concerned for the Qiniq Broadband; we know it’s a good program and it services all the communities throughout Nunavut.
We are helping them in trying to leverage more funds from the federal government but it’s a slow process.
We are monitoring the situation and we’re very concerned over their survival. That’s all I can say at the moment.
Can the minister indicate if he has had meetings with the Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation to see what his thoughts are on the situation?
Hon. Patterk Netser: We’ve had some discussions but it’s a legal matter at the moment. Anytime items are brought forth before court proceedings, we do not get involved. But we have discussed that situation.
The other entity I’m interested in is the Nunavut Economic Forum; you provide $50,000 to them for some of their services.
Are there other resources that are available to the Nunavut Economic Forum that they can access to undertake some economic initiatives in Nunavut?
I understand we have partners with INAC and NTI where the cost is shared and also through the Strategic Investments program.
I think the Nunavut Economic Forum provides a great service to Nunavut.
They did a lot of excellent research on the Northern Residents Deduction that contributed to the federal government making a decision to increase the residency deduction a little bit so that Hunter can buy a cup of coffee or almost half a cup of coffee in Iqaluit.
So they provide a valuable service and I hope they continue.
You mentioned the Strategic Investments program and I brought it up with the Premier yesterday. There’s an annual amount of $4 million and I believe that program expires in 2009.
Have you had any discussions with your federal counterparts about extending that program or creating another program that will be useful to Nunavut?
To the question, my DM. Thank you.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister. Ms. Keenainak.
Just to clarify, the Strategic Investments program that’s in our main estimates is a continuing GN program and that’s $4 million a year.
This one does not have a sunset clause at the moment and the one that you were referring to is called the Targeted Investment Program, through INAC, that does have a sunset clause of March 31, 2009.
At an official level, we have brought it up with the regional director general in terms of trying to see if that program can also continue and I have also had discussions with my counterparts about trying to make sure that this program continues as well.
I do know that INAC is going through a review process right now and I think the evaluation process should be starting fairly soon, but we have been asking INAC about the continuation of their program.
I thank the minister and Ms. Keenainaik for clarifying that.
In the 2007-08 fiscal year, how many applications did you receive for the Strategic Investments program and how many were approved?
There are quite a number of applicants, so I’ll ask Ms. Keenainak to respond.
I can tell the member that the program for 2007-08 should be fully expended. The full amount has been committed and of course, we’re hoping that the full amount will expended but it will depend on the accounting that does come back because there are occasions where some projects cannot go ahead for other reasons that sometimes funding is returned.
Right now, what has been committed is that the full amount is going to be expended and the minister did commit to tabling a report of all our grants and contributions programs. We are hoping that we will be able to table something outlining all of our programs and this one in particular in the spring sitting.
I was going to ask a question about all of that but probably the level of detail would be too much for this sitting, so I’ll wait for that report and I look forward to receiving it.
One of your priorities in 2007 was “the review of the Travel and Tourism Act” and in the status you said, “Completed a review of the tourism industry that assessed the status of tourism and recommended strategic and legislative changes.” Can you provide us with some information on what recommendations are provided in that review?
The review will also examine other jurisdictions for lessons learned in building successful tourism industries in similar economies and destinations and analyze the current situation in Nunavut’s industry, including the suitability of current legislation and regulations, identify strengths and areas for improvements, support of management and consultation communication process for stakeholder involvement, recommend changes to legislation and regulations, programming and delivery mechanisms, and develop an understanding in the industry of the roles, relationships and responsibilities under a renewed system.
Can the minister commit to tabling a copy of that report in the Legislative Assembly?
Hon. Patterk Netser: We can probably table the review in the fall session.
We will take a 15-minute break before we go on to the next member.
>>Committee recessed at 20:44 and resumed at 21:03
We will start with K-5. (interpretation ends) Branch Summary.
Next person in line is Mr. Tootoo.
Under Economic Development, I understand that the department has contribution agreements with different regional organizations to deliver programs for them. I know they have raised some pretty serious concerns with one of them in the past and that was the Kivalliq or Keewatin Business Development Centre.
The previous minister had indicated that they were doing a review of that organization, so I’m just wondering if I can get an update and if there were any concerns found there.
Hon. Patterk Netser: This report is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
I’m sure the department would have been aware if there were any serious concerns that arose out of that review by now.
Can the minister or his officials indicate if they have been made aware of any concerns there?
We haven’t been made aware of any issues within the review.
But like everything else, there are always some flaws within programs that the government misses, so I’m sure that something will turn up with this.
Well, Mr. Chairman, I hope they don’t do what they did with NBCC and sit on the information and not act until a long time later.
Can I just get a commitment from the minister: once that review is completed, would he provide it to the Members of this Assembly?
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Yes, we’re concerned that we don’t want to have another NBCC within the department so we want to be on top of everything and any problems that we see within the programs, we’re going to straighten stuff out.
I just have another question; I know my colleague from Cambridge Bay was asking about it earlier.
I received some concerns from one organization, Nunavut Tourism, that has been front-end funded in the past, and then now is being told that they’re going to get funded on a quarterly basis. They indicated to me, and I’m sure to the minister and his officials, that that will pretty much cripple their operations.
The minister or the deputy had indicated earlier that there is ability for discretion on there, so I’m just wondering if they could give us an indication of why they don’t want to exercise that discretion and continue with the funding agreement that has been in place for a number of years with Nunavut Tourism.
We’re concerned that we don’t have another NBCC in the making with any of our partners, so that is why we are going through the quarterly instalments with Nunavut Tourism.
If my information is correct, I think the way Nunavut Tourism is funded now is 90/10. Can the minister indicate how long that arrangement has been in place for?
I was just recently made aware of the problem, so I don’t have all the scope of the program in terms of them receiving 90/10.
I’m going to ask the DM to respond to that question.
The Policy on Program Partnership clearly states that quarterly payments are going to be provided.
To answer your question in terms of how long the 90/10 arrangement has been done, it was done last fiscal year and this current fiscal year.
As the minister has indicated, we are taking a look at accountability and contribution agreements and that is why the department is going to be implementing the policy as it was approved.
It’s just like everyone is getting painted with the same brush. Has the department had any concerns with any of the paperwork or accounting that they have received from Nunavut Tourism over the last two years with the way they have been funded?
Hon. Patterk Netser: To the question, Ms. Keenainak.
I think all members agree that the tourism sector is a key sector in the economy and part of the reason is we want to take a look at how tourism development is being delivered.
Nunavut Tourism does play a key role because they are representing industry and we want to take a look at working a lot closer between the government and Nunavut Tourism.
So that’s part of the work that we’re going to be doing within the upcoming fiscal year.
As I indicated, the policy, as approved by Cabinet, does say quarterly payments.
I still didn’t get an answer to my question.
Have they had any problems with the paperwork or the accounting that Nunavut Tourism has provided under the current arrangement for the last couple of years?
To Ms. Keenainak.
The end of the year financial accounting has been audited by an accounting firm in Iqaluit and they have provided statements in terms of how the money has been spent.
I take that as “no problems.”
I understand that they have been okay.
Again, the policy is approved by Cabinet and I’m sure the members will agree with us that we don’t want to see another NBCC down the road, so we’re going to stick with the current policy of quarterly installments for Nunavut Tourism.
It really sounds like the blinders are on and they’re like this: everyone is painted with the same brush and they keep referring to the policy that says, “This is what it says,” but they also said that there is a provision to allow for discretion for a change from that.
Why won’t they even consider looking at that for Nunavut Tourism that has said that the quarterly arrangement will pretty much cripple the organization?
If there is a provision to allow for a variation from those quarterly installment payments that the deputy had indicated earlier, then why are they refusing to even look at that?
Instead of doing four equal payments, we can do a variation of installments with Nunavut Tourism.
Are you going to sit down with them and say, “Okay, what can you survive with?” My understanding of the way that policy or that discretionary action was that if they could demonstrate that they needed it, then they could get it.
Has the department even asked them, “Okay, you’re saying that that quarterly one will cripple your organization, so show us what you need and then we will look at it”?
Have you even done that?
To the question, Ms. Keenainak.
The position of the department has been that if they are able to provide substantiated information about their needs for the upcoming fiscal year, we will review them and talk to them about the distribution of the quarterly payments, yes.
If that message has been conveyed to Nunavut Tourism, have they given an indication as to what their requirements are?
Nunavut Tourism has provided some information and there have been some questions that need to be responded to.
At this point, we are still talking to them about how the funding is going to be distributed next year.
If I understand Ms. Keenainak correctly, if they can justify the need for a variation from the quarterly payments, the department would entertain that.
Hon. Patterk Netser: Yes, that’s what we said.
Something else that was mentioned earlier on that is they said that they are re-looking at how they operate. Are there different options that they’re looking at other than utilizing Nunavut Tourism?
Are they looking at maybe going away from Nunavut Tourism and doing something else to provide that service for the territory?
We have to clarify what our responsibilities are in terms of tourism development and they have to come to the table, too, and clarify to us as to what they want to do.
That didn’t answer my question: are they looking at a different model or a different approach? That’s what I was asking. That was part of the comments is that they’re looking at it, so I was just wondering if they’re looking at a different approach to the delivery of those services for the territory other than Nunavut Tourism.
Hon. Patterk Netser: Mr. Chairman, we want to work with Nunavut Tourism and right now, we are working as if we are going to work with them next year in terms of tourism development for Nunavut.
The minister said next year but what about... (inaudible)… Are there any plans or anything like that to look at alternative options of delivery, not necessarily next year but looking into the future?
What I meant to say was next fiscal year that we want to work with them.
I would like the DM to answer that question.
One of the messages that the minister has been relaying to Nunavut Tourism is that in order to make sure tourism development is proceeding as one of our key sectors, we need to work together in terms of clarifying each of our respective roles because there seem to be some crossovers in terms of who’s going to be responsible.
One of the things that the department has also been asked to do is, unfortunately, to update the Tourism Strategy that was approved I believe in 2001. Part of that additional work is also the Travel and Tourism Act revisions that we’re hoping to bring to the House in the fall.
Part of that, and I think the minister already agreed to table this, is taking a look at what is and what is not working, and what programming or delivery mechanisms need to be looked at.
That’s part of work that’s going to be coming up this fiscal year.
If they are looking at that, are they looking at consulting with Nunavut Tourism to see, from their point of view, what’s working and what’s not and why?
It seems to have happened with the Department of Education where they’re sucking things back into the department instead of having other bodies that are doing that. Can you commit that that’s not going to be the case here with Nunavut Tourism and the Department of ED&T?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Yes, we are going to consult with the industry and we will see what happens after the consultation process.