EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So will the assistance be made available to the individuals that moved the graves.
Mr. Speaker, as I said, we've had some high level discussions with the Hamlet of Hall Beach.
The Hamlet of Hall Beach on behalf of the grave diggers have asked us to support them to be compensated for their salaries from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Mr. Speaker.
And we will do that.
Mr. Speaker, I will write the Minister of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Mr. Robert Nault, on behalf of the grave diggers as requested by the hamlet, by their motion.
At the same time Mr. Speaker, we've contacted the hamlet to see if we could help bring closure to this.
Some type of wellness program funding, which is what the contribution monies that we talked about were set up for.
Like a workshop or something like that. Those discussions are being held right now, Mr. Speaker, with the hamlet officials.
The minister, when I raised some questions to him yesterday, he responded by saying he would write me a letter regarding the issue.
Today he is stating that he is going to be writing a letter to the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and will be working with them.
Mr. Speaker, it was going to go through at one point and he stated at an earlier date that they'd be able to receive their money and today there seems to be other things that need to be done before the individuals get their money.
We seem to be hitting more roadblocks.
He once told me that the hamlet could send him a letter and that they'd be able to receive the money after the letter was received by the minister.
I am not sure what we have to do now.
Do we have to wait for the hamlet’s letter.
Do we have to wait for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
I am starting to get confused.
So could he clarify what is going to happen.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the member.
I will try to clarify.
Mr. Speaker, the hamlet has sent the proposal explaining what they have done with the movement of the graves back in 1968.
Mr. Speaker, the hamlet in a formal motion has asked compensation to come from Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development for the salaries.
That is what they are asking for.
So I have said to the member that I would support them in their request to the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
I will as the Minister of Health and Social Services for the Government of Nunavut write to Minister Nault and ask him to help compensate for the salaries.
At the same time Mr. Speaker, I said that the Department of Health and Social Services, we realize that it was a traumatic event here moving the bodies as Mr. Irqittuq has said now in his second statement today.
It was quite traumatic in some regards.
The Department of Health and Social Services can help with that type of closure through some type of wellness or healing or something like that.
Yesterday, some of the senior officials from the Premier's Office spoke to the SAO about that proposal for the hamlet.
So both those things are occurring right now.
So I hope that clarifies.
On the third point Mr. Speaker, the member asked me about the letter.
I told the member yesterday in the House that I would have a letter to him before March 31st and Mr. Speaker, I will, I have seen a draft.
He might even had it tomorrow morning.
Question 204 - 1(5): Update on Employee Assistance Contract
I have a question that I'd like to direct to the Minister of Human Resources.
There is 750 thousand dollars directed towards contracts for health prevention.
I'd like to know how well this money is being spent.
If he could give me an update.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the member may be referring to the employee wellness program that the department is initiating in co-operation with Health Canada.
If that is the case Mr. Speaker, the plan is to utilize their services for employee counselling assistance and start up for a full year, starting April 1st.
The members may know that we have undertaken a pilot project this current year. I believe it was about 3-6 months using the services and it seems to be working right now.
But the long-term plan of course is to establish a service directly in Nunavut based in Nunavut for our employees that will be able to assist us.
Ms. Williams: Qujannamiik Uqaqti.
Can the minister tell us how effective is this program or service to our people in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, it's really hard at this point to quantify, to be objective on how effective it is given that right now as I indicated there's been test usage over the past three to six months.
We know that there has been usage by our employees, but you really need a longer time frame and the feedback, obviously from individuals, employees that may want to give us feedback on the services before you can start to analyze on how effective it is.
I think it's a very good program and it's a lot of money for three to six months.
When I called it as I mentioned it yesterday, when I called it, they told me that it was not their priority.
That Nunavut government was just tapping into their telephone thing.
To me this 750 thousand dollars is a lot of money.
So I think this House needs to know how effective I feel they are when I call them.
My further question, when the contract starts April 1 as it was approved yesterday, how long will the contract be going for.
Mr. Speaker, the amount of 750 thousand dollars is for the whole fiscal year starting April 1, of course, a few days from now.
Mr. Speaker, I guess, if there are concerns about the adequacy of the service, if we hear of feedback that it isn't doing the job then we'll obviously assess what our options would be.
Because obviously the service is there to try to assist our employees that may require assistance.
Just before the expiration of this contract, can we be assured that we will have this service in Nunavut.
Are they planning to do that now so that we could do it April 1, 2002.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Oral Questions. Mr. Arvaluk.
Question 205 – 1(5): Staff Training for Interpreters
Today, in his return to the oral question by Donald Havioyak, he stated that currently we have no training positions in our language bureau as our interpreter/translators are qualified to fulfill their job requirements.
However we are working with Human Resources to conduct a needs assessment for training opportunities for our entire department.
So, my question is Mr. Speaker, the assessment that will be done, will it include interpreters that interpret for the health centres or courts or to be able to be certified in those fields.
There are individuals that would like to be certified in different fields in interpreting and translating.
So will that include those different fields.
My response to Mr. Havioyak, he was concerned about the Innuinaqtut language and my response to him is that the interpreter/translators are qualified to fulfill their job requirements as Innuinaqtut interpreters or Inuktitut interpreter/translators.
I also said however, that we are working with Human Resources to conduct a needs assessment or training opportunities for our entire department.
I haven't really thought of what he brought up but I'll keep that in mind.
I understand that but the department usually plans for what they're going to do for the year.
It's called a business plan.
So does the department plan to spend money on doing an assessment for different fields.
I'm just wondering if that will be in their business plan.
Speaker: Thank you. Minister Kattuk.
My response to Mr. Havioyak was to respond to concerns in his community.
The needs assessment for training opportunities, I welcome any ideas or suggestions on how this assessment should be done.
This was a response to Mr. Havioyak's concerns.
Perhaps I could clarify my question.
If this is a concern in Kugluktuk, I'm sure it's a concern in Igloolik or Pangnirtung.
In the decentralized communities, I'm sure this is a concern and Inuit, when we talked during member's statements, Inuktitut languages were encouraged and some of the ministers even talked about encouraging Inuktitut language being used more frequently.
So, is the minister going to be working on getting the interpreters certified and for them to have a certificate recognizing that they have these qualifications.
I agree with the member that my colleagues were in support of encouraging the use of Inuktitut.
I feel that it is very important that we are able to speak our language.
Within the Government of Nunavut we encourage people to be able to speak our mother tongue.
I heard what he said.
But he hasn't responded to my concern.
He said that the departments are going to be doing their business plans and the departments went through their main estimates.
Your department will be going in front of the Committee in the future.
Will those concerns be brought up so that adjustments would be made for the needs of Nunavut.
Perhaps I could respond by saying the committee, I know the standing committees have concerns on the future of Nunavut.
We have to look at different ideas or suggestions as to how we can make life better in Nunavut.
So Mr. Speaker, when we meet with the committees I will be able to discuss it with the committees and get some ideas as to how they feel this assessment should be done.
Question 206 - 1(5): Status of 2000-2001 CLEY Grants & Contributions
Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister responsible for Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Mr. Speaker, last year 2000-2001 the department had just over 3 million dollars in grants and contributions, both capital and O&M.
I’d like to ask the minister if he is aware if his department will have expended all those dollars in that fiscal year or not.
Mr. Speaker, I thank him for his question.
I think responding to a question yes we will try to expand it and see if it's better for the government or our departments.
Mr. Tootoo you may want to clarify your question.
Mr. Tootoo: Yes.
Mr. Speaker, my question was not expanding.
I'm sure every minister would like to see their grants and contributions expanded.
I'm just wondering if the department will expend, will it have spent all the money that it has in grants and contributions and so on and capital that it had allocated for that purpose for this fiscal year.
Sorry about the misunderstanding.
For the year 2000-2001 to date, we have spent the entire grants and contributions budget.
Probably we’ll do the same for the 2001-2002 budget.
So, then I assume the minister is indicating that they won't lapse any grants and contribution funding dollars from within the department this year.
Mr. Tootoo: Minister Kattuk.
Hon. Peter Kattuk: Mr. Speaker, I hope not but we'll see how we do this fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, I'm just wondering if the minister or the department do they provide him with I guess, variance reports we call it to show how much money they have left in the different categories.
I'm just wondering if the minister is aware of you know, these reports if they get them on a regular basis, like do they get them on a quarterly basis, monthly basis and if they do on the last ones that were provided by the department, how much was left to be expended in those areas.
The funding for 2000/2001, last year the money for grants and contributions has been expended but this year there have been some requests for funding from my department.
Because we have not gone through the approval of the budget but as far as I know, last year's has been expended.
But we don't have anything for, we don't have any reports up to today.
I miss hearing you say that Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, they indicated that they have, I guess, the minister indicated that they have spent all the money that they had allocated for the 2000/2001 fiscal year.
Does the minister, does his department know who they gave that out to.
I guess, I know that's something that I have been asking about and I'm just wondering if they don't, how long does it take for them to take a look and see a list of where those dollars went.
I have the list of the people that were given funding.
If I have to read them line-by-line, there's too many of them.
So, like I mentioned before to the member, I would table this information perhaps, if it's okay, tomorrow. If it's appropriate, I will table the information in the House or if I'm not able to table them tomorrow, I will table them in May during the Cambridge Bay session.
Question 207 – 1(5): Renewable Resource Officer Trainees
Mr. Speaker, a number of years ago, I think it was approximately 1989, in Baker Lake we had two renewable resource officers stationed there.
Due to the government cutbacks and the shortage of funding, one of the positions was eliminated.
Mr. Speaker, if I remember correctly, the reason we had two renewable resource officers there is because we had the Thelon Heritage River that comes all the way from Yellowknife.
We got the Hizan Heritage River that flows all the way from Saskatchewan, we're just on the brink of having Wager Bay declared a national park plus we have Baker Lake that empties into the Hudson's Bay which is a large body of water.
Over the last few years, with the creation of Nunavut, there's been an increased flow of traffic, tourists from the U.S. flying in on aircrafts, chartered aircrafts, dropping down doing whatever they wish.
The overworked renewable resource officer there now and the hamlet council are very concerned about this.
The hamlet council wrote the minister a letter requesting that it would be appropriate to set up a training position in Baker Lake to help this tremendously overworked officer in our community.
Has the minister considered this yet.
We are still doing the research on this.
We have currently three training positions for wildlife in our department and we are still working on where they are going to go.
I'll get back to the Member for Baker Lake once I get the information.
I'll take this question as notice.
Question 208 – 1(4): Five Year Capital Planning Process
My question is to the Minister of Community Government & Transportation.
Last month, the communities received a letter from his department to be involved in a 5-year capital plan.
How will the mayors be assisted during the planning of the 5-year capital plan and how will they be planning with the department for the 5-year capital plan.
The 5-year capital plans that we prepare, I know there' s a lot of different priorities that we have as communities and the Nunavut government.
We used to work in the communities as mayors and councillors and we were given the opportunity to be involved in the 5-year capital planning.
But it's slightly different today how we want to do the 5-year capital plan.
The councillors in the communities will be given information or we will be corresponding with them about the 5-year capital plan.
But there will be changes expected from both sides.
So what we are going to do, if it has something to do with health and safety aspects of the community then we will have to priorize them on that basis.
If the communities tell us that these are the priorities that we have, we will try to accommodate them.
That is what we want to do by working with them on the 5-year capital plan.
We will also involve the Nunavut Association of Municipalities on the 5-year capital planning.
But we will listen more to the councillors in the communities.
When we were under the NWT government there were numerous things that were delayed in the communities.
Projects that were delayed.
Now that we have the Government of Nunavut, I just want to get some reassurance that these projects that have been delayed should be continued.
All those projects that were delayed in the communities that were already in the 5-year capital plan.
I wonder if the Government of Nunavut will make them happen.
We want to be able to continue with them, but as the Government of Nunavut there is a 12 million dollar capital budget for this coming fiscal year.
That is the only problem that we have.
What we want to do is keep in mind always the health and safety aspects of each community when we are planning the capital projects for the communities.
But when some communities are asked what things are your priorities we try to keep those in consideration.
In the 5-year capital plan, in which we will be involving the communities, if they want to change their priorities we can talk with them.
I know there are a lot of projects that were delayed before.
But we only have a limited amount of money for capital projects.
But we will talk with the communities to find out from them exactly what priorities they have.
As long we follow the health and safety aspects for each community.
Mr. Speaker, if the health and safety issues are going to be a hindrance, then I would like to see the plans move forward regardless.
If we are going to have projects deferred to another year or if they are just going to be forgotten then the constituents are not going to be very happy.
It would be good to see these plans move forward.
This is not a hindrance.
We have to think of the health and safety standards and prevent dangerous situations.
For example, if a community needed a loader, but instead they had to prioritize and defer the purchasing of that loader to get a much more urgently needed water truck then those are the kinds of emergency situations that we are going to have to take into consideration.
We have to prioritize projects on an as needed basis.
Of course we'll always need funding because there's always a shortage of funding.
But that has never hindered the projects or programs.
The health and safety standards always have to be a priority.
Yes, we will always strive to meet the needs of every community.
But we have to go with what funding has been allocated.
If we have to look for more funding to gain capital items then yes, we will continue to seek that funding.
For example, as the Department of Community Government & Transportation we will continue to seek funding for the capital projects in Mr. Iqaqrialu's riding.
Written Questions. Item 7. Written Questions.
Returns to Written Questions. Item 8. Returns to Written Questions.
Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Item 11. Reports of Standing and Special Committees.
Report 004 – 1(5): Review of Bill 6 Nunavut Power Utility Assets Transfer Confirmation Act
Mr. Speaker, I wish to report that Bill 6, Nunavut Power Corporation Utility Assets Transfer Confirmation Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services, and that the Bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(5) and have Bill 6 moved into Committee of the Whole for today.
There is a request to move to waive Rule 68 (5) so that the standing committee report can be referred to Committee of the Whole.
Bill 6 stands referred to Committee of the Whole.
Tabled Document 020 – 1(5): Annual Reports; Nunavut Development Corporation, Nunavut Business Credit Corporation
I will try and entitle these in Inuktitut.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the 1999/2000 Annual Reports for the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
Item 12. Tabling of Documents.
Item 13, rather.
I give notice that on March 30, 2001, I will move the following…
How can you tell he entered the session.
I give notice that on March 30, 2001, I will move the following motion.
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay that notwithstanding rule 4, that when the house concludes the sitting in Iqaluit this week, hallelujah…
…it shall be adjourned until May 16, 2001 and further, that any time prior to May 16, 2001, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the executive council and Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon, the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as if it has been duly adjourned to that time.
Mr. McLean: I ask permission to deal with my motion today.
Speaker: The member is seeking consent to deal with his motion today.
It is the end of all long session isn't it.
Mr. McLean, proceed.
Motion 005 – 1(5): Extended Adjournment
Like I say, it's the end of the session, how can you tell.
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member from Cambridge Bay, that notwithstanding rule 4, that when the house concludes, hallelujah, the sitting in Iqaluit this week, it shall be adjourned until May 16, 2001.
And further, that any time prior May 16, 2001, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the executive council and Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at that time stated in such notice and shall transact it's business as if it has been duly adjourned until that time Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 1 and 6 with Mr. Iqaqrialu in the Chair.
In accordance with the authority vested in me, by Motion 002-1(5), the committee of the whole will stay in session until it reports itself out with Mr. Iqaqrialu in the chair.
Before we proceed, we'll take a much needed break for 20 minutes and return to committee of the whole.
>>House recessed at 3.45 p.m. and resumed at 4.19 p.m.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, members. Welcome back to committee of the whole.
We will call the committee to order.
We will be dealing with Bill 1 and Bill 6.
We would like to deal with Bill 6 first and then move on to Bill 1 and review the Department of Health & Social Services.
Does the committee agree that we deal with Bill 6.
I would ask our legal counsel to join us.
Thank you, Mr. Chandler, welcome.
The Minister, Mr. Okalik. I apologize, Minister Picco.
We also work with both ministers so bear with me if I ask the wrong minister to go ahead.
Bill 6 - Nunavut Power Corporation Utility Assets Transfer Confirmation Act – Consideration in Committee
Hon. Ed Picco (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I apologize I have a cold so please bear with me (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the members of this committee for this opportunity to discuss this important piece of legislation.
The proposed bill will provide for a number of essential authorities that are required before the Nunavut Power Corporation can effectively and legally be the power provider in Nunavut on April 1, 2001.
First, the proposed bill confirms the legal transfer of all NTPC assets located in Nunavut, to the Nunavut Power Corporation.
This ensures that all the assets that NPC requires in order to operate, legally belong to NPC.
Negotiations for the transfer of assets have been ongoing for some time, but a final agreement has not yet been signed.
Final discussions on the Transfer Agreement and negotiations on the financial issues, such as the division of the long and short-term debt, will commence tomorrow.
Agreement in principle is expected before April 1st, but there is no guarantee that all will be completed before NPC takes over responsibility for power generation and distribution in Nunavut.
Secondly, Mr. Chairman, the proposed bill allows NPC to assume responsibility for any contractual arrangements between NTPC and the customer base in Nunavut. Essentially, this gives NPC the legal authority to bill customers and receive the revenues generated as a result.
Thirdly, Mr. Chairman, the proposed bill allows NPC to assume the rights and responsibilities under any franchise agreements between NTPC and Municipalities in Nunavut.
In effect Mr. Chairman, it allows NPC to operate in the communities where there is a franchise agreement in place.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, the proposed bill provides notice to the legal registries in Nunavut, that registered assets in the name of NTPC may be changed to reflect NPC as the legal owners, and that there will be no fees or costs to NPC associated with the change in ownership.
Mr. Chairman, this is a very brief summary of the provisions contained in the bill, and I look forward to any questions or discussions that the Committee may have.