EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The facility is up and running fully. We’re learning from it every day, but we are going to integrate inmates on a slow basis so that everybody has a chance to actually learn their jobs as we’re going here too.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you for that update, Minister Shewchuk.
Our colleague, the MLA for Amittuq, made a statement about decreasing the number of inmates and if that is possible, we want those numbers to decrease, especially the inmates moving to that facility.
However, at this time, with those numbers of inmates and with the existing overcrowding issue at BCC, we happened to be present when the transfers occurred. I also heard from the public that they thought there were now 17 inmates.
How many inmates are now at that facility? Can the minister elaborate on that to this committee?
There are 17 at present, but I do understand here and we’re having the same concern too that we have to relieve what we have here happening in Iqaluit and we will be moving inmates in there at a slower pace, though.
I think what is important too is that you have to consider the staff that is working there and ensure that they’re comfortable, confident, and know how to do their jobs.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) I have a further question related to his comment on the staffing process, particularly those employees working at that facility relating more to actual guard positions.
Can the minister elaborate whether or not his department has a plan to hire more locals in the administration and management positions? I ask whether or not a plan exists to that end for financial positions from the communities.
Can you revise your plan to accommodate this request?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Mr. Curley for that question.
I think a long-term plan of the facility is to target all beneficiaries to work there and, actually, to develop them in their career plans so that they do become the supervisors of this facility in the long term. Yes, I will say that we have looked at a couple of profiles of positions there that we will be targeting beneficiaries for. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I appreciate the minister’s commitment, but we do need a plan of action. When you look at all the government senior positions there, the middle managers and senior executive members in the government are quite always a low priority. It should be stepped up.
When I was a young man growing up, I was reminded 100 times a day that I had potential. That was the language of the day.
Finally, I wrote a commentary and had it published that I can continue to be told that I have a lot of potential. “This guy has the potential to speak in Inuktitut.” Unless someone acts on it, he will remain having potential for a lifetime.
I said that someone has to take action in order to take advantage of this potential. That’s how I was trained as a hunter. My dad finally couldn’t just keep saying that I had potential.
He had to let me go. That is the kind of action that you have to take.
In Rankin Inlet, if we have the facility, we have the civil service, and these individuals who are in the public service in Rankin Inlet who have the ability to take control of finance.
Thereby, you don’t have to waste time moving expenses and trying to see if they qualify after six months time and maybe replace them two or three times before you finally settle on one.
So I would like a much more detailed commitment from the minister if he would commit to an action plan to hire more senior levels of staffing.
It’s not something new in terms of administrative senior financial responsibility in management as well as finance. Could you do that? Thank you.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can do that. I know that we have had this discussion already with all our corrections staff and J.P., the director.
Our goal in this facility is to mentor people.
We first have to know how they’re working and if they do have those capabilities. A lot probably do, but we need to understand them first before we mentor them in those positions. That is a long-term plan of this facility.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. I think you can make it a short- and long-term plan. I did receive one of the emails that says, “You applied, but you didn’t even get a chance to get an interview.”
Why is that allowed?
The way to find out whether or not the capability, ability, or the capacity to do the work is there is by interviewing those who apply.
Can the minister commit to interviewing local applicants if they do apply?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I absolutely can commit to that and that will be the process we follow.
Any positions that are vacant there and if the people have the skills for those positions, they absolutely will be included. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I understand the position for chief warden is now vacant at that place.
Will that position be put out to competition?
If so, when?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to update the member and the House on that position, we have sought and contracted a long-term northern employee who worked in the NWT and Nunavut to carry us over until that, absolutely, position will go out in an open competition and there will be a bulletin for.
In the interim, we have hired a previous warden with warden experience on contract until we get that position filled.
That should be in the near future, in the next six to eight months.
I’m ending my questions for now, but I had a question on E-7 too, a short one. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Chairman (interpretation): Before we go back and while we are in the process of proceeding, I will give Ms. Ugyuk an opportunity to ask questions on page E-8.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) In June of 2012, you informed the Legislative Assembly that the memorandum of understanding with the Government of the Northwest Territories for the housing of Nunavut inmates in the NWT facilities will be in place until the fiscal year-end of 2014.
On what date does the current agreement expire and does your department plan to renew the agreement?
I don’t believe that the agreement has expired and it will be continued. I think we say that it’s going to 2017 and it will be renewed at that point in time too.
I can assure the member that I have been on speaking terms with the minister from the Northwest Territories and there is no concern about us housing inmates in the NWT if we need to.
Mr. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) One of your department’s priorities for the 2012-13 fiscal year was to “Continue assuming full responsibility for Community Supervision, in placing Community Corrections Officers (CCO) in all communities thus ending the reliance on Health and Social Services to provide these services in certain communities.”
Your department’s draft 2013-16 business plan indicates that “This is still ongoing. The biggest challenge is in securing office space and housing in several targeted communities.
Community Corrections and Community and Government Services are working closely to address these issues.” Which communities are being targeted?
I have quite a list here.
I think the question was which communities are being targeted for probation officers. By my list, they would be Kugaaruk, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Clyde River, Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Kimmirut, and Qikiqtarjuaq.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) As of today, approximately how many residents of the territory are currently on probation?
I believe the number is approximately 1,700.
Ms Ugyuk.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Your department’s draft 2013-16 business plan indicates that “Social Services still provide some services in communities where there are no Community Corrections officers.” In which communities is the Department of Health and Social Services still providing probation services?
I think, to provide the member and the House with very precise, clear, and accurate answers, I would ask to bring another witness to the table.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Shewchuk. (interpretation) Does the committee agree to bring in another witness?
Chairman (interpretation): Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort one witness out and another witness in.
Thank you. While we wait for the witness to appear at the table, I would like to remind you that we’re on an item that was already approved.
We will keep that in mind.
Ms. Ugyuk, perhaps you can rephrase your question so that you can get a proper response. Before you do that, Minister Shewchuk, for the record, please introduce your new witness.
I would like to introduce J.P. Deroy, Director of Corrections.
Welcome. Ms. Ugyuk.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Your department’s draft 2013-16 business plan indicates that “Social Services still provide some services in communities where there are no Community Corrections officers.” In which communities is the Department of Health and Social Services still providing probation services?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Deroy.
From February 1, 2013, this year, Social Services is no longer in the business of providing probation services across Nunavut. The Department of Justice Corrections has fully assumed responsibility for these services.
We will leave that one for now.
We’re on page E-9, but our colleague, Mr. Curley, is asking you, even though E-7 has been approved, to go back to that page.
Mr. Curley, am I correct in stating that you would like to go back to page E-7?
Chairman (interpretation): Are you getting tired?
I didn’t hear a nay.
Mr. Curley, you’re allowed to back to the page that was approved. Do you have a question on page E-7?
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, I do. I appreciate that I have been given the opportunity, but we still haven’t approved the main estimates, so that is fine by me.
This matter deals with a fairly important one that a constituent conveyed to me just recently, although I can’t divulge the details.
I want to ask a process-related question. When a person is identified as being deceased, with our residents passing away in various ways, some die by drowning, but that is only an example I am citing.
The only person to make that distinction would be the chief coroner under this department. The chief coroner, whom I know, is doing an outstanding job and I hope he stays in our community in that capacity as that is my preference.
This issue that I’m asking about is one where I wonder if I can get assistance from either the minister or his deputies. When the coroner makes the determination of the cause of death, what happens if the family members feel that wasn’t the cause of death?
What avenues do the grieving family members have to try to change that determination?
Often, the bodies are sent to Ottawa for a pathologist to determine what the death is when it’s not apparent to the coroner.
That’s how the coroner determines the cause of death.
I know it is complex. Sometimes there is obviously a debate within the family whether or not the cause of death, either criminal or natural, was self-inflicted.
In one recent conversation that I was asked to listen to, there is a belief that, actually, the result of the coroner a few years back was not proper. I really didn’t know what the process should be to try and get justice into the whole thing.
They believed it was criminal, but it was determined that it was not the case.
I mean the result was really quite different. I won’t tell you what it was.
In my earlier preamble, I said, “What is the process for trying to get clarification on what the exact result or cause of death may have been?”
They believe it to be criminal in that case, but they didn’t know what to do with it nor did I. Thank you.
I’ll let DM Tarnow respond to that.
In a case where there is concern that a death was as a result of a criminal activity, the RCMP, in the case of Nunavut, are the people who you need to get in touch with, especially if there’s some evidence that has come to light over time.
We were done with E-8, so I would like to go to page E-9.
We can now go to page E-9.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) You tabled the 2009-2010 annual report under the Family Abuse Intervention Act on November 5, 2012.
When will you table the 2010-11 and 2011-12 annual reports in the Legislative Assembly?
Chairman (interpretation): I’m sorry, Ms. Ugyuk, we were having some technical difficulties, but I would like to ask you to repeat your question because I don’t think everyone heard it.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) You tabled the 2009-2010 annual report under the Family Abuse Intervention Act on November 5, 2012. When will you table the 2010-11 and 2011-12 annual reports to the Legislative Assembly?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will commit to tabling those documents in the spring sitting.
Ms. Ugyuk: Your department’s draft 2013-16 business plan indicates that it is “currently working to develop a Family Abuse Intervention Act Policy as well as updating current procedures.”
As of today, what is the status of this initiative and when will the new policy be approved by cabinet and tabled in the Legislative Assembly?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Shewchuk.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe the status is that this has not moved much in the last while and the information and tabling of any documents under this would not be done until the new government is in place. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) In March of 2012, you sent correspondence to the standing committee which indicated that the Department of Justice has formed a Family Abuse Intervention Act working group comprised of the senior judge, director of community justice, director of court services, and the senior justice of the peace, the Family Abuse Intervention Act justice of the peace, the civil registrar, the law clerk, and the representative of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
How many meetings has this working group held and what specific decisions has it taken to improve the administration of the Family Abuse Intervention Act?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Ms. Ugyuk for the question.
I believe this committee has had one meeting and very little progress has been done. It has been working more on the terms of reference and what they’re going to be looking at into the future. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Your department’s draft 2013-16 business plan indicates that “Community Justice Committee activity reporting and reporting requirements are under review…to better reflect the work that is being done at the community level.”
As of today, what specific changes to the activity and reporting requirements are being considered?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Shewchuk.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I would like to say that the community justice committees in all communities are very important to us, and I know this first hand from just recently meeting with my community in Arviat.
I think there always have to be reviews going on the committees and input from them on what they need us and the Department of Justice’s support for.
I don’t believe that there has been an in-depth review on what the needs are of community justice.
We will continue to do this, but at this point, I know it has been reflected and told to us that justice committees need more support and actually need more financial support than anything to carry out their business. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): This will be my last question, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Your department’s draft 2013-16 business plan indicates that one of its priorities 2013-14 is to assist community justice committees to increase their ability to receive more cases diverted from the formal criminal justice system.
What specific action does your department plan to take?
That is the intent.
Community justice committees would like to help more people in the communities. I think the major action that we could do as the Department of Justice is give them more support and financial support.
We are on page E-9. Branch Summary. Justice.
Community Justice. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $4,817,000.
Going back to page E-3. Page E-3. Department Summary.
Justice. Detail of Expenditures. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $100,439,000.
Do we agree that the Department of Justice has been completed?
At this time, Minister Shewchuk, if you have any closing remarks.
I would like to thank you and your committee for the very good and in-depth questions.
I would like to thank my witnesses here with me today. There are a couple in the back who have been hand-signalling me instructions and then answers to questions. Stephen Mansell is the Director of Policy and Planning and Chris Stewart, Manager of Capital Projects.
They are sitting in the Gallery.
I would like to say that I, as the Minister of Justice, and I think it was highlighted here today that the priority for justice is, absolutely, crime prevention.
We need to try and keep our youth and young people out of crime and out of our facilities that we have. We need to offer them more in communities. It has been talked about around the table that we need more recreation facilities for them.
We need more for them to do. We, along with the government, communities, and parents, are all part of the picture of crime prevention. I think we can all work a little harder and create better programming for our children.
Anyway, Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.
It has been a pleasure being here. Thank you.
At this time, we will continue with the Committee of the Whole.
Before we begin with another department, Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses out. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Minister Shewchuk.
(interpretation) We are going on to the Department of Finance. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, Minister Peterson, to go to the witness table to make his opening remarks.
Bill 49 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2013-2014 – Finance – Consideration in Committee
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to discuss the 2013-14 main estimates and business plan of the Department of Finance.
Mr. Chairman, the business plan now incorporates human resource functions transferred to the Department of Finance. The Training and Development Division and the GN-wide responsibility for Inuit employment planning have been moved to the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs while the Corporate Services Division has been moved to the new Department of Family Services. All other functions, including the regional offices, are merging with the Department of Finance.
Several initiatives related to human resources will progress over the course of the three-year planning period, including: work on a GN-wide Human Resources Strategy; further amendments to the Public Services Act; and the development of the framework – manuals, policies, and guidelines necessary to delegate staffing functions to departments once the capacity to take on added responsibility is achieved.
Mr. Chairman, decision-making will be guided by five basic fiscal principles that will form the basis of our fiscal management strategy.
These principles are: forward looking in our planning, realistic in our budgeting, responsible in our spending, transparent in our reporting, and accountable for our decisions.
One of the key financial priorities for this year will be to work with corporate services divisions from all departments to select a budgeting or forecasting tool that can be implemented across the GN. We’re also developing an enterprise risk management policy.
The new policy will formalize the risk identification and mitigation activities already taking place in departments.
Mr. Chairman, for the second year in a row, we have met the statutory requirements for tabling of our public accounts. This indicates significant progress in our efforts to strengthen financial management across the Government of Nunavut.
In the coming year, we plan to build on that progress with additional work to strengthen financial controls and electronic workflow.
Mr. Chairman, once again, I want to thank all the task force members for their work and for making sure that consultations took place in all communities for the liquor task force. We will look at all recommendations and carefully consider how to proceed with amendments to our legislation.
The Territorial Formula Financing (TFF) Agreement is up for renewal in 2014.
At the December 2012 finance ministers’ meeting, Minister Flaherty assured the territories that any adjustments to TFF will be revenue neutral.
In 2013-14, the Department of Finance will continue to work towards the Government of Nunavut’s Return to Balance.
We expect to be in a surplus position at the end of this year and we are budgeting a surplus position for the following year.
Finance has five core lines of business: Directorate, Policy, Planning and Financial Management, Internal Audit Services, Comptrollership, and the Centrally Administered Funds.
For 2013-14, the Department of Finance has been allocated $82.8 million in operations and maintenance expenditures. This is significantly higher than the $63.2 million allocated in 2012-13, but now includes portions of the main estimates transferred from the Department of Human Resources.
$31.5 million for compensation and benefits;
$51.3 million for centrally administered programs, including:
$5.7 million for other operations and maintenance costs in the department;
$19.3 million for government-wide employee benefits, such as dental premiums, workers’ compensation premiums, and employee medical travel;
$10.2 million for lease costs of the Legislative Assembly building and other office buildings constructed by the Nunavut Construction Corporation prior to April 1, 1999;
$9.0 million for energy subsidies and contributions;
$5.0 million for Government of Nunavut’s insurance premiums; and
$2.1 million for the Nunavut Child Benefit.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be pleased to take questions.
Does the Chair of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts have any opening comments?
Chairman: Go ahead, Mr. Elliott.
Mr. Curley: A point of privilege. I was going to ask a question.
Chairman: Mr. Curley, question to whom?
(interpretation) Wait a moment. Switch the mic to Mr. Curley.
Point of Privilege  Mr. Curley: Mr. Chairman, my question to you was: when is the “report progress,” as a privilege of a member, qualified to be said?
Chairman: Mr. Curley, I was actually going to see if anybody would want to report progress after Mr. Elliott’s comments, but it’s your privilege.
Mr. Curley: Mr. Chairman, yes, I understand the case to be that, but there was a direction from your staff that that wasn’t the case and it infringes on my privilege as an MLA.
I will allow Mr. Elliott to proceed. I still have my hand up and I think it’s important that you advise your staff not to interfere with the rights of MLAs.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Curley. I will take that advisement.
Thank you for the opportunity to read the opening comments for the department. I admit they are quite long.
One of the advantages is always, since there is one department fewer when they’re combining both the departments of Finance and HR, you don’t have to listen to me twice; you only have to listen to me once.
So if everybody wants to sit back and relax, it could be a bedtime story.
I am pleased to deliver opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts on its review of the proposed 2013-14 main estimates and 2013-16 business plan of the Department of Finance.