EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I appreciate the fact that we have gone through this and I have to give credit to our staff. All of the departments that put these business plans and main estimates together on short notice, right after general elections.
It took a lot of work. It took a lot of collaboration between departments.
I commend staff and officials that did all of this work.
Mr. Speaker, the comments taken here. We take them very seriously. We’re trying to find ways to improve our services to the public.
Mr. Chairman, the last comment on casuals is something that we will be looking at very seriously.
I do believe that there are people out there that can make careers within this government at any level. I look forward to increasing the Inuit participation and overall employment rate of this whole territory.
Sergeant-at-Arms if you can assist the minister and his officials.
Before we begin the next department, (interpretation ends) we will take a five-minute break.
>>Committee recessed at 16:33 and resumed at 16:46
Bill 02 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2014-2015 – Culture and Heritage – Consideration in Committee
I would like to ask Minister Okalik if he has officials that he would like to appear before the committee.
Chairman: Does the committee agree to bring in the minister’s officials go to the witness table?
For the record, Mr. Okalik, please introduce your officials.
To my right is Deputy Minister Joe Kunuk, who is no stranger to the House, and on my left is Regilee Adla, our Director of Corporate Services.
Please proceed with your opening comments, Minister Okalik.
I am pleased to appear before the Committee of the Whole to present the Department of Culture and Heritage’s 2014-15 main estimates and the 2014-17 business plan.
This department holds a leadership role within the Government of Nunavut for the preservation, development, and enhancement of Nunavut’s culture, heritage, and languages for Nunavummiut.
Mr. Chairman, in line with Sivumut Abluqta, the department will review and evaluate our programs in order to focus our resources on enabling Nunavut’s success and maximize the return on public investment.
The review is a tool to revise, where necessary, our budget forecasting, grants and contributions policies and Inuit employment processes.
The department will continue to implement and support terminology workshops, Language Week, community contributions, and other language initiatives that help to ensure the prevention, promotion, and development of Inuktitut in Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to announce that for the fiscal year 2014-15, so far we have awarded $3,109,486 or 84 percent of our various community-based grants and contributions funding.
Recipients awarded include not-for-profit, Inuit-based organizations, individuals, and municipal corporations who will direct their efforts to the promotion, protection, and preservation of Nunavut’s official language, culture, and heritage.
To this end, I look forward to the Legislative Assembly review of the Official Language Act and Inuit Languages Protection Act.
Mr. Chairman, since the creation of Nunavut we have been storing our history in other jurisdictions. The cost of the care and storage is now over $1 million annually yet the loss to our identity cannot be quantified.
Nunavut needs to take action to bring our history home.
Mr. Chairman, culture and heritage is actively canvassing storage space in Nunavut. We are looking for space in Kugluktuk, Rankin Inlet, Cape Dorset, and Iqaluit for heritage materials not requiring climate control.
We will be working with the Nunavut Heritage Centres Society to develop a funding strategy for future heritage facility in Nunavut.
I would be pleased to respond to any questions that members of the committee may have.
Thank you. Merci. (interpretation) Thank you.
Does the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness have opening comments?
As Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness, I am pleased to deliver the standing committee’s opening comments as we begin consideration of the 2014-15 main estimates and business plan of the Department of Culture and Heritage.
The Department of Culture and Heritage is proposing a budget of approximately $25,600,000 for 2014-15, which is very similar to the department’s restated budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year.
The standing committee notes that the department concentrates its efforts on cultural and heritage initiatives as well as focusing on language initiatives and the implementation of Nunavut’s language legislation.
The standing committee appreciates that the department budgets a significant amount of funding, over $6.6 million, for grants and contributions in support of related initiatives.
Members appreciated the minister’s willingness to provide a breakdown, by type of activity and community, of funds distributed under grants and contributions.
While members are in full support of activities, project and initiatives which promote and enhance Nunavut’s rich heritage and culture, it is important to keep in mind that these are public funds and the principles of transparency and accountability still apply.
Members encourage the department to provide regular and detailed updates on what has been achieved through projects and initiatives funded through the grants and contributions process.
The standing committee notes further that the department received yearly funding of approximately $2.5 million from the federal government for the promotion of French and Inuit languages.
The standing committee would appreciate further information on how these funds are spent and stands ready to support the government in its efforts to access further federal funding to ensure that the official language rights and obligations across Nunavut can be met.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee is aware that collections of Nunavut’s cultural artefacts are located in other jurisdictions across Canada and members encourage the department in its efforts to repatriate these artefacts whenever possible, including the inclusion of artefacts in local community based heritage displays.
Mr. Chairman, the committee notes that the department has a number of programs, initiatives, and services to support both Nunavut elders and Nunavut’s youth.
The members encourage the minister in his efforts to establish links between these two important sectors of our population, especially in efforts to address pressing social issues, such as suicide or elder abuse.
Mr. Chairman, in March of this year, the minister tabled a report on the government’s progress in incorporating Inuit societal values.
The members look forward to further reports on this topic, including for example, evaluations of how various departments and agencies are achieving success in implementing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Inuit societal values within their policies and activities.
It was also suggested that attention be paid to establishing practical and workable definitions for such concepts as elder and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within the context of policy and program development.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee notes the department’s significant investment in promoting, revitalizing, and strengthening the Inuit language across Nunavut.
Members encourage the minister to monitor initiatives in other jurisdictions, such as Quebec, which have strong and effective language policies.
Members note that while the Inuit Language Authority, Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit, is at arm’s length from the government, the department plays an important role in supporting its activities.
Chairman: We will now proceed to the page-by-page review.
Page F-4. Culture and Heritage. Branch Summary.
Directorate. Mr. Hickes.
I’d like to start off with the priorities for 2014-15. The very first priority listed is a thorough and evaluation of prior year estimates actual expenses conducted to improve departmental budget forecasting.
Has there been a concern with the forecasting of this department? Has there been lapsed dollars? Or was there a repeated need to move funds from within department budget lines?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like our Director of Corporate Services to respond to that.
Chairman: Ms. Adla.
Ms. Adla: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
It has been noticed that various different branches do not spend their budgets, so the budgets are moved around within the other branches that do need it.
For the exercise, the three-year forecast, starting the fiscal year 2014-15.
We have made adjustments using the last two and a half fiscal years.
Do these lapsed funds have an impact on any of the programming that’s available through this department?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Not at this time.
I would like to touch upon Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit, the Inuit Language Authority.
A number of responses we had from other ministers, particularly from Education and Nunavut Arctic College, talks to one of the challenges that they have in providing education in the Inuit language, of the lack of a standardized dialect to be used, using other jurisdictions.
Greenland, as an example, where years ago, decided on one dialect to provide their education system with.
Unfortunately, I don’t recall seeing this anywhere in the minister’s opening comments or even in our committee’s comments and I think this has just been highlighted a little bit more through this procedure of the Committee of the Whole committee meeting that there is a real need to really get on this right away as it is impacting other areas of our government, not just the working language but the education of our children.
I would like to get some feedback from the minister on that, please.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I fully agree with my colleague and the IUT, as we often refer to it, is the main body that is working on those matters at this time and I believe they’ll be filing this in their annual report again, shortly. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
How high of a priority is this on the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit Committee?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I know that they’ve been quite active in working with ITK, for example, so it’s something that is ongoing and will take a bit of time as we are dealing with very entrenched dialects, for example and a writing system that we have been using for quite some time, so it will take a little while, I’m sure, but they are working on this matter. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
As the minister is aware, we just struck a special committee to review the Education Act, just as recently as, a day or two ago.
One of the things that we will be looking at is the Inuit language education component within the Act and making sure that we are following all legislation associated with language.
When there is no real timeline, it makes it very difficult for us to review the Education Act with all of its components and obligations of teaching in the Inuit language.
I am wondering if the minister can maybe give me a little bit firmer timeline of when they’re going to be reviewing this and when there is going to be something that we can take a look at.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I understand there will be a major conference on our language this fall, so there will be a good discussion, I’m sure and as I said in my opening comments, we’re also reviewing the Inuit Language Protection Act along with the Official Languages Act.
So, there will be opportunities there, as well, to put in timelines, if they are required. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We are at Culture and Heritage. Branch Summary.
One of my colleagues asked this question already. I would like to expand on it.
The Inuit Language Authority, he said that there was a committee that exists.
How many people are in the committee and staff?
There are eight committee members right now.
Where do these representative committee members come from?
The committee consists of a chairperson, Elijah Erkloo from Pond Inlet and the vice chair, Mariam Aglukkaq from Gjoa Haven, Daisy Dialla from Pangnirtung, Mary Thompson from Arviat, and Ovide Alakannuark from Kugaaruk.
That is the committee right now.
We have different dialects here in the House and we represent many communities, so this is going to be very difficult to do.
As my colleague stated, when we’re trying to represent our communities, I would like to outline my position.
As Inuit, we have to work hard to protect our language, the language that we grew up with, our dialects that we grew up with.
We will always protect them.
In the Inuit Language Authority Committee, right now, there are three vacant committee member seats that you didn’t mention, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes, there should be eight, but right now, we have five and we’re going to be looking for three more committee members.
Being from Baker Lake, there are 12 dialects in my community and they came from different places.
Baker Lake is made up of people who came from many different places and there should be a member from Baker Lake in the committee.
We welcome anyone who is interested. We will be requesting interested committee members soon from all over the place in Nunavut.
At the same time, I appreciate the minister’s response and at the same time, when we look at the Inuit Language Protection Act and Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliurniq, does this committee also take into consideration the translation and fluency?
At the same time, when will the nominations close and how long are they appointed for?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): The term is for three years for committee members. As I stated, we will be putting out a request very shortly.
Who appoints the committee members?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): I will try to review them very carefully after we receive them in my office.
I will look at them and follow them through policy. They have to be proficient in their knowledge of Inuktitut. Through the directorship, we will appoint them.
I have a few questions under Heritage.
One of the first things I noticed under your priorities for 2013-14... .
Chairman: We’re on Directorate, page F-4.
In the 2012-13 fiscal year, you had grants and contributions over $5 million.
How do you check to see if the programs ran well or how they ran? How do you keep track of the contributions to make sure that they were spent properly in the communities?
They have to produce a report as to how they spent the money and what they did. They have to report on how they spend the money.
If something doesn’t run properly, would you stop the activity if they don’t, for example, produce a report or if they didn’t spend the money properly?
In 2014-15 you stated that the department would review and implement your grants and contributions policies. What kinds of changes will you be considering and what are the reasons for changing the current policies?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): As we have stated in Sivumut Abluqta we want to review our programs to make sure they are effective and that is the whole plan of the government. We are part of it.
We are going to review what we have used to see how we can improve things.
In your review, can regular people in Nunavut provide input if they have ideas on how we can improve how the money is used?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): We run the program so we will be reviewing the program. We will look to see how we can improve it. We will just be doing that along with the rest of the government.
We’ll be looking at different things.
I’ll move on to something else.
In the Inuit Language Authority.
I just want clarification. Language has been very important to me and in my workplaces. Taiguusiliuqtiit was one of the places where I worked.
That group is now a real body. They work on terminology. How do you implement the terminology that they approve?
How do you get them out there into the work world in Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
They come and report to me and then I review them. I work together with them as they implement terminology.
I don’t know if this question was posed or not. If it was, I apologize.
Does the Taiguusiliuqtiit Committee, how long of a term do they sit?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): They have a three-year term in accordance with the legislation.
Along the same lines, I would like to request some more information from the minister. The Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit and the Inuit Language Protection Act, they both try to protect the Inuktitut language and make sure that it is used.
Minister, can you tell us, how do you try to make the departments use them?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes, the terms of reference are also set out and they are clearly identified in the policy as to how they should be proceeding under section 17 of the Inuit Language Protection Act, according to the Inuit Language Protection Act I can give you the detail, if I need to.
Perhaps, I will change my question so it will be easier to respond to.
The Inuit Language Protection Act, as a minister, do you believe that it is being utilized properly in all the departments?
The Inuit Language Authority have had their employee vacant for quite some time so they are not trying to fill the vacant position so I am sure they won’t be as busy as they are now.
And, the Inuit Language Authority, the accounting structure, it states that there are eight PYs under the Inuit Language Authority.
Are all these positions currently filled? If not, which positions remain vacant, if you have that information?
To date, there are eight PYs but we have five filled.
The director has not been hired to date but we have an interim director.
I believe I can ask the question on page F-4.
In your priorities on page 62 just below Taiguusiliuqtiit, one of the priorities for 2013-14 states, “Integrate the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit division into Policy and Planning.”
That assessment has not been met and the priorities for the division has changed.
What has changed in your priorities? If you can elaborate further.
Yes, to date, it has not been achieved because they are changing the division. We want to review the whole department.
We’re looking at two possible changes prior to making changes within the division. So we have to review two issues.
To date, the NEU would like to negotiate their new agreement prior to these negotiations happening, so we have to set this aside.
I have no more names on my list. Culture and Heritage. Branch Summary.
Directorate. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $5,375,000. Agreed?
Branch Summary. Culture and Heritage. Official Languages.
In the priorities under 2013-14, it mentions in one of the statuses on page 65 that the department had consulted with members of the Francophone community to identify their needs and priority areas for the delivery of government services in French.
Jumping to the priorities in 2014-15, the very last bullet talks about developing a strategy to improve the delivery of French language programs and services to the public.
I’m assuming that during the consultation with members of the francophone community there were a number of issues brought forward so that enough information has been gathered to actually work on developing a strategy.
Would the minister be able to enlighten me on what some of the issues that he learned during the consultation process?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes. Thank you. (interpretation ends) From what I understand, they have been very active, I must say. We appreciate their contributions to our community.
They have been advising us to be more media savvy for the Francophone community. Those are some comments that we have received so far.
I appreciate their input very much, in terms of providing better services for the Francophone community, as we have used that information, as well, for Inuktitut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I’m sure there are a number of best practices that can be shared from both organizations for both languages.
What are some of the programs that are put in place for the Francophone community? I know that there are a number of cultural and artistic programs that the Francophone centre here holds fairly regularly. Is there a fair involvement from your department with a lot of those projects?
Hon. Paul Okalik: Yes, we do coordinate our activities quite well.
We fund through the contribution agreement we get from Canada, the daycares, the Francophone school, and the francophone centre activities.
There has been some good work that has resulted, like one number to call for French services and we will be doing the same for Inuktitut.
Those are some things that come to fruition with the good work of the francophone community that we are using for Inuktitut as well. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The minister just reminded me of the central phone number for access to French services and future Inuktitut services.
I believe that the minister had committed to me at one point to provide me with that number. I was wondering if he could do so.
Hon. Paul Okalik: The French number is 975-5544 and the Inuktitut number is 1-866-684-5056. (interpretation) Thank you.
Just for clarification, on page 65, at the top, it states, “Coordinate translation and editing services” in the three official languages.
When the minister of Arctic College appeared before the committee during our review of their main estimates, we were asking questions in regard to the interpreter training program for languages.
To date, there are not too many interested people for the interpreter training program. Wherever possible, as a government, we try to use all three official languages in written documents.
Does the lack of interpreter/translators slow the filling of positions?
To date, it doesn’t have an impact. Inuktitut interpreter/translators have stayed in their positions, so we didn’t run into problems with that.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On page 66 in the fourth bullet, it states, “Collaborate with the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit and other organizations to strengthen the use of the standardized Inuktut writing system in government.”
Our language has to catch up to the way we are operating today. We use computers. If I want to use Inuktitut on the computer, the syllabics are not readily available.
If we want to use the Inuktitut writing system, we have to catch up to all the technology.
We have to review it if we want to incorporate it into our daily operation.
Therefore, we want to work with the Inuit Language Authority.
As I stated earlier, this coming fall, in Nunavut, we’re going to be holding a symposium to talk about Inuit language and strengthening the use of the Inuit language.
We will try and make ourselves available at that time.
The one I just read, although I’m supposed to know it but I didn’t quite understand it in English. Maybe I do not understand the English.
It seems to be saying that today there’s already a standardized Inuktitut writing system at this time. We need to strengthen the already utilized writing system.
That’s how I understand it. Maybe that’s why I’m misunderstanding.
What is it saying? Is it saying that we already have a standardized Inuktitut writing system?
We have two written official languages and we are using them today.
However, we know that through some areas we should be strengthening the Inuktitut language everywhere.
In the aims 2014-15 on page 66. It says they will be reviewing promoting the use of Inuktitut among youth and communities so what will they be… what will they be looking to revive and promote?
Every year we get requests about what kind of activities communities wish to do.
We will be open again this year to providing funding in terms of what they wish. We will be approving practically all of them again this year.
Mr. Enook asked a related question in relation to the ‘standardized Inuktitut writing system.’
It is said that it will be improved and the two systems that are said to be used Roman orthography and syllabics are the two terms. Do you think that these two will always be used or will they eventually be using only one of the two?