EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
There's a women's shelter here in Iqaluit, and there are women's shelters in some communities and none in others.
I am a representative of two communities, one of which has a women's shelter and the other one doesn't.
The community that has the women’s shelter is Taloyoak.
I'll use that as an example.
Mr. Speaker, this women's shelter that I am referring to is operated by Inutiq Committee and it's been open or operating for 20 years now. Since it was established 20 years ago I want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if they could provide more funding.
Taloyoak has a population of 700-800 people.
How much is set for shift work.
Some workers stay on all night.
What is the per ratio there for population.
Speaker: Just a reminder to members about long preambles.
Mr. Picco. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, the ratio or per capita funding for the family violence shelters is not based on population.
They are based on stated needs that would have come forward in a proposal for funding.
But Mr. Speaker, I am willing as minister to look at the situation in Taloyoak.
Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier this shelter has been running for 20 years in Taloyoak and the Council ensured that it is running smoothly.
In the last eight years they received funding of 84 thousand dollars annually.
This figure has stayed the same and hasn't changed for the last eight years.
Now the fuel price increase and the utilities or the increase in power rates has put a huge dent in that funding.
So I wanted to ask the minister if there is going to be additional funding in the future, a funding review in the future.
Mr. Speaker, with the cost increases that are accruing for example from fuel and so on.
We need to be able to take a look at all of our programs and services especially in the contracts that we have in place that are serving the people of Nunavut.
So that is one thing Mr. Speaker, that we will be able to look at in Taloyoak to see exactly to see what the funding level is now and take a look at any funding later that is needed because of fuel and other increases.
I don't have those figures with me Mr. Speaker, but I can commit to the member that we will look at the situation in Taloyoak regarding the shelter.
In the operations and maintenance budget for 2001-2002.
I noted in here that the women's shelter in Taloyoak is not included in this plan.
This shelter has been operating on a budget of 84 thousand.
I want to ask the minister if his department will be supplying funding for more than 84 thousand dollars.
Because these employees need to get paid salaries so that they can provide food and other things for their families.
Can the minister commit to reviewing this budget and give us a report by the time we have a session in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, I can commit to doing that.
I'm very familiar with the operations of the family violence shelters.
One of the things that we have tried to look at on the program review under Health & Social Services is what agencies of government that we are funding and how do we help them deliver the programs for us at the community level.
One of those is family violence shelters.
We have family violence shelters here, we have one in Dorset, and we have one in Taloyoak as the member said.
We have them in many communities around Nunavut.
That's one of the things I would commit to doing for the member and updating him on the situation, the funding of the shelter in Taloyoak.
Question 210 – 1(5): Nunavut Development Corporation Performance Measures
It's the last day.
That's probably why everyone knows I'm smiling today.
I get to get home to my family that I miss very much.
Yesterday the minister tabled the 1999/2000 Annual Report for the Nunavut Development Corporation.
In a report from the office of the Auditor General of Canada to the minister, the report criticized the corporation for its failure to measure the number of jobs created as a result of subsidies paid or investments made.
My question today Mr. Speaker, is what is the corporation doing differently to measure its actual outcomes and its results.
That's a very good question Mr. McLean.
I recently had a meeting with NDC, which was in February I believe.
Just before the trade show.
We are trying change the legislation with the NDC and we are planning to be more effective in the jobs that we create with NDC.
I'll be honest and work closely with them in the years to come.
Mr. Speaker, that's good that the minister recognizes that and will be working towards making it more effective.
Mr. Speaker, we also gave, we, the Legislative Assembly gave the honourable minister an increase in Nunavut Development Corporation operating lines and also Mr. Speaker, we said that we wanted the Nunavut Development Corporation to expand into the non-decentralized communities.
So I'm hoping the minister will get back to us soon.
Probably within the next six months to a year on the operation of that.
Speaker: I don't believe there's a question there.
Question 211 – 1(5): Capital of Nunavut & Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
I am not sure who I'm directing this question to but I'll direct my question to the Premier regarding Iqaluit as the capital of Nunavut.
Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut so do they respect the Inuit language and work hard towards keeping it strong.
Yes, we are working hard towards keeping the Inuktitut language strong.
There's a language committee that will be reviewing the language and we will be working together to see how we could improve our language or make it better.
The program for Toonik Tyme in Iqaluit the Inuktitut version if he was to read the Inuktitut.
It is hard to read part of it.
Is this what they are working hard towards.
I know all the documents that are translated go towards Nunavut.
I just raised that question so that they could be done for all of Nunavut.
Speaker: Just a caution to the members regarding documents that are not before the House or not published by the House.
Be careful in referring to these documents.
Mr. Premier do you care to address the question.
As government officials we review all the documents and Community Government & Transportation did not do that document.
So we can only control what documents come out of the Government of Nunavut. If that needs to be revised I think we would have to bring it to the mayor of the community.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral Questions.
Question 212 - 1(5): Premier’s Visit to Qikiqtarjuaq
I will be nice asking this question.
Last year the Premier was going to go to Qikiqtarjuaq and because of the weather they weren't able to go.
Does he have any plans for going to Qikiqtarjuaq this year.
I plan to go to Qikiqtarjuaq perhaps after the session after taking a short break.
I'd love to go to Qikiqtarjuaq and meet with the community.
There are no further Oral Questions.
We will move on to Item 7.
Just give us a minute here.
Members I think you'll agree that this is a appropriate time to break for lunch since the elders are still here waiting for us.
We will break for 45 minutes.
>>House recessed at 11.55 a.m. and resumed at 12.52 p.m.
Report 005 – 1(5): Review of Bill 3
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report that Bill 3, Utility Rates Review Council Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services, and that the Bill, as amended and reprinted, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(5) and have Bill 3 moved into Committee of the Whole for today.
Speaker: There is a request to waive Rule 68(5) and send the committee report to the committee of the whole.
Standing Committee Report on Bill 3 is referred to committee of the whole.
Tabled Document 021– 1(5): A Field Guide to Common Wildlife Diseases and Parasites in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table, “A Field Guide to Common Wildlife Diseases and Parasites in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut”, and a summary of wildlife research projects.
I would like to say goodbye to the members that are leaving this afternoon.
Bill 3, with Mr. Puqiqnak 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.
We shall begin the committee of the whole. We will be dealing with Bill 3. Does the committee agree that we deal with Bill 3.
Just before we begin Bill 3, I have an announcement to make.
When I was the Chairperson of the committee of the whole, there was a point of privilege raised.
I am going to make my ruling.
Ruling From the Chair
I would like to provide the House with a ruling on the matter raised on March 6, during the proceedings of the committee of the whole by the Member for Cambridge Bay.
This was in response to remarks made by the Member for Iqaluit Centre.
In making my ruling, I have reviewed pages 104 and 105 of the transcripts of the unedited Hansard.
I would like to draw the attention of the House to the fact that although the unedited transcripts indicate that the Member for Cambridge Bay raised a point of order, it is my understanding that the member characterized his intervention as a point of privilege.
The final Hansard will reflect this.
I would begin by asking the House to recall the Speaker’s Ruling of May 2, 2000 concerning points of order that were raised by the Member for Iqaluit Centre and Cambridge Bay.
The points of order raised at the time were similar insofar as they dealt with the question of whether remarks made during proceedings were contrary to Rule 23(i) which states that a member will be called to order if he or she imputes false or hidden motives to another member. It is worthwhile for the House to reflect upon the following.
In dealing with unparliamentary language the Speaker takes into account the tone, manner and intention of a member speaking, the person to whom the words were directed, the degree of provocation and most importantly, whether or not the remarks created disorder in the Chamber.
It is also important to be mindful of the distinction between a point of order and a question of privilege.
A true question of privilege should arise infrequently.
To constitute a breach of privilege there must be some improper obstruction to a member in performing his or her parliamentary work.
The privileges of members include freedom of speech and freedom from arrest.
Collectively the privileges of the House include the power to regulate its own affairs and the power to discipline its own members.
The issue arising during proceedings the other day, clearly does not constitute a question of privilege.
It should have been more properly raised as a point of order.
The Chair is willing however, to undertake the task of considering whether the remarks uttered at that time were within or beyond the boundaries of what is considered acceptable language under our rules and within the rubric of Canadian parliamentary procedure and tradition.
In reviewing the transcript, I note that the question arose as to whom the words in question were directed.
Although the Chair takes note of the member’s argument that no specific individual or individuals were mentioned, it is nonetheless important that remarks that refer to fellow Members of the Legislative Assembly in any context be chosen judiciously.
I would also note that a written transcript alone cannot capture the full sense of the House at the time the remarks were made, nor can it always capture with certainty such important considerations as whether disorder in the House was imminent as a direct result of the words being spoken at that time.
I am satisfied that the general tenor of the comments made could be construed as calling into question the extent to which some members may or may not have been giving their full care and attention to the matters under consideration at that time.
I would further note that the member did not avail himself of the opportunity to withdraw his remarks during a subsequent exchange with the Chair.
However, I would note that the member did not push the boundaries to the point of directly disparaging any particular member or members by name.
I would also note that it is not improper for members to raise questions or concerns regarding the performance of the government, and would caution members to be mindful of the Chair's view that uncomplimentary remarks are not necessarily unparliamentary personal attacks on the character or the integrity of members in every circumstance.
I would further remind the House that:
…language deemed unparliamentary one day may not necessarily be deemed unparliamentary the following day.
The codification of unparliamentary language has proven impractical as it is the context in which words or phrases are used that the Chair must consider whether or not they should be withdrawn.
In the Chair's view, the member’s remarks would have most appropriately been withdrawn at that time.
I would ask that the member withdraw the remarks.
Finally, I would like again to remind members on both sides of the floor, of the need to strive for civility and collegiality.
This latter quality is one which generally distinguishes our proceedings, and one which we should not lightly cast aside. We as Members of the Legislative Assembly will have to work closely together here in the House.
Mr. Tootoo, do you have any comments.
Mr. Chairman in light of your ruling I would respectfully withdraw the comments that I made on that fateful evening and apologize to any members that were offended by those comments.
As I said earlier, we have to get back to our normal way of our relationship, even though we encounter some of these problems.
It is part of our life and one thing that has to be most important is to respond to our constituents’ needs.
So we will go back to the Orders of the Day.
I have three sets of glasses right now because I have other glasses that help me see better than these.
Our legal counsel can come up to the officers’ table.
Thank you, welcome.
The minister responsible for this bill can do his opening remarks.
Bill 3 – Utility Rates Review Council Act – Consideration in Committee
I will make a brief opening comment.
I don’t have any written comments.
I will use my mother tongue.
This bill is to create a new Utility Rate Review Council.
Today although we have a Public Utilities Board, there are hardly any opportunities for us as elected members to have input.
As representatives of our people, we would like to take part in making decisions on some of the issues that are going to have an effect on our lives.
So therefore, we are trying to establish a Utility Rate Review Council because as elected representatives we wish to make the final decisions on issues that affect all the communities of Nunavut.
Therefore, we will be implementing this Utility Rates Review Council, although we don’t yet have any members appointed.
We will have our own entity and we want to establish this Council so that they can review utility rates.
They will review any increases to rates in a public forum.
The PUB was a quasi-judicial body so there was hardly any opportunity for us to have input.
Therefore, we are requesting that this Utility Rates Review Council be established so the people of Nunavut can take part in the decision-making.
This concludes my opening remarks and if there are any questions I am more than willing to respond.
Chairperson (interpretation): Since you don’t have any written opening comments as you said you were practicing your Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, that is very nice.
At this time I would like to ask the Chairman of the Standing Committee, Mr. Tootoo, to do his opening comments.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be able to make some comments today on the Utility Rates Review Council Act.
In recent weeks, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services has had the opportunity to review this initiative with the sponsoring minister on a number of occasions.
In reviewing the proposal to create this Utility Rates Review Council, the committee was mindful of the recommendations contained in the Ikuma Report, which this House debated during the Rankin Inlet Sitting last year.
The Ikuma Report recommended that a new rate-setting mechanism be established to accompany the creation of the Nunavut Power Corporation - a process that would be less complex and expensive than the present system, as well as allowing for public input.
Mr. Chairman, earlier this week during Committee of the Whole review of Bill 4, we spoke of the need for the government not to be afraid to try out new ideas and see if they suit our circumstances in Nunavut.
The committee fully recognizes that the proposed Utility Rates Review Council does constitute a fundamentally different approach to utility regulation than under the old Public Utilities Board system.
Under the PUB system, the Board itself had the final say on rate applications and major capital project approvals.
Under the URRC model, the minister, acting on the advice of the Cabinet, will be accountable to the Assembly for the final decisions made.
In its deliberations on this initiative, the committee worked with the sponsoring minister to ensure that the legislation was crafted in such a way as to make the workings of the Council as transparent to the public as possible, and that accountability be maximized at every opportunity.
As the initiative evolved, a number of improvements were made.
The committee appreciated the willingness of the sponsoring minister to work with members in a spirit of co-operation.
Some of the improvements to the initiative include:
the tabling in the Legislative Assembly of an annual report of the Utility Rates Review Council;
clarification with respect to the extension of time provisions provided for in the review process;
a requirement that the minister must provide reasons for decisions that are contrary to a recommendation by the Council, and that those reasons be made public;
provisions to enhance the independence of the Council by providing that members and temporary members not be government employees; and
provisions to enhance the transparency of the process by providing for easy public access to requests, reports and instructions related to the work of the Council.
The committee has expressed its desire that the minister, when requested to give approval for the Corporation to undertake a major capital project, use the expertise of the Council to assist him or her in making an informed decision on the merits of the request.
Under the legislation, the minister has the option of seeking the advice of the Council prior to making a decision on granting approval to such a request.
The Council's advice should be sought whenever there is an appropriate opportunity to receive it.
Mr. Chairman, the committee has worked well with the sponsoring minister to structure a process that holds the promise of being less costly than the existing one; that is transparent; that creates a clear line of accountability for decisions made; that is based on the principle of providing informed advice to decision-makers; and that seeks to hear the concerns of communities and the public.
Over the coming year, we will be following with close attention the work of the Council, and we look forward to reviewing its first annual report.
That concludes my opening comments, Mr. Chairman.
The committee supports the Bill, and recommends its passage to all members.
The minister can go to the witness table.
I would ask the members if you agree to have the minister’s officials come into the Chamber.
Sergeant-At-Arms, could you escort the officials to the witness table please.
Minister please introduce your officials.
We may recognize one of them, but could you introduce them anyway please.
Yes, my official to my left is from the legal division, Ralph Armstrong, and to my right Peter Scott, who heads the Nunavut Power Corporation Implementation Secretariat.
They will be with me today.
Chairperson (interpretation): Welcome to the Chamber.
At this time we will move on to Bill 3 – Utility Rates Review Council Act.
Before we review the bill, I would ask the members if they have any general comments on Bill 3.
On clause 2.
I hope all of you have a copy of Bill 3.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I am sorry I have found it.
I was lost but now I have found the page.
Chairperson (interpretation): Page 5, in Inuktitut.
Page 6 in Inuktitut, Clause 9. Clause 9. Do you agree.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 9 is carried.
Clause 10.
Clause 11.
Page 7 in Inuktitut.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Mr. Chairman Inuktitut documents and the English documents, the pages are not matching so if you could just do the clauses.
Chairperson (interpretation): Page 7 in Inuktitut.
Clause 12.
Clause 13.
Page 9 in Inuktitut.
Clause 14.
Some Members: Agreed.  Chairperson (interpretation): Carried.
Clause 15.
Clause 16.
Clause 17.
Clause 18.
Clause 19, Clause 20 I'm sorry.
Clause 21, just a minute.
I forgot Clause 19, Clause 19.
Chairperson (interpretation): Carried. Clause 20.
Chairperson (interpretation): Carried. Clause 21.
Clause 22.
Please go on to Clause 22.
In the Inuktitut page 15, in English page 11.
Page 11 in English, Inuktitut page 15.
Do you agree to Clause 22.
Clause 23.
Bill 3, Utility Rates Review Council Act.
The Bill as a whole.
Does the committee agree that this Bill is ready for third reading.
Chairperson (interpretation): Now that we have passed Bill 3, Mr. Premier and your officials, I would like to thank you for going to the witness table.
I would like to thank my officials for they have been working on this issue diligently for quite some time and I'm really tired of dealing with this Bill 3.
So, I'm very happy that we have passed this Bill and that we are going to have a good Saturday and I'm very glad on behalf of Nunavummiut. They are already starting to pay their bills in Nunavut.
So if they could wait for at least a week, we'll be happy.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, and I also wish to thank our legal counsel for sitting with us up here.
I want to ask the members what they wish to do.
I don't see any other business before us, so I would like to adjourn this session.
Chairperson (interpretation): This member would like to report progress.
I want to thank everyone as a chairperson and after our session, I'm sure that we will have a good rest after our session and we want to go home to our wives and children, our families and after you leave today, I wish you a safe journey home.
Thank you. The Speaker can return to the House.
Speaker: Members before we proceed we have a request from an Australian film crew that they would like to film the last five minutes of the closing ceremony.
Thank you members.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee has been considering Bill 3, and would like to report that Bill 3 is ready for third reading.
Is there a seconder for that motion.
Moving on to item 21.
Bill 1 – Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East that Bill 1, Appropriation Act 2001-2002 be read for the third time.
Bill 1 has had Third Reading.
Bill 3 – Utilities Rates Review Council Act – Third Reading
Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Pangnirtung that Bill 3, Utilities Rates Review Council Act be read for the third time.
Bill 6 – Nunavut Power Corporation Utilities Assets Transfer Confirmation Act – Third Reading
Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Sanikiluaq that Bill 6, Nunavut Power Corporation Utilities Assets Transfer Confirmation Act be read for the third time.
Before we adjourn, Mr. Quirke can you please determine if the Commissioner of Nunavut is prepared to enter the Chamber to give assent to bills.
>>Commissioner enters the Chamber
Assent To Bills
Bill 1- Appropriations Act 2001-2002 - Assent
Bill 2- Supplementary Appropriations Act 2000-2001 - Assent
Bill 3- Utility Rates Review Council Act - Assent
Bill 4- An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act, Time Zones - Assent
Bill 6- Nunavut Power Corporation Utility Assets Transfer Confirmation Act - Assent
Mr. Irniq (interpretation): Please be seated.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and the Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I'm pleased to give assent to the following Bills;
Bill 1- Appropriations Act 2001-2002