EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
But anyways, just to answer the member's question, Mr. Chairman, there is a career development branch with the department of education that undertakes the kind of work that the member asked about in respect to preparing individuals, helping them put together job applications, resumes, assisting them with the process.
Preparing them for interviews and those types of support for individuals.
Job evaluation and organizational design.
I'm sure, the money at the bottom line is for this portion of human resources.
I would like further clarification on this topic in regards to the job evaluation.
How much work do you do with this amount of money.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Well, by and large, Mr. Chairman, we carry out the job evaluation and organizational design work that's listed in the branch summary.
The grants and contributions, are quite small.
There's a small amount of money here totalling 685 thousand dollars.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: The member is correct.
Is this for all the Nunavut employees.
It provides support to other departments in the area.
I'm just trying to get this clarified.
This branch of the department is the branch that does up, prepares job descriptions and assesses and evaluates the rates, I guess of pay that would go along with whatever the different jobs are.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Yes, that's correct Mr. Chairman and it's based on the, if the member is speaking about the job classification, it's based on a modified pay management system.
Mr. Chairman I believe Mr. Ng is talking about the pay management system or a modified system.
I know in the past I brought up questions regarding positions that you know, do more than their, like if they just have a certification for one level but they, you know, the number of years of service in some cases, you know, are any other things taken into consideration like experience in looking at how positions are classified.
Mr. Chairman an item such as an individual’s experience wouldn't necessarily be part of the job classification process.
But it would be in respect of negotiations for starting salaries.
You know, the experience level of the individual that he or she might bring to the job.
If an individual or whatever in a position was looking for or felt that their classification or the rate that they were set at based on whatever wasn't adequate.
I guess, what would be the process that they would follow in order to have, you know, I don't know whether you would call it a grievance or what to have it evaluated.
Mr. Chairman there's a job evaluation appeals process within the government if an individual feels that their job hasn't been correctly classified then there's avenues for them to have that review.
Mr. Chairman just for more information I could pass on, who in the department would an individual get hold of if he had a concern in that area.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Sorry.
The director of the division, Mr. Tom Critelli.
Mr. Chairman would they, and I know I've asked this question before and this deals with the departmental staff but would this also include the teachers and nurses that have always otherwise been outside of that.
Do you know those results.
It will be for all employees except for teachers, teachers have a different process because they have a different collective agreement.
Chairperson (interpretation): That's it. I've no further names.
Human Resources, branch summary. Job evaluation and organizational design.
Total operations and maintenance, 685 thousand. Agreed.
Carried. Total expenditures, 685 thousand. Do you agree.
We'll then move on to page 4-10.
Training and development.
Total operations and maintenance, 4 million 13 thousand.
Contract services it went up quite a bit about 1.5 million, can you touch on that for me.
Why is it so much of an increase.
The bulk of the increase is the result of moving it from fees and payments from last year, a move to contract services Mr. Chairman.
I knew that there may be a lot of interest in this.
It is a lot of the training program and services in there.
The Inuit employment plan, employee wellness program, employee orientation, Inuktitut language, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and specialized program training.
That is all in this area of contract services Mr. Chairman, with this branch.
You didn't mention the summer students.
Where can we find this under the numbers here.
Sorry there is also a summer student program, 350 thousand dollars is in that amount as well.
On summer student programs I guess or projects.
Is this within the Government of Nunavut or do we subsidize some of the private sector out there so they can hire summer students.
Mr. Chairman, this is specific to Government of Nunavut departments in the hiring of summer students.
Mr. Havioyak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is there a way that we can assist the private sector in hiring summer students.
Is there a program the private sector can have access to.
Mr. Chairman, I believe this issue was brought up fairly recently in the House.
At that time I committed to having us look at what is available from the federal program side.
If they normally have a lot of summer student employment initiatives from federal departments then we've tried to manage that to enable other employers to access funding for summer employment over the course of this coming summer.
Mr. Havioyak: Thank you. Now going back to the summer students within the Government of Nunavut.
With the numbers that you gave earlier how many students are we looking at for the upcoming summer.
We hope to have 40 students.
My question is on the same page.
The employee workplace wellness program.
How much money do we set aside annually and does this money come from Health Canada.
Mr. Chairman, this is the first year that we are putting in for the full fiscal year and we have 750 thousand dollars set aside for the workplace wellness program itself.
I would like clarification because I'm sure that's very beneficial to the employees because of course you might have a problem and it would be good to utilize this program.
My question is, how would you access this program and how well is it utilized by the people from the outside communities.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Ng.
Mr. Chairman, there's a toll free number that is advertised and the services currently are going to be contracted out through Health Canada to provide these services and the services will be bilingual.
To follow that up.
I was given a number that looked like a calling card and I was told I was able to call that number.
I called the number and it's a very long process you have to go through.
I tried to speak in Inuktitut, this person of course didn't know me and didn't speak Inuktitut and I was instructed that I would have to make an appointment so that they could get an interpreter and once the interpreter goes there then I would be able to talk to that person from the program.
I think we have to look at it further because if you have a social problem or some other kind of problem, it takes too long and I think we have to look at it further.
Is your department going to be looking at this program because it could be very beneficial to the employees.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: I agree with the member.
I mean this is the first step in getting some form of work place, just in terms of employees.
The plan would be to develop our own and have one based in Nunavut that we can more readily access and influence any policy change that we may require.
So that's the long term plan but as it stands now in order for us to provide some service, we contract it out with Health Canada for this upcoming fiscal year.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. Ms. Williams.
Ms. Williams: This is a lot of money and we could hire a whole lot of people to do our own in Nunavut with 750 thousand dollars a year.
On the same page, I would like to ask if there was a large increase in staff when you look at compensation and benefits.
I just want some explanation on that Mr. Chairman.
Yes, there is that increase of a couple of new positions.
One is the Inuit employment plan manager and the other is the work place wellness coordinator.
It also covers the salaries of manager trainees that will be identified under the Inuit Employment plan.
Are you saying that this increase covers three new positions.
If it's three, then that's a lot of money for three new employees.
Two positions Mr. Chairman, and twelve senior management that we plan to hire for senior management development.
There's also, I understand Mr. Chairman, a component for Akitsiraq Law School as well of 175 thousand dollars.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Arvaluk is next.
Also in the same program, when the teachers are bilingual and if they speak Inuktitut, they get a bonus.
Does that apply to all Nunavut government employees too.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: By and large it does apply government-wide for positions that require individuals to be bilingual.
Does that also apply to Inuit as a second language for bilingual Inuit.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: I'm not sure, Mr. Chairman, of what the member is asking me.
Maybe if he could clarify.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Arvaluk could you clarify your question please.
Mr. Arvaluk: It says Inuktitut as a second language. I would assume that a person who speaks any language in this world and speaks Inuktitut as a second language would get a bonus or benefits, like Mr. Ng is saying for the most part.
There are also some Inuit employees who speak English as a second language like myself or other Inuit employees, does that also apply.
I get the question.
Yes, it would apply, again for those positions that require an individual to be bilingual.
Chairperson (interpretation): Any additional questions Mr. Arvaluk.
Mr. Arvaluk: Following my friend from Kugluktuk’s question respecting some employment, did I hear the minister saying that it would be the federal programs that the Government of Nunavut would be accessing to have the student employment outside of this government.
Like for example municipalities or housing associations.
Chairperson (interpretation): Before I recognize the minister, I would like to welcome Kevin O'Brien to the House. Welcome.
Mr. Chairman what I said was that if there are federal programs available which there more than likely will be, they've done it on an annual basis, then we'll try to identify what those programs are and help organizations to access the funds if they need it for summer student hiring.
Mr. Arvaluk: Are there any doubts that they might not be forthcoming from the federal programs and if they will be coming forth when would we know.
When do you think we will know, will we know before the end of the school year.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Oh, I can't say for sure, but I know normally they announce it well in advance of when the program dollars would be available.
But it's certainly something as a government that we could try and get some advance notice on this.
Mr. Arvaluk: I know this sounds selfish but I realize that the government will be hiring approximately 40 students this summer in all the decentralized communities and at the headquarters and at the regional offices perhaps but not for the non-centralized communities.
Will these non-centralized communities have preference on the federal funds.
I couldn't say because I would probably say that it would be unlikely given that the federal government tries to cover the country as a whole and not to discriminate based on individuals or communities in their programming.
Would the minister then advise the federal government that the present system of employing for government employment only for the summer students kind of more or less discriminates against those non-centralized communities.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Chairman, I would say that we could look at that issue from the Government of Nunavut perspective. Certainly, we don't want to be discriminating against any other communities and we tried to be fair in how we allocate out our summer student dollars.
Will the minister then consider those 40 student allocations for the government employment and the Government of Nunavut portion of approximately, to be very conservative maybe 20-30%, going to non-decentralized communities for municipalities or housing associations etc.
Mr. Chairman, I can say that we will try and take a look and balance out the government of Nunavut summer student hiring.
Try to reflect the Nunavut wide constituency as a whole.
We are on Human resources, branch summary.
It’s carried.
Total expenditures, 4 million 13 thousand.
Labour relations.
Total operations and maintenance, 1 million 30 thousand.
Who is responsible for providing professional labour relations advice for various communities.
This 1 million 30 thousand is this for all the communities of Nunavut for labour relations.
This is for the Government of Nunavut labour relations.
It is not connected to the labour relations between the community staff, it is just for the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Let me ask another question.
Since we started dealing with the main estimates for the whole duration.
We see utilities included in here in a description.
But never see any money in regards to that.
Just because we were planning for April 1st, is this the reason why it is there.
It is because it is normally a standard line item in each department and each branch that it shows up.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): There is never any figure included in there.
Where do you include that line item in the main estimates.
There are some departments with utilities.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Labour relations and with this various compensation and benefits.
I am sure that they were given support and I've never seen funding that is geared towards this in any one of the departments’ estimates.
Why do we include that part.
Chairperson (interpretation): All the departments start from compensation and benefits and grants.
Although they are included, they don't necessarily have to have the figure.
I just want Mr. Iqaqrialu to understand.
I hope he understands Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Although I understand it clearly, it seems like it is added here and it is not used.
We have never seen any figure for that and it seems just to be sitting there useless.
Chairperson (interpretation): You were told that it is clear.
It has to be included under the description.
Utilities are being paid by others.
But the one we are dealing with does not have utilities.
Mr. Ng would you like to give him a final response.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: I guess.
I don't know if it is very relevant if the member wants us not to print utilities in the future.
Chairperson (interpretation): If you have a different question.
The main estimates for each of the various departments.
Looking at some do have utilities and some don't.
It is included in all of the descriptions of the main estimates.
Does it mean that government departments pay for other departments and some other departments don't pay for their utilities.
I was wondering if he could clarify that for me.
Mr. Chairman, thank you.
The Department of Public Works and Services by and large pay for the majority of the buildings that the government operates.
So they have the component that is centralized there.
The utility payment.
That is by and large why there aren’t a lot of utilities shown in all the other departments.
Contract services.
You finally have money in there.
In previous years there was none.
Do we have a new contract now.
Mr. Chairman, it is primarily to cover the cost of the collective agreement, of the handbook.
The translations are the same.
Printing and publications and translation for the collective agreement.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Under contract services again.
After we agree to them.
Is that for Innirvik like the Blues.
The Hansard.
No it would be for the collective agreement with the Northern Employees Union.
Chairperson (interpretation): Anything else Mr. Nutarak.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): If this is for the translation of the union handbook.
Will they be, the reason why I ask the question is because, say for instance the money in the budget, when they do the Inuktitut translation of these budget books and the main estimates, some of them are not translated properly.
I just wondered whether this was for the translation of these main estimates and the capital estimates.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Chairman it doesn't have anything to do with that.
Chairperson (interpretation): Anything else. Mr. Nutarak.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Chairman I just wanted to, I just used it as an example.
The main estimates or capital estimates are translated and they said that they would do the translation of the union books or handbook.
I just wondered if maybe they could give the money to the union and the union could find their own translators.
Maybe give it to Culture, Language, Elders & Youth, or to Innirvik for them to find a translator, a good translator to translate those handbooks.
Mr. Chairman right now, first of all it's a shared cost between the northern employees union and the government and we're responsible for undertaking the process of the translation and the printing.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): If they're translated into Inuktitut can you make sure that the translated version is good and correct, because it's going to be very expensive.
Well, we'll try to endeavour to the best job possible.
We are under Human Resources, branch summary.
Total expenditures, 1 million 30 thousand.
To 4-12.
Decentralization. Total operations and maintenance, 2 million 299 thousand.
Under line, I just want to get some clarification under decentralization.
Last year it was 3 million, perhaps there's less money for this year because decentralization is almost over.
Partly, the process, we have made some progress but by and large the large part of it is that the money was moved over for the Inuit Employment Plan and workplace wellness program.
Human Resources, branch summary. Decentralization. Total operations and maintenance, 2 million 299 thousand.
Agreed. Mr. Arvaluk.
Mr. Arvaluk: What are the grants and contributions of 508 thousand for.
It's for the create employment programs for all the decentralized communities and it's being delivered through Arctic College.
How we do this entry here of 500 thousand dollars.
Is that the same that is on 4-15.
I'm trying to get it clear in my mind.
I'm not an accountant but are we saying that we should ignore 4-13, because if we don’t then it will just increase the total amount.
Because you have 400 thousand dollars on both sides of the page.
Chairperson (interpretation): I would just like to let the member know that this is just an information item on the other page.
Mr. Chairman, it just shows the 500 thousand dollars for the grants and contributions on page 4-12.
Will that 500 thousand dollars include potential employees of the Arctic College in Arviat.
Under decentralization, under 4-14, I would like to ask a question under one of your items.
Under purchased services, 5 million 680 thousand dollars.
This for 2001, is that an estimate or an actual cost.
It's a projected estimate for the 2001/2002 year that's before us now.
Perhaps, is that for decentralization purposes, like to get office equipment and, is that what it's for.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Chairman, is the member on page 4-14, distribution of budget.
I ask because if he is, this is a summary of the branches, the branch summary that we've been questioning and speaking about for the past two and a half hours Mr. Chairman.
Chairperson (interpretation): For the member’s information, I just want to let him know that 4-14 is the information summary.
Those are all together.
These are just the information for all the stuff that we have been discussing.
We are on 4-12.
I thought we were under 4-12.
I thought that's the page we were on.
Those are from 2 million 299 thousand dollars, is that the total under distribution of budget.
Maybe I can get some clarification, maybe I misunderstood.
Mr. Chairman, the page 4-12 that we're on, decentralization, is all of the human resources costs for decentralization.
There are, as members know, other department cost components for decentralization as well.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are under page 4-12.
Human resources, branch summary.
Total operations and maintenance, 2 million 299 thousand.
Total expenditures, 2 million 299 thousand.
Going back to 4-5.
From the beginning of Human Resources.
Total operations and maintenance, 18 million 498 thousand.
Under distribution of expenditures.
In that pie, there is the Assistant Deputy Minister, Community operations 13%.
Is the Assistant Deputy Minister doing a lot of work in communities for community operations.
Mr. Chairman, this oversees the three regional offices.
What three regions.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Qikiqtaaluk, Kivalliq and the Kitikmeot.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Staffing is 39%, and they talked about 94% earlier.
Why does it state 39% here.
Is that just estimates.
Chairperson (interpretation): Just to inform the member that 4-6, 7, 8, 9 has been approved and we are on details of expenditures.
So I'll get the minister to respond.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: What this just shows isn't the actual staffing levels.
It is just the proportion of spending of each branch to the overall human resources budget, 39% of the human resources budget is at the staffing branch.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do you want to continue. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
The details of expenditures after they've been approved we go back to this page.
So I just figured I could ask questions on this page just to get some more clarification.
For instance, job evaluation and job organizational design is 4%.
That money 4% of that budget will be spent on that.
I am just trying to get some more clarification.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Chairman, yes the member is right.
Human resources, program summary. Details of expenditures. Total operations and maintenance, 18 million 498 thousand.
Total expenditures, 18 million 498 thousand. Agreed.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do you agree that the department has been completed.  Some Members: Agreed.
I would like to thank the committee members and Mr. Omilgoitok and Mr. Thompson.
Mr. Havioyak: I would just like to inform all the members that I'm going to be leaving tomorrow.
I just got a phone call from my wife a few minutes ago, so I have to leave tomorrow morning because of illness of my father in law.
So I'll see you guys.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do the members wish to go on to Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Qujannamiik Itsivautaq.
I am pleased to be presenting for your review the 2001/02 Budget for the Department of the Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
(interpretation ends) Approval of this budget will allow us to continue to build on the work of many individuals and to begin new initiatives, consistent with our objectives outlined in the Bathurst Mandate.
Briefly, the role of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs to co-ordinate and help to build consensus on policy issues within the government, to seek political direction and support political decisions, to communicate that direction and those decisions, to collect, analyze and provide information to government and to the public, and to provide co-ordination and leadership for the public service.
(interpretation) I had the opportunity to meet with the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services at the end of November to present the Department's preliminary Business Plan 2001/02, and to provide that Committee with a mid-year report on the operations of the Department in the 2000/01 fiscal year.
I have read and appreciate the comments of that committee on that presentation and those reports and the Department has taken those comments into account in finalizing the Business Plan.
Specifically, the Department has acknowledged the Committee's encouragement to provide, as one of the central agencies of this government, better co-ordination in the development of policy proposals and decisions.
The Department will continue to provide evaluations of policy proposals, and to participate with the Department of Finance and Administration in the evaluation of departmental Business Plans.