EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
One of the proposed changes in the NNI Policy is making it so that penalties will be of such significance that it will deter companies from doing that. Over the years, they have been seeing situations where people’s bids are adjusted for that penalty in case they have to take it, which then doesn’t serve the Government of Nunavut well.
What they’re looking at now are different types of penalties that are being proposed. If that was the case that there is a penalty, it will be something other than financial.
Overall, maybe let’s say as an example, they might not be able to bid on a contract the following year.
Of course, these are still all just proposed because they’re not approved yet.
The first question I want to ask is on K-4.
The (interpretation ends) Nunavut Development Corporation, (interpretation) to my knowledge, provides many benefits to the communities, but it seems that the bigger communities benefit the most.
Can that be looked into? NDC creates many new jobs and we would want to benefit the smaller communities so that they are provided more jobs.
Is that being reviewed?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) With respect to the assistance provided by the (interpretation ends) Nunavut Development Corporation, (interpretation) with several subsidiary companies, it has resulted in the creation of quite a number of jobs, contributions to our economy, and their sustained growth benefits Nunavummiut.
As an example, they assist people in the carving industry, the fishing industry, commercial harvesting, tourism, as well as foodstuffs they sell.
They provide assistance in these sectors.
With regard to the actual amounts, this isn’t the first time the creation of jobs has been discussed and whether positions have been created.
We met with the (interpretation ends) Nunavut Development Corporation (interpretation) on future positions, how to identify future jobs for projects they may contemplate, and if there is any way to increase these numbers as their company grows.
This has been under discussion for quite a while now.
For example, in Qikiqtarjuaq, they do clam digging.
If they could provide more support, I know it could create more jobs at the local level, especially in the smaller communities where there are opportunities. If they can do more testing and provide more support in this area, I know that they can find more economic opportunities in the smaller opportunities.
The (interpretation ends) Nunavut Development Corporation (interpretation) has, and I reiterate, 127 permanent employees currently in these sectors: fisheries, carving, handicrafts, and food processing.
The manager, Darren Nichols, obviously would be happy to hear about more opportunities to take on.
Yes, in looking at the figures, it is fairly easy to realize the breadth of support they provide. There is this other line item in here referring to the Toronto [fair] event that is supported with $200,000. What is the status of that contribution?
I’ll have my deputy minister respond to the question through you, Mr. Chairman.
Yes, NDC is still providing that funding.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Rowe. Mr. Okalik
At this time, I would like to ask if they can elaborate further on what the funds are used for.
This gallery is still a focal point of sales, many carvings are down there, and several projects are still undertaken at the facility. Nonetheless, maybe my deputy minister can explain that office in greater detail.
Toronto is a sales division for NDC and so NDC markets Inuit sculptures, crafts, sewn goods, and jewellery through its sales office in Toronto.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) There are Internet and those technologies that you can use for the sale of those things, I think. Has anybody thought of maybe using that money for a Nunavut community instead and using online technology to promote Nunavut products?
Mr. Paul Okalik (interpretation): I’m very pleased that they agree with me, so I’m satisfied now. Thank you.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Are we still on K-4?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also would like to welcome the minister and her officials at the witness table.
I have a question on Corporate Management, which I am at a loss to understand.
It states that the government is working on training future leaders by implementing the priorities listed in Sivumut Abluqta for manager and director level positions.
It also talks about incorporating Inuit traditional practices and societal values through hiring Inuit employees.
Can you elucidate further on exactly which Inuit traditional practices are contemplated by this language used here? Can you clarify that for me?
The language as written on that page is specific to that, particularly where it speaks about (interpretation ends) corporate management. (interpretation) For example, the business development corporation leadership has to implement projects and manage the funding for their subsidiaries, legal requirements, and operational items, such as their employees. This is how it is written.
As per our Premier’s past statements about the Sivumut Abluqta Mandate, the document speaks to many guiding principles, such as Inuit societal values like Tunngasainiq amongst others, but they are in that document that we have to include for any draft legislation or policies within our departmental operations. Further, it speaks to hiring more Inuit employees within that mandate.
At this time, most of the employees in the various divisions are Inuit within our department, as that is our goal and directive that we use.
On the business plan, page 187, I’m not sure if this was asked, but under Business Development, the amount has remained steadily the same.
I’m not overly concerned about the amount, but my question here is for people who are starting up a small business. On that last sentence there, it indicates financial support.
For any individual who is starting up a small business, how long is the financial support aspect?
Is that accounting provided to the individual who is starting up a small business or is that just financial support to get them up and running?
Economic development is aimed at the start-up of new private businesses.
It’s also targeted for operational improvement of businesses.
The department works with other entities that provide large sums of money for employment purposes in Nunavut.
When we look at that particular budget line under Business Development, which is available to people within our territory, does that money or that budget line get exhausted year by year?
At this time, the staff is set up that way. We have not changed the number; it remains status quo.
Moving along on that same page again, when I look at the Nunavut Economic Developers Association, the last sentence is referring to coordinating “training and certification for community economic development officers.”
Right beneath it, one of my colleagues had asked about this $50,000, which is also covering training for economic development officers or municipal community economic development officers.
Would you not see these two go hand and hand and why are there two separate budget lines?
The Nunavut Economic Developers Association is a territorial organization representing community economic development officers. The department provides $225,000 in core funding annually to the Nunavut Economic Developers Association to assist them with their operational cost.
The $50,000 to NEDA is to support regional training workshops and for the delivery of training courses to the community economic development officers during the fiscal year 2015-16.
When we look at regional training, seeing that it’s only $50,000, even though $50,000 could be a substantial amount, and when we look at economic development officers within Nunavut and if there’s one in each community for training so that we can have certified EDOs, is the department satisfied with that amount?
I thank the member for that question. NEDA is developing a Nunavut economic development organization certification program.
This project was made possible by using $20,000 of the CEDO training fund and obtaining a contribution of $125,000 from the SIP program.
They’re able to access extra money, if required and if approved.
Onto page 188 of the business plan, the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation receives core funding.
Where is that presently located?
Is that in various communities or is that centrally located?
The Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation advocates for the delivery of affordable public access to reliable high-speed Internet services in all the Nunavut communities.
I’m not sure if they actually have an office, but they do have a board and they do get together to discuss that.
In terms of office and staffing, I’ll ask my DM to answer that question.
Mr. Mikkungwak, are you done? Oh, I’m sorry.
Ms. Rowe.
There is an office space in Iqaluit with one employee.
Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Rowe.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Does that one employee visit remote communities or do they just communicate by… ?
In this case, I’m assuming they would communicate by Internet or computer system.
Chairman: You might think, eh?
They don’t have much travel.
I’ll again recognize Mr. Okalik.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I apologize that I didn’t even see one of the items I wanted to query about, but I had previously asked the minister about this matter during question period about country food.
I enjoy the fact that country food is included in this section.
In perusing your business plan, particularly page 193 of the English version, there is a section stating that more effort will be put towards obtaining country food and that they would study more hunter support programs.
I would first like to know what is entailed in this planning exercise. That’s what I would first like to know.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) An internal study estimated that the value of country food, if it were to be replaced, would be $32 million in a year, just for country food, if we ever had to replace our country food. This is a very important program.
The Country Food Distribution Program has been reformed to better fit the needs of the communities and there has been a greater use of the program to date as a result.
We have simplified the schedules for hamlets and HTOs and the necessary supports that are required for community freezer projects.
The old program was under-spent, as I mentioned earlier this week.
We are still working to improve the viability of the harvest economy and we have been involved with Family Services to date to do more of that.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the minister.
The opportunity for growth is intriguing and seems appropriate for further study. It is such that we all can’t just be employees in our case, and this applies to many Inuit who prefer to go hunting.
This can be a perfect career for Inuit hunters who love to be on the land.
I know for a fact that in Nunavik, they offer hunter support programs and they use the funds to provide country food for their communities.
The harvests are gathered and distributed to residents who otherwise would not have country food, such as handicapped people and widows/widowers.
That is what I had envisioned occurring in Nunavut, especially for our smaller communities that lack employment opportunities that could use this avenue to employ hunters. This ought not to be just a hunting trip assistance fund, but assistance for all the equipment required to provide country food. It seems plausible to search for more ways to do so.
I would like to know if the set-up in Northern Quebec can be researched.
What he’s saying is true.
We would like the money to be used more in the communities and that’s what we’re trying to do.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): If you’re going to be reviewing this again, then I will just totally support your efforts.
Corporate Management. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $12,026,000. Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Let’s move on to page K-5.
I just have a few more questions along the same lines I was questioning earlier. I’ll start off by going back to my opening comments where I talked about your policy that stated, “the Minister is accountable for the overall program funding and results, and will table annually in the Legislative Assembly, or otherwise make available to the public, a summary of contributions detailing the name of each successful applicant, the amount of each contribution, the type of investment being supported, and the community,” but these documents have not been tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The first question would be: will you follow your own department’s policy and start tabling detailed annual reports on your spending under such programs as the Strategic Investments Programs in the House?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the member for asking about this very important matter.
Yes, we have to follow the policies and we try to do so.
Earlier again when I was questioning, I specifically mentioned a company’s name about my questioning and this time I want to keep it more general.
I’m just wondering what types of proposals from for-profit businesses does ED&T approve.
Do you look at whether the company creates jobs in Nunavut or whether they build infrastructure in the territory or even other factors that you consider?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): It is reviewed. For example, the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation, in 2015-16, needed (interpretation ends) media equipment and equipment training (interpretation) prior to the grand opening of their facility. Our officials had to be aware of the parameters, as they contributed $250,000 in 2015-16.
This includes many training programs provided to other organizations, such as the (interpretation ends) Kivalliq Mine Training Society, (interpretation) as an example. The training is specific to career development, so funding was provided for that purpose.
Other types of start-up funding included contributions to tourism outfitters or for proposals to purchase heavy equipment for their projects that will hire Inuit.
I am just using examples of the types of proposals that are reviewed under this program, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
When you give out money to these particular companies for various reasons, how does your department, over the coming years or the following months or years, measure or evaluate the results of the money that is given to these companies?
With the contribution agreements that we sign with businesses, they will have reporting requirements in it.
What we will do is we will look at the project when it’s completed to determine if they have met the objectives that were set out for it.
For example, if it was training money, we would make sure that the training has taken place and whether any jobs were created from that training money.
If we’re funding infrastructure, we would want to determine that whatever they said that they were going to be building or renovating, those renovations have taken place.
We don’t release final payments to them until that has taken place.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Economic Development and Transportation. Corporate Management.
On page 192 of your business plan, if you go down to the third paragraph, there is an issue I wish to ask about.
It refers to the Small Business Support Program.
Residents in the smaller communities especially rarely see any advertisements for positions or employment opportunities. If a local Inuk wants to create their own job by starting a new business, who do they contact first to start researching relevant information, such as manuals or pamphlets to start up a business? Can the communities receive this information readily or do you have to personally request the information to start your business?
Every community has (interpretation ends) economic development officers (interpretation) called CEDOs who work for the hamlets and can be approached for further information on starting up a business that they may require.
That is why I asked the question, as the average Inuk in a smaller community rarely gets the training opportunities offered in the larger centres, including job advertisements, and employment opportunities don’t come by very often and they rarely have a choice to pick a career.
That is why I asked about the information and if there is any kind of video or other viewable materials to make it easier for Inuit in the smaller communities.
The other item I want to move on to is directly underneath and it is listed in the fifth paragraph with a larger pot of funds for private business assistance programs.
Perhaps I can provide an example. When a prospective business owner wants to create or manage a project that can be a source of revenue within their community, do they also need to approach the CEDO or the ED&T department for relevant information pertaining to their ideas?
If I am right, I believe he is referring to the (interpretation ends) regional chambers of commerce (interpretation) and they are also supposed to provide support for smaller community businesses in their region.
The regional chambers of commerce are mandated to provide support to private businesses and they offer training, skills courses, addressing business concerns via meetings, and developing regional plans. That is what is supposed to be conducted.
The reason for the regional bodies is that each region has slightly different practices. They are supposed to handle local requests or regional priorities within the context of Nunavut-wide plans. There are supposed to be representatives on the regional chambers of commerce to provide that information.
Perhaps I didn’t quite understand the minister’s response. I was asking about (interpretation ends) business development centres (interpretation) listed in the fifth paragraph.
Now, if an individual wishes to enquire about information requests, such as a private entity that may want to expand their business, what types of assistance would be available that they can request or where can they submit their application for funding assistance?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Now I understand his question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank my colleague for that question.
The business development centres are located in the Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, and Baffin regions.
They are basic, (interpretation ends) non-profit organizations (interpretation) that provide the most support for new business start-ups or in assisting existing businesses to expand or receive funding assistance.
It includes business planning or (interpretation ends) strategic planning (interpretation) or if you just want to get more information.
In the case of an existing business that is concerned about their future sustainability or if they are in financial difficulty, they can search for information from this body or can be linked to places that have the information.
I believe we have set aside $1,050,000 for the business development centres for 2015-16 and $300,000 for the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot and $450,000 for the Baffin business development centers.
In your business plan, I’m going to be referring to page 190, Priorities (2016-17), second bullet. Your department’s draft 2016-19 business plan indicates that one of its priorities for the 2016-17 fiscal year is to “promote a regulatory regime that will attract responsible resource developers.”
What specific actions will your department take to address this priority?
The information is not in front of me. My deputy minister has the information, so I’m asking if you will allow her to respond.
Chairman: Ms. Rowe, before you speak, for your information, if you need to confer, there is a mute button in front of you.
We don’t mind waiting because we know we will get the good answer after you have conversed.
What that statement means is that the Government of Nunavut considers each project on a case-by-case basis and will recommend to the proponents and regulatory agencies that local communities, stakeholders, and governments must be adequately informed and consulted on projects, and that projects use excepted best practices and techniques to minimize potential impacts on the environment.
To what extent are the municipal councils of impacted communities participating in this initiative?
They are going to be consulted on how both parties will work together to do the project.
I guess I’ll move on to something else, which is pretty well in line with the two questions earlier that I just finished off here.
When we look at resource development or, in my case, when I asking about responsible resource development, as the minister is very well aware, there is an operating mine north of my community.
Your department is responsible for administering the government’s Development Partnership Agreement Policy.
What is the status of negotiating new development partnership agreements with any mining companies?
The development partnership agreement is a requirement for the mining company in order to be eligible to participate in the fuel tax rebate and this is handled by the Department of Finance.
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation is responsible for coordinating the negotiation of that agreement.
As you know, we just have the one existing DPA and that is with the Agnico Eagle Meadowbank mine agreement at this time.
Moving forward, we are looking to change the way the DPAs are structured.
I wholeheartedly understand that you are, along with the Department of Finance, working on a DPA with the current operating mine with Agnico Eagle.
Until you guys have reached an agreement, that will not affect the operation of the mine.
I would first like to ask the minister about page 192.
There’s a community capacity building section. There should be community economic development officers because your department provides funding to the hamlet councils for that purpose. Is there one in each community?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank my colleague for that question.
Yes, through an agreement, all communities have an economic development officer.
I know you have signed an agreement. Are all of these economic development officer positions filled?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The community economic development officers have a high turnover rate.
I don’t have the current figures of which communities are staffed and not staffed at this time, but if the member wishes that information, we could get back to him.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll look forward to seeing that information. It is something of concern to me when there’s a high turnover of economic development officers.
Why is there a high turnover rate? Does the minister know what the reasons are?
Perhaps my deputy minister can provide a proper response to that question.
There are many different reasons.
A lot of times, what we see is once someone is trained, they then end up getting a better job offer and we can’t stop people in wanting to improve themselves.
Another reason is really the economic development officer, although working for the hamlet, it’s one of those positions where they’re really working on their own and some people prefer not to be in a position like that.
I do know that they are working under the hamlet council, in my community anyways, and these positions are usually held by hamlet employees.
As a government, have you looked at how you can restructure their positions? Of course, most communities have GLOs. I’m not sure how we can improve it so that there is a lower turnover rate.
Yes, the workload is quite heavy for these positions and they largely work on their own, as their work is specific to their community. There are funding agreements with the hamlets in the communities that administer the workload with a substantial list of duties, primarily focusing on economic development within their communities.