EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
What was the total amount of funding spent by the QEC in 2009-2010 on contracted services in the field of information technology; computers, WAN-LAN-MAN?
That’s what I thought you said. Maybe I could have Mr. Mackey answer that question.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Mr. Mackey, go ahead.
We currently utilize in-house staff for all of our IT services within the corporation. Infrastructure that’s purchased, such as the satellite dishes or equipment of that nature, goes out through the normal PO process but we currently don’t have any contractors or consultants that we utilize for supplying the information technology services for the corporation.
In terms of information technology, the people you have on staff or PYs, which would come through the O&M of the corporation, are those individuals scattered across the territory or are they specifically in Baker Lake?
I understand that we have four of those staff located in the fine community of Baker Lake and we have two located here in Iqaluit.
In terms of hardware and software purchases for those… .
It’s my understanding that across the territory, powerhouses are operated by distance at times and a lot of the information that the power plant operators see right there in front of the community could actually be seen here in Iqaluit. So I imagine there are a lot of different hardware and software that’s involved in purchasing and maintaining, and whatnot. I’m just wondering: is that sole sourced as well or is that put out for tender?
How are the hardware and software for QEC handled?
If Mr. Mackey could answer that through you, Mr. Chairman.
Go ahead, Mr. Mackey.
How computer information infrastructure is purchased is dependent upon the infrastructure itself.
On occasion, it will go out to tender for a supply of large-scale equipment to see if we can maximize the best possible price. In other circumstances, we may have a standing offer or standing agreement with the supply of computer equipment, such as computers through Dell Systems.
So it’s dependent upon the nature of what’s there.
Typically, for smaller scale infrastructure, we will be going out for a request for quotes.
Specifically for those Dell computers that you were speaking about, are those purchased locally in Baker Lake?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Mr. Chairman, those purchases are done through a normal RFP.
In terms of the last two fiscal years, 2008-09 and 2009-2010, which we’re reviewing, did you put out any RFPs for types of equipment like that?
I will have Mr. Mackey answer that.
In terms of specific office equipment, what we’re asking for and for Baker Lake specifically, I would have to verify and get back to you on whether we have purchased computer equipment in Baker Lake.
Typically the computer equipment in each of the areas is for three to five years, depending on whether it’s a laptop or a desktop, and it’s cyclical in nature. During the last two years, if the computers have reached the end of their life, yes, they likely would have gone out and been replaced, but that’s something that I can confirm and get back to the member.
Yes, if I could get that information I was looking for, across the entire territory, with Dell computers. Is the minister able to commit to that?
So it’s just Dell computers you want to know about, Mr. Elliott.
If there were any RFPs that were put out over the last two fiscal years for computer hardware, I don’t think the RFP would specifically ask for Dell.
Hardware, as Mr. Mackey said in terms of the life cycle, the three-to five-year cycle that’s available… . By hardware, I mean hard drives, keyboards, laptop computers, mice, and printers. I’m sure it would be all grouped together or lumped together as one RFP instead of separate RFPs for different pieces of hardware.
Yes, we will try to gather that information. Again, it won’t be ready tomorrow; that kind of stuff takes time. We will have to research our records and all of that other fun stuff, but eventually we will get back to the member with that information.
Your time is almost up, Mr. Elliott.
I believe you are the only one with questions.
I was the only one who had questions?
The Qulliq Energy Corporation’s 2008-09 contracting report indicates that it awarded a $495,000 sole source contract to a company for a hydro environmental baseline study in Iqaluit.
What did this study accomplish and does the QEC plan to undertake more studies of this nature in the future?
It’s contract 200821.
That was an environmental study on the hydro project for the city and we will have to seek more federal funding if we want to do more of the study.
I realize Minister Peterson had mentioned in the press and you had mentioned already that it would require federal funding from the Government of Canada to move forward on these projects, but how close are we with the different studies that you had done to move forward on a project like this? I know you had said it takes time for these things to happen, but are we talking like 5, 10, 15 years down the road or if the federal government said that they could provide the money today, are we good to go?
Chairman (Mr. Ningeongan) (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott.
Yes, it’s one of these things that if the federal government had the money today, we could begin to look at the feasibility and the planning and design stage, but the practical look at it and the reality is that it’s probably at a five-year window, Mr. Chairman.
Again, I think it’s great if it takes five years.
I don’t imagine that we will get funding before five years, but to me, with Iqaluit being one of the biggest communities, it would be the biggest draw on power and it would also be the biggest polluter to the environment.
I think being able to work towards this is a great thing to push for, so hopefully we will get the funding from the federal government.
The Qulliq Energy Corporation’s 2009-2010 lease, contract and procurement activity report indicates that approximately 90 percent of its leases are for residential properties used for staff housing.
It’s on page 5 of report.
The report indicates that the QEC recovered $659,900 in rent during the previous fiscal year.
Does the Government of Nunavut’s Staff Housing Policy apply to the QEC’s employees?
QEC has its own Staff Housing Policy, Mr. Chairman.
I didn’t quite understand.
Are there any other questions to Minister Kusugak or Mr. Mackey?
(interpretation ends) I have no more names on my list.
Do members agree that we have concluded the review of the Qulliq Energy Corporation on 274 – 3(2) and 275 – 3(2)?
Chairman: I would like to ask Mr. Kusugak if you have closing comments.
I would just like to take this opportunity, while I have the floor with QEC, to thank the president and the board of directors of the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
They have been working very hard.
I think this is the first time, as I said earlier, that this kind of report has gone through the House. We appreciate the opportunity to report this to you. I thank the board and the president again for their hard work and all of the staff out there.
Mr. Chairman, thank you for this opportunity to sit before you. (interpretation) Thank you.
Going back to our agenda, the Department of Education is next.
The Interim Minister of Education, Ms. Aariak, you may proceed with your opening remarks.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I may proceed now?
Good afternoon and thank you for allowing me to speak about the Department of Education’s contracts and procurement for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
The Department of Education is tasked with the important and unique work of providing quality learning opportunities and services for Nunavummiut of all ages.
As such, we have a particular obligation to offer superior assistance and specialized services to our citizens.
Our mandate requires that we provide for programming that has been legislated under the Education Act for inclusive education, relevant and appropriate curriculum, and, under agreements with the federal government, ensure programming in official languages and enhanced training opportunities and skills development.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education awarded 92 sole source contracts in 2009-2010, totalling $5,337,936.78.
Of these, 58 contracts facilitated our work in the kindergarten to grade 12 and school services area of the department for a value of $1,856,047.10.
Twenty-six contracts related to our adult education and training programs and income support delivery for a total of $3,229,616.60.
The remaining seven contracts for $261,273.01 dealt with corporate services.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, many of our sole source contracts were for very specialized services. These include: support for students under inclusive education, such as sign language assistants; education assessment and curriculum development by contractors with specific and necessary knowledge of Nunavut; Education Act implementation; busing; training programs; and development of necessary IT systems.
Mr. Speaker, I am more than happy to discuss the specifics of our sole source contracts with the committee and am ready to take questions from the members.
Chairman (Mr. Tapardjuk) (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Aariak.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Aariak.
Thank you, Minister Aariak, Minister of Education.
I also thank you for allowing me to sit here for the first time as the Minister of Education.
On my left is Kathy Okpik, Deputy Minister.
Chairman (interpretation): Welcome, Ms. Okpik. Welcome, both of you.
If there are any comments or questions, the floor is now open.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The government’s most recent annual report on procurement activities indicates that your department awarded a $5,518,000 contract to GC North Construction for the new Nunavut Research Institute in Iqaluit.
The federal government also contributed a significant amount to this project. What were the final costs for the construction of this facility?
My colleague’s question is directed to Arctic College.
Will they give me a response?
I think the question was who contributed to the funding of the construction of the Nunavut Research Institute and what the cost of construction for that project was.
I don’t have the exact cost in front of me. I wasn’t prepared to have that question, but I can find that out.
It was funded through the economic benefits package that was offered by the federal government.
Just off of… . Well, I’m not even going to try to guess, but I will get that figure for you.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The government’s most recent annual report on procurement activities indicates that your department awarded a $252,900 contract for a student information system.
What is the purpose of this system and what will it be used for?
Thank you.  Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk.
I think it would be appropriate if you could identify which project number you are referring to.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): I don’t know the number, but (interpretation ends) the contract was for a student information system.
I believe the line item that states student information system is the RFP you are referring to.
With respect to the member’s question, can she clarify exactly what her question pertains to so that we can provide a proper answer.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Contract 246.
I truly thank the member for her patience as I requested a clarification from her. (interpretation ends) To use the student information system, the GN must obtain licensing permission to use the system.
My department entered into an agreement with Maple Wood Computing Limited to provide the GN with licensing. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I hope that answers her question.
Ms. Ugyuk: The question that I would like to know is: what is the purpose of the system and what will it be used for?
I’m not quite familiar with these fine details, so I will ask my deputy to answer the question.
We have worked on this digital system approximately for two years now.
At this time, we can only obtain attendance records via computer and find out which students were absent and which ones were late and only for grades 10 to 12. The only way we can obtain this information via computer is when the school year has been complete for graduates.
The student information system can be used starting from kindergarten to grade 12. We can then gather all information; for instance, birthdates, health care numbers, attendance, absenteeism, and any relevant issue towards education would be entered into the main server and perhaps while students are in grades 1, 2, 3, and so on, any records that have been inputted by their teachers regarding their progress.
We are also hoping to use this in the future for report cards that are sent to parents. Any information that is relevant to the school or students will be compiled in that system.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the fall or winter session, we were apprised of this system and if this system becomes operational, as an example, if I wanted information about students in Taloyoak who attended classes yesterday and if the school officials request this information, is that the kind of request that would result?
Yes, it is primarily for that purpose. However, this is a new system and it is still under development and due to its newness, the system has not been completed yet.
In their procurement activities, it indicates that your department awarded over $1,431,000 in contracts in 2009-2010 to the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario for heavy equipment operator training.
The institute was awarded over $632,000 in 2007-08 and $272,000 in 2008-09 to deliver this training.
How many residents of the territory have graduated from this program?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Aariak.
Of those who have graduated from this program, do we track how many of them are actually working in the field of heavy equipment?
We have to set up the process and it is currently being developed.  With respect to his first question, we don’t have the information with us right now, but it’s available at the office.
As far as I know, this training program is still continuing.
Do we know how many people are presently enrolled in this program in Ontario?
I will ask my deputy minister to respond to that question.
I don’t have any detailed information with me at this point but I can check it and get back to you.
I also want to clarify that there are different numbers of graduates in various disciplines.
We have three regional centres in Nunavut, Pangnirtung, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay with separate offices, and we have a contract with each one.
Also, our allocated funds are separated into categories, some for student financial assistance, and we get funding from the federal government to be used for specific programs.
That is the reason for the separation of these contracts and since we have three offices, it seems so large.
We will be able to provide information on the number of graduates to the House at a later time.
When will the new trade school in Rankin Inlet be offering the same courses so that the government will no longer have to pay to send residents to Ontario for this kind of training?
That’s a very good question to the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College once he arrives here to the House.
Arctic College is heavily involved with the mining industry in developing training programs that are going to be specific to Nunavut and taught in Nunavut.
Right now, for heavy equipment training and that type of training, we are developing relationships and partnerships to research into the simulator machines.
So that is actually being researched and I believe we will see some development of that in the near future to address the problem of having to send people down south.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The government’s most recent annual report on procurement activities indicates that your department awarded a $90,000 sole source contract to an individual to be the Education Act implementation coordinator.
Why could this work not have been done within your department and has this position continued to be contracted in 2010-11?
This will be clarified further after my verbal response.
The reason why we have sole source contracts for the schools is because it is very specialized work that cannot be undertaken by other staff. That is why sole source contracts exist for certain programs. Kathy will elaborate further on the details.
On July 1, 2009, the Education Act was introduced and the provisions of the Education Act had to be implemented right away.
The principals in the schools, the staff, and in particular, the DEAs had to be trained on the provisions of the Act, such as their legal authority, funding arrangements, and also the by-laws and regulations required for attendance and for healthy relationships. So we had to work on an urgent basis.
Additionally, if we wanted to hire an individual to work within the schools where they were already working, we couldn’t just simply hire them.
Also, the regional directors and the service providers’ workloads were already full, so we didn’t want to add to their workloads. That is why we had to contract an individual to fill this spot.
The contractor had to write many reports, some of which we have presented to the members, such as the consultation documents for DEAs. The process for hiring elders is included.
Furthermore, a two-year training plan with the DEAs and parents was developed and many items have been implemented. What I can tell you now is that this is no longer under contracted services. We now have hired an individual to work within our department on these matters.
Ms. Ugyuk: The government’s most recent annual report on procurement activities indicates that your department awarded a $331,000 sole source contract to the Canadian Career Development Foundation for a Career Development Training Strategy. What did this project achieve and will you commit to tabling the strategy in the Legislative Assembly?
I would like to thank the member for her question.
Career development officers work on career development, where they assist adults to work towards a career. We don’t have anything currently identified as training towards a certificate here in Nunavut. There are more details that my deputy minister can clarify about these positions.
Yes, we have developed this strategy for a period of slightly over a year.
The Career Development Training Strategy has been completed.
We collaborated on this strategy with Nunavut Arctic College and the Department of Human Resources, and we have started to implement certain parts at present. We can table that information if you wish.
In determining who would be undertaking which role, such as the Department of Education, we would be starting from kindergarten to high school students, along with the adult services, to determine what we would need to incorporate. Further, the Department of Human Resources will also need to have a role in this field, as well as Nunavut Arctic College, so we need to highlight their roles and responsibilities under services. Most of the details have been completed.
Ms. Ugyuk, do you have any further questions?
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The government’s most recent annual report on procurement activities indicates that your department awarded a $157,561 contract in 2009-2010 to the Baffin Business Development Centre for “Employment Assistance Services.”
What did this project achieve and how many individuals were able to take advantage of it and gain employment?
Thank you for your question. Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk.
For clarity, I will have my deputy minister respond.
Ms. Okpik (interpretation): I am sorry, Mr. Chairman.
I am looking for the contract number.
Chairman (interpretation): Ms. Ugyuk, perhaps you have the contract number that they’re looking for.
The contract number is 1651.
With respect to that contract, I regret that I don’t have that information in my written notes.
I can respond later on or perhaps tomorrow by submitting a report outlining that file.
I believe there are no further questions.
Before I recognize another member, Mr. Shewchuk wanted to clarify a question from earlier on.
I’ll give the floor to him at this time.
In regard to the question before about the Nunavut Research Institute, I do have some information in front of me that I can share with the member.
The project costs $11 million and that included the new construction, which is on budget and complete, of the new Nunavut Research Institute in Iqaluit and four satellite research centres in Arviat, Cambridge Bay, Igloolik, and Rankin Inlet.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you for the clarification, Minister Shewchuk.
I thank the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College.
Maybe as a follow-up question: if it was $11 million, why was the contract only for $5,518,000?
If I’m doing my adding correct, that’s about $5.5 million short of $11 million.
What contract are you referring to?
It’s contract C163.
It sounds like bingo. C163.
Minister Shewchuk, do you wish to respond?
That is because it was a shared project of $11 million. So there was federal government funding and Nunavut government funding in that, plus also the construction of the four satellite research facilities are in there too.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you for the further clarification, Minister Shewchuk.
My next question is from the procurement activity report, it’s on page 95 and the contract is C1593. There are actually two of them, so C1593 and then there is C1533.
It’s on page 93.
Both of them are for superintendents of schools for QSO. When we approve our O&M budgets, I’m assuming there are PYs for those positions. I’m wondering why they’re not covered under PY and a regular salary and why they’re contracted out as sole sources.
Hon. Eva Aariak: This is maintenance for schools and I believe it’s ongoing. Qikiqtani School Operations is seeking to add… .
(interpretation) Where am I now? (interpretation ends) They could not fill the positions fast enough, so it’s an ongoing job. (interpretation) Due to that reason, that is how it unfolded.
Kathy will elaborate on this aspect.
I want to return to the first question that Ms. Ugyuk asked as we found the answer in our papers. Perhaps prior to returning to that question, I would like to ask the chair for permission to respond to the previous question, if that is acceptable.
It seems obvious the member would prefer an answer to her first question, so don’t forget the current question when you respond to the previous question.
Please continue, Minister Aariak.
With respect to her earlier question, the file that Ms. Ugyuk asked about was not a sole source contract but an RFP. My deputy can clarify that for the member.
Yes, this was indeed an RFP.
The federal government provides funding for the (interpretation ends) labour market development agreement. (interpretation) Under the agreement, we can set aside funds to provide support to Nunavut residents seeking jobs or requiring further training.
An example would be to assist them in developing a resumé. We developed this especially for the residents of Iqaluit because many of the positions or services are in Iqaluit. This service is for the purpose of developing resumés and assisting them in a job search.
I don’t have numbers handy as to how many undertook this service, but we can get back to the member as to how many benefited from the program.
To the other earlier question, if you haven’t forgotten, Minister Aariak.
Thank you for allowing me to respond to the earlier question because informing the House is very important.
Ms. Okpik will answer Ron Elliott’s question right now.
Currently we have 42 schools Nunavut-wide that are serviced by the superintendents of schools.
In the Baffin region, our head office is in Pond Inlet. We have four positions that we have set aside funds for and due to the fact we cannot readily fill these positions, we have to contract outside service providers.