EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Again, this question is why all of a sudden these things are coming out and being offered to some employees and not to other until the collective agreement is signed.
I am just asking why now, instead of waiting until it was available to everybody.
Mr. Speaker, in respect to this optional leave policy, now it is because the existing policy that we ended up adopting expired on March 31st, and we had to make a decision on what we were going to do with this.
Whether we would continue leaving it as a mandatory policy or putting in a new policy, in this case the optional policy, which we feel is a more appropriate given the circumstances of a new government, a new civil service and trying to deal with the in a fair manner and provide as much opportunity and as much flexibility as possible for our employees.
Question 384 - 1(3): Problems with Time Change
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to our Premier.
Last year we dealt with the time change and since then, three communities stayed on Eastern Standard Time. I am still not finished with this issue until I get what I want.
Have you seen any problems especially in the Pangnirtung area.
Their government offices and the Hamlet Council stayed on eastern standard time.
Did you see any problems that occurred from the two different times that they were using in the community.
I know that it is evident that it is not going to be good for the staff.
Our staff will have to work for Nunavut and we have to give them support, so we will have to review this again.
Yes, I know that we do have Nunavut Government staff such as teachers and they went to the Nunavut time along with the teachers, the nurses in Sanikiluaq and Pangnirtung.
Mr. Speaker, perhaps he can respond to my question because I was asking him if they have experienced any problems because of the time change.
The Social Services offices, especially in the Baffin region will have to work with people, the public.
The HRDC have to work with the public too and if they are going to move to the Nunavut time they have to work with the Nunavut staff.
If they move to Pangnirtung they have to go on the same hour if they are going to be working well with our staff. If they are going to move with their children they will have to stay at the day care centres or they have to go to school.
So we have to conform to all these well, so we will have to review them.
You did not respond to my question.
My question was, Sanikiluaq, Clyde River and Pangnirtung, these three communities in Nunavut already do have teachers and Government of Nunavut staff such as the nurses and they have economic development officers in all those communities.
My question was, since they did not change and they stayed on eastern standard time, did you see any problems occurring because of that.
Yes the community themselves chose to stay on the same hour and I would like to hear from these communities to see what kinds of problems occurred.
We will do another review some time in the near future and from my offices I can establish to review all the communities to see if they experienced any problems.
Speaker: Final supplementary, Mr. Irqittuq.
My question was, did you hear or see any problems from these three communities.
Did I see problems.
I am sure that we will see problems occurring in the future.
Question 385 - 1(3): Sealskin Products
April 1st has come and gone.
I was privileged that my wife and children were here for my swearing in and presented me with a gift that I wear today and I wear it proudly because I think it represents Nunavut.
My question today is to the Minister responsible for Sustainable Development.
Can he confirm to me that all sealskin products that are being purchased in Iqaluit and throughout Nunavut, are harvested from Nunavut.
I cannot confirm today that all the clothing that people are wearing today are made in Nunavut, or rather that the skins are bought in Nunavut from Nunavummiut.
I could not confirm that.
Supplementary, Mr. McLean.
That puts a little bit of stress on me today, because I am sure that my family purchased this product hoping that the sealskin was harvested in Nunavut to support Nunavummiut.
My supplementary question here is, when you buy a carving in a carving shop or you buy a product from a crafts store there is a tag or seal made on it, made by Inuit of Nunavut.
Could the minister consider in the future that products that are sold in our stores should have the place that they are made, whether it is Nunavut or Newfoundland or China.
We have been reviewing a tag system for all handicrafts and carvings so buyers can identify them when they come across this tag, which indicates where it has been made, by whom it was made and in which community, it was made.
That will really help the Nunavummiut.
My supplementary question to that is, we are trying to promote products from Nunavut and being from a community that relies extensively on the carving economy, carvings, prints, wall hangings, various other crafts, and we are talking about decentralization and the smaller communities getting what they are not getting.
Are there any tanneries in Nunavut that we know of today.
At this point in time I know of one skin tannery which had been operated in the past.
They were unable to pay their Bills so more than once our staff have let us know they have tried to put money into the tannery programs.
As we speak, when we were reviewing the tannery programs in Nunavut we were looking at how we can rectify the problems that kept occurring with the previous tanneries.
Mr. McLean, last question.
That's also good to know but I also know that there is a corporation called the Nunavut Development Corporation that is supposed to be establishing communities with a high unemployment rate to create opportunities in Nunavut for Nunavummiut, that are dealing with unemployment.
If we are going to look at other communities and try to support this very important industry of sealing, I think we should be self-sufficient on it and support it.
I wonder if the minister would consider looking at some community outside of decentralized communities to set up a tannery with our own dollars and harvest our own seal skins and use them in the manufacturing of vests.
Will the minister commit to look at setting up a tannery in Nunavut.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker if a business is viable or not and there’s one and another one Nunavut Development Corporation they’re already in operation in reviewing to see if they are viable they are two different things.
However at this point we are not at discussions for those communities that are not going to be receiving decentralization, I know that in one community they have a tannery we are discussing how we can reopen that tannery.
As the Member probably knows the time for question period is up.
We will take a 20 minute break and return to the House.
>>House recessed at 3:39 pm and resumed at 3:49 pm
Speaker: Item 7.
Mr. McLean do you wish to go back to item 7, Written Questions.
Written Question 13 - 1(3): Household Moving Services
Mr. McLean: Uqaqti.
My written question today is to the Minister responsible for Human Resources regarding a government request for proposal for moving household effects in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker the question is this is a Nunavut wide proposal, I don’t know if the Minister is aware but we have established moving companies in Nunavut now in each region.
We have Moulder’s in Kugluktuk, we have M&T in Rankin Inlet and Arctic Express in Iqaluit.
Would the Minister responsible consider request for proposals from the regional movers already in place and are already doing it because Mr. Speaker, I feel if that if we did it regional wise it would save the government money.
That is my written question to the Minster of Human Resources.
Replies to Opening Address.  Item 10 Replies to Budget Address.
Item 12 Reports of Standing and Special Committees.
Item 13 Reports of Committees on Review of Bills. Item 13 Reports of Committees and the Review of Standing Bills.
Tabled Document 60 - 1(3): Cambridge Bay School Replacement
I wish to table the following document.
The letter was to me as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health regarding the Cambridge Bay replacement high school.
Speaker: Item 14 Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 61 - 1(3): Substantiation for the 2000/2001 Capital Projects
and Financial Detail for Proposed Departmental Expenditures
Mr. Speaker I am pleased to table in the House today the substantiation sheets for the 2000/2001 capital projects and the financial detail sheets for proposed departmental expenditures.
Mr. Speaker the information has been provided to the Standing Committees of the Legislative Assembly.
The information provides background on each of the government’s proposed capital projects and provides standard object level detail on proposed departmental spending.
Tabled Document 62 - 1(3): Letters regarding NEU Negotiations
I have four documents to table or four letters to table in regards to the negotiations between the Nunavut Government and the collective bargaining with the Nunavut Union Employees.
Tabled Document 63 - 1(3): Letters regarding NEU Negotiations
I’d like to table four documents about the tone between the negotiations between the government of Nunavut and representatives of the Nunavut Employees Union.
Tabled Document 64 - 1(3): Letter from Qammaq Housing Association
I would like to table a letter from Qammaq Housing Association in regards to MNA program reduction and a concern by the people in my community from the housing association.
Speaker: Tabling of Documents.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker I give notice on April 6, 2000 I will move the following motion.
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baffin South, that Tabled Document 6-1 to be moved to Committee of the Whole today.
And Mr. Speaker I would like to get unanimous consent that my motion be dealt with.
That item will come up later on in the order paper.
Mr. Speaker I give notice that on Thursday, April 6, I will move the following motion.
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member from Baffin South that table documents 61-1(3) substantiation sheets for the 2000/2001 capital projects and the financial detail sheets for the proposed departmental expenditures be moved into Committee of the Whole for today for subsequent consideration and the appropriate Minister will appear before the Committee of the Whole.
And Mr. Speaker I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.
Item 16. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills.
The Member is seeking unanimous consent to deal with his motion today.
Motion 18 - 1(3): TD 60 - 1(3) to Committee of the Whole
I could not hear you.
I am sorry Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker I said I wanted to get unanimous consent to move the motion today Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker I already said that I seek unanimous consent, I move seconded by Member of Iqaluit that table document 60-1 be moved into Committee of the Whole today for consideration.
Speaker: There is a communication problem, technical problem between myself and the Member, his ear-piece is not functioning properly so we will take 5 minutes until we get this checked out.
>>Five minute recess
Speaker: Mr. Nutarak is seeking unanimous consent to deal with his motion today to present his motion today.
I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit Centre, that tabled document 60-1(3) be moved into Committee of the Whole for today.
Tabled document 60-1(3) is now moved to Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker I seek unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.
Speaker: The Member is seeking unanimous consent to deal with his motion today.
Are there any nays. You have unanimous consent.
Motion 19 - 1(3): TD 61 - 1(3) to Committee of the Whole
Mr. Speaker I move, seconded by the Honourable Member from Baffin South, that tabled document 61-1(3) the substantiation sheets for the 2000/2001 capital projects and the financial detail sheets for the proposed departmental expenditures be moved into Committee of the Whole today for subsequent consideration during the appropriate Ministerial appearance before the Committee of the Whole.
Tabled document 61-1(3) is now prepared to Committee of the Whole.
Bill 16 - An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act - Second Reading
I move, second by the Honourable Member from Nanulik, that Bill 16, an Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker this Bill will allow the existing general assessment to be extended for one more year.
Speaker: Mr. Ng the motion is in order, to the principle of the Bill.
Bill has had second reading and accordingly the Bill stands referred to a standing committee.
Item 20 Consideration of Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters.
Bill 16, Bill 13.
Tabled documents 41-2(3), 51-1(3), 60-1(3), and 61-1(3).
And according to the authority vested in me by motion 3-1(3) the Committee of the Whole will stay in session until it reports itself out with Mr. Puqiqnak as chairperson.
Item 20: Consideration of Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
We are dealing with the Department of Education Main Estimates.
I will ask the Minister of Education if he would like to go up to the witness table.
Thank you Mr. Minister and your officials, welcome all.
While you are at the witness table, it would be best if there were only three at the witness tale at one time.
We have our pages that might have accidents if there are too many people up at the witness table.
We will proceed as smoothly as we can and discuss the issues at hand.
Before we start, I would like you to introduce your officials.
On my right is my Deputy Minister Mr. Bob Moody and on my left we have the Assistant Deputy Minister Naullaq Arnaquq.
Chairperson (interpretation): Welcome all to the House for the committee of the whole.
Before we begin, I believe you have opening comments to make.
I will speak in English in regards to questions and clarification and the questions brought by two members.
When the 99/00 budget was prepared the Department of Education did not have its own financial staff.
The Department of Finance did most of the budget allocations for the department.
For this 2000/2001 budget round we have built a financial team, so we are in a position to put our programs and the salary dollars for the programs into the right places to properly reflect how the department is organized and how we wish to manage.
For example, one member wondered why on page 9-14 compensation and benefits went from 365 thousand to 3 million 368 thousand.
This was because we moved the social assistance program from the regional operation staff and the income support workers to this new field operation section.
So in general, all programs through the regional office were put in the new field operations section.
As well as moving them into this new section we correctly took them out of the grants and contributions and correctly put them into their proper categories of fees and payments and purchased services.
All of these necessary corrections were made this year and will not be required next year.
The 1999/2000 main estimates have been re-stated by finance to include all of these movements.
Re-organising our estimates in this fashion will help us in managing our budget.
I trust this note of explanation will assist members in understanding the nature of transfers within our budget.
Mr. Chairperson, in yesterday's session some honourable members noted that they were concerned that the education budget had not increased to the extent that they would have wished.
I'm pleased to report today, Mr. Chairperson, that contained within the estimates of the Department of Finance and Administration is approximately 6.5 million dollars that will be transferred to the Department of Education to cover the 2000/2001 requirements of the very recently signed contract with the Nunavut Federation of Teachers.
These funds could not be put in the Department of Education estimates earlier as the agreement was not ratified until after the estimates were compiled and printed.
Members will recall that it was just yesterday that our Minister of Finance, the Honourable Kelvin Ng, signed their agreement with the FNT.
Preliminary figures for the Department of Finance and Administration showed that the 6.5 million dollars additional to the Education 2000/2001 will be as expended as follows. Salaries and allowances 2.7 million dollars; Professional Development 900 thousand; Language proficiency 500 thousand; principal allowance and school operations 300 thousand; northern allowance 1.6 million dollars; relocation 500 thousand for a total of 6.5 million dollars.
All these components of the agreement are important for hardworking and deserving teachers in Nunavut.
I'm particularly pleased with the additional allowance provided with professional development and for language proficiency and Mr. Chairperson that is not all.
There will be other funds transferred to our department in amounts of several hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover increases in northern allowances for departmental staff once the new rates are set.
Mr. Chairperson, in closing I know members will appreciate that together these 2 items will add almost 7 million dollars to 2000/2001 estimates to the Department of Education now before you.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Minister Arvaluk.
At this time we will go ahead and go back to the issues we were dealing with yesterday.
Did you want to make a comment Mr. Barnabas.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairperson.
When the students buy their graduation dresses do they get to keep their graduation suits.
Also why are the schools not used in the summer time, when they could be used as a day-care facility or provide some other services.
Probably I will answer the last question.
The DECs and the DEAs operate the schools; it is up to the discretion of those local authorities how the schools could be used in the summer.
So it is up to the DEAs on how the schools can be used.
In response to the dresses and gowns, I will let Naullaq answer your question.
Ms. Arnaquq: From what I know the schools make their own arrangements.
They order their graduation gowns and sometimes the schools make their own.
I will complete my statement.
We are dealing with Bill 13 and tabled documents 41-1(3), 51-1(3) and tabled documents 60-1(3) and 61-1(3).
We will be dealing with these Bills and tabled documents.
Mr. Barnabas would you like to make a further comment.
Mr. Iqaqrialu any general comments.
First of all the divisional boards are going to dissolved on July 1.
My first question is in regards to the DEAs.
How much authority are you going to give them since the divisional boards are going to be dissolved.
If you had read the documents, we sent out the draft Education Act to all the communities and the Department of Education negotiated with the DEAs and asked them if they would like to take on more authority.
For example, take on more financial duties or if they are going to be taking on more hiring.
For example, I would ask the DEAs if they would like to take on the authorities that were previously held by the divisional boards.
We will have individual negotiations with the local DEAs.
I do know that some of the DEAs are more advanced than others.
They will take on more responsibility.
We will keep it open.
The minister did mention the DEAs are free if they would like to take on more financial responsibilities.
I was wondering if your finance controller is going to be taking care of all your finances going to the communities.
We would like to do that in the Baffin especially.
There is inadequate training provided in financial services.
If they need to we will provide the training to the regional offices and if it is possible with some of the DEAs I would like to, through negotiations, decide how much finance they can operate.
I do know that the Keewatin and the Kitikmeot are already taking on financial responsibilities but then there are the other issues, for example travel, provision of supplies will be taken on according to the strengths of the DEAs.
So you have already responded to the third question that I was to ask.
However, the Hamlets and the DEAs are some of the interests in the communities.
Are the DEAs going to be operating without the support of the Hamlet Councils.
Yes, they will be operating on their own.
We are going to be setting up some policies but we are considering the students will benefit more if they are under one entity.
It may get confusing if there are too many bodies who are responsible for education.
They will be on their own without the help of the Hamlet.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): My next question, if the DEAs are going to be operating on their own since they are going to be provided financial employees there will likely be contracts that will have to be dealt with by the DEAs.
Who is going to be responsible for the contracts. Is it going to be the DEAs or is it going to be the minister's department.
Yes there are going to be two types of contracts.
There is one that will be Nunavut wide or one if you are operating regionally.
They will be the responsibility of the Department of Education.
If it is going to be in the community then it is going to be the DEAs responsibility.
We will negotiate and see if they would like to do that.
For example if they are going to be getting an instructor responsible for cultural programs we can let the communities take on that responsibility after discussions with the Department of Education.
If the communities wish to take on additional responsibilities, they will have to seek approval from the minister and there would be an agreement signed between the two entities.
We are proposing our sole responsibility will be the students.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr Arvaluk.
Mr. Iqaqrialu your next question.
In the communities, since the DEAs are going to be working with Department of Education.
I have read the Education Act and the communities are going to be working with the Department of Education.
Is that true.
Of course, once a government makes a decision it has to be followed especially with the policies.
Sometimes it is hard when there is no money to implement the decisions.
The communities will have employees in the Baffin, Kitikmeot and the Keewatin.
Using the Baffin as an example, they are going to be moving to Pond Inlet.
Once they move they are going to still be our employees if that is going to be set-up the communities are going to negotiate directly with the minister.
If they have directives they do not have to go through the minister, but they could work with the Department of Education's employees.
We have to be well aware of that.
It will not be very good if they want to set up an office and go directly to the minister. We have staff who deal with such issues.
If it were a grey area, they would go directly to the minister.
We are looking at the document that was written.
The minister is going to be responsible for a huge task.
He has many responsibilities and I know we are not going to be meeting here in Iqaluit all the time.
I know for sure that we are not going to be holding our session here in Iqaluit all the time.
So, I was wondering we might lose the minister at times he might be absent travelling and we would not be able to find him.
The communities would have to have direct negotiations with the minister.
I think a problem that may occur with that is the minister may be too busy and have no time for the community to have direct negotiations with him.
So what are your alternative options.
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): I want the member to understand that having a direct negotiation with the minister means that you can have a direct negotiation with the minister.
The department sometimes receives one hundred documents a day.
The staffs' job is to find out which one is the priority of the minister and which requires a meeting.
So therefore the staff, although I am travelling around to the other communities, the staff always stays behind to take care of the department.
We have a number of staff in our department and they can inform me right away because the staff knows where I am at all times.