EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Once again, Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Branch Summary.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $290,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) B-9.
Branch Summary. Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Intergovernmental Affairs.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $1,893.000.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $478,000.
As of today, what is the status of the transboundary negotiations with First Nations groups in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba? How is the GN keeping residents in affected communities, such as Arviat, informed of the situation?
I will have Mr. Omilgoitok answer that question with regard to Aboriginal and Circumpolar Affairs.
Mr. Omilgoitok.
Mr. Omilgoitok: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Through you, Mr. Chairman, to the member first if I could preface my comments. The discussions between Canada and the Manitoba Denesuline are covered by a confidentiality agreement, so some of what we discussed we cannot disclose at the moment.
The Government of Nunavut is an observer to those discussions.
Recently, the Government of Manitoba has agreed to negotiate with Inuit for Inuit interests south of the 60th parallel in northern Manitoba.
So the Government of Manitoba has indicated that they have given their officials a mandate and a negotiator, and have communicated that to NTI’s chief negotiator. There has been some communication there.
In terms of providing communication and notice to communities, we have to be careful in terms of what we communicate at the moment.
They are in negotiations between parties and it is difficult at times to disclose those in public.
So if I could leave you with that, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Omilgoitok.
I have no other names here.
Branch Summary. Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $1,219,000.
Chairman: We will go back to B-3.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $17,566,000.
Chairman: Are members agreed that we have concluded with Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I would like to ask Premier Aariak if you have closing comments.
I would like to thank everyone for their very excellent questions. Since communication is very important, I didn’t mind at all your questions.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my staff, Markus and David, and also the staff at the EIA office.
Chairman: Qujannamiik, Madam Premier and your officials. (interpretation) Thank you.
Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the officials out, please.
At this time, we will begin the clause-by-clause review of Bill 22 and Mr. Schell as the Chair.
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Consideration in Committee
Chairman (Mr. Schell): Members, go to Bill 22 in your white legislation binder.
Bill 22, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011.
Go to clause 1. Agreed?
Chairman: Go to Schedule on page 2. Schedule.
Amounts Appropriated for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2011.
Vote 1: Operations and Maintenance. Total Operations and Maintenance. $1,089,413.
Some Members: No.
Chairman: One billion, I’m sorry.
I cut that a little short. $1,089,413,000.
Total Appropriation. $1,089,413,000.
Chairman: We will go to clause 4.
Chairman: Do members agree to Bill 22 as a whole?
Chairman: Do members agree that pursuant to Rule 62(2) that Bill 22 can immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Bill 23 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010 – Consideration in Committee
Chairman: Go to Bill 23, Supplementary Appropriation (O&M) No. 2, 2009-2010.
Committee of the Whole procedures, Mr. Chairman… I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Peterson, to make his opening remarks.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon. It’s been a long afternoon.
Bill 23 provides $12,081,000 for operations and maintenance expenditures, the bulk of which is for the Department of Health and Social Services.
Of the $9,191,000 being appropriated for the Department of Health and Social Services, $5,991,000 is for one-time treatment costs of the H1N1 pandemic flu virus.
The balance of $3,200,000 is for anticipated shortfalls in residential care services and out-of-territory hospital services.
Other amounts in Bill 23 are:
$1 million to the Department of Finance for the Nunavut Outfitters Liability Protection Fund that was committed to by the government in 2008-09
$700,000 to the Department of Finance for the 2009-2010 Homeowner Energy Rebate program in recognition of the continuing high cost of heating our homes in the cold Nunavut winters
$670,000 to the Department of Environment to allow for the write-off of outstanding accountable advances for harvesters related to the Fur Pricing Program
$270,000 to the Department of Economic Development and Transportation to continue mine training projects and socio-economic monitoring committees through funding from the Community Development Trust
$150,000 to the Nunavut Housing Corporation for operational support to the Oqota Homeless Shelter for Men in Iqaluit
$100,000 to the Department of Justice for one-time transfers to the Legal Services Board funded through the Access to Justice Agreement
Hon. Keith Peterson: They’re not here right now, Mr. Chairman.
He will be here shortly.
My witness is my Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Peter Ma. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I suggest to members that wherever possible you ask your detailed questions in the page-by-page review of the supplementary estimates.
Do members have any general comments? We will go to page 4. Finance.
Not Previously Authorized. Centrally Administered Funds. Total Centrally Administered Funds. $1.7 million.
Chairman: Total Department. $1.7 million.
Chairman: We will go to page 5. Justice.
Operations and Maintenance. Directorate. Total Directorate. $100,000.
Sorry, it was Not Previously Authorized.
Directorate. Total Directorate. $100,000.
Chairman: Go to page 6. Health and Social Services. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Directorate. Total Directorate. $204,000.
Total Public Health. $348,000.
Chairman: Item 3.
Treatment. Total Treatment. Not Previously Authorized. $5,439,000.
Chairman: Social Services.
Item 4. Not Previously Authorized. $1,769,000.
Chairman: Health Insurance Programs. Item 5. Not Previously Authorized. $1,431,000.
Chairman: Total Department. $9,191,000.
Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized. Program Management.
Total Program Management. $670,000.
Chairman: Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $670,000.
Economic Development and Transportation. Operations and Maintenance.
I also want to thank the hon. minister and his officials for being here to answer this, I hope.
On page 8 of Economic Development, Item 1, it states, “To provide funding of $270,000 to continue the mine training projects and Socio-Economic Monitoring Committees under the Community Development Trust.”
My question, Mr. Chairman, to the hon. minister is: who or which committees specifically are these?
Mr. Aupaluktuq had asked that question during a standing committee meeting.
I indicated then that we would have the appropriate minister here to provide the details of it, so I would like Minister Taptuna to take that question.
A very good question. The mine training round table encompasses a number of organizations, which is led by the Department of ED&T.
For that purpose, we do have some industry people.
I will name off a couple of examples.
We have Baffinland Iron on the board that sits on the table here, the mine training round table, Agnico-Eagle, Newmont, and we do have INAC and Arctic College within this organization to determine what specific training needs are at the time and into the future projects that are happening within Nunavut, specifically again for mine training.
The Socio-Economic Committee again is led by ED&T through the three regional directors of the regions.
The entity encompasses all of our communities, particularly the affected communities that are affected by mining development.
All of the concerns and issues are brought to the committee, which we, in turn, use as data information, which helps the government in determining what kind of negotiations we’re going to be doing, or what we’re going to be negotiating, or what our main points of negotiations are going to be during the DPA, or Development Partnership Agreement, negotiations.
I also thank the Hon. Minister Peterson for directing that question to ED&T.
If I may, Mr. Chairman, just a follow-up for the record, where is this Socio-Economic Monitoring Committee based in? As you basically said, you obviously said that ED&T is taking the lead.
Basically, that answers my own question.
If I may, for the record, ask: which projects and where?
Obviously, the answer is that ED&T is leading this project as well.
For the record, I want to ask: which projects and where are they? Obviously, I just wanted to ask that as a formality in the sitting.
Within the three regions, in the Baffin, we do have the director in Pond Inlet chairing the committee in relation to the project that is happening by there, the Mary River project.
In the Kivalliq, the director chairs the committee there on a number of projects, one of them in the past having been Agnico-Eagle at Meadowbank.
In the Kitikmeot, the director in Kugluktuk chairs the committee for projects at Hope Bay.
We will go back to Economic Development. Operations and Maintenance.
Economic Development. Total Economic Development. $270,000.
Chairman: Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $270,000.
Chairman: Go to page 9.
Nunavut Housing Corporation. Item 1. Total Nunavut Housing Corporation. $150,000.
Chairman: Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $150,000.
Chairman: Go back to Schedule 1 on page 2. Schedule 1.
Operations and Maintenance Appropriation. $12,081,000.
Chairman: Go back to Bill 23 in your white legislation binder.
Bill 23, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2009-2010.
Chairman: Go back to Schedule on page 3. Schedule.
Supplementary Amounts Appropriated for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2010.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $12,081,000.
Chairman: Total Supplementary Appropriation. $12,081,000.
Chairman: Go back to Clause 4.
Chairman: Do you agree to Bill 23 as a whole?  Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Do members agree that pursuant to Rule 62(2) that Bill 23 can immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Chairman: I would like to ask Minister Peterson if he has any closing comments.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Yes, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank yourself and the standing committee for your scrutiny of Bill 23. A couple of weeks there, last week, and again today, there were very good questions.
I appreciate the colleagues for showing up to answer any questions that may have arisen.
I would like to thank my officials, Peter Ma for being here and also Mr. Chown, the Director of Expenditure Management, who is sitting in the Gallery.
I thank you very much for your time overall.
Scrutiny of government monies is always appreciated.
I think I have earned a new nickname over the last two weeks here. I’m starting to choke up because everybody has been calling me “Prudence” and the Minister of Prudence.
I have been thinking of changing the name from the Department of Finance to the Department of Prudence in recognition of the support from the standing committee. So I appreciate your time today.
I appreciate you answering the questions here.
Could the Sergeant-at-Arms escort the minister and his witnesses out, please.
We will go to Bill 14, Miscellaneous… I would like the Law Clerk to join us at the table.
Bill 14 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2009, No. 2 – Consideration in Committee
Chairman: I would now like to ask the Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Peterson, to make his opening remarks.
I am pleased to present these proposed amendments to Bill 14.
Miscellaneous bills are commonly used in other jurisdictions to correct mistakes in Acts and to make other non-controversial changes.
On division, Nunavut inherited several hundred statutes, many of which contain outdated references to the Northwest Territories or other errors.
Bill 14 is much longer than our previous Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Acts. It amends 21 Acts.
The majority of the clauses deal with correcting minor errors and replacing references to the Northwest Territories.
This bill also improves on some past legislative drafting practices, especially in relation to the use of definitions and ministerial titles.
I thank the committee for its consideration and look forward to the committee’s assistance in improving the statutes of Nunavut.
Do you have witnesses that you would like to the table?
I would like to introduce Mr. Thomas Druyan. He’s the legislative drafter for the Department of Justice.
Chairman: Does the Co-Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation have comments?
As Co-Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation, I am pleased to make some very brief opening comments as we begin consideration of Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2009, No. 2.
The standing committee recognizes that the provisions of the bill are non-contentious and housekeeping in nature.
Accordingly, the standing committee recommends the passage of Bill 14 to all members.
We will now proceed to the clause-by-clause review of the bill starting with page 1.
Sorry. I’ve got to read it upfront here first. Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2009, No. 2.
Chairman: We will go back to Schedule A on page 9.
Schedule A. Archives Act, No. 1.
Do you agree to Schedule A?
Chairman: Go back to Schedule B on pages 10 and 11. Page 10.
Schedule B. Coroners Act.
Chairman: We will go to Schedule C. Environmental Protection Act.
Chairman: We will go to Schedule D on page 14 and 15.
Schedule D. Appropriation Act.
Chairman: We will go to Schedule E on page 16.
Schedule E. Human Rights Act.
Chairman: We will turn to Schedule F on page 17.
Schedule F. Income Tax Act.
Chairman: Go to Schedule G on page 18.
Schedule G. Interprovincial Subpoenas Act.
Do you agree to Schedule G?
Chairman: Go to Schedule H on page 19.
Schedule H. Qulliq Energy Corporation Act.
Do you agree to Schedule H?
Chairman: Go to Schedule I on page 20.
Schedule I. Victims of Crime Act.
Chairman: Do you agree to Bill 14 as a whole?
Chairman: Does the committee agree that pursuant to Rule 62(2) that Bill 14 can now be immediately placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Chairman: Does the Minister of Justice have any closing comments?
I would like to thank the standing committee for its scrutiny of Bill 14.
It’s important to keep our legislation up to date and this helps in that regard. We still have a little bit of work to do ahead of us over the next year.
I would like to thank Mr. Druyan for his diligent work in reviewing all of the legislation.
I had an opportunity to talk to him last week about how he does it. It’s quite amazing. I think he deserves a round of applause for the work he does, plus the other legislative lawyers in the Legislative Division over in the Department of Justice.
Chairman: I would like to thank the Minister of Justice for answering… there were no questions, but for showing up here and doing his opening statements and for his witness.
Could the Sergeant-at-Arms please escort the minister and the witness out.
Actually, you could stay there, I guess.
Now we’re going to deal with Bill 25.
I would now like to ask the Minister of Justice, Mr. Peterson, to make his opening remarks.
Bill 25 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – Consideration in Committee
I thank you for not making me walk back to my desk and then back here.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present these proposed amendments to Bill 25.
Miscellaneous bills are commonly used to correct mistakes in Acts and to make other non-controversial changes.
Bill 25 amends errors or outdated references to the Northwest Territories and the commissioner in another 30 Acts.
I thank the committee for its consideration and look forward to the committee’s assistance in continuing to improve the statutes of Nunavut.
Chairman: We will go to Bill 25, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010.
Chairman: Go back to Schedule A on page 9.
Schedule A. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go back to Schedule B on page 9.
Chairman: We will go back to Schedule C on page 10.
Schedule C. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go back to Schedule D on page 10.
Chairman: Go to Schedule E on page 11.
Schedule E. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule F on page 11.
Schedule F. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 8. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule G on page 12.
Schedule G. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule H on page 13.
Schedule H. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 10. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule I on page 15. Schedule I. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go back to Schedule J on page 19.
Schedule J. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule K on page 20.
Schedule K. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule L on page 21.
Schedule L. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule M on page 22.
Schedule M. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule N on page 22.
Schedule N. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule O on page 23.
Schedule O. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule P on page 24. Schedule P. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 24. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 25. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule Q on page 24.
Do you agree with Schedule Q?
Chairman: Clause 26. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule R on page 25. Do you agree with Schedule R?
Chairman: Go to Schedule S on page 25. Do you agree with Schedule S?
Chairman: Clause 28. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 29. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule T on page 25.
Chairman: Clause 30. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go to Schedule U on page 26.
Chairman: Do members agree to Bill 25 as a whole?
Chairman: Do members agree that pursuant to Rule 62(2) that Bill 25 can immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
I again would just like to thank the standing committee for its scrutiny of Bill 25.
It’s very important work. We only have 140 or 150 statutes to update and you will be seeing more of these, so I appreciate your scrutiny of the future legislation that will be coming forward.
Could the Sergeant-at-Arms please escort the minister and his witness out.
I would now like to ask the Minister responsible for the URRC, Minister Curley, to make his opening remarks.
Bill 21– An Act to Amend the Utility Rates Review Council Act – Consideration in Committee
I am pleased to appear before this committee today to provide you with information about amendments proposed to the Utility Rates Review Council Act.
Mr. Chairman, while larger amendments to the legislation may be necessary in the long run, I recommend to you the current amendments which would immediately address three issues raised with me by the Utility Rates Review Council.
The legislation will be amended in three areas to address the URRC’s concerns: the size of the council and its support; the time allowed for the URRC to report to the Minister responsible for QEC on any applications; and the implementation of interim refundable rates so that the council is able to respond to urgent requests.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Legislation for their questions, comments, and concerns in our appearance before them on this legislation.
It was helpful for the council to hear your questions, comments, concerns, and I’m sure that they will take them into consideration as they continue their fine work on our behalf.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank all of you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I look forward to any further questions that you may have.
Hon. Tagak Curley: I do, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my left is Mr. Kirk Janes, he is the Secretary to the URRC. On my right is Mr. Thomas Druyan.
I think he is quite familiar with the committee members. Thank you.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Curley. Does the Co-Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation have comments?
As Co-Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation, I am pleased to make opening comments as we begin consideration of Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Utility Rates Review Council Act.
During the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee on the occasion of its clause-by-clause consideration of Bill 21, members took the opportunity to raise a number of concerns and questions.
On November 30, 2009, the Qulliq Energy Corporation announced that its next General Rate Application will be submitted in the spring of 2010. Bill 21 proposes to increase the size of the Utility Rates Review Council to five members.
Although the standing committee has no objections to this expansion, it is noteworthy that the appointments of the council’s current members expire in August of this year. It will be important for the minister to act quickly to ensure that members of the council are appointed in a timely manner and are fully prepared to review the General Rate Application.
The standing committee notes that Bill 21 proposes to appoint an executive director for the council. It is the committee’s understanding that the present incumbent who serves as the Utility Rates Review Council’s secretary will assume this responsibility.
Given that the office-holder is an employee of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, it is important to ensure that the position’s reporting relationship to the Utility Rates Review Council is structured in a manner that respects the independent nature of the council.
The standing committee notes that Bill 21 proposes to give the Utility Rates Review Council new powers to “require a utility to provide any relevant information that the Review Council requests.”
Although it is not entirely clear to the standing committee what problems may have existed in the past that have necessitated this amendment, the standing committee recognizes that the Utility Rates Review Council must have complete and timely access to financial and other information that is relevant to fulfilling its mandate.
However, it is also important that these powers be exercised in a manner that respects the confidentiality of personal information concerning the QEC’s employees and customers.
On December 18, 2009, the Qulliq Energy Corporation applied for permission to continue imposing a fuel stabilization rider of 4.68 cents per kilowatt-hour. On the same date, this request was referred to the Utility Rates Review Council for review.
A few days later, the cabinet approved regulations to impose this fuel stabilization rider on an interim basis until a final instruction is given by the minister, following the completion of the Utility Rates Review Council’s review process.
These regulations were published in the Part II of the December 2009 edition of the Nunavut Gazette.
The Qulliq Energy Corporation did not issue a news release concerning its application until February 4, 2010.
Clause 8 of Bill 21 provides that in the event that a ministerial instruction arising from the review process results in no new rate or a rate that is less than the interim rate, customers are to receive a credit to reflect any overpayment.
This approach has been included in previous regulations approved by the cabinet with respect to the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s previous applications for fuel stabilization riders.
It is important that customers and the general public receive clear and timely information concerning what ministerial instructions are ultimately given and that the Qulliq Energy Corporation issues any credits in a timely manner.
It is also important that the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s annual reports and financial statements provide clear and comprehensive information concerning the operations of its Fuel Stabilization Fund.
The standing committee recommends the passage of Bill 21 to all members.
Chairman: Thank you. Are there any general comments?
If there are no general comments, we will now proceed to the clause-by-clause review of the bill starting with page 1.
Bill 22, An Act to Amend the Utility Rates Review Council Act. Clause 1.
Chairman: Clause 9. Do you agree?
Chairman: Go back to Schedule on page 5.