EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Chairman (interpretation): At the bottom, (interpretation ends) Total Department. -$656,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Go to page 5. (interpretation ends) Human Resources. Operations and Maintenance.
Training and Development. Total Training and Development. $15,000.
I have a question which should be quite simple to answer.
I know this $15,000 fund is not very large. What exactly is the purpose of this amount? That’s all I want clarification on.
Mr. Chairman, CESO, or Canadian Executive Services, is an organization that consists of retired individuals from different professions across Canada. The agreement with CESO would allow the Government of Nunavut to engage them to provide one-on-one training and mentoring to individuals within the government’s professional development and transfer some of the skills and expertise they have acquired over 30 to 40 years in the workforce.
I don’t have any more names on my list. (interpretation ends) Training and Development. Total Training and Development. $15,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman: Total Department (interpretation) at the bottom. $15,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Go to page 6. (interpretation ends) Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. Operations and Maintenance.
Not Previously Authorized. Directorate. Total Directorate. -$120,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
This $120,000 amount is also not a large number. I just want clarification on what the purpose of this is.
Mr. Chairman, it comes under Directorate, so some of the funding that goes in the Directorate would have to transfer over to provide the new department with resources to administer the programs and services.
Mr. Enook, are you done?
I have no more names on my list. (interpretation ends) Total Directorate. -$120,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): At the bottom, (interpretation ends) Sport and Recreation. Total. Sport and Recreation. -$5,751,000.
I thank (interpretation ends) the Hon. Minister of Finance. (interpretation) Mr. Chairman, I think we all know that when elders and youth want to hold activities, they’re usually short of funding. They receive funding from Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Sometimes they receive some money for sport and recreation out of that $5,751,000.
It says it’s an interdepartmental transfer to Community and Government Services from Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. I hope that won’t put any hardship on the Sport and Recreation Division.
Why is there a transfer?
I thank Mr. Ningark for his good question and concern. Mr. Chairman, we’re proposing to transfer the entire branch or division from CLEY to Community and Government Services, the 12 positions, all positions, all the sport and recreation programs.
They’re involved in 25 communities. They work with all the hamlet councils and the city council here. Of course, with the sport and recreation department, we feel that they would probably be closer to the communities and provide a more active, engaged process in delivering sport and recreation in Nunavut and in our communities.
Mr. Ningark [asked] the question I was going to ask, you know, if the minister could explain the rationale for the change.
With all of these changes we’re doing in between departments, I wonder if we can anticipate any changes coming up in the near future.
With the changes we’re proposing today, all interdepartmental transfers would occur on July 1. We’re continuing to look at other departments going forward.
I have no more names on my list. (interpretation ends) Sport and Recreation.
Total Sport and Recreation. -$5,751,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
At the bottom of the page, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. (interpretation ends) Total Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. -$3,579,000.
The $3,579,000 from Culture, Language, Elders and Youth for the transfer of Piqqusilirivvik Administration Division, is that just for administration?
Mr. Chairman, the administration basically consists of 14 positions and I’ll give you the breakdown.
For compensation and benefits, $1,679,000; grants and contributions, $200,000; travel and transportation, $600,000; materials and supplies, $300,000; purchase services, $200,000; contract services, $200,000; fees and payments, $200,000; and other expenses, $200,000.
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. (interpretation ends) Total Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. -$3,579,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Down at the bottom, (interpretation ends) Total Department. -$9,450,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Go to page 7. (interpretation ends) Education.
Career and Early Childhood Services. Total Career and Early Childhood Services. $116,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Thank you. I’m sorry.
At the bottom, (interpretation ends) Total Department. $116,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Go to page 8. (interpretation ends) Community and Government Services. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Community Support. Total Community Support. $5,755,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Just before we finally approve, I know that we have approved to take the money out of one department and put it into the other department. What I want clarification on, when we go back to the communities, we’re able to answer the question… . Again, it’s just line items changing line items.
I think I spoke about it in my Member’s Statement, where we are asking communities to become more self-reliant and apply for the money to run programs in their communities that they know will work to better their communities.
Just so there’s no confusion in terms of the transfer over from CLEY to CGS, when I have someone come to me and say that we’ve got a good program, like Mr. Ningark was talking about, where you have elders who want to apply for money to do a feast or for transportation or for something, do we tell them to apply to the same phone numbers, to the same locations, and fill out the same forms? Just so there’s no confusion.
Mr. Chairman, as I understand it, there’s no change in service.
Individuals could still contact the same people.
After a period of time, there may be some minor tweaks, but I don’t think folks in the communities should be too concerned. We certainly worked with the communities to make sure they knew about any changes.
The other thing is this information will be passed on to the GLOs as well. I know one of the things in the three communities that I represent, the GLOs are being moulded into their positions, and people are starting to understand how to go to them and when to go to them. It would be nice to know if this is something that someone in the community could go and talk to GLO about.
I thank Mr. Elliott for the comment and question.
The government liaison officers are individuals who people in the communities should be able to go to get information about government programs, services, and contacts.
So I anticipate that they will be kept fully informed and briefed on information that they should have so that they could pass it on to folks when they come looking for information.
I don’t have any more names on my list. (interpretation ends) Community Support.
Total Community Support. $5,755,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): At the bottom, (interpretation ends) Total Department. $5,755,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Go to page 9. (interpretation ends) Economic Development and Transportation. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Corporate Management. Total Corporate Management. $641,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
I shouldn’t thank you yet as we’re not quite done.  >>Laughter
(interpretation ends) Total Department (interpretation) at the bottom of page 9. $641,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Now I thank you. Go to page 10. (interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College.
Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized. Total Nunavut Arctic College. $3,669,000.
Again, with what’s happening with Piqqusilirivvik changing over to the college, I was wondering if we could hear from both ministers, like the Minister of CLEY and the Minister of Nunavut Arctic College.
Is there a memorandum of understanding that’s happening in terms of who is running what?
Again, to me, the college provides diploma programs and certificate programs, and the intent of the cultural school was quite a bit different. The school was set up before I became an MLA.
I listened attentively to discussions with Mr. Okalik in terms of what the initial vision was for that school. By putting it under the college, I think you’re changing the scope of education. I don’t know if that’s where the cultural school really wants to go.
What I was hoping for was: is this again just another line item change and staff is being put into different positions, or is there fundamentally going to be a change in the shift of the cultural school in terms of how academic performance is assessed?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott. I’ll give that question to Minister Peterson, but I would like him to know that he can ask one of his ministerial colleagues to respond.
I thank Mr. Elliott for the question. My colleague, the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, signalled that he would like to speak to it.
I will now recognize Minister Shewchuk.
In regard to this transfer of funds from CLEY to Nunavut Arctic College, nothing is going to change at all.
The intent of the programs that are offered at the cultural school and the delivery that’s in place right now is not going to change one bit.
The staffing, administration costs, and the budget are coming over to Arctic College. In a lot of respects, I think that Arctic College, being involved in delivering adult education, is there to assist, promote, and help the cultural school move forward. So nothing is going to change.
I would like to ask another question in follow-up to Mr. Elliott’s question. I don’t believe he got an adequate response. I would like to try and ask the question from a different angle.
I believe that in the title of the department, “Culture, Language, Elders and Youth,” it’s very clearly stated what the department is responsible for.
Also, the name, Piqqusilirivvik Cultural School, appears to be somewhat misleading.
It would seem that it is a natural fit for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, which obviously doesn’t have an education mandate.
As a Member of the Legislative Assembly, it has to be clear to me and also to Nunavummiut that the original purpose and intent of establishing the Piqqusilirivvik Cultural School is maintained, even though we have transferred it.
I believe that’s what our reasoning is for asking those questions.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Mr. Enook for the question and comments.
Yes, of course, as my colleague indicated, nothing is going to change. We just feel that Nunavut Arctic College can provide more program development, support, and logistics in honouring the original intent of the cultural school.
As we saw last year, there were some difficulties with getting the program off, the school operational, recruiting staff, and information to help students apply for the openings.
We just feel that this is a natural fit for the college.
I’m sure there will be an ongoing and good working relationship between Nunavut Arctic College and Culture and Heritage, nevertheless.
I have no more names on my list. (interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College.
More or less like my colleague for Tununiq, I have the same views about the Department of CLEY. The transfer of their operating funds to another division doesn’t seem to be intuitively right.
Does this mean that the Minister of Finance has recognized that the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth will continue to be functional as before?
Has the Minister of CLEY fully agreed to have those funds being taken out of their budget?
My colleague, Minister Arreak, has signalled that he would like to respond to that question.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. Minister Arreak.
Thank you for the questions and they are receiving appropriate answers.
The Piqqusilirivvik Cultural School in Clyde River has been operating for only a year under the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. If Arctic College administers Piqqusilirivvik, none of its O&M is going to change. We have considered it and agreed that if Arctic College takes on the responsibility, Piqqusilirivvik can offer more training programs.
With respect to sport and recreation, the Legislative Assembly has been requesting, especially the Chairman, that it be transferred to CGS.
The mandate of the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth is not being eroded. As you have heard, starting in July, the department’s English name is too long and causes confusion, so beginning July 1, it will now be called “Culture and Heritage,” just like we call it in Inuktitut.
That’s clearer now.
I’ll try again. (interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College.
Total Nunavut Arctic College. $3,669,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman: Total Department. $3,669,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Go back to page 2. (interpretation ends) Schedule 1.
Operations and Maintenance Appropriation. $90,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Go to Bill 36 in your white legislation binder.
We now go clause by clause. (interpretation ends) Bill 36, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No.1, 2012-2013. (interpretation) I believe you’re all ready now. (interpretation ends) Clause 1. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Go to the Schedule on page 3. (interpretation ends) Schedule.
Supplementary Amounts Appropriated for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2013.
Total Supplementary Appropriation. $90,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Go back to page 1. (interpretation ends) Clause 4. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Do members agree to Bill 36 as a whole?
Do members agree, (interpretation ends) pursuant to Rule 62(2), that Bill 36 can immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. I thank you all. Minister Peterson, do you have any closing remarks for Bill 36?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Chairman, I would just like to thank yourself and the members for asking a lot of good questions.
We assure you that we will make any changes with good intentions. We hope that the changes will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all of our programs in the communities.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. We will now deal with another item, Bill 37, with Mr. Enook in the Chair and I’ll go back to my seat.
Bill 37 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013 – Consideration in Committee
Chairman (Mr. Enook)(interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ningeongan.
We can now proceed with the review of Bill 37.
I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if he has any opening comments.
I am pleased to present Bill 37, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013.
Bill 37 is for capital supplementary appropriations for 2012-13 totalling $102,386,000.
The bulk of the appropriation is for the capital carryovers from the 2011-12 fiscal year to the 2012-13 fiscal year.
There is an additional capital appropriation for Nunavut Arctic College for a snow fence for the Piqqusilirivvik cultural facility.
There are a total of 143 projects covered by the bill.
The total capital appropriation can be broken down as follows:
$2,375,000 in one project for the Office of the Legislative Assembly for improvements;
$2,902,000 in eight projects for the Department of Finance in support of Nunavut Arctic College operations and includes $400,000 in additional capital for the snow fence for the Piqqusilirivvik cultural facility;
$4,589,000 in two projects for the Department of Justice covering some minor capital in the Rankin Inlet Correctional Centre;
$6,539,000 in 17 projects for the Department of Education, which includes repairs and renovations to several schools;
$24,199,000 in eight projects for the Department of Health and Social Services, which includes a replacement of several health centres;
$3,429,000 in seven projects for the Department of Environment covering wildlife office renovations and territorial park development;
$46,272,000 in 76 projects for the Department of Community and Government Services covering a wide range of municipal and community infrastructure projects; and
$12,081,000 in 24 projects for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation covering a variety of airport improvement projects.
Are there any general comments on the opening comments?
Infrastructure development and capital projects are dear to my heart, especially when my communities are mentioned in the development within the system.
I don’t have any controversial issues with Bill 37 at this point.
Are there any other general comments on the opening comments?
I feel the same as Mr. Ningark. We do expect to receive capital projects in our community and that’s what we depend on, especially in the smaller communities.
When the housing corporation experienced a large loss of money, that affected many smaller communities that otherwise would have received much needed infrastructure improvements.
I want to ask when the postponed capital projects would go ahead.
Funds allocated for warehousing at airports were suspended.
Can the Minister of Finance elaborate further to me when the funding that was transferred will be returned?
I’m not sure I understand correctly, but the capital carryovers are for funding for projects that have already been approved by the House to proceed. The projects would have been initiated previously and have contracts in place. We have to transfer the money over to continue to deliver the projects.
For some of the projects that were approved, if there are no contracts in place and if the departments were planning to initiate them within the first three months of the new fiscal year, they have to seek approval.
These are projects that are already approved, underway, or will be underway within the first three months of the fiscal year.
It’s a requirement under the FAM Directive to go through this process.
I appreciate the answer.
Under the business plan, the equipment shelter for the airport in Taloyoak is included.
We receive those funds from the Department of Economic Development and Transportation and they have been transferred to the Repulse Bay Airport.
For those of us who live in the smaller communities, when you transfer funds that have already been approved, we receive much less infrastructure.
I do understand about the delay because of the housing corporation’s debt.
My question is: when are we going to recover these funds?
I’m just wondering if this is directed to the issue at hand. I leave it to Mr. Peterson to respond if he wishes. Mr. Peterson.
I don’t have the specific information that Ms. Ugyuk is referring to. Usually, if money is transferred from one project to another, we do notify the Chair of the Committee of the Whole.
Sometimes, if the project is complete, we will transfer money to another project that needs funds. If the project isn’t complete, it is tracked and money will go back to replace the funding that was used.
If a project is deferred from one year to another, it will continue to be tracked in the capital planning process.
I thank the minister for answering the question.
Perhaps the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation can answer my next question.
If the housing corporation didn’t have this debt, the airport equipment shelters that were to be built would have gone ahead, but maybe I misunderstood it. We received a letter recently that the funds that were going to be used for the equipment shelter in our community are now being transferred to the Repulse Bay Airport.
I would like to get some clarification while we’re dealing with capital projects.
We didn’t come prepared today to talk about the 2013-14 capital plan.
We’re undergoing that capital planning cycle now.
A good opportunity to bring it all up for fuller and further discussion and debate with all the information would be in the fall in the standing committee in-camera meetings and also in the October sitting.
The information that we have here today has to do with Bill 37 and capital carryovers.
I apologize if you misunderstood me, but we do receive letters stating that because of the housing corporation’s debt, these projects would be delayed.
When do you feel that these will be resolved?
Mr. Chairman, thanks to the hard work of the ministers and MLAs and the belt-tightening of all departments and public agencies back in 2010, we were able to raise $110 million to complete and deliver over 1,000 houses under the Nunavut Housing Trust and affordable housing.
At the time, we did a 3 percent budget reduction and we also deferred some capital projects.
My understanding is that the capital projects that would be deferred then would, at some point, make it back on the capital plan and continue, so it just changed the years.
Again, I don’t have that information with me.
I would need to have all the information to be able to provide a clearer answer for Ms. Ugyuk.
I think I did receive some of the answers from what Ms. Ugyuk was asking. Specifically for paragraph 3, for clarification, the bulk of what we’re approving today is just capital carryovers. It is money that we have already allocated and it is being pushed forward to continue on with the projects.
Is that correct, yes or no?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Mr. Elliott for the question. Mr. Chairman, yes to Mr. Elliott.
So then in paragraph 3, again, the last sentence, every other project that is in the binder that we’re looking at and the dollars that we will be approving, none of the scopes of work have changed. The only new project is the snow fence for Piqqusilirivvik. Is that correct?
For clarification, to the best of my knowledge, the only additional capital appropriation is the snow fence for the cultural facility.
The rest are capital carryovers.
Mr. Chairman, I have the following question. It appears this is the largest ever capital carryover during the history of the Nunavut government.
Could the Minister of Finance explain to the committee exactly why this is such a large carryover and what accounts for this even more than a normal capital estimate we are normally asked to approve?
Mr. Chairman, we have discussed this several times over the last couple of years about the capital carryovers.
We were trending down the last two years. This year, we’re up again. There are a number of reasons.
As I indicated earlier when I was just talking to the MLAs, a lot of our funding is tied to federal funding, the Building Canada Fund, the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, and other projects.
We have to front-end load the budget. The projects are multi-year; some of them are quite large, so you can’t complete them all in one year.
There are other factors. There could be capacity issues. There could be issues related to changes that either hamlet councils or departments want that could delay a project a year.
There’s a limited construction period in Nunavut. Timing is an issue. There are a number of reasons.
As Mr. Curley will recall, last year, when were wrestling with the same issue, we did pass a motion at the cabinet or FMB that we wanted better planning and pre-design for projects before they went forward in the capital planning process so that the estimates would be closer to class “A” estimates as opposed to class “B” or “C.” They have to be class “A” before they even get approved.
So we’re making a number of changes. It’s going to take time for the changes to roll out through the system. Certainly, we’re concerned about the number of projects being carried over and the amount, but these are projects that are initiated and do need to be completed.
Mr. Curley: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that. That clarifies some points, but at the same time, I think the minister is really quite well aware that unless some of the projects are completed, there won’t be any new money, really, to build new facilities in the fall.