EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
There is going to be a staff housing shortage once they fill all the positions so I'm just wondering if the Premier has plans to put more staff housing units in those decentralized communities.
We are looking at each community and the number of jobs going in and if this budget is approved, there will likely be a few additions in staff housing for some of the communities.
I can't say exactly where at this point.
The budget has to be approved for that to happen and it depends on when the jobs are being created in the communities.
So it depends but we are considering it right now.
Speaker: Ma'na, Mr. Premier.
I know that the department is hiring, I know there are some job competitions that are out.
The timing of some positions will require hiring of professionals that we don't have in each community that will require staff housing.
It's going to be an urgent need for some departments, I understand that we are going to have to wait until we go through the budget and then we will go from the there.
Just making a comment on that.
Question 058 - 1(5): Nakasuk/Inuksuk Schools’ Technical Studies
I asked earlier if the minister was aware of any technical status or evaluation reports that were done on either Nakasuk or Inuksuk Schools here in Iqaluit.
The minister replied that he is aware of some of the issues that are facing these schools.
So I would again like to ask if he is aware of any formal reports that were done to identify any of the deficiencies that may exist in these schools.
I myself, personally, don’t have all the detailed technical information about whether the schools have encountered any problems.
>>Siren
Mr. Tootoo: I hope that’s not for me, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated yesterday a fairly thorough process that was used in determining what their capital plan was going to be over the next five years.
Mr. Speaker, myself, knowing the tremendous growth that we face here in Iqaluit and not seeing anything at all to address those needs here in Iqaluit over the next five years Mr. Speaker, causes me some concern. Not only for not at least thinking about it, now it is going to be upon us when it is too late in the future and we won’t have a place to put our students.
So I would again like to ask the minister, he may not be aware of these types of reports, but did his department take reports like this, if they exist, into consideration in the development of their capital plan.
The Education Department has capital plans and we deal with the schools in Nunavut in making those plans.
We now have a database and are able to look at the schools and the population.
I know that a lot of the schools are overcrowded and we realize that Iqaluit is growing but we are working with the database that we have put together.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am wondering, the minister talks about this great database that they have full of information, if that database would include the costs of any repairs or any ongoing maintenance that has been required on the two schools that I mentioned earlier, Nakasuk and Inuksuk Schools that were built in the 1970’s.
I understand that there are some major concerns with those schools, things like the air handling system, these types of problems.
I feel that it puts our kids in a potential health and safety hazard and I am wondering if those things were taken into consideration in the development of their capital plan.
I believe there are two questions. To respond to the first one, the cost of maintaining the schools.
I talked about the database and the Department of Public Works are able to deal with those problems that come up.
Once they have been reviewed and when we are planning the 5-year Plan, it's a complicated process.
Because there are a lot of schools in Nunavut and I'd like to make myself very clear but I can't say how much is used to maintain the schools at this moment.
Mr. Speaker, I'm wondering if the minister could commit to checking with his departmental staff to see if any type of technical status or evaluation reports exist for those two schools, when they were done and some of the, if there are any code or heath and safety issues related to that and report that back to the House as soon as possible.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I could agree to do that but I would have to agree to do it to all the schools in Nunavut.
I think the members realize that we would consider doing that but not at an early date.
Just a reminder again to the members that detailed questions on the budget, that information I'm sure will come out in Committee of the Whole.
The time for question period is now over.
Tabled Document 007 - 1(5): National Post Article “$520-million below”
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to table a document. It's from the National Post and it's titled “$520-million below”.
Speaker: Thank you. Item 14.
In accordance with the authority vested in me by Motion 002-1(5), Committee of Whole will stay in session until it reports itself out, with Mr. Irqittuq in the chair.
Before we proceed with Committee of the Whole, I think members will agree we will take a short 15 minute break.
Chairperson (Irqittuq): Thank you, members.
Members, ministers we will be starting Committee of the Whole.
During Committee of the Whole we will be dealing with Bill 1, Appropriation Act 2001-2002.
We wish to go to the Capital Estimates.
Can the minister take his place at the front at the witness stand with his witnesses.
Thank you for taking your seats.
Minister Kilabuk could you introduce your witnesses.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members.
On my right is my Deputy Minister Robert Moody and on my left is Lorne Levy who is in charge of capital projects within the Department of Education.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Minister and members.
I just have a question for you.
Are we in general comments or questions.
We are dealing with capital estimates.
We are on page 9-5, which deals with details of expenditures.
If any members have any questions under details of expenditures, we will go into questions and then once that is done we will proceed with other items.
Thank you. Mr. Havioyak.
I just want to make a comment, I guess.
On expenditures, on your capital, I wanted to ask about the Arctic College facilities.
Going through some of the things that are in this capital plan, I don't really see anything, unless it's some place in there in the 29 thousand but is it going to be in the Arctic College facilities across Nunavut.
If not I would like to ask a bit later.
Chairperson: Minister Kilabuk.
I think he said he'll ask the question later, if I understood him correctly.
To respond to the question.
Our capital estimates we will be working on the college facility in Arviat and that's the only item for the college, Nunavut Arctic College.
I guess I'll ask a bit later I'm going to go into details of some of my concerns later on.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are dealing with capital estimates for 2001-2002 we are on page 9-5.
Yesterday we finished before we went into details.
I'd like to get into details now Mr. Chairman.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Arvaluk, if you want to comment.
I think it's up to the chairperson but I don't have any comments with that.
During the minister’s opening remarks, he talked about different areas but didn’t talk about income support. He didn't make any comments regarding the income support program.
My question, I think the minister last year stated that there was going to be a review done with the income support budget.
We will be dealing with that later.
I am wondering if the minister would consider reviewing the summer students.
The students are interested in summer jobs and the Hamlets were given 75% of salaries to do some summer work.
I am wondering if this can be done under the income support program.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are under 9-5.
Just so the members will know.
I seem to understand that yesterday we were working on the capital estimates.
There are areas that we are not able to respond to at the moment without the details at hand.
But we could get that information if it is wish of the Committee.
I will be waiting for that response.
But, I'd like to ask the minister during his opening remarks he didn't talk about the income support budget.
He didn't make any remarks regarding income support. I am wondering if they are going to be doing any work.
If there are any items that will need to be dealt with under income support.
I apologize for not including it in the opening remarks.
But, we have it, it is included in the review.
Probably in about six weeks I'll be able put out that information regarding income support issues that we are dealing with.
Chairperson (interpretation): We could bring those questions up when we are dealing with the Main Estimates.
The Committee I am sure brought up questions regarding this.
But I am not able to see any information regarding this.
Perhaps he could point that out when the time comes.
If I go to the question I guess I just want to ask you if I could refer to some of the appendices here on the capital projects.
Can I refer to that too.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are now on page 9-5 and when we get to that page, you could bring up your question.
We are, seem to be, there seem to be some problems.
We are now on 9-5, under Capital Estimates and some members seem to want to move on to other areas.
Perhaps we could take a 10-minute break as I don’t feel very comfortable as the chairperson, not knowing exactly what the process is.
Thank you, we’ll get back in 10 minutes.
>>Committee recessed for 20 minutes
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you members for returning.
We can begin again.
I hope we’re operating better.
Yesterday when we started Committee of the Whole, the members were allowed 10 minutes to do their general comments and today we will proceed from where we left off yesterday.
Under the Department of Education, under details of expenditures.
Total Capital, total capital expenditures, 29 million 320 thousand.
We are on page 9-5, any questions on that page.
If there are no questions, we’ll go to another page.
On your capital expenditures there I’m sure you looked at a 5 year forecast and came up with that number.
Is there, in your 5-year forecast, in that line, in the future, that you are planning to look at the facilities for the Arctic Colleges across Nunavut.
Is there a plan in place, because I’m sure, when you are looking at this year, I’m sure you looked at the 5 year forecast before it reaches that 29 million dollars.
For Arctic College and Adult Education, there’s another, there is also a 5-year Capital Plan within there for Arctic College.
Mr. Havioyak: Let me just see if I'm getting the right message on the Arctic College facility.
Have you forecast Arctic College facilities.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: I was trying to inform the members that the Arctic College, they have their own representative on the capital planning committee who is able to bring forward to the table the needs of Arctic College.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Minister. Mr. Havioyak
Details then on that, did you say a committee or some Arctic college board I hear, I am not sure.
Is that available.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Yes.
I'm sorry we didn't understand each other.
I would have to get those representatives of Arctic College and get some information from them and then get back to the member.
I just mentioned and to let you know it's been a number of years now in Kugluktuk, the Arctic College in Kugluktuk.
Programs are not available, not as many.
I wanted you to realize that next year, years after, there needs to be infrastructure put in so that Arctic College programs could be available.
I was wondering if it would be here.
That was the question I brought forward because there needs to be in Kugluktuk those kinds of facilities for Arctic College students.
I want you to be aware of that.
If it's there, then we'll know.
I just tried to get some clarification from my staff.
They have talked about that, there is a discussion about the Arctic College.
Under business plans and in the plans of capital expenditures there's 29 million 320 thousand total for capital expenditures.
In the communities, there's not much housing.
There's a lack of housing. I will use this as an example.
I think we have to look at the facilities for educating adults.
Some of the students, for instance in Gjoa Haven there's an old trailer that is being utilized and they use that facility for adult education.
They put the two old trailers together.
That's when our population was not as much as it is today.
I just wondered in my community that old school trailer that was put together is too small.
We don't have any other facility.
For example, if there is a class that is taking home economics, or people taking courses such as cooking or whatever, we can't enrol any more people.
I'll use this as an example.
The adult education facility has to be brought up to a bigger facility.
There are courses such as computers, electrical and other courses that can be taken in my community.
We have those courses to be taken by people but there is a lack of facilities.
Yes, I understand when the Member from Kugluktuk asked a question about inadequate facilities for Arctic College.
I understand that Mr. Chairman.
For some of the smaller communities are you going to be doing stuff like that for the smaller communities.
Getting more facilities or larger facilities. Are you going to be looking into it.
Like going to our community to look at the facilities, so you can understand the lack of facilities that we have in the communities.
I just want to let the members know that I don't want them to expect something that is not coming.
These are for one year, the capital expenditures that we have at this time.
If we talk about it right now and say that we are going to be doing something for you, I just don't want you to be confused.
The question of the member about Gjoa Haven having a facility, we will be happy to visit his community and talk about facilities.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Will you be going along Mr. Minister.
I will have those people who do the capital planning go to his community but I am not sure whether I am going to be going along.
However, I would like to tell the member if it is ok when we go to Cambridge Bay for the session, I might be able to go there.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are under details of expenditure, Department of Education, Capital estimates. 9 - 5.
Any questions on 9 - 5.
Perhaps I misunderstood but I'll ask the question.
Under details of expenditure, for buildings and works.
It is 29 million 70 thousand dollars.
It’ll be used for buildings and for works.
I just wondered what the buildings and works are.
What we're talking about under buildings and works is buildings and the works.
Are those for like, tools or whatever.
Thank you Mr. Chairman. For the building and the works that go with it.
Yes, it just seems that is for all Nunavut the 29 million 70 thousand.
Yes, that's for the Nunavut area as a whole.
Is that for all the communities in Nunavut, that's the way I wanted to pose the question.
We have not gone through the communities as yet and when we get to them, they will be in detail.
Chairperson (interpretation): Is that okay Mr. Iqaqrialu.
It seems like the 29 million 70 thousand should have been on the last page.
Chairperson (interpretation): Minister Kilabuk would you like to clarify that please.
The capital expenditures are for buildings and we were asked to do the capital first so this is why we are dealing with it today.
This is my last question.
It seems like we are going backwards when we are dealing with these capital estimates, I just thought I'd make that comment.
Chairperson (interpretation): Under this item under 9-5, under details of expenditures.
Mr. Chairman, in the minister’s opening comments and I'll say this as it relates to the general capital and the development of their capital budget.
He talks about the surpluses, the accumulated surplus from the divisional board and some of that has gone into some of their capital.
I would just like to ask the minister if he could provide us with how much that was and to break it down by region.
The capital that was surplus from the divisional board, we will be dealing with it under 9-8.
There are two busses that we want for Cape Dorset and Pangnirtung.
Those are from the surplus.
Maybe the minister didn't understand my question, I was asking if he has the breakdown by region of what that accumulated surplus was for each of those divisional education councils.
We have the information of the surplus that was from the three regional councils.
There’s two here, one from Kivalliq and one from Baffin but we’re not quite finished with the surplus from the Kitikmeot.
When it becomes available, we’ll give it to the members.
Mr. Chairman, I was wondering how the department has determined what the surplus is, the accumulated surplus from the three divisional education councils was and determining what they’re going to spend, how they could have done that if they don’t have a final figure for one of the regions.
I was wondering if you could explain that.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you Chairman.
I think, for your information, we have already set up the system but we will be going back after the completion of the review by the Assembly.
Chairperson (interpretation): Are you done Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Tootoo: Yes I am.
If the minister has two of the three figures with him, if he could provide us with those figures and also not knowing what the other one was, will it be, you know, is there any way to know whether there will be a surplus there or deficit.
Without knowing what the final figure is, how can we determine whether there was, you know, accumulated surplus of, you know, I believe it was around 1.6 or 2.1 million dollars of listed items to be one time funded out of that.
You know, if we’re not sure exactly what that number is, can that be it if there is still one outstanding region to be able to finalize that number.
So does the minister have any indication of whether there will be a surplus in that region or deficit that won’t have a negative impact on what’s outlined in the budget.
Well I can only respond the way I did earlier, we have one that’s not completed yet.
There has been a review done and we have an idea of what it’s going to be.
But when you look at all the three regions, two are completed and one is not quite complete yet and to date, we can only respond like that but we will have to look at the latest review that will be done by the Financial Management Board.
Chairman: Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Chairman, the minister indicated that it is the Financial Management Board that is doing the review to determine the amount of the surplus or not.
Is that what he is saying, is that FMB is going to review it and then you’ll be able to let us know.
The review, we had an auditor look through the figures but once they’re done, we will be submitting the numbers.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, would the Minister commit to providing this house with audited numbers of all three divisional education councils, you know, to this House so the members and the public can see how much the accumulated surplus actually was and to see the costs.
I think more importantly to show, you know this government has talked about the reason for dissolving the boards was to save some money.
I think that could be a good way in showing so that members and the public can see exactly how much was saved as a result of the dissolution of the boards.
And I am wondering if he'd be willing to provide this House with those audited statements and also some type of comparison as to then and now.
To show what this government has saved as a result of dissolution of the boards.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Kilabuk.
Once they are completed, we will be tabling that report and I will give you a further detailed response to your question.
I don't believe there are further comments.
Mr. Tootoo: I am thinking faster than I am moving, I guess that happens when you get over a certain age.
Mr. Chairman, in the minister’s opening statement he talks about how these funds are being provided for one time funding of projects.
I am wondering if the minister could indicate what type of criteria was used in determining what the priorities were and what projects were selected for this one time funding.
These are the priorities that were identified.
In addition, to give you background information first of all, Mr. Chairman, when we are making plans for capital estimates and what it is going to be used for, some of these monies were put towards urgent projects and maybe I didn't respond to your question.
Mr. Tootoo: I am sure Minister Kilabuk would love to be able to ask himself a question.
You could ask me a question then.
Mr. Chairman, I am wondering what type of, these priority projects that were identified as the minister indicated, what type of criteria was used in determining what those were.
As this is the usual planning process, I will give it to my Deputy Minister to respond.
Mr. Moody: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In answer to Mr. Tootoo’s question Mr. Chairman, the greater majority of the allocation of the one time surplus monies came from recommendations of a week long business planning session that was held in Arviat in August of 2000.
The Minister of Education of the day and the senior staff from all the different branches of the department met to review the business plan.
And at the end of the session, we had an excellent week long session in Arviat, where we had redefined the goals and objectives and satisfied ourselves as a department that they were consistent to the Bathurst Mandate.
We then said well if we had funds to do the things that we are not doing today, where would we put those funds.
Actually the way it worked in terms of the detail Mr. Chairman, the minister and all the staff voted on the priority items.
Those items account for 80% of the money that is allocated.
Then at a later date after the business planning process, we had a small group within the department, mostly from the school services side, our managers who work in communities and run the schools, and said what would be the priority in schools and school programs.
So through that process the balance of the money was determined.
Then we took that list and the recommendations and why to the minister for approval and once the Education Minister had endorsed that, those items were submitted to the Financial Management Board and they were adopted there, subject to the finalization of all the audits because of course none of these could be spent until we knew the exact amount.
So it was quite a lengthy process and just to summarize Mr. Chairman, it all came back to tying into the major goals and priorities that the department has developed through the business planning process.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Moody.
At this time to go back to our page. Details of expenditures.
On page 9-5 last year, it was 16 million dollars and it is now 29 million dollars.
So there was quite a huge increase and we did know last year there were quite a number of schools that were going to be built.
My question is last year we wanted to see which schools were going to be built and with the previous government, they built the schools based on the school population and at the designing stage of the building, it was built just to house the number of students that would be going in.
Is it possible to build larger schools in anticipation of the growing population of students.
I am not sure I understood your question about the huge increase. If I didn't misunderstand you, you were talking about the increase and anticipated growth.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): There was 16 million dollars in 2000-2001 and 30 million in 2001-2002.
We know that there are schools that have to be built across Nunavut.
With the previous government, the ministers used to build schools based on the number of students, and then they put in the required number of classrooms following the school population.
But they didn't think about development for upcoming years.