EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, shortly after I became the Minister of Justice, I was briefed on a number of outstanding initiatives that are in the process of being developed and it’s a rather thick document. I believe they visited most communities in Nunavut and there were a lot of people consulted.
Crime prevention is an important issue in the minds of people in Nunavut. The department is currently in the process of drafting a framework and action plan to share with partners and stakeholders on how to go forward with a crime prevention strategy.
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t quite hear a date for the final version. I’ll have to do a follow-up on that.
On March 16, 2016, the minister tabled his department’s 2013-14 and 2014-15 annual reports under the Family Abuse Intervention Act.
In this report, the department indicates that “Justice Committees are tasked with running crime prevention programs in their communities,” but does not provide more information on the substance of these programs or their results.
I realize that justice committees are established by motions of a hamlet council.
However, these committees are funded largely through the department’s contribution funding.
Can the minister indicate why his department does not include information regarding the specific crime prevention initiatives of these justice committees in his department’s annual reports?
Mr. Speaker, as the Government of Nunavut, we table hundreds of documents every year. We try to cover as much information in all the documents that all the government departments and territorial corporations think is important to Nunavummiut.
I can’t tell her today why we didn’t cover that specific item and I can’t tell Nunavummiut. It’s something we will have to check.
Perhaps we will have to do that with all the tabled documents and annual reports. It will probably be a couple of inches thick, it will kill a lot of trees that we don’t have, and it will be a lot of reading for some people.
We are interested and we’re interested in how money is spent.
Mr. Speaker, on a number of occasions, I have directed questions to the Minister of Justice concerning the feasibility of implementing a wellness court in Nunavut, which could divert offenders from the traditional court system and prevent the cycle of recurrent criminal behaviour.
Can the minister tell us today if his department is undertaking any specific initiatives to begin implementing a wellness court in Nunavut?
I want to assure the member, since she is so concerned about money well spent, that the government is spending money well. We continue to make those improvements every year with her support and the support of all our colleagues in this House.
We have tightened up the whole capital budgeting process and the main estimates process, so she should be assured that the money is well spent.
However, on the wellness courts, the department is continuing again. As I said in reply to a question on another topic, they are investigating the wellness courts. They’re looking at other jurisdictions.
Of course, as Ms. Angnakak well knows, wellness courts only function well if the person is willing to go that route and the government has the facilities to support a person who wishes to go the route of a wellness court.
Question 375 – 4(3): The Need for a New Air Terminal Building in Naujaat (Mapsalak)
Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that I have brought up on more than one occasion regarding the terminal building in Naujaat. The government is now looking at the terminal buildings and checking out their conditions.
The terminal in Naujaat is too small for the growing population.  Mr. Speaker, I have said in the House on more than one occasion that if there are going to be a lot of passengers leaving and when the arrivals come in, not everybody can fit into the terminal.
Some of them are left outside due to the small size of the terminal.
Mr. Speaker, under these circumstances, would the Department of Economic Development and Transportation consider it a safety issue and place the building of a new terminal in Naujaat as a priority?
Our department is conducting a comprehensive review of all terminals in Nunavut and whether to renovate or replace the air terminals.
The terminal in Naujaat was built in 1981 and it is included in this review.
At this time, there are five terminals that need to be replaced and Naujaat’s terminal is included in these five cases that are recommended for a brand-new terminal.
I speak the truth when I refer to that building, as passengers cannot enter the terminal due to overcrowding. This applies to arriving and departing passengers, especially when the plane is full.
That is the situation that happens every time it is overcrowded and becomes a real safety concern.
Mr. Speaker, with that terminal in that situation, what options are there? In my opinion, it is an urgent emergency issue.
Does the Department of Transportation or the minister know when this study or review will run? The residents of Naujaat would like an idea of how long the interim will be before a larger air terminal is constructed.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for that question about the infrastructure.
With respect to the review of the air terminals, the review is ongoing, although recommendations are being drafted.
We have negotiated with the federal government on the infrastructure deficit, as this requires careful planning and it would have to be included in the list of projects needing approval.
We have worked on the plan for some time, but I haven’t been informed that it is an urgent priority and I will ask that my officials look into this matter further related to how urgent the situation is.
The minister just stated that she hasn’t been informed that the air terminal constitutes a safety violation because there are no inspectors working for the Transportation Division that go to Naujaat.
With that being the case, can the minister inform me as to which officials are responsible for inspecting the facilities? Where do the inspectors come from?
It is our departmental officials in the regions that visit the communities. I don’t have information on whether they have gone to inspect the facility, but I can look into that matter and provide the information on the actual departmental position related to the terminal.
I can provide the information personally to the member when I get the information.
The time for question period has expired. Moving on to Item 7.
Hon. Minister George Kuksuk.
Tabled Document 149 – 4(3): Update on the 2014 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Follow-up Report on Child and Family Services in Nunavut (Kuksuk)
I am pleased to table the Update on the 2014 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Follow-up Report on Child and Family Services in Nunavut.
Tabled Document 150 – 4(3): 2013-2014 Annual Report of the Department of Education (Quassa)
I am pleased to table the 2013-14 Annual Report of the Department of Education.
Speaker (interpretation): My apologies. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 151 – 4(3): Communiqué – Outcomes & Priorities for Action to Address Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls (Ell-Kanayuk)
I am pleased to table the Communiqué – Outcomes & Priorities for Action to Address Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls, February 26, 2016.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents. The Hon. Minister of Finance, Mr. Peterson.
Tabled Document 152 – 4(3): Letter of Expectation for 2016-2017 for the Following Crown Agencies: Nunavut Arctic College, Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, Nunavut Development Corporation, Nunavut Housing Corporation, and Qulliq Energy Corporation (Peterson)
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the Letter of Expectation for 2016-17 for the following Crown agencies:
Tabled Document 153 – 4(3): Opening Comments for NHC’s Appearance Before the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples – March 23, 2016 (Hickes)
Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to table the Opening Comments for NHC’s Appearance Before the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples – March 23, 2016.
Tabled Document 154 – 4(3): 2016 Northern Premiers’ Forum (Taptuna)
Tabled Document 155 – 4(3): 2016 Western Premiers’ Conference (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Mr. Speaker, I have two documents to table.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the 2016 Northern Premiers’ Forum held in Old Crow, Yukon April 28 to 29, 2016; and also the Western Premiers’ Conference held in Vancouver, British Columbia, May 4 to 6, 2016.
The Hon. Minister of Family Services, Mr. Kuksuk.
Tabled Document 156 – 4(3): Update on the Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut (Kuksuk)
Tabled Document 157 – 4(3): Angirraqangittuliriniq 2015-2016, A Framework for Action for Nunavut’s Absolute Homeless (Kuksuk)
I have two other documents that I would like to table.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the first document here is I am pleased to table the Update on the Report on the Review of the 2014-15 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the Angirraqangittuliriniq 2015-16, A Framework for Action for Nunavut’s Absolute Homeless.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents. The Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Hickes.
Tabled Document 158 – 4(3): Nunavut is Facing a Severe Housing Crisis (Hickes)
I am also pleased to table the presentation used by the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s appearance before the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples titled “Nunavut is facing a severe housing crisis: Compared to the rest of the country, Nunavut’s housing statistics are devastating.”
Tabled Document 159 – 4(3): Report of Members’ Absences from Sittings of the House and Meetings of Committees and Caucuses to the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut for the Time Period of January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 160 – 4(3): Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Retiring Allowances Act Effective January 1, 2016 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 161 – 4(3): Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act Effective January 1, 2016 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 162 – 4(3): Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Fund Iqaluit, Nunavut Financial Statements March 31, 2016 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 163 – 4(3): Legislative Assembly Supplementary Retiring Allowances Fund Iqaluit, Nunavut Financial Statements March 31, 2016 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 164 – 4(3): Report on the Payment of Indemnities, Allowances, Benefits and Expenses to the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut for the Period Ending March 31, 2016 (Speaker)
The first document is the Report of Members’ Absences from Sittings of the House and Meetings of Committees and Caucuses for the Period of January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016.
The second and third documents are statements of investment policies and procedures for the Legislative Assembly’s Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act.
The fourth and fifth documents are the financial statements of the Legislative Assembly’s Retiring Allowances Fund and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Fund for the period ending March 31, 2016.
The sixth document is the Report on the Payment of Indemnities, Allowances, Benefits and Expenses to the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut for the Period Ending March 31, 2016. (interpretation) Thank you.
Bill 16 – An Act to Amend the Travel and Tourism Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Aggu, Paul Quassa, that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Travel and Tourism Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 19 – Unlawful Property Forfeiture Act – First Reading
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 19, Unlawful Property Forfeiture Act, be read for the first time.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 17 and 18 and Tabled Documents 73 – 4(2), 116 – 4(2), 140 – 4(2), and 70 – 4(3) with Mr. Mikkungwak in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:38 and Committee resumed at 16:15
Chairman (Mr. Mikkungwak) (interpretation): Good day, my fellow Nunavummiut and residents of Baker Lake.
(interpretation ends) I would like to call the committee meeting to order. In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Tabled Documents 73 – 4(2), 116 – 4(2), 140 – 4(2), and 70 – 4(3) and Bills 17 and 18.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with the discussion on Tabled Documents 73 – 4(2), 116 – 4(2), 140 – 4(2), and 70 – 4(3) and, if time permits, we will proceed with the review of Bill 17, followed by Bill 18.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Are we in agreement that we continue with Tabled Documents 73 – 4(2), 116 – 4(2), 140 – 4(2), and 70 – 4(3)?
I have two witnesses.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Chairman, to my right is Chris D’Arcy, Deputy Minister of Finance, and to my left is Jeff Chown, Comptroller General of the Government of Nunavut.
Do members have questions on the tabled documents?
Does the committee agree that we have concluded debate on Tabled Documents 73 – 4(2), 116 – 4(2), 140 – 4(2), and 70 – 4(3)?
I would like to thank the minister and his officials and invite him to make closing comments.
I thank yourself and the committee for your questions over the last three days in Committee of the Whole.
I know that there are a lot of concerns with the human resources side of the Department of Finance.
I can assure members that since April 1, 2013, we have been very engaged in addressing many of the issues that were raised in previous reports, especially the ones by the Auditor General of Canada and the Committee of the Whole in the third government.
We’re well on our way to correcting all the deficiencies. Hopefully, I have explained a lot of those.
I know that there are people out there who are concerned about workplace harassment. We have been working fairly hard on that as evidence supports.
There are more protections than ever for employees of the Government of Nunavut.
I’m sure everybody gets their fair hearing. Nobody is dismissed out of hand. I want to assure the members of that.
Article 23 is a priority for this government.
We are working very actively to put mechanisms, directives, and strategies in place to increase Inuit employment in the government. It’s going to take time.
We have only been at this for a little over three years. We’re making very good strides in that direction.
I would like to thank all of my officials who are here with me in the Chambers and at the witness table.
I would like to thank all of our hard-working Government of Nunavut employees across Nunavut who go to work every day in some very difficult circumstances, depending on what position they’re in. There are nurses, teachers, RCMP officers, and many others. I thank them and everybody who goes to work.
Working for the public service is a very noble calling to serve people.
That’s what we pride ourselves on here in Nunavut. I take my hat off to everybody who gets up every day and goes to work and puts in a hard day’s work in serving their fellow Nunavummiut.
Committee Motion 008 – 4(3): Management of Human Resources in the Government of Nunavut (Angnakak)
I would like to read out a motion in the Committee of the Whole.
WHEREAS the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Human Resources was dissolved on April 1, 2013;
AND WHEREAS the functions and responsibilities of the department were divided between the Department of Finance and the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs;
AND WHEREAS the Department of Finance is now responsible for employee relations, job evaluation, regional operations, recruitment and staffing;
AND WHEREAS the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs is now responsible for Inuit employment initiatives, the Sivuliqtiksat Division, public service training, and community employment support;
AND WHEREAS responsibility for staff housing is divided between a number of entities;
AND WHEREAS members have received a significant number of concerns from constituents regarding such matters as harassment and bullying in the workplace;
AND WHEREAS members are of the view that the reintegration of these functions and responsibilities into a single, independent public service commission would serve to enhance the coordination and cohesiveness of the government’s management of human resources;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE that this committee formally recommends that the Government of Nunavut reintegrate its human resources functions and responsibilities into a single, independent public service commission which includes an entity modelled after the Government of Yukon’s Respectful Workplace Office;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that the Government of Nunavut’s 2017-18 main estimates and 2017-2020 departmental business plans reflect this change;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that all necessary amendments to the Public Service Act be introduced in the Legislative Assembly at the earliest practicable opportunity.
First off, I would like to recognize the people, the staff, and the ministers over the last few years who have really worked on the issues and concerns in regard to the functions of the GN of HR.
I also note that efforts have been made over the years in changing the structure. I still think, though, there are more changes to be made.
Just because we have made changes in the past doesn’t mean that we can’t make further changes.
There is no one model that addresses all issues, but some models are better than others, and we believe that a public service commission is the direction to go.
Today, we would like you to think about and support a public service commission option.
We are proposing this model for a number of reasons. It is a model that is used in many other jurisdictions, but not yet tried in Nunavut.
We know that the Yukon uses this model and we have similarities with the Yukon: our size; our population; our common concerns raised by our constituents when it comes to HR functions.
It is my personal belief, I guess, that new things or new methods should be tried out when there are concerns over how the current way of doing things is raised.
The integration of the HR functions will help provide oversight, guidance, and better management overall of HR-related issues and methods.
This new way will allow the inclusion of addressing office bullying and harassment in a fair and transparent way.
Human resources are not only about jobs or training; it’s providing a means for self-reliance for the Nunavut workforce through meaningful and respectful employment opportunities.
We need to ensure all staff are treated with respect and that the Government of Nunavut is the desired choice of workplace rather than just a place to work.
This starts by addressing the known concerns. It starts by working and addressing concerns collectively and transparently.
We are asking you in the House today to support our motion in order for us to move forward in addressing the HR functions that have been raised as concerns over the last two and a half years in the House.
Hon. Paul Quassa: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) This is the first time we have seen the motion.
We have to look at it very carefully. Mr. Chairman, if it’s okay with you, we would like to take a 15-minute break so that we can look at the exact contents of this motion.
Chairman: Does the committee agree to take a break?
>>Committee recessed at 16:31 and resumed at 16:49
I thank my colleagues for their patience. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you. I’ll be speaking against the motion.
Mr. Chairman, let me first say that I appreciate the members bringing forth the motion so that there can be debate on this issue.
Nunavut and the Government of Nunavut is a product and a direct result of our land claims agreement.
Within the land claims, there are several articles that deal with the role of the Nunavut government, including Article 23, which specifically deals with beneficiaries and hiring.
Going back to 1999 and the First Assembly, there was a human resources department.
Some members may be aware that our elected predecessors in those governments also debated and reviewed the issues with human resources and the department of personnel.
In this government, we do not have a centralized, dedicated department of human resources.
To me, the government toward going through a public service commission would involve ensuring a proper review of the logistic, administrative and financial implications that it would entail.
We would want to ensure that all members have a say in that process.
After our upcoming fall session, there will be only effectively nine months remaining in the life of the Fourth Assembly.
Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that the incoming Fifth Assembly of the Government of Nunavut should be tasked with the review of human resources and implications, the pros and cons of setting up an independent public service commission.
Mr. Chairman, I will be prepared to ensure that the motion direction is noted in the transition document for the incoming new cabinet at this time. It will be up to them to decide if it is in the direction they want to move in.
Mr. Chairman, the motion would be fundamentally changing the government’s way of doing business.
We would be making a decision for the coming new Assembly.
That’s one of the things that we do not want to do.
Comments to the motion. Mr. Joanasie.
Thank you, Ms. Angnakak, for moving this motion.
I will be for this motion.
We have talked about HR matters over the past several days, starting last week, and as noted in the motion, the split of HR functions to the Department of Finance and Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
My lines of questioning have been deflected or unanswered due in part because the Inuit employment initiatives, which fall under Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, do not fall within, supposedly, the tabled documents that we have been considering.
Therefore, that’s part of why I’m for this motion in creating an independent entity that would merge these into one place.
Also with that, I think it’s important to note that yes, Article 23 in the land claims is a cornerstone of this government. We have seen the action or inaction of it.
I think the establishment of an independent commission will make a new impact on the public service in that we have been expecting different results that we have been striving for with the public service, specifically on Inuit employment.
Also with that, there are many initiatives, such as for Inuit to advance into different levels in the public service.
However, I don’t find it quite cohesive in that there are no linkages that start from summer student initiatives all through up until senior management.
I think that there needs to be more cohesion in this matter.
Also, the hiring practices, we hear different things. There are two sides to every matter. Sometimes we hear that Inuit are not screened in due to a lack of experience, even though they might have the educational requirements.
I think this independent commission would be a fairer and more transparent model to see our hiring practices through a different lens.
I just wanted to share that and I hope that my colleagues will support me in this with Ms. Angnakak.
Comments to the motion. Mr. Peterson.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Ms. Angnakak for allowing me an opportunity over the last few days to debate human resources in the House.
I recall doing it many times in the House, similar to my colleagues, when I was an MLA and then dealing with the reports from various sources, including the Auditor General’s report in 2010.
Mr. Chairman, the members recommend the Yukon model. I think we have been priding ourselves in recent years on developing made-in-Nunavut models in legislation. I hope we continue that.