EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So I wondered if his department was contacted by the manufacturers to see if they could purchase certain models for their purposes.
I understand that this is a capital purchase item, so I am asking him about the vehicles related to that.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Now, why did I mention that?
I’m just kidding.
Hovercraft can’t be used up north because Nunavut has ice and it’s impossible to use them up here. I urge that individual or firm that sent the information out through the computer to try and do testing of hovercraft up here, but we’re not responsible for those.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): In conclusion, I would like to thank the minister and I will not be in support of hovercraft now that I know what the minister said.
That was not a question and it was more of a comment that he will not be in support.
Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Under J-7, Grants and Contributions, $2,345,000, I would like to get clarification on what that will be used for.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): The line item is for search and rescue in the community and also for training of emergency search and rescue personnel and their equipment.
Some of it is also used for fire prevention by the firefighters, but it’s mainly used for emergency search and rescue operations.
That’s what the funding line item is used for.
Mr. Arvaluk, I would like you to know that a detailed breakdown of the line item is on J-11.
Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Yes, I saw that on J-11.
For that reason, I know that your department is not responsible for the agreement.
However, in the Northwest Territories, there was an agreement to fund the Hunter Support Program.
One-third would be paid for by the federal government, one-third by the GNWT, and one-third by TFN.
As a GN representative, could you not talk with these entities about the Hunter Support Program?
This funding could be used for boats, GPS, snowmobiles, and they sell floats and anything else, including CB radios.
Perhaps you can ask if the funding could be used for satellite phones as well.
If I was the minister allocating funds, I could request that, but our department does not have the jurisdiction over there.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Yes, I would be very pleased.
There were SPOT devices, I believe, and not too many people use CB radios anymore probably because the signals are not too good due to the hole in the ozone layer. Satellite phones, however, are always good to use. If anyone has a satellite telephone, we can then find them no matter they may be.
The reason why I’m asking this question is the items that are sold through the Hunter Support Program are sold at cost.
They’re non-profit.
CB radios, GPS devices, floats, nets, etcetera are sold at a cheaper cost than at the Northern stores. I was wondering if you can request your cabinet colleagues that as a government, we should try and provide support to the public, such as using satellite phones. You can even use them at the North Pole.
I was wondering if the minister is willing to discuss this matter with his colleagues.
We have provided two satellite phones to all communities. They’re either stationed in the RCMP or HTO office, but they’re available at the community level. Different communities have various equipments that they can sign out and we pay for their phone calls and their operation.
We also pay for the O&M for this equipment.
I would be very pleased if a member can talk to the appropriate minister face to face. It will be better if a member talks to the appropriate minister, but I can also discuss this matter.
I’m confused.
I don’t even know which minister is responsible for the Hunter Support Program.
Perhaps it’s the Department of Environment or the Premier, but I don’t think it’s the Department of Environment.
Anyways, we have no idea, so that’ why I’m asking the minister if he can discuss this matter with his colleagues.
Satellite phones could also be sold at a cheaper rate because we purchase them from Arctic Ventures and other stores, or they order their satellite phones from down south at a very expensive rate.
So if they provide support, it will be cheaper for Nunavummiut to purchase. This is just a suggestion.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Yes, I will look into that.
I believe the Minister of Environment is responsible for that, but I will look into that.
I have no more names on my list. (interpretation ends) Branch Summary.
Community and Government Services. Protection Services. Total Operations and Maintenance. $5,606,000.
Chairman: Thank you. J-8.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $32,370,000.
This is my old argument. Compensation and Benefits for $12,547,000 is for your employees who are in the Capital Planning and Technical Services offices.
How many PYs does that represent?
Are all of these positions in Iqaluit because they are capital planners and technical service people?
There are 109 positions and they are all over the territory.
They include settlement maintenance operators and so on. So they are right across the territory and there are 109 positions.
So that is quite comparable to housing maintainers with the housing associations in the communities if you have compared it.
Now, for the Contract Services part, $16,142,000 on line 6 is quite the jump from the revised estimates for 2009-2010. Why is that?
Is that why you’ve got more architectural engineers and actually not building anything other than public houses?
That funding is for the maintenance of old buildings and new facilities, and funding for old buildings.
Mr. Arvaluk: In other words, you build a community hall in Pond Inlet and you give out of the $16,142,000 a portion to look after that building.
Is that why it is called Contract Services?
No, this would be for the new schools, government offices, health facilities; government infrastructure.
So you still give that money to whoever is looking after and maintaining those buildings, whether they it’s a housing association, or a co-op, or a private contractor in the communities, for the maintenance of the new government buildings?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: To do those who are responsible for those things, yes.
In cases, if it is the co-op that is maintaining the thing, then yes, as long as they are maintaining government infrastructure.
In the top part of the description of what this part of the department does, Capital Planning and Technical Services, it talks about asset life cycle management, including planning and assisting clients and stakeholders in identifying long-term capital requirements.
Is that for like a facility study for expanding and upgrading for other departments, like health or other departments within the government?
If I could have Kathleen respond to that, Mr. Chairman.
Our department actually does assist with capital planning in education, health, justice, and so on, and our input is more of a technical nature.
So we do provide estimates to other departments on life cycle investment required for existing infrastructure.
We also provide an overview of projected and forecast costs to operate and maintain new infrastructure, so what would the utility cost be, maintenance cycles, and that kind of thing.
In that sense, we work very closely with other government departments.
One of the things that came up when we were doing capital funding was the $300,000 that was sort of removed from the budget in the capital budget.
I have been racking my brain in trying to figure out if the Department of Justice is one of the departments you help in terms of life cycles of buildings.
If BCC is in such disarray… because again, what I felt when I saying with that $300,000 was the fact that the money was misrepresented in how it was put forward.
Did the Department of Justice come to talk to your department about helping with looking at that facility to see what needed to done in terms of upgrading and making that place safe?
It’s a pretty complex question, but yes, if I could have Kathleen answer that, Mr. Chairman.
To perhaps clarify the planning, there are actually two parts to planning. One part is focused entirely on the program. So Justice would need to take a look at how they actually run their justice program in that facility.
They come to us to provide the input on condition assessments of various components and provide technical advice on certain parts.
Again, I know we’re talking about two things I guess, the safety of the workers who are working in that environment and we’re also talking about the safety of the inmates who are in there as well.
From what the minister’s been telling us, programs are not able to be operated and facilities are getting run down.
It would be nice to see that something is being moved forward.
Has the Department of Justice come… I’m assuming you guys don’t go out and solicit work, but if they come to you and ask… have they come to you asking for help?
I don’t want to get into a discussion of he said, she said. I think these questions would be better dealt with if he would ask the Minister of Justice in terms of where they have been going and what they have been doing. I would be much more comfortable that way, Mr. Chairman.
I definitely will be asking questions.
Again, to me, it’s a need. When we stood up replying to it, it was different ministers who stood up and recognized that it needed to be modernized and expanded, an assessment review needed to be done, a study needed to be done.
If they’re saying it needs to be done, I just wondered why all avenues were not followed through in terms of getting it done.
I just figured since your department was responsible for stuff like that.
Just so I know when I get in front of Minister Peterson and ask him these questions, if his department does come to you and say, “We need help with this,” is this something that your department will take into consideration and help them with?
Every department is responsible for their own planning.
Our department is a very diverse department and we will do whatever we can to help where our department is asked of help.
I can assure you that we also seek help from other departments too.
I don’t want to get into a discussion where it becomes a finger-pointing seminar. I’m trying to avoid that. I think he would appreciate that.
At the end of the day, I don’t want to end up where the Minister of Justice or a minister of another department is sitting here and Ron says, “Well, that’s not what such-and-such minister said. This is what they said.”
I don’t want to get into that, so I would much prefer it if he would keep his line of questioning to those that we’re responsible for.
He could ask the Minister of Justice appropriate questions as to what they’re doing with the correctional facility.
I’m not trying to point fingers; I’m merely trying to ask your department what you’re responsible for. I believe it’s within my right to ask whether your department is responsible for helping with planning like this.
You gave me the answer that yes, you are.
So I will take it up with the appropriate minister and ask him.
The minister involved had told you that you learn a lot by asking a lot of questions.
The minister must be learning a lot by answering questions.
I want to go to the (interpretation ends) business plan under J-15, priorities for 2011-12.
“Establish a full Building Inspection Division within the department.”
I would like to know what this division will do for the coming year. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
If I could ask Ms. Lausman to answer that question.
This is actually a fairly large undertaking and has been for some time. We are trying to put together a program in conjunction with other departments as well for building inspections.
That’s really to ensure that we’ve got buildings that are being built to the building code, that they are being built with fire safety and occupants’ safety in mind, and that they’re also being built with some measure of energy efficiency.
In order to achieve that, we are looking at how this integrates with building codes and where the territory sits with regard to building codes, fire codes, plumbing codes, and energy codes as well.
So it’s a fairly complex program that we’re trying to establish in consultation with a rather wide stakeholder group.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) That’s great to hear.
Is there an ability? If the inspection division finds some deficiencies in buildings, how will they remedy these defects or whatever they may be if they don’t meet the codes?
How is this different from what’s happening today?
If I could have Kathleen carry on with that line of answering.
Right now, the fire code and the plumbing code are the ones most used within the territory. We use the code relative to building inspections and most of it is around fire prevention.
We have a lot more work to do as a government to ensure that we have the codes widely adopted by the territory and published, and that we have consultation with the consulting marketplace as well as the constructing marketplace as well as homeowners so that we have a good knowledge of building codes out there for everyone to apply to their building, and that we also have a good inspection group to be working with builders when they’re actually building it to ensure that codes are being met.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I heard a mention of fire codes and other codes. So this is just for new buildings, not for existing buildings. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: That’s for existing and new buildings, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Okalik: Are there provisions for health violations in these existing buildings?
That would be the Department of Health’s responsibility.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I remember listening to my colleague and how he got bounced back and forth, and it sounds like one of them where it’s one division in one department, another part in another division.
So I would have to go to Health to make sure that a building that our employees are working at… their health is at risk, so we would have to go Health on those matters?
I’ll have Kathleen answer that.
CGS works with a number of departments and groups, actually, around the safety of buildings. We work with air quality specialists, water quality specialists, and Workplace Health and Safety.
Some of these are contracted specialists. Some work directly with Health, like for instance, water safety, and then the Workers’ Compensation Board looks more specifically at worker safety and health issues.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): I’m done for now, but I’m sure that the rest of the members would like to ask questions.
I have no more names on my list. (interpretation ends) J-8. Community and Government Services. Branch Summary.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) We will go back to J-3.
Community and Government Services. Detail of Expenditures.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $172,640,000.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): I would like to ask you, Mr. Chairman, if we will have an opportunity to ask questions on page J-9.
J-9 is just an information item.
If you would like further clarification, you can ask a question.
Based on what is written here, I think it has to do with the fuel contractors in the communities. I want to ask the minister with respect to the accounts receivable for contractors that are providing petroleum products services on behalf of the government.
After all, the fuel inventory belongs to the government.
Are there people who owe lots of money to the government, through the contractors?
At this time, no, there are no huge amounts owed to us.
Going back to page J-3. (interpretation ends) Department Summary.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Are members agreed that CGS is concluded?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Kusugak, do you have any closing comments?
I would like to thank the members for their questions on our department. As we stated earlier, we have over 340 employees in Nunavut.
(interpretation ends) I just want to take this opportunity to thank the over 340 employees within our department. They work very hard so that things can run a little smoother.
I just want to take this opportunity to thank them all and keep up the good work. I would like to thank Ms. Lausman and Ms. Power for sitting with me today.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Kusugak and your staff. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses out, please.
For the information of the committee, Mr. Okalik will be the chairperson when we’re dealing with housing.
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Nunavut Housing Corporation – Consideration in Committee
Minister Tootoo, responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, do you have any opening comments?
Do you want me to go ahead with them?
Committee members, I just want to let you guys know ahead of time that I took your advice in trying to keep things short and sweet. My opening comments are not really long like they have been in the past in committee meetings.
They are short and sweet and to the point, and I look forward to the questions after.
Mr. Chairman and committee members, I am very pleased to be able to meet with the Members of the Committee of the Whole today to discuss the 2010-11 Main Estimates and Business Plan of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Fiscal 2010-11 GN funding to the Housing Corporation will increase by $4,474,000 from the main estimates of 2009-2010.
The major additional increase for 2010-11 includes $6,564,000 for O&M costs for new public housing that will be available during the year, less a reduction of $4,112,000 for fuel and power, as well as an increase of $1,237,000 to offset the net reduction of our CMHC funding.
We look forward and I look forward to continue lobbying the federal government to discuss our growing housing issues in Nunavut and the requirements for extra funding for both capital and operating costs.
Our federal partners, such as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) - and during the rest of this time, I’ll just refer to them as CMHC - are important to housing in Nunavut.
I would be very pleased to answer any questions that you may have regarding the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2010-11 main estimates and business plan and look forward to very good dialogue.
Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Yes.
Chairman (interpretation): My colleagues, do you agree to bring in his witnesses?
The minister’s officials are now at the witness table. Welcome.
Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome and introduce the new president for the Nunavut Housing Corporation. This is his first Committee of the Whole appearance and he has a standing committee appearance under his belt, but this is his first Committee of the Whole appearance.
To my right is our new president, Mr. Alain Barriault. I would like to welcome him to the Committee of the Whole.
On my left is our CFO for the corporation, Lori Kimball.
Welcome for making your appearance.
Does the Chairman of Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development have any opening comments?
Mr. Rumbolt, you may proceed.
I would like to welcome the minister and his officials to our meeting.
The minister stated earlier that his comments were short and sweet. Mine are not so short and maybe not so sweet.
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development on its review of the 2010-11 main estimates and 2010-13 business plan of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
The standing committee notes that the corporation’s proposed 2010-11 main estimates of $132,642,000 have increased by approximately 3.5 percent since the introduction of the department’s 2009-2010 main estimates.
The number of positions in the corporation is 103.
This is an increase of 33.0 PYs from its 2004-05 business plan.
Mr. Chairman, the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2007-08 annual report was not tabled in the Legislative Assembly until June 15, 2009.
It is very important that the corporation’s annual reports be tabled in a timely manner.
The Government of Nunavut’s most recent annual reports on departmental contracting, procurement and leasing activities were tabled in the Legislative Assembly on December 7, 2009.
To date, these annual reports on departmental contracting, procurement and leasing activities have not included information on the activities of Crown corporations and agencies.
The current government, through its new Public Agencies Council, has indicated that it will be undertaking a Memorandum of Understanding-based approach to this process.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2008-09 annual ministerial letter of expectation to the corporation’s president stated that “the time is right for the NHC to undergo a full organizational review in order to determine if the NHC’s current organizational structure and operating framework is still suitable to meet the housing needs of Nunavummiut.”
The corporation’s draft 2010-13 business plan indicates that the “NHC executive is currently reviewing the organizational review draft document.
Discussions are schedule for January 2010 to address next steps.”
During the minister’s appearance before the standing committee, members questioned him on the progress made on this issue.
It was unclear to the committee as to exactly what progress has been made on the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s organizational review.
The standing committee looks forward to the minister updating the House at the earliest opportunity on this matter.
On January 26, 2009, the minister announced that the corporation will be “undertaking a comprehensive and Nunavut-wide housing needs survey.”
During the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, he informed members that the survey is expected to be completed in the spring of 2010.
The minister also indicated that he would provide the [members] with a detailed update on the survey’s status.
The standing committee looks forward to the minister providing this information at the earliest opportunity.
The standing committee also looks forward to the minister tabling the results of this survey in the Legislative Assembly and supports the minister in his efforts to use these results to make the case for additional federal investments in housing.
On September 13, 2005, the Government of Nunavut announced its new staff housing strategy and policy.
The announcement indicated that “The new staff housing strategy will be phased in over a five to ten year period.
The 2008 Budget Address announced that staff housing rents would be rolled back to January 2007 levels.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s draft 2010-13 business plan indicates that its priorities include enhancing “the staff-housing portfolio, particularly in communities with growing staff housing requirements” and providing “an increased range of options to GN employees to encourage homeownership.”
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s draft 2010-13 business plan also indicates that one of its 2010-11 priorities is to “develop a Staff Housing Strategy” in collaboration with GN departments.
During the minister’s appearance before the standing committee, members questioned what the Nunavut Housing Corporation is doing regarding the government’s staff housing policy and strategy.
The minister indicated that the government’s formal staff housing policy was inherited from the previous government and that the Nunavut Housing Corporation has no specific plans at present to change the staff housing policy.
The standing committee encourages the minister to keep the Legislative Assembly fully informed on this issue.
Given that the policy that is still in place today commits the government to “withdrawing” from staff housing in the future, it is important the government clarify its plans in this area.
Mr. Chairman, the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2008-09 business plan indicated that a workshop was “held in Rankin Inlet in April 2007 where the managers of all LHOs met with NHC staff to provide input on how to revise the Public Housing Rent Scale.