EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would like to begin by noting the Member for Iqaluit East’s sudden interest in this topic. It must be an election year.
I listened carefully to his Member’s Statement in the House yesterday and would simply comment that he missed the point of what I was saying.
Strategies and plans are important.
What this government appears to lack is a commitment to finding concrete ways of actually implementing them.
I believe that the government should pay less attention to including full-colour photos of ministers in these strategy documents and more attention to obtaining the resources to actually implementing the plans.
I am pleased to continue with this theme today and address a specific issue of concern that I have with our legislative process.
Mr. Speaker, as MLAs, we have been entrusted by our constituents with the responsibility of reviewing and approving laws on their behalf.
I believe that we as elected members do our best to give full scrutiny and review to the bills which are introduced in the House by the government.
On a number of occasions, bills have been amended to reflect the concerns raised by MLAs and our standing committees.
I would like unanimous consent to conclude my statement. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): As I was saying, on a number of occasions, bills have been amended to reflect the concerns raised by MLAs and our standing committees. On other occasions, we have recommended that bills not proceed. We are doing our job in this regard.
However, when it comes to legislation, the passage of a bill is only the beginning.
The drafting and scrutiny of detailed regulations is a process that I believe deserves much more attention.
MLAs on this side of the House are not normally afforded sufficient opportunity to become involved in this process.
Mr. Speaker, let me give you some examples.
In the last few months, new regulations have been published under the Public Service Act, the Family Abuse Prevention Act, the Wildlife Act and the Petroleum Products Tax Act.
Earlier this week, I asked important questions concerning the development of new regulations under the Emergency Measures Act.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, in our national Parliament, a Standing Joint Committee of the House of Commons and the Senate exists to scrutinize regulations in detail.
I believe that we should give serious consideration to devoting more time to the careful review of regulations which are approved by our government.
I believe that if we were to look in a website, we have a number of federal regulations asking for public input.
Mr. Speaker, the federal government publishes draft regulations and invites the general public to make submissions on them.
For example, any member of the Nunavut public has until March 17 of this month, please note, to make comments on the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs’ proposed changes to the regulations governing mining in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I urge our government to be equally transparent. I call on our government to pre-publish all draft regulations and invite comment from Nunavummiut before they are approved by Cabinet.
I ask the government to trust our public and give them an opportunity to have their say and respect what they say.
If there are no more, Item 4.
Return to Oral Question 437 – 2(4): Update on Employees’ Canada Savings Bonds (Tapardjuk)
I have a Return to Oral Question 437 – 2(4) asked by the Member for Tununiq, Mr. Arvaluk, regarding Canada Savings Bonds.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to provide further clarification regarding the Canada Savings Bonds Payroll Savings Program, as requested by Mr. Arvaluk on February 28, 2008.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut is not currently recruiting new members into this program.
Mr. Speaker, the 2008 Spring Campaign for the Canada Savings Bonds Payroll Savings Program ended on February 29, 2008.
However, we will consider the merits of joining the 2008 fall campaign, which typically gets underway in early October.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that Nunavummiut are able to purchase CSBs directly from the Government of Canada.
A wide variety of bond choices and payment options are available until April 1, 2008 and then again beginning in early October 2008.
Interested parties may go to the Canada Savings Bonds website at www.csb.gc.ca or call toll-free at 1-888-773-9999.
Return to Oral Question 457 – 2(4): Status of Fuel Hedging Policy (Tapardjuk)
I have a Return to Oral Questions 457 – 2(4) asked by Member for High Arctic, Mr. Barnabas, regarding the status of the Fuel Hedging Policy.
He had asked about the $1.5 million to assist municipalities to “help reduce the impact of increased power and fuel costs.” He asked if we would consider providing similar additional help for the municipalities.
Mr. Speaker, no – the GN is not considering similar additional help for the municipalities this year.
It gives me great pleasure today to introduce to the Gallery the students from Nunavut Arctic College who are here doing the foundation year for several programs at the college, and that includes the NTEP program, the Nursing Program, Environmental Technology, and Early Learning and Childcare.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce my two constituents, and I’m sure members have constituents there too, so I just would like to introduce my two constituents and the members can introduce their own instead of doing the whole class.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to first introduce Denise Romero and Denise is taking the Nursing Program.
We’re very honoured, Mr. Speaker, to have in the Gallery today the well-known international lawyer, barrister, negotiator, mediator, conciliator, and visiting instructor on this program, our own resident from Apex, Mr. Neil Sharky, Q.C.
I would like to recognize two of my constituents.
From Igloolik, Mayor Paul Quasa and his Deputy, Zach Kunuk.
I am sure everybody knows them and I would like to welcome them to the Gallery.
I would like to welcome Ami Tootoo from Baker Lake, who is my relative, and she is taking a course here.
I would like to welcome one of my constituents, Valerie Enuaraq, and you probably know her father, Tommy Enuaraq.
I would like to recognize an individual who was my CA in Resolute Bay, Karen Inootiq, who is attending the Arctic College here.
I, too, would like to welcome my niece, or my cousin.
I just feel old and that’s why I want to call her my niece.
Ami, welcome to the Gallery.
I also would like to take this opportunity to recognize a young lady that everyone knows very well, she is a long time employee with Canadian North, and that’s Ms. Eva Arreak is here.
I’m sorry, it’s Eva Onalik.
Sorry Eva, I was curling with the other Eva last night.
I also would like to say happy belated birthday to my CA, Amanda, I know she’s probably watching on television.
I would like to recognize Jennifer Kajjuk from Repulse Bay, and a person who originally came from Baker Lake but now lives in Repulse Bay, I’m very sorry that I forgot your name.
If we missed somebody, welcome to the Gallery. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
I would like to recognize everyone here. My colleague who is sitting next to me didn’t see this individual and he apologizes, so he wanted me to recognize Kate Kublu from Igloolik who is in the Nursing Program.
Question 476 – 2(4): Status of New Arena for Pond Inlet (Arvaluk)
My questions, as I stated earlier in my Member’s Statement, are for the Minister of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, on November 8 of last year, I presented a petition signed by over 130 residents of Pond Inlet concerning the need for our new community hall to include an arena section.
My community was deeply disappointed at the government’s response to the petition, which indicated that “financial restrictions” prevent this from happening.
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased that this year’s Budget Address indicates that new federal infrastructure funding will enable the GN to “reconfigure” its capital plan and that our government will consult with all Members of this House to “determine priority projects.”
Can the minister assure me that the need for a new arena in Pond Inlet will be identified as a priority project?
We have put aside some funding for a new arena in Pond Inlet but we keep delaying it. I am pretty sure that it’s a priority for the community, and I am happy that the funding that was identified will be used for infrastructure funding and community halls fall under that.
We’ll have to look at different things and that will be one of them because when there is no adequate community hall, it creates a problem in the communities.
We’ll definitely look into this.
Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that answer.
I’ll skip my first supplementary and I’ll go to my second supplementary in this case.
Mr. Speaker, on February 8 of this year, we learned that the federal government will provide over $1.6 million to fund the construction of a bridge across the Sylvia Grinnell River near Iqaluit.
I understand that half of the money came from INAC’s Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development Initiative.
Can the minister outline for the House how other Nunavut communities can benefit from this pool of resources?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) This was a one-time initiative by the federal government. It was a federal initiative and all we have done is try and find ways to support it and make it work for the whole community.
The original design was contemplated for just a pedestrian bridge for tourists, but as you know, hunters in Iqaluit want to use the bridge as well for hunting purposes. So I appreciate the good work that the federal officials are working on to make this bridge viable for everyone.
So it wasn’t out of a general fund for Nunavut; it came from a one-time pot that was set aside for parks and other purposes.
We will try and take advantage of any initiatives like this one for Nunavummiut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I wish I was the Premier because I would have that opportunity to meet with the minister directly in Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, on October 31 of last year, I sent correspondence to the minister on the issue of Pond Inlet’s needs.
Can the minister indicate to me when she will, in this case, he will reply to my letter?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I believe we have been trying to do as much as we can to address the community’s concerns.
We were both somewhat disappointed in the federal budget as you know.
We were very happy for Pangnirtung, Mr. Speaker, but at the same time, there were other communities like Pond Inlet that were expecting projects to come forward.
So we have been trying to address the issues that had been raised by that community and we will continually work with our federal partners in trying to address those concerns.
But, I must say that it has been a difficult exercise for all of us and we’re trying to do our utmost to make sure your issues are addressed. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member for Arviat, Member for Arviat, Mr. Alagalak.
Question 477 – 2(4): Hunters’ Personal Locator Devices (Alagalak)
Mr. Speaker, it’s been about three years now where we have been dealing with the wayward hunters, or those that are lost and not able to come back to the community, and we worked very hard for the rescue issue.
We worked really hard to try and come up with new equipment, and we found some transmitters that the hunters can bring out on the land, and it became understandable since the government, specifically the CGS Minister, told us that they had found the transmitters that worked best in Nunavut.
We were also told that the transmitters had been tested out and that they would be used by the hunters when they go out on the land, as to whether the transmitters worked properly and we believed that they were set aside for their use.
I would like to get an answer from the minister if she has heard of any news or what’s happening with this transmitter that would be taken with the hunters when they go out on the land.
The protective service responsible for search and rescue has been preparing this to date.
What I have heard is that they have distributed what are called personal locator beacons out to all the communities in Nunavut. Some communities have as many of four of these devices and they are available to hunters at local RCMP detachments.
So if anyone wishes to, they can go the local detachment and sign them out.
It’s very difficult to try and get them from the RCMP, I haven’t been told of this, whether they are available yet to the public, the hunters and for myself as well.
There are only four available to our community.
Can the minister maybe go through the offices of the HTO in the communities and provide a number for hunters that want to use those devices?
This would look pretty simple and the hunters would be able to carry them along because they go out quite a distance when they go out hunting, and it would make it easier for the rescuers to find hunters that are lost.
Yes, we have to work together and that things can implement better in our communities.
I can tell the RCMP and the other organizations to work it through the HTO if possible, and I will try and get the information and put it out to the communities.
I have no idea what they look like; none of know what they look like. Do you carry them in your pocket, or in your Qamutik or sled?
Do they need batteries; how much voltage does it require; and the strength of the battery, are they able to survive out in the cold climate?
We have no idea what kind they are and this is not good.
Can the minister bring one as an example for us to see so that it can be advertised out so the hunters can try and get it from a certain person in the community before they go out hunting? A lot of them get lost out on the land when they’re out hunting, and it costs a lot to do rescue missions in the communities.
I’m sorry that the hunters are having problems acquiring the devices from the RCMP.
We are open and if you have problems, just let us know and we can work it out.
We know that there are rescue teams that have come to the communities in the past, and in the month of May, this will be a time to do training in the community for rescue.
We use that 72 hours to collect all the tools, and if there is a problem with the community for fuel and electricity, or battery operated lights, so they try to get all the information as a package from the RCMP.
They are in the RCMP office to be available to the community and the hunters.
I support your view and we will work together with you.
Yes, I’m smiling.
I know that police do their work after the fact; after something has already happened.
It is only after someone has been lost that search and rescue has to get organized and distribute equipment necessary for the search.
It would seem to make more sense to distribute these devices before people get lost instead of after.
I don’t think that should be the case and be held by the RCMP in the community for those personal devices.
They are for the hunters before they go out on the land and when they do get lost, they can use them.
This has to be rectified properly so that those personal devices will be used for hunters in the communities and not for the rescue teams.
Yes, we try and rectify the problems that come to us, and those things are what you say can teach us to rectify the problems and we’ll try and change that.
The communities were involved and they had a committee to go through that to get those devices and work together with the community.
And, what you brought to me as information, I feel I conclude with you with some of the concerns you have. I agree that the hunters have to look after themselves and be well prepared before they go out on the land. Before they go out hunting, they need to bring along somebody and bring all the proper equipment and whatever they need to go out on the land.
Question 478 – 2(4): Funding Limit for Search and Rescues (Kattuk)
Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke of the problems my constituents have been having concerning the airplanes. If there is going to be a search and rescue in the community, I would like to find out how much money has been used for that.
I don’t think it has a limit when we’re working in the cold climate in the northern communities. To my understanding, there is no limit when the airline is coming in and out for search and rescue, and they can go in and out as much as they like.
To my understanding, I don’t think they have a limit. If it has a limit, then I sort of know it would be about $5,000 and it can go beyond that if they need more funding to use it for search and rescue in the communities.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Your first supplementary, Mr. Kattuk.
You told me that they have been in my community four times to do search and rescue. How many times do they need to go out to do the search and rescue in my community?
Sometimes the airplanes are not always available and they take time to come to the community, and they use a large amount of money to do that.
So I don’t know how many times they have to fly in and out to do their search and rescue. I could ask Economic Development and Transportation in regard to this issue.
The search and rescue aircraft are not always fitting to the community and some of them do not actually fit into the community for the search and rescue in this climate.
The one that happened in Igloolik recently, the search and rescue stopped and the hamlet within the community and the people of the community did the search and rescue.
The hamlet used a large amount of money as well to do the search and rescue.
I wonder if hamlets could be reimbursed for the money that they spend on search and rescues.
With regards to the question, I don’t know if they would be eligible for reimbursement, but I know that funding is available for fuel and search and rescue aircraft, and it is explained in detail.
The minister just stated that she doesn’t know if they could be reimbursed, then maybe she could do something about it so that the hamlet councils could be reimbursed for the funds that they have used for search and rescue.
Yes, we will look into it and review it. For those that have gone beyond and over funds that they have set aside, it will have to be approved by the Legislative Assembly before we proceed.
Question 479 – 2(4): Government Position on Establishing a Dominant Air Carrier in Nunavut (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, I know everyone experiences déjà vu from time to time and I seem to be suffering from a case of it lately.
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall that way back in November of 2001, our former colleague from Qamanittuaq rose in the House to ask questions about the Government of Nunavut’s position on establishing a so-called “dominant” or “preferred” air carrier for Nunavut.
This idea first surfaced in the GN’s early days and appeared to die a quiet death. It now seems like the idea may be coming back to life and resurrecting itself.
So my question, Mr. Speaker, to the current Minister of Transportation is very simply: does the GN now support the idea of establishing a “dominant” or “preferred” air carrier for Nunavut: yes or no?
The minister yesterday was asked some questions about the direction of the government’s new Transportation Strategy, which way it was heading, but the House was told to just wait for the document to be tabled.
Mr. Speaker, I have to assume that the minister is involved in setting fundamental policy for the strategy – can he tell us if the government’s goal will be to encourage competition in the airline sector or discourage competition?
We believe that competition is good for the economy, and at the end of the day, the people benefit from competition. So we encourage competition between the airlines.
It’s very good to hear the minister say that.
Mr. Speaker, I know way back then advocates for the idea of supporting a “preferred” or “dominant” air carrier argued that if the government guarantees all of its business to one airline, it can negotiate improvements in services and prices.
However, Mr. Speaker, we all know in the real world, monopolies will behave like monopolies.
You can see that in many sectors in the economy around Nunavut today: where there is competition, service improves. It’s a given fact.
So I’m wondering if the Minister of Economic Development can indicate what the GN’s policy is with respect to competition in the Nunavut economy.
Like I said in my earlier reply, we encourage competition and the GN is not in any position to provide our preference on any airlines. We encourage competition.
I know the minister has indicated that they prefer that, but in the strategy that we’re waiting to have tabled, or is there a policy that the department has with respect to fostering competition throughout the territory?
The department is in the process of updating the Nunavut Transportation Strategy and we hope to table that in the spring session.
Question 480 – 2(4): Delays in Teacher Certification Process (Peterson)
Mr. Speaker, last year in the Kitikmeot, the Department of Education recruited a number of new teachers who accepted the challenge of moving to Nunavut and teaching.
Mr. Speaker, we know that there are many challenges in Nunavut to teaching.
One of the first challenges last year was going through the teacher certification process. I have seven or eight teachers in my riding who were affected by the lengthy delays in the certification process and it affected their salary.
Many of the teachers were struggling to make their ends meet paying mortgages and buying food, and this occurred well into December. There seemed to be a problem with the Nunavut Educators Certification Service.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House why there were delays last year with teachers being certified and having their salaries agreed to in a timely manner?
First of all, I just want to clarify that when we bring teachers to Nunavut, I don’t think it’s a challenge for Nunavut teachers to come to Nunavut to teach.
We do live in a remote rural area of the country and it is expensive.
However, some of our schools are some of the best in the country and we have been recognized for that.
Mr. Speaker, the member is correct when he speaks about the certification of teachers. There were some issues and those issues include, Mr. Speaker, once a teacher is hired and put into a school, we place them on a pay grid and we place them on that pay grid based on the information that has been provided to us.
For example, let’s say a teacher has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and when they applied, they haven’t provided that information - we have to get a copy of the transcript, the marks, and a copy the diploma and so on.
So while that is occurring, they have been placed on a certain grid. Once that information comes in and that means that they would move further ahead in the grid, meaning that they would get more pay based on their experience, then that’s what occurs.
One of the other challenges that many of the teachers face when they arrive in Nunavut is getting their travel claims processed, so that took about three or four months as well. On top of their certification process and getting their salary upgraded, they were trying to get reimbursed for their travel claims.
So it was very tough and a lot of these teachers were reconsidering their decision to come teach in Nunavut. That occurred in August and September of last year.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House if the department knew that there would be problems months before they occurred, and if so, why didn’t the department act at the time they knew that there would be problems and then eliminate them at that time?
The member is correct. He did raise some issues with constituents in this riding. We did hear, at my office, concerns with other teachers who didn’t feel that they were placed properly on the pay grid and we had to get that certification.
We didn’t know months in advance or anything like that.