EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Perhaps I do not understand the responses very well but when the Nunavut Government is purchasing the gasoline, are you able to tell us the quality of the gasoline before we purchase it.
I would like to refer this question to Susan Makpah please.
Is it because it’s embarrassing that you want Ms. Makpah to answer the question?
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Minister, if you would like either one of the two to answer the question, Ms. Makpah could answer that question as well.
Which one, Mr. Minister would you like to have answer?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Mr. Wispinski was asked a question about just before the gasoline is purchased whether Mr. Wispinski has any say in which gasoline or oil is purchased is good.
I have no say in the fuel quality before it becomes the property of Nunavut.
My last question Mr. Chairman.
Would Mr. Wispinski be able to do an analysis on exactly what is causing the build-up?
Susan mentioned that there would be testing of fuel from snowmobile tanks in Nunavut.
So we will be doing that.
I would just like to start off with a preamble.
If your snowmobile breaks down you can be stuck out there for many days if the weather is bad.
Sometimes we are forced to use gasoline for our stoves if our naphtha runs out.
I am telling you that this gasoline that we have right now will clog up the stove generator within hours.
That’s how bad it is.
The snowmobiles are made a little different today than they were a few years ago.
In our community we modify the machinery so that there is good intake of gasoline.
That could be a contributing factor.
I am urging the people of Nunavut out there who are experiencing these problems to lobby their Member of the Legislative Assembly and only then very likely could the Government of Nunavut help us.
The Government of Nunavut is not the one that purchases the gasoline.
It is the contractors, NTCL who bought the bulk gasoline.
The gasoline is then distributed to the communities.
Afterwards they give us an invoice for reimbursement.
It is NTCL who are contracted by the Government of Nunavut to purchase the bulk fuel and distribute it to the communities.
From there it is sold to the retail outlets and finally to the residents.
But it is not the Government of Nunavut that purchases the fuel.
It is only after the fuel is distributed to the communities that we are invoiced for reimbursement by that particular company.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you very much for that information.
This discussion is raising more concerns for me that are outside the scope of the tabled document.
We are having this discussion about the quality of gasoline and I would like to keep to the subject at hand.
The discussion is about the letter from Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board chairman Joannie Ikkidluak to the Minister responsible for Petroleum Products.
Just to remind the members we will have to adjourn at 6 o'clock.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): I did say thank you.
I just would like to make a statement.
It doesn't seem that we are going to go anywhere with this discussion.
I would just at this time like to urge the people of Nunavut to lobby their Members of the Legislative Assembly so that we can find a solution to this problem because I don't think we will be going anywhere with this department at this time.
I was going to be asking a question about the residue that is in the machinery.
Could we give you a sample of the residue that is left behind in the machinery to test?
Also my next question Mr. Chairman is we can also do some analysis in Nunavut.
We don't have to necessarily use the study centres down south.
We send in a barrel of gas from down there under the order of the minister.
We could use two new snowmobiles to be used as experimental machinery, fuel one up with local gasoline and see what kind of affect it has on the machinery parts of it.
If the minister could agree to do this then we can use the other one for southern imported gasoline.
Those are experiments we could do in Nunavut.
The Minister responsible for Petroleum Products is available during question period of any day.
Mr. Minister, did you want to respond?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, I don’t hear a question.
I will wait for the question in the coming days during question period, thank you.
Could you tell me where NTCL purchases their bulk gasoline?
I will have Susan Makpah answer your question.
The fuel we got this year from NTCL, they got it from New York.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I don’t know whether you can respond to my question.
Do you know the age of the gasoline that was purchased?
Ms. Makpah: We’re trying to find that information from NTCL. (interpretation) We have been having this discussion with NTCL.
We’re not sure exactly how old the gasoline is but we are trying to get the information from NTCL.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Going back to our gasoline, do you know if this gasoline is adaptable to the northern climate.
We heard it’s okay to use in a cold climate, are there different types of gasoline that are used for warmer climates down south for example and another bulk set aside for colder climates.
The specifications we have for our fuel for this climate is higher than what is required down south.
It’s because we buy our fuel once a year.
We purchase this fuel and it’s supposed to be used for all seasons.
Mr. Nutarak, anything else?
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Last year we had a different kind of gasoline.
Do you know what components were different from the fuel we had last year and this year.
Was this gasoline that was used last year, was it a spring type of gasoline or middle of January gasoline, or what?
I think the gasoline that we’re using now is not for the middle of the winter.
It could very well turn good in the summer when we have a warmer climate.
I think the colder communities are having a harder time this year with broken machinery and now Arctic Bay, so it might be because it’s for different, or a warmer climate.
Do you have an indication of what type of gasoline we’re using now?
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Makpah.
Ms. Makpah: The fuel we received this year is specified as mid-grade. Mid-grade gasoline.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am starting to rush as we are almost ready to finish for the day.
The reason I ask is because we were told that it is 25% less sulphur.
How does that work in this type of climate, in the middle of winter?
Mr. Wispinski: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The sulphur is not going to effect winter conditions more than summer conditions.
Again, the sulphur I think is a non-issue.
The fuel that is purchased by Nunavut is also a winter grade.
I stated before, this is controlled by different volatility classes.
There is the vapour pressure that has to be sufficiently high so that you can start your engine in the winter.
This is the big difference between a summer or southern gasoline versus a winter gasoline.
A member would like to report progress and this is non-debatable.
I would like to thank you very much Mr. Minister, Susan Makpah and Mr. Wispinski, Mr. Mrazek.
I thank you all for appearing as witnesses.
I would like the members and the people in the gallery to know that we have not had any specific responses to our questions.
As long as that is the case we will keep working on it as we have to represent our people out there for the betterment of the people of Nunavut.
We have to look at the concerns and find solutions.
We can ascertain if the Speaker is available to return to the House.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Motion 21 – 1(5), and would like to report progress.
Is there a seconder for the motion? Is there a seconder?
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 16, motions.
Speaker: Are there any nays?
Proceed Mr. Ng.
Motion 022 – 1(5): Bill 21, Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act to Committee of the Whole
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and honourable members.
Whereas Bill 21, Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act has had First Reading; and
Whereas Rule 66 of the Provisional Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut provide that every bill shall be read twice in the Assembly before committal for amendment, and
Whereas Rule 67(2) of the Provisional Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut provides that, unless otherwise ordered by the Assembly, when a bill is read for the second time it stands ordered to a Standing or a Special Committee,
Now, therefore, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Amittuq, that Bill 21 be ordered after second reading to Committee of the Whole for consideration.
Meetings for tomorrow. March the fifth at 9 o’clock.
Meeting of all regular members in the Tuktu Board Room with the Honourable Minister Kelvin Ng. Meeting at 12 o’clock, Government Operations in Tuktu.
Orders of the Day for Tuesday March 5th:
Tabled Document 80 – 1(5)
Before we adjourn just a reminder to the members that at 7 o’clock we have the unveiling of the Baker Lake carving display out in the Great Hall.
This House stands adjourned until March 5th, 2002 at 1.30.
>>House adjourned at 6.00 p.m.
DAY 54
Tuesday March 5, 2002
2796 – 2911
Opening Prayer 2796
Ministers’ Statements 2796
Members’ Statements 2800
Returns to Oral Questions 2807
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2807
Oral Questions 2811
Reports of Standing & Special Committees 2830
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills 2855
Tabling of Documents 2855
Second Reading of Bills 2856
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2874
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2909
Third Reading of Bills 2909
Orders of the Day 2910
Tuesday March 5, 2002 2796
166 - 1(5): Inuit Employment - Article 23 Bilateral Working Group with NTI (Kilabuk) 2796
167 – 1(5): Update on Nanisivik Mines Closure (Akesuk) 2797
168 – 1(5): Nunavut Marine Transportation Program Funding (Thompson) 2798
169 - 1(5): Nunavut Food Guide Unique to the North (Picco) 2798
170 - 1(5): Sealskin Rebate (Akesuk) 2799
479 - 1(5): Bad Gasoline (Puqiqnak) 2800
480 – 1(5): Process – Disagreement on Bill 21 (Tootoo) 2802
481 – 1(5): Future of Nunavummiut in Regards to Bill 21, Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act (Irqittuq) 2802
482 – 1(5): Mining Employment & Training Opportunities (Havioyak) 2803
483 – 1(5): Keewatin Wildlife Management Board Meeting Recognizing Elders (McLean) 2804
484 – 1(5): Help with Growing Up & Teaching Different Skills (Iqaqrialu) 2805
485 – 1(5): A Better Future for Nunavummiut (Arvaluk) 2805
486 – 1(5): Help the Future Leaders of Nunavut (Williams) 2806
487 – 1(5): Working Together with Youth (Alakannuark) 2807
Return to Question 410 – 1(5): Responses to After Hours Calls (Okalik) 2807
491 - 1(5): Any Plans to Support Unilingual People Towards Maintenance of Homes (Iqaqrialu) 2811
492 – 1(5): Decentralize Jobs Where Housing is Available (McLean) 2812
493 - 1(5): Assisting Dog-team Races through Funding (Nutarak) 2813
494 - 1(5): Update on Formula Financing Agreement (Tootoo) 2815
495 - 1(5): Work Together to get More Information from the Federal Government - Grave Workers (Irqittuq) 2816
496 - 1(5): Plans for Transportation before the Mine Closes (Williams) 2818
497 - 1(5): 500 Thousand Dollars Provided For All of Nunavut - Clarify –Breakwaters (Arvaluk) 2818
498 - 1(5): Clarify Minister’s Statement on Sealskin Rebate (Alakannuark) 2820
499 - 1(5): Update on Policies for Women’s Shelters (McLean) 2821
500 - 1(5): Process of Budget Session (Tootoo) 2822
501 - 1(5): Kugluktuk Artificial Ice Project (Havioyak) 2824
502 - 1(5): Sealskin Rebates (Nutarak) 2825
503 - 1(5): Restrictions on Nunavut Drivers’ Licences (Irqittuq) 2826
504 - 1(5): Youth Drop-in Centres (Havioyak) 2828
017 – 1(5): Interim Report of the Special Committee to Review the Official Languages Act 2830
018 – 1(5): Report of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit on its Review of the 2000-2001 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut 2844
002 – 1(5): Standing Committee on Community Empowerment & Sustainable Development Report on Bill 15, Technical Standards and Safety Act 2855
087 – 1(5): Speaking Notes on Motion 22 – 1(5), Bill 22, Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act Referred to Committee of the Whole (Tootoo) 2855  088 – 1(5): Gravesite Relocation Hall Beach, Nunavut – Letter from Minister R. Nault in Response to Minister Picco’s Letter (Okalik) 2855
Bill 21 - Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act - Second Reading 2856
Bill 21 – Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act – Consideration in Committee 2874
Bill 23 - An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act – Consideration in Committee 2906
Bill 23 - An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act - Third Reading 2909
Bill 21 - Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act - Third Reading 2910
Tuesday March 5, 2002  Nunavut Hansard
Speaker: Good afternoon members, Mr. Premier.
Minister's Statement 166 - 1(5): Inuit Employment - Article 23 Bilateral Working Group with NTI
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to inform my colleagues of the establishment of the bilateral working group with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on Article 23, Inuit Employment within Government.
The government is committed to increasing Inuit employment within the Government of Nunavut public service to a representative level.
Mr. Speaker, under the Clyde River Protocol Agreement the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated agreed to work co-operatively on issues of mutual concern.
We recognize that the task of developing and maintaining a representative public service is very complex and challenging.
We also recognize that this will only be accomplished if we all work together co-operatively.
The Government of Nunavut has approved the Terms of Reference for the establishment of the Article 23 Bilateral Working Group.
The Terms of Reference were developed in co-operation with NTI.
The bilateral group is to be advisory in nature.
Its broad purpose is to provide recommendations and advice to the Government of Nunavut and NTI on matters relating to increasing and maintaining Inuit employment in the government to a representative level.
The Article 23 Bilateral Working Group will also serve as a forum for discussions of issues and initiatives related to Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
Mr. Speaker, we anticipate that the Article 23 Bilateral Working Group will commence its activities in the next month or so.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated for their co-operation in establishing this Article 23 Bilateral Working Group.
Mr. Speaker, it is through this kind of co-operation that we will achieve our common goal of a representative public service in Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 167 – 1(5): Update on Nanisivik Mines Closure
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to update the members on developments regarding the Nanisivik Mine closure near Arctic Bay.
Breakwater Resources Limited announced last October 29th that it would close its zinc mine at Nanisivik in September 2002.
There were a series of telephone conferences and meetings in November and December, in which the Premier spoke with company officials and met with federal ministers about the respective obligations for the closure and about possible alternate plans for site.
I was in Arctic Bay in early January with officials from my department, the Department of Community Government and Transportation, the Nunavut Water Board, the Premier’s Office, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
We joined the MLA there and met with the Mayor and residents to discuss the closure.
The residents’ concerns were that a proper environmental reclamation takes place, that an alternative viable use be found for the site and that transportation services to the community be preserved.
We committed to ensure full community involvement in the review and planning process.
We also established the GN Nanisivik Working Group, which has representation from all the departments in the GN and is chaired by my department. (interpretation ends) The groups meets weekly to identify and act upon all GN related issues pertaining to the Nanisivik Mine closure and reports to a Steering Committee of senior GN managers.
My department has hired, in partnership with CG&T and the Nunavut Water Board, a Community Liaison Coordinator in Arctic Bay to work on these issues.
The coordinator is a major bridge between the community, the GN, the Water Board, the company and other regulators.
The coordinator will ensure that everyone is informed and participates in this process of this closure.
(interpretation) Last month, the Premier met with the federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada who has undertaken to fulfill the federal obligations for the reclamation of the site and has offered to work with us in addressing the employment related issues of the closure. (interpretation ends) On the recent Team Canada mission, the Premier had an opportunity to speak with the Prime Minister about all our efforts with INAC and the Department of National Defence for a cooperative solution to the reclamation and rebuilding of the Nanisivik Mine site.
I am hopeful that we will be in an excellent position to ensure that this mine leaves a positive legacy.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Rebecca Uqi Williams, the Member for Quttiktuq, for her commitment and involvement in this process.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Akesuk. Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 168 – 1(5): Nunavut Marine Transportation Program Funding
I’m pleased to announce the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Marine Transportation between the Department of Community Government and Transportation and the Canadian Coast Guard.
Marine Transportation is of great importance to Nunavut. Because of the lack of road links to the rest of Canada and the expensive airfreight, the bulk of the territory's supplies arrive by boat.
This agreement will provide Nunavut with 500 thousand dollars in each of the next five years to maintain, preserve and enhance marine infrastructure.
This includes marine re-supply sites, community docks and breakwaters.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, 35 thousand per year will also be used for the Small Boat Safety Program.
This program provides training and information to Nunavummiut for safe boating.
This agreement also provides us an opportunity to apply for larger projects once a year such as the Kugluktuk marine re-supply site, which is currently under way.
Mr. Speaker, this agreement will help Nunavut develop its marine transportation infrastructure for the benefit of all Nunavummiut.
Minister's Statement 169 - 1(5): Nunavut Food Guide Unique to the North
Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today during National Nutrition Month to introduce to this House and to the public, the first ever Nunavut Food Guide.
Mr. Speaker, the pride of the people of Nunavut and our ties to the land and sea, the animals and plants is captured in this unique-to-Nunavut guide to nutritional and traditional eating.
Mr. Speaker, earlier today I had the honour of showing the new food guide to a group of elders at the Elder's Centre here in Iqaluit.
I wanted them to be among the first to see it because it is through the elders that the knowledge of traditional food has been passed down to us.
Mr. Speaker, they have kept alive the knowledge of how to preserve and prepare the rich and nutritious country food that has allowed people to live and thrive on our land for centuries.
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, my department and the Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment, will feature the Nunavut Food Guide, in an hour long nutrition education course being presented to community project staff of the Canadian Pre-natal Nutrition program.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, this Friday, Arctic Co-ops will feature the food guide in its regular back cover add in Nunatsiaq News.
Also, Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Food Guide is now being distributed throughout the territory for use in health centres, schools and in the communities.
In the health centres, nurses and CHRs will use it as an attractive and colourful guide to promote healthy eating.
Mr. Speaker, it will be used in the schools to support the nutrition portion of the health curriculum.
Also, Mr. Speaker, it will also be used in community wellness programs such as those funded through the Aboriginal Head Start and the Canadian Pre-natal Nutrition Program.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Food guide will be an important health tool that will provide guidelines for combining traditional foods with store foods for a healthy way of eating and incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Speaker: Thank you, minister. Ministers’ Statements. Minister Akesuk.
Minister's Statement 170 - 1(5): Sealskin Rebate
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that my department has made significant strides over the past two years in revitalizing the sealskin industry within Nunavut.
(interpretation ends) The department currently operates a program known as the Fur Price Program.
This program provides assistance to harvesters who wish to sell their furs for competitive prices at auction, as well as providing individual harvesters with quick, up-front cash advances provided to individuals for their skins.
Under this program, seal skins harvested within the community are collected by the community's wildlife officers and sent to North Bay, Ontario to be marketed through the Fur Harvesters Auction Inc.
The objectives of this program are to introduce Nunavut sealskins into both the Canadian and the world fur markets and to promote Nunavut sealskins as a sustainable by-product of traditional harvesting practices.
(interpretation) Since the implementation of this program the “at-auction” price for Nunavut sealskins has increased significantly. From an average price of less than twenty dollars in the mid-1990’s to the December 2001 fur auctions held in North Bay, the average sale price for Nunavut sealskins was approximately 67 dollars per pelt, up by 45% from the year 2000.
We are hopeful the sealskins will continue to bring in good prices.
Much of the credit for our current achievements must be given to our community Wildlife Officers who have worked very hard to make this program successful.
(interpretation ends) Due to this success, the department has realized a significant profit from the sale of Nunavut sealskins for the first time ever.
As a result, I have obtained authorization from the Financial Management Board to provide Nunavut’s seal harvesters with a one-time rebate of 20 dollars for every sealskin that was delivered to our wildlife officers for the 2001 North Bay auction.
(interpretation) I fully expect that we will have the rebates out to the harvesters by April of 2002.
Member's Statement 479 - 1(5): Bad Gasoline
Mr. Speaker, I rise today because we hear a lot about this issue in the Baffin Region.
A popular topic these days is the bad gasoline.
We hear interviews on the radio and through other media about the quality of gasoline that we use up here in Nunavut.
There are some people saying that the gasoline is good and others are saying that it’s bad.
When we were first elected in 1999, the community of Uqsuqtuq in the Nattilik riding first experienced bad gasoline.
Of course the end result was the government saying the gasoline was of good quality.
From what I am hearing today, it has recurred and questions are being posed as to whether the quality of the gasoline is good or bad.
I will try to make it brief Mr. Speaker, let me know when my time is up.
I will try to keep my comments short.
In my riding, I think it has been over two years now that we have been talking about the quality of the gasoline.
In the community of Gjoa Haven, the Mayor and the Hamlet Council have been insisting for two years that the quality of the gasoline is bad, but we kept being told that the gasoline is good.
We tried different ways of finding out about the quality of the gasoline and I have made numerous statements in the House about the quality.