EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Maybe the opportunity Mr. Speaker, is there that we look at a contract with one of our Development Corporations, one of our Inuit partner organizations in the Keewatin, to look at the development of a facility specifically for this institution.
Maybe that would be the direction we would look at.
Again, Mr. Speaker, that's why we have asked for the extension of six months, from Bishop Rouleau to give us an opportunity to make the right decision.
Question 108 - 1(5): Capacity to Deal with Conflict, Crime & Drug Abuse
My question is to the Minister of Justice this morning.
In the recent federal speech from the throne, the Government of Canada committed to work with the provinces, territories and the communities, to strengthen the capacity of local communities to deal with conflict, prevent crime, and addressing drug abuse.
What initiatives will the department be taking to take advantage of this commitment of the Federal Government.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Justice.
I have written to the Prime Minister to advise him of our intentions to work together, not just on justice but on other efforts that were mentioned in the throne speech, such as housing, education and health for aboriginal residents here in Nunavut.
So it is our intent to do whatever we can to work with the Federal Government, to improve the situation of the residents in Nunavut.
Supplementary, Mr. Speaker.
What have they initiated to help the communities in Nunavut on this issue.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Minister.
Like I mentioned the Federal Government and Nunavut Government are open to each other to help each other for the betterment of Nunavummiut and we want to participate and to help with whatever they want to do for Nunavummiut.
We will work with them closely.
They have not really given us the details as to what they want to do, but we will be planning with them.
The minister states that they will be working with the Federal Government and sometimes the communities don't have anyone to help them out.
I just want to know what kinds of things they have started to talk about with the Federal Government.
We will have to work with the Federal Government to try and get some assistance for the communities and Nunavut and this is a new thing so, we haven't really heard exactly what they want to do, it's just a starting point at this time.
Perhaps we will find out by working with the Federal Government but I can't really say when we will start.
I am happy to hear that they will be working with the Federal Government so the communities can benefit from it. Perhaps if I can ask a question.
(interpretation ends) Is this one of your priorities.
There are various things that we're working on with the Federal Government, especially in regards to housing for Nunavummiut.
Housing was one of the first priorities we discussed with health and education.
Part of our priority is justice.
Member for Baker Lake. Mr. McLean.
Question 109 - 1(5): Financial Crisis in Nunavut
Mr. Speaker, today my question is to the Minister of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of days we've heard from media reports and from newspapers and various other agencies that Nunavut is in a severe financial crunch because of the projected 12 million dollar deficit in our new territory.
Can the Minister of Finance alleviate my fears as an MLA in this territory as to whether we are indeed in a serious financial crisis.
Mr. Speaker, the member raises a very good question.
As members have heard, different facets of the media portrayed, used the words crisis, disaster, and that word has never come forward from any of my colleagues or myself.
When you look at the projected 12 million dollar deficit, if you look at just this current fiscal year, of our 679 million dollar projected expenditures, that's Mr. Speaker, that's 1.76 % approximately.
So if you use the analogy of somebody spending a hundred dollars, they’re spending 101 dollars and 76 cents, you know when they have an income of 100 dollars.
From that perspective I would say no, we’re not in, certainly in any crisis situation.
We plan to aggressively ensure that we are diligent when we look at departmental spending over the current fiscal year and ensure that legitimate requests that come forward for the departments will be supported.
If there aren’t legitimate requests coming forward then I would say to my colleagues, my Cabinet colleagues, as members know, continually come forward to the FMB for reallocations. That they’ll be scrutinized more than normal during the course of this coming year, and we hope at the end of the year, even though there’s a projected year end 12 million dollar deficit, overall accumulated deficit, that won’t be the case.
Mr. Speaker, that’s the type of answer I like to hear, that the government on the other side is going to be very diligent on our fiscal stability in this new territory.
I for one on this side of the House, will make sure I keep them accountable in the standing committees.
My other question today is that we were honoured to have the Minister of Finance Mr. Paul Martin come to our territory and I think he was moved by being in this Assembly yesterday.
Which brings me to my second question today. Can the Minister of Finance, and I know he’s had his meetings and they have their little meetings behind closed doors. I know that he doesn’t like to let the cat out of the bag, but in those meetings behind those closed doors, if he could give us a hint, that maybe the Minister of Finance might have promised us, there might be some move in the future on giving us some additional revenues.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. McLean. Minister Ng.
Mr. Speaker, as members can appreciate I can’t get into private and confidential discussions amongst the other Federal Ministers or my Cabinet colleagues.
I can say to the member, as Minister Martin eloquently portrayed during his comments at the signing ceremony that he’s sympathetic to the situation of Nunavut.
He understands some of the specific needs and he will endeavour, if there’s justification, to assist us in that regard.
Having said that Mr. Speaker, I also want to note that again the media portrayal is that once we have signed the formula financing agreement, there are no open doors, it’s closed for the next three years and that is not the case.
Mr. Speaker, I mean during the regular course of the formula financing agreement, there are annual adjustments that are made, depending on the circumstances in southern Canada, it is part of the formula, that moving adjustment based on circumstances across the country.
Now having said that, it isn’t always guaranteed that there will be additional revenues.
The fact is that there are opportunities because of the escalators, because of the gross expenditures base adjustments and quite frankly interpretations between officials, that the ministers don’t necessarily have to sign off on, there are adjustment made on an annual basis for the formula financing agreement, for one thing.
Now the members recognize that the formula financing agreement, as I said in my budget speech is approximately 83% of our revenues, we still have 8 % of other revenues from other departments of the government, outside of the formula financing agreement.
Whether it’s in the area of health care, whether it’s in the housing, training needs, infrastructure needs, the internet, as my colleague Mr. Akesuk spoke on earlier today, there’s other programs, federal programs that all governments have access to.
Over the course of the year my colleagues intend to aggressively pursue those avenues of funding and that is another significant factor.
Another one Mr. Speaker, is the Arctic Airports Capital Assistance Program, from the Transportation Department, another I have to think of, those are the ones I can think of off hand.
So there’s an ample opportunity for us to expand our revenue base from the federal programs or quite frankly our partner in recognizing the audience NTI, Mr. Quassa, we’ve spoke on other opportunities, for example, with the fuel subsidy program that we are cost sharing with them.
There are other opportunities, Akitsiraq Law program, there are other opportunities, other organizations that we can partner with as well.
So I just wanted to make it clear that just because there is a 12 million dollar projected deficit, it is not the end of the world. Mr. Speaker.
I liked the lengthy answer.
He answered about fourteen of my questions there.
When he got to about number 10, I forgot about number one.
So is there room now, is the minister going to pursue, and is there room when he pursues that we may get some additional funding from the Federal Government into our base over the next year.
Although I can't be definitive, I would say that given the complexities of the formula, past trends that the likelihood of additional revenues based on the interpretation of the current formula, the likelihood is probably fairly good.
Question 110 - 1(5): Museum / Heritage Centre
I will be directing my question to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
I know that when we first started our Assembly here, we were going to deal with heritage centres.
I was wondering what the status of that is now.
We were planning to build heritage centres in Nunavut.
I remember that it was quite expensive.
I was wondering what your position is now.
This area has been developing and heritage board members have been appointed.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): In regards to the heritage centres, I think the Federal Government provides funding for them.
So we can move forward with our heritage centres, I was wondering if you are looking at funding or how these can be budgeted for.
We got the funding from the Nunavut Government.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I was asking about the heritage centres.
As that minister said, he has already appointed the board.
When are they actually going to start operating.
I don't know when they are going to meet, I don't have that detailed information here.
But I will inform all members when their first meeting will take place.
Speaker (interpretation): He will inform you.
Question 111 - 1(5): Additional Funding from Federal Government
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance, as my honourable colleague from Baker Lake said, he answered a lot of questions and also raised a lot of, made me think of some other questions that I'm going to ask him for his long answers.
I do appreciate long answers like that.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated that the Minister of Finance was sympathetic and was willing to look at some of the problems and issues that we face here in Nunavut.
I'd like to ask the minister, and he had also indicated that it could potentially happen this year.
I'd like to ask him like how, how quickly are they going to be sitting down with his federal counterparts to go over some of these issues and how soon are we going to find out whether or not we are going to be able to see any additions, or more money to the formula.
Well, first of all it was only yesterday, as members know, the discussions that I had.
But if the member is referring to the review that Minister Martin supported, it's a matter of our officials and theirs getting together.
They have actually had some preliminary discussions yesterday as well while Minister Martin's staff where here.
So, it's a matter of trying to formalize the parameters as I had indicated in the past, of the review, the timing and the scope of the review.
If the member is referring to…I hope he likes the long answer.
If the member is referring to other program areas outside of the formula I had indicated, that would be up to individual ministers within their area of jurisdiction.
Of course if they required support from myself or the Premier or any other Cabinet member we would offer to help them out in moving forward and trying to access some of the other federal programming.
If he's referring to actual formula financing agreement adjustments, that takes place automatically during the course of the year based on the formula itself and the factors in the formula, the timing in the formula.
I don't have the specifics but I could certainly provide it if that's what the member is referring to.
So, it depends on which aspect of federal funding the member is speaking of Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I think we should concentrate on the quickest one that would get us the results.
Mr. Speaker, I was speaking more specifically about the formula itself.
I know that, and I can appreciate the work of the minister’s colleagues of looking at other sources and outside of the formula to try to obtain funding and I fully endorse any work on that part.
Mr. Speaker, I know that and I've been a believer right from day one that the formula, like any formula is something that is done up ahead of time on best guesses and it's something that you have to re-look at because you don't know, you are pretty much guessing as you are going along.
You don't know until you do something as to whether or not you did it right or not.
What I'm getting at is I know that if you take a look at the numbers that we have seen over the last couple of years in the budget.
If the formula were adequate, we wouldn't see those numbers because theoretically we've been allocated through the formula adequate resources to deliver the programs and services that we are required to as a government.
I'm just wondering, you know, how soon are we going to be seeing some of these changes to the formula and as the minister indicated once they figure out the timing and the scope of this, will that information be made available to the members as well.
Mr. Speaker, I don't want to get too technical, I've indicated that Minister Martin has agreed to have his officials and have our officials work to review the fiscal capacity of the funding for our programs and services in Nunavut.
We are going to try and undertake that work, obviously, as soon as possible, given that we think, the Government of Nunavut thinks, that we may have some deficiencies that we are hoping that the Federal Government can address.
Having said that, there is also on the bigger scale, federally, provincially, territorially, the equalization and the formula renewals that will take place in the next fiscal year. Now, leading up to that a lot of the federal Department of Finance officials will undertake some initial work and discussions in anticipation of negotiations.
So that is an area that would complicate matters for us from the perspective of the Nunavut Territory, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, because our formula financing arrangements are quite different from the equalization payments to the provinces.
They are on a different track as far as the negotiations go.
But the fact is that the Nunavut Government and the other two Territories are lumped together in the discussions on amendments to the formula financing agreements.
So we are trying to quite frankly, remove ourselves in this particular instance from that to try to address things outside of the formula, if at all possible. Given that if there are specific needs that are found Nunavut wide, we will have to try to address that outside of the formula.
If we try to roll it in to the formula it is complicated by the other two jurisdictions.
So that is why we are taking the steps that we have and we are going to try to move forward in that manner, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, it sounds like we could have a much longer session just trying to figure out this formula.
Maybe one of these days when the minister has a little bit of down time after the session I will visit him up in his office and try to get a better understanding of it.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated earlier that part of the funding through the formula that we get is dictated by circumstances in the rest of Canada.
I would assume that whatever is happening in Alberta, Saskatchewan and any of the other provinces in the south or territories, whatever happens there, how does that affect our formula.
I would think that when we are developing a formula you would want to take a look at our circumstances and our needs.
I am just wondering how that is tied together and if you could try, I don't know if it is something that is easy to explain or not, I would just like to get an explanation on that.
Mr. Speaker, one of the big components of the formula funding agreement is the provincial/territorial/municipal expenditures across the country.
So it is an indicator of how strong the economy is and is based on expenditures and that is one of the facets where I say it is from factors from outside of the Nunavut Territory.
Member for Uqqummiut.
Question 112 - 1(5): Dealing with Housing Shortage
I will be directing my question to the Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
This is in regards to the funding for the Housing Corporation, which we just approved, because housing is one of our priorities in Nunavut and we are in a dire housing shortage.
How are you going to be dealing with the housing shortage in the year 2001.
Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
We will be building 50 units this summer.
On top of that we have already set up the homeownership programs for those that want to purchase a unit.
We are also looking at possible rent-to-own programs.
We are working on that, and also alongside of this the homeowners can apply for funding for renovations and that funding will be made available.
Federal Government officials are also working with my staff discussing how we can get more funding.
I am working with Paul Quassa and we will be going down to see the DIAND Minister down in Ottawa.
Yes, there are quite a few programs that are within our department and I've also informed the House that on March 19, 2001 we will be having a meeting regarding housing in Rankin Inlet, especially in regards to the rent scale.
These are various programs and also the Housing Task Force was established and they made 15 recommendations and we have now started implementing them.
Thank you for your response to my question.
I would like to ask the minister another question in regards to the previous year where there have been some problems with renters being evicted for their arrears.
I hope you are going to review the whole matter so that you can find some solutions to the problem.
Speaker (interpretation): Madam Minister.
I would like to ask the member to rephrase his question.
One thing that I didn't understand in his question was whether he's talking about the foundation or the construction or the rent scales.
I would like him to rephrase his question please.
Speaker (interpretation): Member for Uqqummiut please rephrase your question. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I am talking about the private mortgages.
Some of these people have been evicted because they had broken their agreement or have gone into arrears or went through some type of a problem.
Is there going to be a review of the whole process so we don't come to that point.
For the people who got their homes and can’t pay their mortgage, they go into arrears and have debts that pile up. Perhaps it is because they don't know what their responsibilities are or they cannot keep up with their responsibilities.
The Housing Corporation staff are always available to give you advice and to help with these issues.
Just this winter my staff have helped some clients with the schedule of their mortgage payments and also to help them understand what the procedures are.
So my staff are there and Mr. Speaker, but for those homeowners who don't pay their mortgages there is not much that we can do.
But we may be able to help them reschedule their mortgage payments or help them whatever way possible.
When they encounter those types of problems because they don't understand the procedures, how can the Housing Corporation help their clients so that the homeowners have a clearer idea of the responsibilities of owning a home and mortgages.
This is something new for Inuit and there has to be a way we can educate our people so that they know what they should do as a homeowner and what their responsibilities are and so on.
This should help alleviate those types of problems.
I think today is Friday and some of my colleagues sitting beside me are a little out of whack this morning.
For the homeowners and for those people who have applied and received the Access homes, they are well informed ahead of time about planning for and owning a home.
They are also given aftercare.
They are asked what kind of questions they have, they are also advised or even asked what paint their doors should have.
They are asked how much they can pay per month on their mortgage and for how many years.
They are informed about all those things ahead of time, but there are some clients out there who don't pay their mortgage at all.
They have monthly bills to pay but some have never done it from day one.
Then they get way behind and they fall into debt.
They don't check the mail that comes in or the notices that are delivered.
I am not sure how else the Housing Corporation can help.
The clients have to make monthly payments because of course if you don't pay your monthly bills you are going to fall behind.
If you own a home you have to pay your monthly payments.
However, some of our clients get buried in debt.
I think they should ask the employees of the Housing Corporation if they need assistance, because of course, they are always available any time to give advice and so on.
The Housing Corporation staff are always there to help, either by mail or through other means.
They do follow up care on their clients.
I would like to urge the homeowners out there to pay their mortgage bills on a monthly basis if they don't want to get buried in debt.
Are you saying that you will give more support to the clients.
Somebody said yes over there.
The Housing Corporation is looking into the future and how we can better serve our clients in Nunavut in regards to homeownership.
When we were meeting in Bathurst Inlet we as a Cabinet came to a consensus that we should work harder to serve the people of Nunavut.
We will always be there for the people of Nunavut to give them assistance and support and also in the Bathurst Mandate we also agreed that the government documents and so on were too technically worded.
What we have envisioned was that this government would be more understanding and more accessible.
When documents go out there and they are technically worded, it is hard to understand them.
The Housing Corporation is always available for advice or for support.
Since the creation of Nunavut we have always had an open door policy and we also look for ways and means as to how we can improve our support to the people of Nunavut.
For the renters again some are falling into arrears, that creates a problem for them.
I think everybody out there understands that.
Some of them don't even want to pay for their monthly rent at all.
They just want to live in the house, although the majority of the renters are up to date on their payments.
We know that many independent minded people are going through hard times making payments or making ends meet.
But anyone out there or any Inuk out there should feel free to ask questions and ask for advice from the Housing Corporation.
I think that would improve the situation.
Members and ministers I would like to inform you that during question period and during your preamble to try and keep it as brief as possible.
Make your questions and responses to the point, otherwise we tend to lose the content if it is too long. And looking at the clock, there are other people who would like to ask questions.
I just want to urge members to be brief and to the point.
That is for the ministers and regular members.
Question 113-1(5): Homeowner Arrears Statistics
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
My colleague Mr. Iqaqrialu brings up a very important issue.
And that is the fact the focus for the last number of years and the push to put people into homeownership.
There are people that are running into problems and arrears and the bank foreclosing on them.
The minister indicated that they do meet with these people.