EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
As the minister will appreciate, and I’m sure he believes, lengthy delays can have a traumatic impact on the relatives of the deceased, especially close family members.
Will the minister commit to reviewing the Coroners Act with a view to introducing clear timelines for the holding of inquests?
Can the minister commit to reviewing the Act?
It is very difficult times and frustrating times on the community and on families who are dealing with these tragic situations.
Under the Coroners Act, there are no timelines for reviews. Some of these processes are very lengthy from investigation to the RCMP to the review at the coroner’s office, but I do understand the frustration and the point that Mr. Tapardjuk is making.
We will have those discussions with the coroner from our department to see if this matter can be addressed.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the minister for committing to reviewing the Act.
The Office of the Chief Coroner exercises many important responsibilities.
Mr. Minister, will you commit to begin the practice of tabling an annual report to the Legislative Assembly concerning the activities of the Office of the Chief Coroner?
We do have a report that the Department of Justice does receive from the coroner’s office now.
I could commit to tabling such a report.
Question 736 – 3(3): Bulk Fuel Storage Facilities in Nunavut (Ningeongan)
The 2013-14 capital estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services included $2.3 million in capital funding for improvements to the bulk fuel storage facilities in Coral Harbour.
Can the minister update me today on the status of this important project?
Good day, Nunavummiut.
I also thank Mr. Ningeongan for raising that question respecting the plans for the addition to the bulk fuel storage facilities. To date, everything is proceeding as scheduled.
When the next ship arrives into Coral Harbour this fall, the materials for the bulk fuel storage will be offloaded from the ship to the location when the final ship arrives into Coral Harbour this month or October, whenever the next ship is scheduled to arrive. The parts to build the additional fuel storage tank will be loaded unto the ship.
As soon as it is possible to start work on this project, perhaps next year in the spring or summer, that is when the work will start.
I also thank the minister for his response, although I’m not all warm and fuzzy with the answer since it may still lead to it being deferred or delayed.
There are legitimate reasons which I understand.
I would like to now ask the minister with respect to the possible delay for this project. Do you have any concerns that Coral Harbour bulk fuel storage facilities will arrive in time to continue work on this project next year prior to the next sealift in the summer of 2014?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The shipping arrangements have already been completed and shipping schedules are set for this fall for the next ship. The steel for the fuel storage tank will be offloaded at that time.
This winter, the fuel will be transported to Coral Harbour. We don’t expect any further shortages and it should be adequate for the year. The new bulk fuel storage tank scheduled for construction is to allow for more capacity to alleviate demand.
Based on the original plans, it was to be built this summer, but it has been deferred and won’t be built this summer, which was the basis of my question regarding possible shortages in fuel this winter.
I have another question at this time. The 2013-14 capital estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services also included $100,000 in capital funding for improvements to the bulk fuel storage facilities in Chesterfield Inlet.
With respect to Coral Harbour, I believe that it is sufficient.
Now, with respect to Chesterfield Inlet, I don’t have any information whether or not they are experiencing any issues regarding the improvements on the bulk fuel storage facilities.
Question 737 – 3(3): High Arctic Transportation Strategy (Elliott)
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, the cost of transportation is very expensive in Nunavut, especially for the High Arctic communities.
As the minister will recall, on October 31 of last year, he made a statement in the House concerning the status of the High Arctic Transportation Strategy. He indicated that, and I quote, “As we conclude the study, we will have recommendations to this government and to bring forward to the federal government.”
I thank the member for that question. Maybe I’ll quit making statements on some of these topics.
It has been a very difficult situation that we face.
It’s no doubt that the High Arctic communities face the reality of transportation. The high cost of transportation, the high cost of freight, and the high cost of feeding ourselves is real and there is no doubt about that.
Mr. Speaker, we work very closely with the communities in the High Arctic: Arctic Bay, Resolute Bay, and Grise Fiord.
Mr. Speaker, we managed to talk to one of the airlines where they were going to fly a regularly scheduled plane into Arctic Bay. It didn’t last too long. The airline quickly realized that there has to be economic activity within these communities for them to fly in there.
There has to be enough traffic, passengers, and freight going into these communities for it to become economical for them.
We do realize that there’s just not enough economic activity within these small communities, hence the high cost of going there. It’s not only that. The distances are vast.
As the member of Quttiktuq knows, he does travel up there and it takes a long time to get there. The high cost of fuel exacerbates the high cost of living up there. The cost of power generating, fuel for the aircraft, and fuel for the homes is high and we do know that.
Mr. Speaker, at this point, we’re still looking at some of these options that are very few. The options are few and far between, as the member is well aware.
We did work with the councillors, the mayors, and had some public discussions with the communities. It is a difficult situation to rectify. As the member is well aware, this government does not have enough resources to start up a subsidy program, but we are open to looking at other options if suggested by the communities of the High Arctic.
It has been almost a year since the minister made that statement. Can the minister indicate what recommendations have been made and approved by cabinet?
There have been no recommendations made to cabinet at this point.
In the past year, what attempts has your department made to communicate with the federal government regarding the progress of this strategy?
There have been several face-to-face meetings with our MP, not only with the Minister of Health at the time, but with other cabinet members of the federal government.
They are quite aware that the high cost of transportation up in the High Arctic is one of the real challenges that we all face, especially the people of the High Arctic communities.
It is a real challenge, as the member is well aware.
In some cases, we do know that for fishing hooks… . I just want to put an example in there, Mr. Speaker. Fishing hooks that we normally buy for $3 in other communities and bigger centres are $54 in Resolute Bay.
That’s one of the realities that the community members face up there.
I know that there have been some discussions with the federal government talking about sovereignty. At this time, I’m sure that the mayors and councillors of the High Arctic will be approaching some federal ministers to discuss more options through the sovereignty issue.
Again I would just like to reiterate a reminder that I gave everyone yesterday about the use of BlackBerrys during question period.
Question 738 – 3(3): Support for Hunters – Poverty Reduction (Curley)
I would like to direct my question to the minister responsible for poverty reduction, including ED&T.
We all are aware that everything in Nunavut is very expensive, such as what my colleague alluded to, the high cost of transportation. It’s continually mentioned that the cost of some food items have increased drastically under Nutrition North.
Mr. Speaker, we can say that we rarely speak of the hunters. There are hunters who are in need of marine boats and they need their hunting equipment so that they can harvest country food. There are many people who are not employed who don’t have the means to go hunting.
I would like to ask the minister: under Nutrition North and also food security and poverty reduction, do you discuss the topic that harvesters should be able to afford to purchase their equipment, such as snowmobiles and boats?
Have you discussed those matters?
Minister responsible for Economic Development and Transportation, I believe, Minister Taptuna.
I will defer the question to the Minister responsible for Poverty, Ms. Monica Ell.
Sorry for the delay and confusion.
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the member for that question in regard to this issue.
At this time, the Department of Family Services is working on poverty reduction. They are now working on it.
I was able to take part and I am also chair of the round table during the round-table discussions, but I’m not the only person. Nunavut Tunngavik has a representative who is also a co-chair along with me.
We met last June and there were over 70 delegates from Nunavut who took part in the round-table discussions. We discussed many issues and we started the discussion on the five-year plan for this coming fall and also for the next year.
They will start establishing who will be responsible for what.
At this time, the departments are now in the reviewing stage, but I can tell you that the elders are also involved in the round-table discussions.
The elders have also mentioned that they are finding it very hard to go out hunting alone.
The wildlife we had in the north has moved onto other regions and now we’re starting to purchase country food through inter-community trade.
The Department of Transportation also subsidizes the freight cost.
There was a recommendation made by the elders to discuss this further.
I haven’t yet seen the five-year plan, so I’m not aware of the details, Mr. Speaker.
I don’t want to be trading stories and neither do I want to focus on the five-year plan.
However, my question I asked was this: has the need for creating subsidies ever been discussed by the government?
I doubt that we need to debate the plan for an entire year or its contents.
Perhaps I should be asking whether or not a policy can be developed to resolve this issue.
Many hunters don’t qualify for any assistance from our government and no work is available for them due to Newfoundland transient workers being flown in to do construction work in the summer construction period.
Therefore, too many of our hunters are trying to purchase the cheapest boats available, which brings up safety issues, and many hunters are unable to go hunting to provide sustenance for their families.
Due to this reason, the government has to develop a subsidy which doesn’t require a round-table discussion.
Is this government developing subsidies for our hunters?
This issue requires discussion and negotiations to develop the subsidies as the government can’t forge ahead on its own. The only way to combat poverty is to work with the various organizations if we want to see real progress on this front.
The discussion in June of this year wasn’t the first one, as poverty reduction has been worked on for many years, and we listen to the recommendations that stem from these meetings specifically to improve our lives. (interpretation ends) Healing and well-being (interpretation) is the title given to this issue. Additionally, counselling was brought up.
Many issues have been brought up in these round-table discussions.
In order to have a properly planned strategy, these are the issues that have been recommended as being required to be completed and this can only be agreed to with proper discussions on these issues.
When the written material has been agreed to outlining the people and organizations who will conduct this work and after careful review of these recommendations, we can start to move forward.
We all know these issues and in particular, the fact that our hunters have absolutely no assistance from this government.
This government has a myriad of business program assistance funds, and to have to debate these issues over five years wasn’t the way these business subsidies were created.
All they require are some changes to improve them.
These subsidies can also fall into these types of assistance subsidies and the government can easily adapt some of these existing programs.
Who then will lead these discussions or will be responsible for creating subsidies for hunters to enable them to hunt? In order to have safe hunting trips, our hunters need to purchase safer boats. How can our government provide assistance to our people who are most in need?
As the co-chair of the round-table discussion, there’s another co-chair from NTI with NTI representatives. There is a hunter support program through NTI.
It can be dealt with through the HTOs at the community level and we discussed this matter, but we have not resolved the issue as of yet.
We have to review the recommendations and I can make the details of the subsidy known.
Question 739 – 3(3): Status of Cape Dorset Sewage Lagoon (Schell)
As the minister will recall, I have asked a number of questions concerning the status of the new Cape Dorset sewage lagoon.
Although this facility was constructed a number of years ago, it has still not been commissioned.
Can the minister inform me when the new sewage lagoon is anticipated to be operational?
It’s a question I hear almost every session since we have been here.
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, there are issues that arise with the sewage lagoon in Cape Dorset and it looks like there will be no sufficient repairs this year to make it operable.
Mr. Speaker, we will be seeking funding when the upcoming gas tax funds become available, and then go from there.
In May of this year, the Legislative Assembly approved another capital carryover for this project.
Can the minister indicate what these funds have been used for?
In order to give him a detailed response, I will get the details on that and respond to him at that time.
I have also raised the issue of territorial compliance with water licensing requirements in respect to wastewater treatment on a number of occasions.
As the minister will recall, there were concerns at one point that Cape Dorset could be taken to court by the federal government.
Can the minister assure me that the community’s new sewage lagoon meets all applicable federal and territorial standards and regulations?
I would like to assure my colleague that if and when the sewage lagoon is finally complete, I am hopeful that it would meet all requirements of such lagoons.
Question 740 – 3(3): Child and Family Services Act Amendments (Tapardjuk)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, I believe everyone in this House is well aware of my continuing concern about the Child and Family Services Act after this government passed the amendment. It concerns me whether or not our government will implement these changes.
Now to go to section 2, within the amended Child and Family Services Act, it identifies that Inuit societal values shall form the foundation of the legislation.
I think the minister is well aware of this fact, knows about this, and respects these values, which I believe to be true. Inuit societal values place great emphasis on respecting older people and particularly our elders if we are going to use these values as our foundation.
Can the minister inform me whether or not the Inuit elders who work with social workers and their fellow residents on social issues will continue to be part of this process once the legislation, as amended, is being implemented?
In the member’s question and whether social workers can collaborate with Inuit elders, this matter is spoken to in it and we also discussed that matter last spring when reviewing the legislation and passing it in the House.
This legislation will strengthen that cooperation if the community social workers work closely with the local elders as well as the community leaders.
So yes, I can agree that elders can be included in the discussions and we have directed them to do so within the Department of Family Services.
I also thank the minister for that response, as Inuit have expectations about using Inuit values in this field. It is much easier for Inuit to deal with social issues in the context of Inuit values. To this point, Inuit have had to bear with an alien cultural basis to deal with social issues, which is the focal point of this discussion.
The Child and Family Services Act gives authority to apprehend children or youth away from their parents.
Within that legislation, children can then be taken care of by other family members or, alternatively, by guardians or foster parents.
In some cases, at present, the apprehended children are taken away from the community and family.
This has occurred too many times in the past and, when this occurs, the mother and the child usually have to go to a shelter, generally outside of their community.
Can the minister provide further clarification on the number of women and children who have had to be sent out to shelters? Can the minister provide a figure of how many women and children have been sent out to shelters?
Does the minister have these figures?
I also thank the member for asking that question in regard to this very important issue.
Firstly, I wish to express my thanks to the people who are able to care for children in their homes when they are apprehended.
The new legislation is trying to be more culturally accommodating for families and parents, particularly where their children have to be apprehended due to different reasons. Many families want to be consulted first prior to apprehended children being sent out. We approved this change last spring and I spoke to this at the time.
What I can state is that many Nunavut residents have experienced this trauma with over 300 apprehended children.
However, I can’t put an exact figure on the request the member asked for at this time.
Yes, when dealing with legislated issues and in trying to resolve some of the challenges, it is good to hear actual figures.
As all members are aware, the amendments to the Child and Family Services Act identified the need to have Inuit societal values as the foundation. Indeed, by having Inuit societal values as a foundation, it will allow many families to work with the legislation.
Families do need a strong foundation in their households.
Can the minister clearly identify whether or not the implementation of the Child and Family Services Act will lessen the number of children being apprehended?
Will this legislation reduce the number of children apprehended from their homes and sent out from their communities?
When this becomes law, are your expectations that this will lead to a lower number of apprehended children, Mr. Speaker?
The reason why this legislation was amended is so that we can reduce the number of children being sent out of the Nunavut territory so that the family in the communities can take on the children. That was our main goal.
The only reason why they send children out of the territory is because it’s a last resort.
I agree with the member that it’s going to reduce the number of apprehended children being sent out of the territory.
Question 741 – 3(3): Resurfacing the Grise Fiord Runway (Elliott)
My questions are directed to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
A project that has appeared on the capital plans for the last couple of years is the resurfacing of the Grise Fiord runway. I have been informed that the community has been told that there is no money in the ED&T budget to complete this project this year.
Can the minister provide an update on the progress of this project?
I would appreciate it if he came directly to me to get the projects run in the junior staff.
Mr. Speaker, the project is ongoing.
It has been shut down for this winter. Once the construction season opens up again next summer, the project will proceed.
Mr. Speaker, there have been a number of difficulties that were encountered, just like any other project.
Things didn’t work as smoothly as we had hoped, but the contract had run into some mechanical problems with a crusher that’s going to be rectified and work is going to be done in crushing the gravel for the runway.
Mr. Speaker, at least 25 percent of the crush is complete. There are other technical difficulties that were encountered; lack of sand in Grise Fiord.
Those problems have been rectified and resurfacing of the airstrip won’t be done until the crushing phase is complete.
Air travel is the only means of transporting individuals in and out of a community. As well, goods travel back and forth by via this means of transportation.
As MLAs, we approve the capital budget in good faith with hopes that projects will move forward and be completed.
The minister mentioned that there were problems with the crusher, but it is my understanding that in terms of the project outline and goal of what was supposed to happen, it has been four years in the waiting to have that gravel crushed.
This is a much needed project and it is much overdue. Funds have been allocated for more than one capital period.
Can the minister explain why these projects have such trouble moving forward?
I’m not the project supervisor who goes into the sites and checks out the mechanical conditions of their equipment.
When contracts are signed, we’re hoping that the contract will be fulfilled, but there are always unknown situations that do arise.
One of the difficulties that were encountered was the lack of sand in Grise Fiord. A lot of communities have a lot of sand. Mr. Speaker, the resurfacing of the airstrip is engineered.
It has to have a certain size of gravel with a certain amount of aggregate and sand in there.
At times, we don’t have all of these within a community, so it is a challenge in getting the right amount of product that’s needed to be used for runways.
Mr. Speaker, we’re expecting this project to be completed by next construction season.
Question 742 – 3(3): $100 Million Geo-mapping Project (Elliott)
During the summer, the Prime Minister made his annual visit to Nunavut.
During his visit to Rankin Inlet, I know some members present in this House were there for the announcement of the $100 million in geo-mapping.
I was wondering if the minister could explain if the usual process will need to be followed in terms of following through on this project in Nunavut. In particular, will an application be made to the Nunavut Research Institute for research permits or will it go through the Nunavut Impact Review Board process?
I apologize. I have not been briefed on this issue to date, so I will take this question as notice.
Can you indicate whether or not you have taken that question as notice, please.
No more names on my list.
I would like to ask for unanimous consent to go back to Item 5 on the order paper.
There being none. We will go back to Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Minister Shewchuk.
I would like to recognize the students who are here. These are very important students who are taking the interpreter/translator course at Nunavut Arctic College. As minister, I would like to recognize them.
They are Rhoda Ungalaaq, Elisapee Johnston, Susan Tulugarjuk, Selina Nowdlak, Sandra Ipelie, Jennifer Kautainuk, Sheila Alikatuktuk, Patricia Peyton, Louise Innualuk, and Oleepeeka Arnaqaq.
I would like to recognize a lady who has been in the Gallery the last five or six days. She was sitting behind me for several days and now she is sitting over there.
Her name is Saori Miyazaki. She is a PhD student from Osaka, Japan and she is in Nunavut researching human rights.
Mr. Tapardjuk, did you have your hand up?
Go ahead, Mr. Tapardjuk.