EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
With that being said, when the Department of Health surpluses a building such as a health centre or any other infrastructure that it has, the responsibility of that infrastructure then goes to Community and Government services that then do an evaluation on potential further uses of that building and different uses.
One of the priorities that this government has put forward is that when Community and Government Services looks at infrastructure that has been surplused by other government departments, one of the first things they look at is the potential for it to be used as an elder care facility.
That being said, I do appreciate the member’s persistence on this issue and I look forward to working with the member and with any other stakeholders that have real proposals that can be brought forward to provide long-term care in Rankin Inlet.
I note that plans are underway to repurpose a section of the Kitikmeot Health Centre in Cambridge Bay to provide long-term care beds.
Has the minister considered repurposing a section of the Kivalliq Health Centre in Rankin Inlet to provide long-term care beds so that some of our elders can come back home?
While I was in Rankin Inlet about a week and a half ago, I had the pleasure of touring the Rankin Inlet health facility there and had a chance to meet the majority of the fantastic staff that are working in that facility.
One of the overarching themes that I got was that there is a need for space, even just for existing programs out of that facility, but I did have staff with me at the time.
I can commit to looking into that to see if it is feasible. Right now I can’t comment whether that would be a path I would take.
The Cambridge Bay heath facility was a different scenario than what is currently in Rankin Inlet, but is something I can explore.
Question 406 – 4(3): Storage and Disposal of Waste Oil (Rumbolt)
Yesterday I tabled a number of photos that illustrate the manner in which drums of waste oil and empty oil drums are stored in my community.
Mr. Speaker, these photos show the numerous steel and plastic drums in which Sanikiluaq’s waste oil is stored. These drums currently sit in a lot near the community dump.
As the minister is aware, his department’s Petroleum Products Division is responsible for the “cost effective supply and delivery of fuel products to all Nunavut communities in a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible manner.”
Can the minister indicate what specific steps the Petroleum Products Division takes to ensure that waste oil in the municipalities are stored and disposed of in an “environmentally responsible manner”?
I might have to answer this question as the environment minister on part of it, but the Petroleum Products Division brings up fuel like P-50 diesel fuel, naphtha, and aviation fuel. My understanding is that we don’t bring up any oil per se like motor oil and engine oil. Most of that is brought up by the hamlets and the retailers.
With that being said, the hamlets do produce waste fuel because they have equipment that is used all the time and anyone that uses heavy equipment like trucks knows the oil has to be changed and the policy is that whoever uses the fuel is responsible for the disposal of it.
There should be storage space and it has to be adequate storage space. The hamlets would have to be responsible for their own waste oil.
There are really only two ways of disposing of waste oil in Nunavut: you either ship it south or you burn it in a waste oil burner, which may be a furnace or burner.
We work with the hamlets to try to mitigate the chances of this waste oil spilling.
Once it’s spilled, the Department of Environment gets involved because it’s a contaminant and there should be no contaminants on the ground.
I think the municipalities may be responsible, but municipalities depend on funding from our government.
I think, indirectly, our government should be a little more responsible for their waste oil.
It is my understanding that the government’s guidelines on the disposal of waste oil stipulates that all containers used to store substances must be inspected for leaks and damage.
Can the minister tell us how often his department conducts inspections on the waste oil containers in communities?
The inspections are usually done by Department of Environment staff and I’ll speak with that minister to make sure it’s done.
The containers have to be leak-proof.
I know there are regulations in terms of quantities too. The more petroleum product you have stored, the more stringent the regulations are in terms of storage. It is a problem that is not specific to Sanikiluaq; it’s a problem all over in Nunavut.
We have to work on it as a team to get the problem done because we want our environment to be clean and pristine and we have to work together to try to achieve that goal.
If the inspections are by CGS, they don’t have the expertise to do environmental inspections and that is generally done by the Department of Environment.
I hope both ministers get a chance to sit down and talk to each other on that issue.
Mr. Speaker, it is also my understanding that the government’s own guidelines on the disposal of waste oil stipulate that steel drums should only be used to store substances until treatment and disposal options are identified and that “storage is not acceptable for the long-term management” of this type of waste.
Can the minister indicate what specific plans his department has to treat and dispose of waste oil in our communities, if there are any?
The disposal of waste oil is a very broad and big issue in Nunavut.
The parties that use the oil and make the waste oil are responsible for their disposal, whether it be the hamlet, the power corporation, or a private business. Each entity is responsible for the disposal.
With that being said, we don’t have an overall plan on how to dispose of it, but as I said earlier, right now there are really only two ways, that is, to ship it south, which is quite costly and I’m aware of that, and to burn it off in a waste oil furnace or burner.
We also can’t just burn it because that puts pollutants into the environment and the environment protection officers would be at the person’s case if they just started burning waste oil.
It’s a problem that we have to tackle and we will. I will look into it because it’s a problem everywhere.
Currently, right now, we don’t have any real guidelines or a method of disposing of waste oil as a government.
Each company and each entity that produces waste oil is responsible for the disposal of their waste oil.
It’s an issue that is in the back of my mind and I will be trying to come up with solutions on how to deal with waste oil in Nunavut.
Question 407 – 4(3): Proper Signage at the Iqaluit Airport (Okalik)
My question today is for the Minister of Transportation. I’ve had discussions with her on this topic.
The situation here in Iqaluit is that our airport is used by everyone and the signage has not kept up to par with that reality.
I went up to the airport this morning to take a look as I had to pick up someone.
As I entered the building, I noted signage at the entrance noting security camera recordings in English and Inuktitut.
Farther inside there were quite a few signs that had no Inuktitut signage and upon my exiting, I noted that there was a stick-on sign near the stairway only in English denoting danger of the slippery stairs, to take note in case you should slip.
What immediately caught my attention were members of the public who are unable to read English. Aren’t they also supposed to know these dangers as well so that they don’t place themselves in danger?
Can the minister elaborate on when this will be rectified?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for directing that to me. I’ve had discussions with you on the same topic, so we are aware of these issues.
Whenever we visit any of our communities, we also look at the signage. Yes, this signage was something I also noted, with no corresponding Inuktitut and only English available.
I informed my officials of that fact.
There are signs currently being developed as signs no longer take long periods to change, especially the stick-on or metallic signs.
If the sign is only on paper, then the changes will be made sooner. Further, when members landed at the airport, I imagine you all noted the signage in all languages stating arrivals in Iqaluit.
Now the other signs are being developed with all four official languages included. We do recognize the legal requirements in that regard, but I have been informed that the new terminal signage will be in all four languages.
Indeed, one of the signs stuck onto the stairway wall can easily be remedied with a new sign.
Currently the sign is a sticky style sign in English denoting the slippery steps and to take care.
I wonder if another similar sign with Inuktitut wording could be added to stairs as they are quite dangerous and to add French as well since we also represent them here in Iqaluit.
I imagine this sign can be quickly fixed by her office.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for indicating that.
We don’t want to see anybody slipping. I will point this out to our staff to get it rectified.
Question 408 – 4(3): Issues with the Medical Boarding Home in Iqaluit (Keyootak)
I’ll direct my question to the Minister of Health.
Mr. Speaker, in representing Inuit from our constituency communities, prior to our sessions, some of us consult with our constituents to determine the concerns and to prioritize the concerns from them.
This particular concern crops up at all meetings, at least in my constituency, where medical patients board at the Tammaativvik Boarding Home.
The boarding home continues to be a concern to my constituents who have to undergo medical travel to Iqaluit to attend to medical appointments.
Although it is a boarding home for medical patients from the communities, it is currently open to all people.
Furthermore, an ongoing concern expressed by patients is the lack of cleanliness in the rooms or cleaning that is late after their arrival. Medical patients need to be in a clean environment.
Now, I have raised this matter previously in my questions on how improvements can be made to the Tammaativvik Boarding Home, to renovate and improve the home. Can the minister indicate whether or not any renovation or improvement work has been done?
I thank the member for bringing forward his community’s concerns.
I was in Arctic Bay fairly recently and some similar concerns came to my attention.
When I returned from that, I did let my officials in the department know that there were concerns coming from communities on the conditions at the boarding home here in Iqaluit.
I do know that health staff have met with staff of the board and there was recently a letter submitted to them addressing some of the concerns that we had, cleanliness being one of the concerns.
We’re awaiting a response and we will be going into the facility again. We do meet quarterly with them, but we will be going into the facility again to make sure that they’re living up to their obligations.
I also thank the Minister of Health stating that this will be worked on.
Another issue relates to patients with disabilities who also have to board at the home, with some patients unable to walk or in wheelchairs who have to stay at the boarding home.
I wonder if this issue is also being reviewed, along with the other areas, as some patients who have severe disabilities or those who can’t walk face undue hardship in trying to enter and exit the building.
It seems like it was an afterthought to include the disabled access into Tammaativvik as the entrance can be problematic.
Will this be part of their considerations?
Like a lot of our challenges in Nunavut when we’re dealing with infrastructure, it’s recognizing the anticipated need.
There are wheelchair-accessible rooms in the facility, maybe not enough of them, but that’s something that is difficult to address with infrastructure that has been built already.
That being said, we do try to make every accommodation possible, especially for people with mobility issues.
There are ramps getting into the building, but there are a limited number of rooms that are wheelchair-accessible.
I appreciate the member’s comments and going forward, it will be something that we look at a lot more seriously.
Question 409 – 4(3): Caribou Management in Nunavut (Mikkungwak)
Earlier in listening to the Minister of Environment, something really caught my attention, so my line of questions will be directed to the Minister of Environment.
Mr. Speaker, over the past few years there has been a lot of media attention on the status of caribou populations that are shared by Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Manitoba.
Can the minister indicate how often his department meets with First Nations in the Northwest Territories and Manitoba to discuss caribou conservation and harvesting practices?
Minister of Environment, Mr. Joe Savikataaq.
Hon. Joe Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for his concerns about caribou.
It has been in the media a lot and it’s a concern for many people, including myself.
For the Qamanirjuaq and Beverly caribou herd, they have a Qamanirjuaq Beverly committee, a caribou management board that has members from Nunavut, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories.
I believe they meet once a year, I think. I could be wrong. It’s either once or twice a year they do meet and it’s an independent body and they have members from varying communities.
Any concerns that they have at the end of their meetings is brought to my department and the concerns are looked at.
The department’s current business plan indicates that it has completed a “new population estimate of the Qamanirjuaq caribou herd.”
Can the minister indicate when this new population estimate will be made available to the public?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Environment, Mr. Joe Savikataaq.
The last time the population of the Qamanirjuaq caribou herd was surveyed for population estimates was in June of 2014 and at that time they estimated the population to be roughly 260,000.
As it’s very costly to do an actual population estimate, it is not done annually.
Annually they do a composite survey, which is to figure out how many calves survived the winter and how many cows are there.
That is done annually as long as snow conditions permit it.
That gives us an idea of whether the trend for the population is going up or down.
The member wanted to know the last time.
It was in 2014 and at that time it was estimated at roughly 260,000.
The department’s current business plan also indicates that it had planned to “submit the Baffin Island Caribou Management Plan to the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board in early 2016.”
Can the minister confirm that this plan has been completed and submitted to the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board?
It’s good to hear that the member is concerned about the Baffin Island caribou too because it is a concern.
My department is working on the caribou management plan for Baffin Island. It’s almost complete, but it’s not complete yet. Once it’s completed, there will be consultations with the communities.
They will have input into the final draft and then that will be presented to the NWMB.
Question 410 – 4(3): Medical Travel (Enook)
As I believe the minister is aware, an incident occurred in Pond Inlet this past summer during which medical travel passengers from the community were bumped from their First Air flight to Iqaluit in order to make room for tourists who wanted to make flight connections.
Mr. Speaker, the airline’s actions in this incident were unacceptable to the community and they were unacceptable to me as the elected Member of the Legislative Assembly.
My first question for the minister is this: does he share my outrage at First Air’s actions?
I could answer that question very simply, but I will elaborate a little bit.
Medical travel is a key component of health care for Nunavummiut.
Anytime there is any type of a challenge or delay, it creates a lot of work for a lot of people in rescheduling appointments, identifying accommodations, and making sure that our residents get the level of care they need when they need it.
Anytime there’s a delay due to conditions that are outside of the contract that we have with the airlines, I do share the member’s outrage.
There have been a lot of communications with all airlines that are involved in medical travel to make sure those occurrences don’t happen again.
That being said, there’s an old saying, “To err is human.” I don’t want to put too much pressure on the individual that maybe misunderstood the policy.
I trust that the airlines have communicated with their staff that medical travel clients are a priority on any flight in Nunavut.
Yesterday the response to a written question concerning the status of the government’s contracts for medical travel on scheduled airlines was tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
It indicates that the government paid the airlines over $50.6 million during the 2015-16 fiscal year.
Can the minister confirm whether or not he or his department has formally raised the Pond Inlet incident directly with First Air’s senior management?
I know that officials from the Department of Health have contacted the airline. I don’t know to what level that message got out. I do know that both airlines have officials in Nunavut that do follow the proceedings of the legislature.
I know the incident that did happen in Pond Inlet. Like I stated, I trust that the airlines have put measures in place so that it does not happen again because that’s unacceptable.
We work very hard to provide adequate health care to our residents.
Like I stated earlier, whenever there is a phase or any part of the continuum of health care that breaks down, it causes a lot of havoc, not only for the staff involved with the rescheduling but for the stress of the family and medical patients that had anticipated leaving that day to get their treatments that they were scheduled for.
The government’s current contracts for medical travel on scheduled airlines all expire in less than a year from now.
Can the minister assure me and all Members of the House today that the government’s next set of contracts for medical travel on scheduled airlines will make it crystal clear that Nunavummiut travelling for medical treatment and appointments have priority over other classes of passengers and will not be bumped from their flights?
We are working with the departments of CGS, Finance, and Economic Development and Transportation in preparing the contracting process to make sure that we get the best procurement method for these types of contracts.
For myself, I can’t fathom any type of medical travel contract that wouldn’t prioritize our medical travel patients. I can’t anticipate that being any type of a contentious issue.
Question 411 – 4(3): Activities of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (Angnakak)
Ms. Angnakak: I just made it.
I want to begin by congratulating the minister on her recent announcement concerning her recent decision regarding the realignment of responsibilities for tourism in Nunavut and her willingness to listen and act on recommendations made by our standing committees.
Mr. Speaker, this brings me to the issue of recommendations that have been made in respect to the activities of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, both NBCC’s own board of directors and the standing committee which held televised hearings on NBCC’s annual reports have supported the recommendation to amend section 37 of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation’s enabling legislation to increase its maximum loan limit.
Why has the minister not yet introduced these amendments in the Legislative Assembly?
Hon. Ell-Kanayuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that question.
The Nunavut Business Credit Corporation plays an important role, as we all know, in Nunavut’s economic growth through the provision of term loans, loan guarantees, and contract security bonding to enterprises that cannot obtain the necessary financing from other traditional financial institutions.
I am aware of recent comments of the Information and Privacy Commissioner on the public disclosure of loan information, and we are still reviewing this matter at this time and our position as yet has not changed. We are working to address the standing committee’s report.
We’re looking forward to sharing the information with our members once they are ready.
I don’t believe my question was answered.
Can I read it again?
Both NBCC’s own board of directors and the standing committee which held televised hearings on NBCC’s annual reports have supported the recommendation to amend section 37 of NBCC’s enabling legislation to increase its maximum loan limit.
Just so the minister might remember, the maximum loan limit is at $1 million and they are asking for an increase to $2 million.
Even though everybody has agreed that this should happen, why has the minister not yet introduced these amendments to the Legislative Assembly?
I thank the member asking questions on this topic.
We have to look at them carefully and how they operate.
We’re still in the planning stages.
Once the planning is completed, we will want to table those plans and we will need to identify where the funding would come from.
These would have to be reviewed.
I’ll try with the second one.
During our recent televised hearings on the annual report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the secretary to cabinet, who is the Government of Nunavut’s most senior official, publicly stated that NBCC is working to address the issue of removing the secrecy that still surrounds who receives the loans that are made by NBCC using public funds.
Can the minister responsible for NBCC update us today on what specific actions are being taken by NBCC?
Mr. Speaker, the recommendations to publicly disclose loan information, at this time the board met recently and they have discussed that possibility. At this time they are still reviewing the matter on how to let all their clients know that in the future they will have to publicly disclose their information.
This takes time and at this time the board is still reviewing it. I have discussed it with them and I expect that moving forward, the recommendations will be upheld.
The time for question period has expired. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Ms. Ell-Kanayuk.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I seek unanimous consent to go back to Item 5 on the Orders of the Day.
Ms. Ell-Kanayuk, please proceed.
I would like to recognize in the House Rowena House, Executive Director of the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association.
Accompanying her is Lavinia van Heuvelen, who is the chairperson of the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association, a youth who makes jewellery at Nunavut Arctic College, who took the course in Iqaluit and is very capable now.
Also a seamstress and teacher is long-time resident of Iqaluit Elisapee Davidee Aningmiuq.
I thank them for being in the gallery.
Hon. Member for Uqsuqtuuq, Mr. Tony Akoak.
Tabled Document 183 – 4(3): Resolutions from the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (Akoak)
I had the honour of joining my colleagues from Kugluktuk, Cambridge Bay, and Netsilik on the occasion of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association’s recent annual general meeting, which was held earlier this month.
I am pleased to table today eight resolutions, one of which is suicide prevention, that were adopted at the meeting, which I encourage all members to review with care.
Tabled Document 184 – 4(3): A Copy of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated Resolution (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Alexander Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) As I indicated in my Member’s Statement, the need for an elders facility is critical.
This need has been recognized for some time by organizations, such as Nunavut Tunngavik.
I would like to table copies of the NTI resolutions from their annual general meeting which show support for the establishment of a 24-hour care facility in the community of Rankin Inlet.