EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I also want to say “hello” to my panik. (interpretation) Alana Kuksuk is a coach as well for volleyball and they will be playing here this coming weekend with her team from Whale Cove.
(interpretation ends) And also share that there are Arctic Winter Games tryouts this weekend (interpretation) from May 29 to June 1.
Member’s Statement 305 – 4(2): Appreciation to Family in Constituency (Ugyuk)
It is a nice spring day and I would like to say “hello” to the people of Kugaaruk and Taloyoak. I would also like to say “hello” to the visitors in the Gallery here.
Yesterday, we received some booklets from the Department of Culture and Heritage which deal with family relationships.
I am very grateful when you are far away from Taloyoak here in Iqaluit. I am proud to take this opportunity to rise and thank my mother, sisters, brother, and aunt. I would like to recognize them and my mother and grandfather and my relatives in Kugaaruk who are related to my husband.
There also is my grandchild whom I love so much and lives in Taloyoak. He finished school and received 100 percent.
His marks were just shy of 100 percent by point five and he was one of the students that went to school regularly. I love my grandchild very much and it is very important that we have this kinship.
When we listened to the reading of the booklet on family relationships yesterday, I was very much touched in my heart and remembered Angmaluk, who is my aunt, and my other great-aunt, Nuliajuk.
I send my greetings to the people of Taloyoak.
Member’s Statement 306 – 4(2): Appreciation to Mike Giles for House Fire Rescue (Okalik)
My fellow Okaliks got a gold medal, so I am very proud of that. We may not be many, but I am always proud of them.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to acknowledge one of my constituents when a home was on fire on May 9.
Fortunately, the residents inside the home were rescued by my constituent, Mike Giles. When he saw the fire and realized that there were still people in there who were probably asleep, he rushed inside without any thought for himself and managed to get those three people out.
It is very obvious that those people were in a lot of danger. He was able to save them all and we are grateful to Mike Giles that they are okay. It was great that he was able to be in a position to help those people and also save some of my constituents.
I would also like to recognize some people that were already recognized, but I represent them and they are Andrew and Jan Tagak and family. Welcome.
I would like to take this time to recognize Mr. Andrew Tagak Jr. He is a constituent of mine along with his wife, Lena, and their children.
Like Mr. Tagak Jr., I am a junior as well, so I think we’ve always had kind of an affinity and he is one of the most pleasant people that I know.
He is always waving and any time I communicate with him, he is just a fantastic gentleman and I would just like to congratulate sr. as well too on his retirement.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I would like to take this opportunity at this time to recognize two people from Arviat who are here.
One of them is Pat Netser and the other one is Joy Suluk. They are here from Arviat.
I would like my colleagues to join me in congratulating the individuals who are here with us today.
I think we’re getting really good at using computers.
They are here for education purposes. We have published something that is for literacy called “Read to me.”
The people involved, please stand when I say your name so that you will be recognized properly.
Oleepa Nowyook from Pangnirtung is one of the elders. Leetia Alivaktuk is one of the elders also from Pangnirtung.
A long-time teacher is Lena Metuq, who is in the Department of Education in Pangnirtung.
Joy Suluk is from Arviat and she is from the Department of Education as well. Maggie Muckpah is also from the Department of Education and she is from Rankin Inlet.
Pat Netser is also from the Department of Education in Arviat.
Those are the people who are here and Talieh Samadi is here as well to introduce curriculum material to our schools.
I’m sure they will be helping to develop education for us.
I would like to recognize two special visitors from Japan to the gallery. I know that they were sitting there earlier, but I believe that they went to the airport.
Mr. Speaker, Consul General Mr. Tamora and Consul for Economic Affairs Mr. Andau were here to discuss economic opportunities within Nunavut.
They have met with our ministerial colleagues and I would like to welcome them to Iqaluit.
Member for Arviat and Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Kuksuk.
I would also like to recognize people who are here from my constituency, Arviat North, and fellow residents of Arviat.
They were already recognized, but I would like to mention Joy Suluk and Pat Saimana Netser. Please have good meetings in Iqaluit and feel welcome.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
I would like to recognize my fellow resident of Rankin Inlet, Maggie Putulik, not Maggie Muckpah.
We also have Pat Netser from Arviat and Joy Suluk.
I also welcome all of the people who are here with them.
I would also like to welcome someone I have known for many years, whom I went to school with in Churchill.
I am happy to see Andrew Tagak again today.
I would like to recognize my fellow residents in the gallery, Oleepa Nowyook, Leetia Alivaktuk, Lena Metuq, and Talieh Samadi.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to the gallery. The Premier just raised his hand again. I think he forgot someone.
Go ahead, Mr. Premier.
Being from Kugluktuk, I’m trying to break of my record of recognizing people in the gallery. My record is two, so I want to break that this year.
Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Herb Nakimayak. He’s from Paulatuk on the Northwest Territories side, but he’s a relative of mine through our family. I would like to recognize and welcome him to the legislative Chambers.
Before we go to Item 6, I just forgot someone. Thank you for reminding me, Premier.
Our colleagues, Simeon Mikkungwak and Pauloosie Keyootak, are not able to attend today. They were not able to arrive in town.
However, we expect to see them tomorrow. I just wanted to explain that.
Item 6. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions. (interpretation) Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. Shooyook.
Question 492 – 4(2): Inspection of Government Building in Resolute Bay (Shooyook)
Last fall, I showed you pictures of a house in terrible condition and that was a workplace that needed to be inspected.
Has the house that I had shown pictures of been inspected? Government of Nunavut employees were going to go and inspect it, so I would like to know if the minister can tell me if it has been inspected.
Speaker: The Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Mike.
What house is he referring to?
Is he referring to somebody’s home or an office building? I would like to know what house he’s referring to. Is it a workplace?
The previous minister knows about it. It is a workplace that is occupied by the Department of Family Services.
It is a Government of Nunavut workplace. It’s a very old building that drips. That is what I’m asking about and if it has been inspected properly yet.
I cannot respond to the question right now, but I will have to take the question as notice and get back to the member.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member has taken the question as notice and I will move to the next member on my list. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 493 – 4(2): Departmental Staffing Issues (Angnakak)
We haven’t asked her a question yet.
According to the government’s most recently tabled employment statistics, the Department of Economic Development and Transportation has a vacancy rate of approximately 30 percent, with over 40 of its positions being vacant.
Two dozen of these positions are located in Iqaluit.
However, as of this morning, not a single job ad for positions at ED&T are posted on the government’s website.
Can the minister confirm whether or not the department is currently in a hiring freeze?
Hon. Monica Ell: Thank you, Uqaqtitsijii. (interpretation) I would also like to thank my colleague for her question.
Our department is not responsible for human resources, but I can tell you that I haven’t heard anything about a hiring freeze at this time.
Ms Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I almost called you “Mr. Chairman.” Sorry.
I’m a little bit surprised that the minister wouldn’t know if there’s a hiring freeze or not because I think that would be a big thing in a department, but I’m going to go on to my next question and I’m hoping she can perhaps give me an answer here.
Can the minister confirm how many layoffs or terminations of employees at the Department of Economic Development and Transportation have occurred over the last six months?
Question 494 – 4(2): Consumer Protection Act (Rumbolt)
As the minister will recall, I have raised the issue of amending the territorial Consumer Protection Act to regulate such issues as cheque-cashing fees on a number of occasions.
I was pleased to note that the minister’s department is currently inviting public input on this issue.
Can the minister describe what specific amendments to the Consumer Protection Act his department is presently considering?
Yes, we’re working on this issue right now and we’re reviewing it because it’s very important at this time within the government.
It is usually the practice of other Canadian jurisdictions that there are cheque-cashing fees and looking at this issue, whether you are a province, in order to protect the consumer when they’re cashing their cheque, they could regulate such issues.
I can tell you that we’re working on it right now, but the work we’re doing is incomplete.
The department has given a deadline of June 30 for comments and submissions to be received.
Can the minister confirm if his bill to amend the Consumer Protection Act will be ready to be introduced when the Legislative Assembly reconvenes in its fall sitting?
With respect to his question, yes, we’re planning for the fall sitting.
If we can complete it before the fall sitting, we will do so, but I believe that this coming summer and fall, I know that it’s quite cumbersome to work on this with a deadline of June 30 for comments and submissions to be received.
By that time, I’m sure we will be receiving more submissions and comments from the public in regard to this.
We are trying to get submissions and comments from the larger stores in Nunavut, Northern stores and Co-op stores, while we’re working on the amendments to the Consumer Protection Act.
When I raised this issue in March of last year, the Legislative Assembly was informed by the minister of the day that the department was also looking at such issues as money transfer fees, payday loans, and also maybe cheque-cashing fees.
Can the minister confirm if he will be looking at capping the amount that businesses can charge consumers for such services?
Yes, we will deal with those and we will also work on those when we’re looking at amendments to the legislation.
Question 495 – 4(2): Manitoba-Kivalliq Power Transmission (Savikataaq)
My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, whose department is responsible for the Government of Nunavut’s Energy Secretariat.
Yesterday, the Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation tabled the government’s response to our standing committee’s recent report on its recent hearings.
In this response, the government indicates that the Energy Secretariat in the Department of Economic Development and Transportation has taken the “lead” role in representing the Government of Nunavut concerning the issue of extending hydroelectric power transmission from Manitoba to the Kivalliq.
As the minister is well aware, this is a key issue of mine.
Can the minister update the House today on the status of the Energy Secretariat’s work in this area?
The department is the lead on the government side; we share it with CG&S and EIA. QEC is also involved.
The actual lead for that energy options working group is actually the mayors of Churchill and Arviat.
This was set up recently.
There is a scoping study being initiated. It started on April 1 by BBA, an engineering firm. Under the direction of the Kivalliq Inuit Association, on behalf of the working group, we expect that project to take approximately 20 weeks to be completed.
BBA is part of the working group; are they the ones that are going to draw up a business plan to justify whether there is enough need to extend the power line? Can the minister just explain exactly what the work is that this BBA company is going to do?
We are working with our regional partners and this is one of the committees. It’s an option that is proposing a Manitoba-Nunavut road and power transmission lines.
I don’t have the scope of work for the committee in front of me, as they were done just recently, and I’m more than willing to share that information with the member.
I look forward to receiving that report when it’s done because I truly believe that we need a power line from Manitoba to the Kivalliq.
My next question is still to the minister.
Does she have any meetings with the minister of QEC to have a common front to push this project to come into Nunavut? I know it’s a big project that the Government of Nunavut cannot fund, but do the two ministers get together to come up with a strategy on how best to push this project forward either with the federal government or Manitoba government?
Our departments are working collaboratively. The Government of Nunavut recently contributed $75,000 to support the scoping study announced recently at the Hudson Bay round table that was held in April.
The $75,000 was made possible because we cost-shared it from my department, the Qulliq Energy Corporation, and CG&S.
Question 496 – 4(2): Mental Health in Nunavut (Joanasie)
Good day to all the people who are listening to the proceedings and Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this month marked the 63rd annual Mental Health Week recognized by the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Can the minister tell us how many Nunavummiut are assessed for mental illnesses in the territory each year?
I don’t have the figure at this time, but I can look into it.
We’re now able to provide better programs.
As we are trying to set this in for mental illness, I’ll look into it and when I get that figure, I’ll provide the information to the member some time in the future.
Can the minister tell us what the Akausisarvik Mental Health Treatment Facility here in Iqaluit is doing to address mental health illnesses in the territory?
I had a visit with the Akausisarvik Mental Health Treatment Facility here in Iqaluit and I am very pleased with their work.
They’re doing assessments.
They’re looking at where they can make improvements to provide better services to the people of Nunavut.
They are there to help people who approach them for their services and they’re doing an ongoing assessment to improve their system, and also to integrate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into their operations. They did not just follow some solution model, but adjusted to make it work best for Nunavut.
I note that the Department of Health is in the process of reviewing the Mental Health Act and plans to conduct community consultations starting in the fall.
Can the minister explain what specific issues his department plans to focus on throughout the review of the Mental Health Act?
We all know that this Act was grandfathered from the Northwest Territories and we have been using it to date.
It’s very outdated and we will definitely have to review it to make it Nunavut-made.
The review has begun and we’re going to start our community consultations.
Once we hear from the people of Nunavut, we will take specific action to conclude the review.
Question 497 – 4(2): Update on the New Building Canada Fund (Mapsalak)
My question is for the Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Mike.
Mr. Speaker, on October 29, 2014, Mr. Speaker, on October 29, 2014, during the Committee of the Whole’s consideration of the department’s 2015-16 capital estimates, I asked a number of questions related to the New Building Canada Fund.
At that time, the minister stated that the department would submit a number of projects to be approved for funding under the New Building Canada Fund and that an administration agreement would be signed by March 31 of this year.
Can the minister indicate if this administration agreement has been signed to date?
I know that we have been working on this for a while, but I can’t respond as to whether or not it has been signed. Once I have the information, I’ll let the member know, Mr. Speaker.
At that time, the minister stated that the administration agreement would be signed by March 31 of this year.
Do I understand that this agreement has not been signed to date?
I know that our department has been working on this for quite some time. It is an agreement that would be from 2014 to 2024.
I will have to find out if this agreement has been signed. The monies would be geared for Nunavut for 10 years and I do know that it would be for 10 years.
I will look into this issue, get the information, and get back to the member.
Can the minister indicate to us when he thinks that this administration agreement will be signed and what the money will be used for?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Speaker, I can do that. As I indicated, I will find out first if it has been signed and when we will be seeing the money. I’ll get the information tomorrow or the next day.
Question 498 – 4(2): Departmental Positions (Enook)
I say “good afternoon” to my fellow residents of Pond Inlet and Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, on March 16, 2015, I asked the minister about the status of her department’s transportation programs officer position.
This position, which has been located in Pond Inlet, became vacant two years ago.
In response to my questions, the minister assured me, and I can quote from the Blues for Monday, March 16, 2015 on page 14.
I realize that the Blues are not completely edited, but in the minister’s reply, this is what he said in the Chamber, “Mr. Speaker, I can state to my colleague that this job has been advertised and the position will remain in Pond Inlet.
I would like to ask the minister if she can explain to me today why this position continues to be vacant.
There was more than one position available in Pond Inlet. I don’t know which position he’s referring to, but if it was the first one that was advertised, I haven’t heard back on what the status is to date.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, are you asking me to clarify my question or is it my supplementary question? I would like to ask you that first, Mr. Speaker.
Please clarify your question. Mr. Enook.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for your direction, Mr. Speaker.
What I am referring to is what would be called the transportation programs officer in English.
It has been vacant for two years.
I asked the question on March 16 and the response was that “…this job has been advertised…” The position has been vacant for two years.
Why is this position in Pond Inlet still vacant although it has been advertised?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that clarification.
This position was going to be opened the last time we were in session.
It’s still in the works and I haven’t heard to date about whether this position has been filled.
Sometimes it takes quite a while to go through the process in filling vacant positions.
Before I go to my supplementary question; sometimes it’s pretty shocking when the government states that they spend approximately 300 days to fill a position.
Now with this position, it’s 600 days.
On March 16, 2015, I also asked the minister to clarify the status of her department’s aviation programs officer position.
It is my understanding from the minister’s responses to my questions that this position is being eliminated as a consequence of the government’s decision to turn over responsibility for CARS services to NAV Canada and ATS Services.
My question is: can the minister assure me and the people of Pond Inlet… ? You have stated that if you’re going to be eliminating a position, as the government’s policy, you have to make up for that position and replace it with another position.
Will you be relocating one of your existing positions to Pond Inlet in order to make up for the elimination of the aviation programs officer position, yes or no?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for asking that question about his community.
The position was eliminated because we got the funding from the federal government to have this officer.
We still have to look into this again and how we will be replacing the vacant position there. We are still working on it right now.
Maybe if I can remind the minister that if there is going to be a position that is going to be removed, you have to replace this position in the decentralized communities. That is your existing policy.
Let me ask this question. According to the government’s most recently tabled employment report, the Department of Economic Development and Transportation has a total of ten positions located in Pond Inlet, two of which are vacant.
For the record, can the minister confirm which two positions are vacant?
Minister of Economic and Development and Transportation, Ms. Ell.
Right now, with respect to the two positions that we are talking about, one of them has been eliminated and for the other one, we still have to look into it.
The policy that he is referring to, for example, it was just going to be open for a certain number of days and also this position was paid for by the federal government.
This is different from the Nunavut government, but we are still looking at this for the position that has to be filled.
Question 499 – 4(2): Making Education a Priority (Sammurtok)
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, it has recently come to my attention and to the attention of my colleagues and the general public that the number of teaching positions across Nunavut will change significantly. According to numbers provided in the media, the Kivalliq region will lose 20 teaching positions in 2015-16.
Can the minister provide a clear explanation of how his department calculates the number of teaching positions to be allocated to Nunavut’s schools?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague for asking that question. We all should know this by now.
The Education Act that we’re talking about, if we look at the whole of Canada, in Nunavut, the student-educator ratio that we talked about is 13 to 1 that we’re using here in Nunavut.
Also, I could just state the same as what you stated, which is that we look at the ratio of the children that are going to school. In 2015-16, we will be using the new education year.
In September 2014, we did a ratio to see how many teachers will be needed after we find out by the percentage of the children that are going to school.
This is what we follow.
Yes, this is true in Rankin Inlet, up to now, that 1.5 and a bit there and also that we will be removing one teacher, but there are 43 schools in Nunavut that it will be at 10.5 within Nunavut, looking at the whole of Nunavut.
It appears that the Department of Education is using a complicated formula to calculate the number of teachers that will be hired to teach our children.
Can the minister explain why his department does not simply use the number of school-age children in the population to determine the number of teachers necessary to teach them?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker (interpretation ends) As I stated earlier, we are following the present Education Act and the Education Act is very clear as to how we calculate how many teachers would be in that one particular school.
Again, as I said earlier, it depends on how many students that the school has in attendance.