EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The reason why I am asking that question is that what we hear is that they said that they would supply and purchase the fuel, but they are unable to do that because aviation fuel is so expensive.
Would the minister commit to setting up aviation fuel for the communities?
The mining companies have been struggling with this until today.
The main reason for the struggle is that the government orders fuel for the community to use for the whole year.
Someone would look at it to make sure they order enough fuel to last the whole year for the community.
For the mining companies…. I also would like to state to my colleagues here: before December our Petroleum Division…. If they could estimate as to how much fuel they could purchase or use.
If there is space at the community level where there are storage tanks then we can purchase more fuel.
Mr. Speaker, our priority is community needs.
My concern is that there are many oil drums that come to the communities, and they are all over the land.
Sometimes they are not quite empty when they are left on the land.
I am asking you to…. Especially for the potential mining areas.
For the petroleum products, we know that if we are going to be needing fuel for the summer…. We let them know that we are available to make sure that there is enough fuel.
Yes, we are concerned about the oil drums as well.
We will be getting more direction from the evidence.
Question 105 – 2(1): Use of the Old Health Facility
I would like to ask the minister of health about the health centre that is going to be built in Rankin Inlet and the nursing station that is going to be empty when the new health centre is built.
The hamlets would like to take this on as the office for the hamlet. The hamlet council has asked for the nursing station to be given to the hamlet.
Speaker (interpretation): Ms. Brown, minister for health.
Thank you, Tagak.
We have been dealing with this issue for a number of years now; I was a councillor on the council.
Yes, I know it is getting too small for the size of Rankin Inlet.
I will take this as notice.
I would like to ask another question to the minister.
We know that the government health staff wanted to use the nursing station. I am sure that you are able to work with your cabinet, that if Rankin Inlet is trying to get a new hamlet office it is going to take many many years.
It is becoming an emergency that the hamlet needs a new office.
They would like the old nursing station to be given to the hamlet for this purpose.
Speaker (interpretation): Ms. Brown.
Yes, we have to look at this very carefully because the hamlet office is getting too small. I will try my best to look into this, and I will let you know once I find out what is happening on this issue.
Question 106 – 2(1): Federal Funding for Access Roads – Coral Harbour
Today I would like to ask the Minister of Community and Government Services….
(Interpretation ends.) The hamlet of Coral Harbour has been very proactive in its effort to build access roads across Southampton Island to make land accessible for hunting, fishing, tourism, and other traditional activities.
Government of Nunavut funding for the completion of access roads would be consistent with the cabinet’s commitment to work towards economic development in non-decentralized communities.
Members are aware that the minister has been lobbying the federal government for funding for access roads in Nunavut under various infrastructure funds.
Can the minister tell me if federal funding has been secured for access roads in Coral Harbour?
Unfortunately, at this time I cannot indicate to my colleague if dollars have been assigned to Coral Harbour because the negotiations for the second part of the wish list is still being worked out.
When will we see the results of the wish list that he was just mentioning about?
“Qujannamiik,” Mr. Speaker.
As most of these projects are isolated, we are trying to fit in the projects that we can under the programs.
I will commit to providing more detailed information to my colleague about the efforts of community and government services in means of the different federal programs to give him a better indication as to when and under which program we may be able to visit the request from Coral Harbour.
Question 107 – 2(1): Married Accommodations for Students in Iqaluit
In his minister’s statement the minister made a reference to student accommodations being built in Cambridge Bay. As you recall, Mr. Speaker, we stayed in those accommodations when we had our session there a few years ago, and that is when I came onto the drawing board.
I know that the minister is quite aware that something has probably been going on almost as long as the hospital here, and that is a requirement that we need to have more married accommodations built for the college here in Iqaluit.
As you recall, Mr. Speaker, last year, or a year-and-a-half ago, I raised the same issue where there was students that had to withdraw from the program they were taking because there was not any accommodations for them and their families.
So, I would like to ask the Minister of Education if he could give an indication as to when we can hope to see married accommodations for the college begin here in Iqaluit.
The process for developing the Nunavut Arctic College student accommodations here in Iqaluit, and indeed in the Department of Education as a whole, is based on the five-year capital plan.
Work is underway right now with regards to the planning for the student accommodations here in Iqaluit, designs, programs, and so on.
At the present time, based on the Cambridge Bay design…. We will be able to use that design and that would, again, cut down on the costs.
So, the process is underway and the plans are being looked at right now.
If memory serves me correct, I believe the minister himself…. We got that put on a capital plan back in government of the Northwest Territories days and now he mentions that it is on the capital plan.
Is it on the capital plan? And when can we expect to see some work begin on that?
The program for the replacement of accommodations for the students in Iqaluit, who come from all over Nunavut, has been in the plans of the government of the Northwest Territories in between 1996 and 1997.
We had that put in the five-year capital plan, and it was deferred on several occasions.
I am happy to say that the design program now is in place for these accommodations and right now, there are different pressures facing us.
We are leasing, right now, 36 units for married accommodations in Iqaluit, a tremendous cost to the government. The idea would be to take these lease costs for the 36 units and be able to use those dollars in financing and helping us with the expedient process regarding the student accommodations in Iqaluit.
One of the issues that we are dealing with right now is a lot of married students cannot be accommodated because there are no accommodations for them.
I would like to thank the minister for that explanation. But, can he indicate if those accommodations are in fact on the department’s capital plan?
It is in the supplementary capital plan for the Department of Education.
As I said earlier, the leases that are in place could end and those monies used to put the accommodations in place.
I would hope that we would have the accommodations available to the students sometime in 2007 and 2008.
Hopefully, we would be able to fast-track that plan over the next several months.
The capital budget is the tool we use to help bring these issues forward.
So, at that time we will have an opportunity to look at where we are. At the same time, the 36 units that we are leasing….
A lot of them are in the white-row housing units right now, and we know that there is a schedule in place for the owner of those units to build new accommodations. We would be in the position in a couple years of having those accommodations. Because of that situation we need to fast-track the planning for these new college accommodations here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Tootoo: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the minister for skipping ahead to my point. He has pointed out that there is a schedule for new construction that is going to start this year that will result in the demolition of some of the units that government or the college currently leases right now for students.
Have the minister’s officials within the department consulted with the lease holder to determine exactly when the units that the college has for students are scheduled to be demolished?
And will you use that information in determining a new time frame for building the new accommodations?
There is a shortage of units for housing units, as everyone knows, in the capital, here in Iqaluit.
And if you don’t have the accommodations available then you’re limited in the number of programs that you can run.
So the plan is underway and that includes consultation with our lease holders that we have in place.
I would hope that, again, by October we would have more firm information. Not from where we’re leasing right now, but on the planning process itself to see if we could move forward.
One of the ways of moving this project forward faster is to be able to access the planning device from the Cambridge Bay student facilities that we talked about today.
That model seems to be actually quite good and economical for us to bring forward.
So, I would hope that process in itself would help us be expedient. And, consultations with the lease holders that we’re leasing from right now will be part of that expedient process.
Question 108 – 2(1): Difference Between Victims and Complainants
I was reading the minister’s statement today and I’m very pleased that there is a program called Nunavut Victim’s Assistance Fund.
I have a question for the minister. It kind of intrigued me because when I was the chairman of the Kitikmeot Law Centre I had dealings with the Nunavut Legal Services Board.
I would call the people victims, but the lawyers and the legal services board would call them complainants.
So I’m wondering if the minister could define for me, what’s the difference between victims and complainants.
Could he clear that up for me?
That is a difficult question to answer because it could be both a complainant and it could be a victim.
But, in this instance we’re dealing with victims of crime that have been harmed by criminal activity.
That is what we’re focusing on for this fund.
Complainants could be people that could be doing their work and may not necessarily be the victims of crime but they witness criminal activity happening, in an establishment for instance, and they’ll file a complaint with the RCMP.
That is how they could be treated as a complainant.
At the same time they could be victims of criminal activity as well.
So it could be both.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, minister, for clearing that up for me.
I think in most minds around Nunavut, especially in our community, we refer to them as victims.
But, I raise another question Mr. Speaker. It is well known that Nunavut has one of the highest rates of crime against persons in Canada.
So, of course that means a high number of victims.
I noted when I was the chair on the board that there seemed to be a lot of funding available for legal-aid for those accused of crimes. So, I’m wondering how much money is available to help victims to get counselling and things like that once they go through the ordeal.
I agree that it is often victims of crime who are forgotten.
There are a number of programs in place.
The federal government, through the prosecution office, have people that counsel victims and assist them when going through the court process.
At the same time what this fund does is fund the programs and support victims after those events have taken place.
So, that’s where we’re trying to assist these victims.
The fund currently is just over $200,000.
There was a lack of money when we first assumed office, so as a part of our initiative to support victims we increased the fund through our budgetary process a couple of years ago.
So, the fund is there for any individuals or groups that may want to apply for assistance through this program.
We ask for proposals from communities and groups each year, and as I said, we awarded some this year and look forward to more submissions in the fall.
A lot of the victims of crimes are very young folks. Young girls as young as 12, 14 are being sexually assaulted, raped; women right across Nunavut.
It is a tragic thing when that happens to communities.
When that kind of stuff happens, it is terrible stuff.
I have seen it up close and I heard a lot of the victims when I sat on a jury, and they said some nasty stuff.
Those folks are traumatized at a very young age, a lot of them young girls.
So, they need counselling almost immediately, and they need it for long-term.
They need it for maybe 10, 15, 20 years as they grow up and become adults.
I am just wondering if the minister is willing to commit to increasing his budget through some budgetary process, give more money, make more money for the long term and provide ongoing housing for victims of these types of crimes in Nunavut.
Hon. Paul Okalik: “Qujannamiik, Uqaqti.”Yes, I stated also in my statement that the fund is also supposed to be self-containing with the fines being issued by the courts when they go through the court process, when they sentence individuals.
So, there is some money that is ongoing that continues to flow into the fund.
The program is based on initiatives at the community level. Our response is from the submissions put forward by community groups, and if certain groups want to put forward long-term proposals I am more than willing to look at them.
Currently, we awarded $33,000 and we could award more in the future. But, it is a community-driven initiative and it is a very positive program for victims that are often forgotten.
I agree with the minister.
It is a worthwhile program; it is very necessary and it is very important.
I am glad that it became into being last April 2003.
So, that is great.
I just know out there that there are a lot of resources required for this kind of activity.
I want to stress upon every member in this House, and the minister, that we are going to have to find the resources to help a lot of people in Nunavut.
I hope that hamlet councils, justice committees, and wellness centres out in the various communities in Nunavut can access those programs because it has become a bureaucratic process that makes it difficult to get access to funds, because they need it urgently.
So, I would like to thank the minister for his announcement of the funds and ask if you will ensure that the funds are not held up in any unnecessary bureaucratic red tape.
One of the main reasons that I want to make this statement is that I would want to make all communities aware of this program so that they can take advantage of it, particularly for victims of crime.
So, I am very pleased that the member expressed his strong interest towards this particular program.
I look forward to more submissions in the coming fall. It is a very efficient committee. There are only a few members that are from Nunavut and that has also been submitted to the victims of crime, so they are well aware of the consequences.
I thank them for their good work on this particular proposal.
Question 109 – 2(1): Concern on Fuel Supply Ships
First of all, as a preamble: we are concerned in Sanikiluaq about what is going to be happening this summer.
We have heard that in some part of Ontario they are going to be opening a mine, and the fuel supply ships will be passing the Belcher Islands, back and forth, and they will be a year’s supply of fuel.
I would like to ask the minister about these fuel supply ships and if he is aware of whether there is going to be a spill contingency plan.
I would first of all like to ask the minister if he is aware of these resupply ships that will be passing through the Belcher Islands.
Speaker (interpretation): The Minister of Community and Government Services.
The mine companies probably made their own arrangements to have those ships pass by the islands.
I would like to tell the member that I am not aware of what is happening in that area.
Second supplementary.
I would like to ask the minister if there is a spill contingency plan.
There are going to be a lot of supply ships going back and forth through the islands.
I feel like I am in the dark here.
I will look into this situation, and I will be looking into the information as to where the mine is situated, and how many ships are going to be passing through the islands.
I would like to thank the minister. But again, I would like to give a headset to the minister of transportation as I will be directing to him this question sometime in the future.
Question 110 – 2(1): Recognition of the Inuktitut Language
This question is in regards to the use of the Inuktitut language in the workplace.
As we are well aware, the Inuktitut language is not officially recognized.
I would think that we would place an importance on the Inuktitut language if it was included in the Official Languages Act.
I would like to ask the minister: when we are going to recognize Inuktitut as an official language?
Speaker (interpretation): The Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
If it is okay with you, I would like to make a statement on this issue tomorrow on what kind of plans we have on the languages.
I will be making a minister’s statement tomorrow.
I would like to defer this item until then.
I would like to make my statement tomorrow and then elaborate further on the member’s question, if it is okay with the member.
The minister will take it as notice.
Question 111 – 2(1): Concern about Medical Board Home
As a preamble, it is in regards to my Keewatin colleagues.
I usually go visit the medical boarding home, and one time I went there, to the boarding home in Winnipeg, to see if there was somebody there from Repulse Bay.
There, a lot of boarders complained about the food.
So, what I did was go in there and invite that resident to go out to a local restaurant.
When I went there it was a very hostile environment; you could not go in there until you were admitted.
If they do not see you they will not open the door for you. And once you are in, you go to the receptionist, they ask who you are visiting, and you cannot just go in there.
After you have identified the person you are going to be visiting you have to show an I.D.. The only reason why they speeded up the process was because I was a member of the Legislative Assembly.
That time, it did not do any good and the only way that they would admit me to the visiting area was to take my ID; they told me that I could get it back on my way out.
When I did finally get in they gave me a big tag and it said visitor on it, very visible and very big letters.
So, I went in, and I went to the cafeteria in there, and I was stopped again and I was told that I could not go in there.
I am not the only one who went into that situation.
A lot of the people from Kivalliq who visit that boarding home go through that process.
I think that the ministers should go in there personally and rectify the problem.
It is a very hostile environment for both the patients and the visitors.
I would like to ask the minister if she would take the time to check out the boarding homes.
I am so sorry. I am very unhappy to hear that you were treated as such because it is a new boarding home.
We will have to include “Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit” in these boarding homes in these southern institutions. I will definitely have to go and visit the boarding home and I will direct my staff to look into it and rectify the problem.
I thank you for assuring me that you will be looking into the situation because of course, we would like to have a welcome environment for both the patients and the visitors.
I would like to ask the minister if she will be going there shortly, or when.
I will be going down there in the very near future.
Speaker (interpretation): Your Second supplementary.
I think the chairman of the Standing Committee on Health and Education…. Would he or she be able to accompany you when you’re going to be going down south to check out the medical homes?
I will ask the chairman of Health and Education.
Question 112 – 2(1): Keeping Tenants Informed of Rental Scale
My question is to the minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
In the minister’s statement earlier today on the rent scale he made a note informing members of the ongoing promotional and educational activities of the corporation.
I know that the minister is quite aware of the work that the task force on housing did in the last Assembly.
I was a member on that task force.
One of the recommendations that the task force made was to do exactly that: educate the tenants and the homeowners in the public housing units on the whole idea of the rents and costs.
I’d like to ask the minister if there are any steps being taken not only to provide promotional information on the rent scales, but is the corporation taken any action on providing information to tenants in public housing units as to what the actual costs of those units are?
We will be keeping the tenants informed, including how much it costs to maintain and operate a home and also on the rent scales.
Again, in my minister’s statement I didn’t go into detail, but we are also going to be including other plans. Following the completion, we will be putting them out to the public, including your question.
I know from my previous experience with the Corporation and also just talking to friends throughout the territories that have gone from social housing into home ownership, especially under the access program and other home ownership programs, one thing that the majority of those individuals were not aware of were all the additional costs of maintaining your own house.
So, I would like to ask the minister: would they look at considering breaking out monthly costs? I know that when the task force was in place the average cost at the time was just under $1,700 a month to maintain public housing units.
The majority, I think 80 percent of the cases, were only collected $32.
Would the minister look at on a regular basis providing tenants with what they actually pay, what the housing authority, the Housing Corporation, actually pays for those units in the way of power and other utilities and maintenance?
In regards to the question and getting the information out to the tenants, it will be a good incentive for us to start. It will be a learning experience to the people who might be thinking about becoming homeowners.
That way they will be informed on how much it costs to maintain and operate a home. I will get that information out through the local housing authorities.
I think that would go a long way in helping prepare individuals for home ownership, make them realize that there are other costs involved other than just paying their rent every month.
I know that through the housing authority here in Iqaluit and the housing associations in the communities they receive bills from the hamlets for water and sewer for each unit, and also from the Power Corporation for each unit.
I am just wondering…. I know in some cases, sometimes due to the condition of the unit…. And there are many other reasons why some of those utilities may be extremely high.
Look at trying to find some cost savings: showing what the average should be for a unit compared to actuals and come up with a possible action plan to try and promote the conservation of power and other utilities throughout the public housing units.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: As a matter of fact, that has been an issue of discussion with my staff at the Nunavut Housing Corporation. But, at the same time I don’t think that I am really pushing the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
That is the units and the condition ratings that we can further use to apply more appropriate rents to our tenants under the housing organizations.
We will definitely continue to improve our relations with our tenants.
As more information comes available, I will be more than willing to sharing these with my colleagues.
Speaker (interpretation): Your last supplementary. Mr. Tootoo.
The minister talked about condition ratings for the units.