EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I have the great pleasure of recognizing key folks of national recognition. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the members of the National Energy Board: Gaetan Caron, Chair and CEO of the National Energy Board; Mr. David Hamilton, Board Member; Brian Chambers, Northern Advisor; Susan Galleon, Legal Services; and Marie-Anick Elie, Northern Coordinator and Operations.
Mr. Speaker, they have been travelling throughout the north doing community consultations.
Here in the Baffin region, they have come from Pond Inlet, Clyde River, did some community consultations here in Iqaluit, and they’re moving onto Qikiqtarjuaq.
I appreciate the work that they are doing. Of course, they do this throughout the whole north.
I want to speak a little bit about Mr. Chambers.
Mr. Speaker, Brian Chambers was involved in building the Kugluktuk High School in the early years. Of course, the high school I attended was in Kugluktuk, and he was involved in that.
So I appreciate the dexterity and multi-talents that he has.
I think you got us all energized today.
There are a number of people that I would like to recognize in the Gallery.
First of all, I would like to recognize my cousin, Leonie Duffy, who owns the hotel in Coral Harbour and also helps out the elders in meetings.
I would also like to recognize Okalik Eegeesiak, President of QIA, who used to be the president of the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation, and the people who work at IBC are Debbie Brisebois, Angie Pajek, Keenan Lindell, Joshua Qaumariaq, my younger sister’s son, welcome, Mike Kerr, Jeannie Petooloosie, Cynthia Pitseolak, Bonnie Ammaq, Henry Naulaq, Madeleine d’Argencourt, and Johnny the Lemming, who is being carried in an amauti.
I also recognize Michael Ipeelie, who plays Johnny, and Stacey Aglok-MacDonald.
It gives me great pride in welcoming a fellow Coral Harbour resident.
I would like to welcome Leonie Duffy, who is the daughter of Mrs. Kanayuk Bruce, whom I made a Member’s Statement earlier this week.
She owns Leonie’s Place Hotel & Crafts Shop in Coral Harbour. She is also a leader at the church.
As someone mentioned, she is always helping out the elders of the community, which is why she is here in town.
I, too, would like to acknowledge a former officer of the House, Mr. Hamilton, to the Gallery.
I’m sure sitting on that side of the ropes brings back some fond memories and a few good giggles.
Go back to Item 5.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I must rise.
Mr. Hamilton certainly remembers me a lot.
My eight years in the NWT legislature were very much part of his mandate as the chair.
So I beg all of you not to ask Mr. Hamilton about me.
Moving on in our orders of the day. That was a trick, not a treat. So now we go on in our orders of the day.
Member for Nattilik, Ms Ugyuk.
Question 450 – 3(3): Arranging Specialist Visits to Nunavut Communities (Ugyuk)
I wish my constituents a good Halloween and have good costumes.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that the Department of Health and Social Services is moving forward with a health information data system that will better enable departmental officials to determine the types of specialist health services that are needed in different communities.
However, until that system is up and running for all of Nunavut, there are needs for specialist visits in some communities.
Can the minister clarify how the need for specialist services is currently determined for Nunavut communities and what process is followed to arrange those visits?
I thank Ms. Ugyuk for the question. Mr. Speaker, I know we talked about this yesterday.
Mr. Speaker, there are contracts with specialists from companies, dental, optometrists, ophthalmology, with the Department of Health and Social Services. There are RFPs every year. The work that they need to provide in each community is determined by the statistics and size of the community.
Every community, depending on its size, could get 30 to 100 days of specialist visits for dentistry, for example.
I thank the minister for the answer. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, earlier in this session, my colleague from Tununiq raised the need for community visits from the dental specialist and the eye care team.
Can the minister clarify how community visits from other types of medical specialists, such as dermatologists, who specialize in skin complaints, are arranged?
I thank Ms. Ugyuk for that question. Mr. Speaker, I wish I had that level of detail of information in my binder. I already have 140 briefing notes in there; I probably need three briefing binders for the health department.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t have that level of information.
I can commit to providing that information to Ms. Ugyuk when time is available.
I know that there is a lot of information, but we are servicing Nunavummiut.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, as you know, the primary point of contact for health care in most Nunavut communities is the health centre. While the nurses are competent professionals, they do not always have the expertise to address very specific complaints.
Can the minister clarify how referrals are made for individuals needing specialized care in the area of dermatology?
I can’t give her that specific information.
I’m sure if the nurse has a patient who has that medical condition, they talk to or call one of the doctors up. We have doctors in Ottawa, up at the Qikiqtani General Hospital, Yellowknife, and other hospitals.
They can talk to those doctors and they can assist the nurse or other health professionals to make that determination. If it is determined that they need to see a specialist, then we could make arrangements for the individual to see the specialist.
I also thank the minister for responding to my question. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, when certain services are required by a number of individuals in one community, it makes much more sense to have one specialist come into the community instead of flying every person out individually.
Would the minister commit to asking his officials to look into the possibility of arranging a dermatology clinic for the communities in my constituency?
Mr. Speaker, my officials are listening in and they will be taking notes. We will investigate the issue for Ms. Ugyuk.
Question 451 – 3(3): Restructuring of the Department of Human Resources (Enook)
I would like to wish a good afternoon to the residents of Pond Inlet, particularly my partner, who is celebrating her birthday. Please enjoy your birthday today.
Mr. Speaker, I have some more questions today for the Minister of Human Resources.
On July 11, the government announced a major restructuring of its operations.
The announcement indicated that the “Core functions of the Department of Human Resources [will] move to the Department of Finance and the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.”
Can the minister tell the House today how many current employees of the Department of Human Resources will be transferred to the Department of Finance and how many will be transferred to the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs?
I believe it would be more appropriate if you direct this to the Minister of Finance.
Minister of Finance, Minister Peterson, are you prepared to respond to that question? Okay. Minister of Finance.
In my other briefing binder, I have a hundred and something briefing notes. Unfortunately that briefing note is not in my briefing binder. I’ll take a crack at it.
Mr. Speaker, when we started off in this endeavour, we committed that no individuals would lose their positions.
I don’t have exact members in the human resources department; approximately 100 or thereabouts.
Approximately 60 percent of those employees will be coming to the Department of Finance and 40 percent will be going to Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
I will direct this question to the minister who is able to answer my question.
I leave it to whomever minister can respond.
Yesterday, I asked questions concerning the government’s Priority Hiring Policy.
Under the government’s new organizational structure, which department will be responsible for administering and enforcing the Priority Hiring Policy?
I believe that the department responsible for that would be Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
During my questions yesterday to the minister, I raised the issue of how employees can report situations where the government’s hiring rules may have been broken.
One of the ongoing priorities of the Department of Human Resources has been to develop and introduce a new Public Service Act.
Which department will be responsible for this initiative?
I thank Mr. Enook for the question. I believe that will fall under the Department of Finance.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): For the last question, Mr. Speaker, can the minister confirm if the government is still committed to introducing whistle-blower protection for our employees?
Do you still believe that this legislation should be drafted, yes or no?
I have to rule that question out of order because it doesn’t tie in to your original question; it’s a different subject matter altogether.
Moving right along then. Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. Elliott.
Question 452 – 3(3): Operations of the Qulliq Energy Corporation (Elliott)
Last week, the government’s formal response to the standing committee’s report and recommendations was tabled in the House, as were a variety of departmental and Crown agency action plans.
In our standing committee’s report, we noted that the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s own corporate plan specifically acknowledges that it operates, and I quote, “within the context…of Article 24 which sets up a procurement preference for Inuit, Nunavut and local contractors.”
Can the minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation indicate if he approved the QEC’s action plan prior to it being tabled in the Legislative Assembly?
I would like to take that question as notice.
Question 453 – 3(3): Proposal to Up-List Polar Bear to CITES (Rumbolt)
Apparently, yesterday afternoon, I said “good morning,” so I’ll make sure I say “good afternoon” today.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister informed the House that the United States government has submitted a proposal to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to try and up-list the polar bear.
The minister indicated in his Minister’s Statement that the GN, along with our partners at Environment Canada, NTI, and ITK, and I quote, “met with the US Fish and Wildlife Service last month in an attempt to educate them on the implications and negative consequences that such an up-listing would have on Inuit and to point out that the polar bear does not meet the criteria for up-listing. Our voices seem to have fallen on deaf ears.”
Can the minister indicate what his department’s next steps will be concerning the US proposal to up-list the polar bear to CITES?
When the Canadian delegation met with the US officials, they informed the US officials and tried to educate them about the impacts on Canadians regarding polar bears, the fact that they were in no immediate danger, and that polar bears should not be up-listed to prevent trade in polar bear products.
This coming March, there will be meetings held in Thailand to debate the request to up-list polar bears to category 1 and to vote on this request. Furthermore, the Nunavut government has been collaborating with the federal government on this issue to fight the request to move it up to the first level. They falsely believe that polar bears are endangered.
Currently, we are cooperating with the federal government’s Department of the Environment, and when the vote takes place, Canada will have only one vote. The federal Minister of the Environment would vote on behalf of Canada since Canada has only one vote on this issue.
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for his update.
He basically mentioned the Government of Canada having a vote, but my question is: what is our government doing for its next steps in educating people on the fact that polar bears are not endangered in Nunavut?
Every year, we commission polar bear population studies in the various polar bear management zones, which are zones separating different polar bear populations.
In the majority of these studies, the results generally indicate that polar bear populations are not declining in Canada, particularly in Nunavut. The population is not declining, but indicates it is increasing, which is our position as a government. We maintain this fact when we speak about this issue.
We partner with various jurisdictions, such as Ontario, Quebec, the NWT, and we collaborate with them on polar bear research studies. Additionally, through correspondence and meetings, we present our findings that polar bears are not in a perilous situation and that the population isn’t decreasing.
Conversely, the populations seem to be increasing.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, there have been many television and media campaigns produced by animal rights groups concerning climate change and its possible impact on the polar bear population.
Can the minister indicate if his department has done any advertising to promote Nunavut’s sustainable harvesting practices and effective co-management system of the polar bears? If not, why not?
I would like to apologize that I have not been briefed on this subject as to what type of marketing or advertising has been put into the public.
Once I have looked into this issue, I will be able to provide the information to my colleague.
Question 454 – 3(3): Ministerial Accountability (Curley)
Mr. Curley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I really want this understood very clearly. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Premier.
Yesterday, the report of the Integrity Commissioner to the Legislative Assembly identified some significant problems with respect to the government’s handling of this matter.
The report stated, and I quote, “As I conducted this review,” the Integrity Commissioner stated, “it became obvious to me that there were several missed opportunities where senior public servants and Ministerial staff could have and should have questioned Mr. Schell about the propriety of what he was doing.
Alternatively, reports should have been made sooner than they were to either the Cabinet Secretary or directly to the Premier.”
Now my question is this: what will the Premier do to ensure that these situations do not arise again in the future?
Due to these reasons and our recent experiences, I have directed our staff to provide information to the Integrity Commissioner that they have requested, pertaining to the ministers and further, what the staff are required to undertake in order to fully disclose the facts. (interpretation ends) In that, I mean our orientation to the Integrity Commissioner’s recommendations in terms of informing the ministers and the minister’s staff as to what they’re responsibilities are.
I have informed my officials to prepare orientations on those kinds of things.
I certainly appreciate the comment by the Premier.
Mr. Speaker, in my language, as I read the report, there appears to be a bit of a witch hunt on the whole nature of some of the allegations.
Mr. Speaker, my first supplementary is this: the report of the Integrity Commissioner made it clear to me also that her advisors provided her with wrong advice. In view of this, will the Premier shake up her senior staff to ensure that she’s better served in the future?
I think I was very well served. I received information from the Department of Justice and based on that information, I made actions. It is that action that enabled further action to be done by the Integrity Commissioner.
Mr. Speaker, it’s not an adequate advice or right advice when individuals, just by being associated with the employee, should be investigated, and so on, and speaking to an official when your department has some responsibility or obligation to ensure that programs are being implemented and served.
My next question is the report also indicated that a subpoena had to be issued to one of her senior staff to appear at the Integrity Commissioner’s hearing. Why was it necessary for a subpoena to be issued after all they made the allegations?
Hon. Eva Aariak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe, at that time, I didn’t know there was such a request made. So I can only imagine that there were some discussions whether my principal secretary should be involved in this or not and after the discussions, perhaps that’s when the subpoena came in.
My third supplementary is this: it is now clear to me and to Nunavutmiut more than ever that the Integrity Act of Nunavut is not adequate to guide cabinet ministers’ behaviour and conduct. My question is very simple: will the Premier develop conflict of interest guidelines for the cabinet ministers as soon as possible? If not, why not?
I think it is very clear.
Since 1999, we’ve had this government in place and each minister is aware of certain things that they are to do. When I received the information from the Department of Justice, the fact that I acted upon that was based on a couple of things; one is the conflict of interest in the position of the minister of the time and abused authority as a minister of the time. This is very clear information that I received from the Department of Justice and I acted upon those.
Question 455 – 3(3): The Use of 737s to Kugaaruk (Ningark)
About two years ago, the Kugaaruk Airport runway started to serve the 737 heavy aircraft on a weekly basis, on charter basis only. Taking off and landing was so routine in that community, except from creating dust storms.
The community started asking, “Why not service the passengers from this community, including the other two communities in Kitikmeot east, Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven?”
When that question arose, we were told by the authorities of the transportation system, namely, Transport Canada, the request was a little more complicated.
We learned that certain things were not certified in Kugaaruk’s airport.
We learned that we need approach lighting in order to accommodate heavy 737 aircraft.
My question to the Hon. Minister of Transportation is: will the hon. minister endeavour to work with Transport Canada to address that requirement?
I thank the Member for Akulliq for that.
Mr. Speaker, the service provided into Kugaaruk is adequate for the amount of freight and passengers going into the community.
At this time, there have been some discussions and, in the past, where a 737 had to actually go in there on an emergency basis for resupply.
If airline companies do want to fly in there and pick up passengers, it’s their prerogative to make an application to Transport Canada and Nunavut airports to see what is required.
At this time, we believe that the airport and infrastructure there is adequate for the purpose to serve Kugaaruk.
In the recent Kitikmeot mayors meeting in Cambridge Bay, this issue was brought up and one of the major airlines in Nunavut was in attendance of that meeting.
The answer of the airline rep given to the Hamlet of Kugaaruk was: it’s complicated, but all we need basically is an approach runway lighting system. So there is that requirement. There is that demand.
Given the airline that was servicing the community has already indicated what is required, will the minister now endeavour to work with Transport Canada to address that need?
As I indicated, the infrastructure there, the airport, is adequate for the aircraft that do fly into Kugaaruk.
As the member is well aware, even if we do build a state-of-the-art airport there, an airstrip, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the airlines are going to fly their jet planes in there.
The jet planes are only going into communities where they can actually make money, where it’s feasible.
If they’re not going to be making any money or profits off these routes, the airlines aren’t certainly flying into these communities.
At this time, the infrastructure and the airstrip is adequate for the community of Kugaaruk.
The Hamlet of Kugaaruk, the prime public body of that community, has already stated that we need to have 737 aircraft service to the community.
Will the hon. minister communicate with the Hamlet of Kugaaruk about their request?
We’re communicating that right now to the Hamlet of Kugaaruk.
Mr. Speaker, again, the airlines go to where it’s feasible, where they can make profits.
If Kugaaruk has 100 passengers a day, I’m sure the airlines are going to be rushing in there to have the airport infrastructure requirements put back in shape where they can actually fly in 737s.
At this time, as I said Mr. Speaker, the airport and airport infrastructure for Kugaaruk is adequate at this time.
The aircraft and the company in question were flying for more than a year.
The payload being cargo only, when we add the passengers to that type of aircraft, then there is a possibility that regularly [scheduled flights] would be feasible.
With the hon. minister, again, communicate with the Hamlet of Kugaaruk by way of a letter using the bureaucracy under his good office?
Yes, Mr. Speaker, we will contact the Mayor of Kugaaruk and exchange information on what is required and what the wishes of the community are.
Again, Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, at this time, the airport at Kugaaruk is adequate for the amount of freight and passengers going through the community of Kugaaruk. The airport infrastructure is adequate, including the airstrip infrastructure.
Question 456 – 3(3): Airport Equipment Shelter for Chesterfield Inlet (Ningeongan)
I believe the minister knows of the situation in Chesterfield Inlet related to what is called in English (interpretation ends) airport equipment shelter. (interpretation) The community has been requesting a new shelter I don’t think Chesterfield Inlet is the only community that hasn’t received a new shelter as there are three other communities in Nunavut that have requested that same type of shelter.
Although they have identified these capital projects, the shelters haven’t been completed as of yet.
It has now reached four years since these capital projects were approved for allocation. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, (interpretation) I would like to ask the minister to provide an update on these shelters, particularly with respect to the situation in Chesterfield Inlet. When will the airport equipment shelter be completed?
Mr. Speaker, it has proven to be a bit of a challenge, but I don’t have that information with me at this time. Once I have that, I will provide it to the member.
Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the minister for agreeing to look into this matter as to the exact status.
In Chesterfield Inlet, the hamlet council has been informed that the shelter would eventually be completed this upcoming summer.
However, when I was last in Chesterfield Inlet, I noted that the piles form the foundation and the facility has been raised, but they will need to place gravel inside.
It was felt to be too big of a project to be undertaken by the hamlet council, especially the large garage doors that would have to be opened in order to place the gravel inside.
Wouldn’t it be easier to pour concrete on the floor instead of the labour-intensive gravel placement in this facility?
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, I will look into the current status, the present status of the situation, and get back to the member with an update.
As I stated earlier, Chesterfield Inlet is not the only one with this issue.
If I’m not mistaken, Igloolik, Repulse Bay, and Whale Cove are in the same situation. Can the minister commit to informing those communities I just mentioned?
I certainly will provide an update to each of the communities and the members where we’re getting shelters for the airport equipment.
Oral Questions. Moving on in our orders of the day.
Tabled Document 267 – 3(3): 2011-2012 Annual Report for Nunavut Arctic College (Shewchuk)
I am pleased to table the 2011-12 Annual Report for Nunavut Arctic College.
Tabled Document 268 – 3(3): Adopted Resolutions from the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated October 2012 Annual General Meeting (Elliott)
I am pleased to table today copies of two resolutions that were adopted at last week’s annual general meeting of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.