EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Members' Statement 83 - 1 (2): Anglican Church Synod in Iqaluit
This week in Iqaluit there are several Ministers and lay people from all across the arctic and indeed the north, from Nunavik to Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, to attend the Anglican Church synod.
Mr. Speaker, the delegates will be selecting two new Bishops, one for the Kitikmeot and one for the Nunavik portion of the Anglican Church ministry here in the north.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all the delegates, lay people, and especially Mr. Chris Williams, Bishop of the Anglican Church back to Iqaluit his old hometown, and wish them well on their deliberations and the selection of the two Bishops today.
Back to our agenda. Item 4.
Return to oral questions.
Mr. Premier. Mr. Okalik.
Return 7 - 1 (2) Fair and Equitable Treatment of Employees
I rise today to respond to a question raised by the member for Iqaluit Centre regarding the mechanisms that are placed to ensure that there is a fair and equitable treatment of all Government of Nunavut employees and the public.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the member that we have established recruitment policies and procedures in place to ensure consistency in the selection and hiring of Government of Nunavut public servants.
As well, Mr. Speaker, the terms and conditions of our employees are defined in the collective agreements included in the management handbooks.
Mr. Speaker, to conclude, the Government of Nunavut through the Department of Human Resources implements these policies and procedures fairly and consistently.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Premier, Mr. Okalik.
Return to oral questions. Return to oral questions.
Item 5 recognition of visitors in the gallery.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I gives me great pleasure to welcome to the gallery today Mr. Jaypeetee Arnakak, who's is my brother-in-law and a senior employee with the Department of RWED here in Iqaluit.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Picco. Welcome to the gallery.
At this time I'd like to welcome everybody here in the presence during our meeting.
Item 6. Oral questions.
Item 6 : Oral Questions
Question 134 - 1 (2): Social Service Worker for Kimmirut
I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services.
The community of Kimmirut currently does not have a social service worker.
My question is how long do they have to wait to get a social service worker?
That's my question Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, there is a process in place to staff up communities for dedicated employees like social workers.
I don't know how long the position has been vacant in Kimmirut and indeed, if the community of Kimmirut has contacted the Baffin Regional Health and Social Services Board for the staffing of that position.
Maybe after the session this morning I can speak to the member directly to get some more information and then get back to him on the position and when this position could be filled.
Question 135 - 1 (2): Payment for Grave Workers
Mr. Speaker, I will direct my question to the Minister of CGHT Community Governments.
Mr. Speaker, I think this is a difficult issue, but you have to deal with this, and this question has never really been answered.
This is a very old issue. In my community that in 1967 or 1968, five or six men were asked to move graves to another site.
I was still a child but I do remember when that happened.
These people were supposed to be paid a good wage but these people were never paid up to today and have been going through various organizations to try to collect the wages they were supposed to be paid.
I wonder if the Minister can reply to that.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Irqittuq. …Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you. Yes, this is a very old issue.
I don't know what we can do about that but I think there are other cases and other groups who were never paid for doing public service like that.
I would like to ask the member to give me the names of these individuals and we'll do what we can.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you Mr. Minister of MACA for his positive response.
I have a second question that I would like to ask.
Does the Minister want those names right away?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank Mr. Irqittuq. Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, maybe during break.
Question 136 - 1 (2): Increase Polar Bear Quotas
My question is to the Minister of Sustainable Development.
Polar bears sometimes come right into the community and this causes problems.
Polar bears are under a quota.
Even if a person wants to harvest more than one polar bear they're unable to do that.
We've been requesting increases in our quotas. I wonder if that's been looked at.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Alakannuark. …Mr. Kilabuk.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I can only respond by saying that quotas are only reviewed after a study has been conducted.
I think that this is one of the best programs in Nunavut.
If there is going to be an increase to the quota we would have to look at the studies that have been carried out most recently in any given area.
I cannot increase any type of quotas but we have to follow the studies that have been carried out.
There are 13 zones in Nunavut that have quotas for this species.
We have to look at the quotas from year to year and on a case by case basis.
Thank you for the answer that you have just given me.
The reason I asked this question was that in Kitikmeot we have been requesting increases in polar bear quotas for sometime.
Question 137 - 1 (2): Land Fill Site Restoration in Pond Inlet
This is directed to the Minister of Community Government.
As I have stated earlier our land fill site was moved from one area to another and the old site was supposed to be restored.
I think the work was supposed to be completed sometime this summer but there have been no funds identified to do the project.
Until that land fill site is restored we cannot use that area for houses or anything.
I wonder if the Minister is going to be looking for funds to do that work this summer?
Minister responsible for Community Government.
Yes, I think NCC is going to be building in that area and I know this is an urgent matter.
If there is a health concern I can work with the Department of Health to look at this right away so that NCC can start building in Pond Inlet.
We will look at this right away to try and identify funds to restore the site so that construction can start this summer.
Oral questions Mr. Nutarak.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I have another question.
I wonder how long its going to take him to look into this and when can he respond to me?
Two questions Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I can only tell the member that perhaps I'll be able to give him a response by Tuesday.
Question 138 - 1 (2): Environmental Report on Land Fill Site
Mr. Speaker just to follow up on the last question, I'd like to ask the Minister for Community Government and Housing and Transportation if he is aware that that there has been an environmental health report done on that site in Pond Inlet.
I'm just wondering if he's been aware of it and if his staff has reviewed it.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Mr. Speaker I thank the member for his question.
I think that’s why there is some concern right now for that particular area because of the environmental concerns.
However, we're talking to the Department of Health to see what we can do to ensure that the buildings are built in that spot that they're destined to be.
Mr. Speaker I've reviewed that report in the past and I'd like to ask the Minister if he's aware that report deals with not only housing that is going to be built by NCC but also it deals with houses that are already existing on that site.
Hon. Jack Anawak: As much as we want to make sure that the decentralization proceeds, we want to make sure that the safety and health concerns are considered .
I'm sure the staff of the Community Government and Housing and Transportation is taking a look at the report .
We'll proceed accordingly after making sure that the environmental safety concerns will be dealt with before putting any building in there.
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier not only does that report deal with housing that is being planned to be there but also that the report was done as a result of some concerns over some houses that are already existing on that site.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.  Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Tootoo.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Mr. Speaker I'm sure we will.
I just usually generalize when I want to make sure that where the new units are built health environmental safety concerns would be considered. The safety goes for the buildings that are already on that site.
Final supplementary. Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker maybe if I could just ask the Minister if he could get back to me at some point in the future on how the situation came about in the first place with houses being built within a site where they're not supposed to be built just so that this does not repeat itself in other areas in the future.
I am not quite certain how this situation came about, but, I used to live in a small community too and it was common practice for the GNWT to dictate where buildings went and the communities just went along with it.
But now, with the Nunavut Government now in existence, communities will be given more of a say.
Community residents should be given first choice of the best sites in the community for buildings, rather than for example putting in a parking garage.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Anawak.
Question 139 - 1 (2): Inuit Traditional Knowledge in Wildlife Studies
Mr. Iqaqrialu(interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker, My question is to the Minister for Sustainable Development.
We spend a lot of time and money on wildlife studies, and I believe that Inuit traditional knowledge is very valuable in this area.
Can the Minister tell me if the new government will put more effort into this?
I think that I would be wrong to say that this is not what we are going to do about Inuit traditional knowledge.
I know that more and more traditional knowledge is being incorporated into wildlife studies.
Whenever there is a study done on wildlife, we have had positive results by using Inuit traditional knowledge.
It is my desire to incorporate such knowledge.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you very much for that answer.
Question 140 - 1 (2): Business Incentive Policy
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Premier or the Minister of Public Works, depending on who can answer the question.
It has recently been announced that the Business Incentive Policy has been adopted from the period of April 1st 1999 until March 31st, 2000 and applies I believe to Nunavut firms only.
My question is what efforts is the government making to ensure that Nunavut businesses are aware of how to take advantage of this policy?
Mr. Premier, the question was directed to you.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Mr. Speaker, I believe the question was directed to the Minister of Public Works.
We will be consulting with all of the businesses if we are going to make any changes.
Up to now I don't know of any changes coming up with BIP, if there are going to be anything new coming out we will consult with the northern businesses before making any decision.
I would just like to make a clarification here.
When there is a question you have to identify the appropriate Minister and if the Ministers want to refer the question to the appropriate Minister they can do that.
Mr. Speaker in some documentation that I received from the Premier, he did make it clear that there will be a review of the BIP.
My question would be, is it the intention of the Minister to involve all of the stakeholders to ensure that they have input and that they are consulted.
Ms. Thompson, Minister responsible for Public Works.
I don't know what document he is referring to. I don't have a copy of it in front of me, but we do consult with all of the stakeholders if we are going to be making any changes on the BIP.
Oral question, Mr. Nutarak.
Regarding the land fill site in Pond Inlet, I think the debate here made it sound like that it is very filthy there, but the land fill site is actually quite clean, but it is only the smell that is a concern, there are no hazardous materials there.
There is going to be no construction happening there right away in the area adjacent to that land fill site.
Some of the buildings that are being done now are not too close so I think that if the site is restored then building can start immediately.
Speaker (interpretation): No question, just a comment.
Oral questions, Mr. Akesuk.
Question 141 - 1(2): Payroll Tax
My question is directed to the Minister of Finance.
The 1% payroll tax, is that going to stay or is that going to be taken away.
That is my question, Thank you.
Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Ng.
Mr. Speaker as it stands now it is in effect for the current operating year and as I've indicated in responses to other questions about taxation issues and whether or not there will be amendments in the next fiscal year.
That will be taken into consideration as we develop the budget for the 2000/2001 year.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Oral question.
Question 142 - 1 (2): Yard Space Around Houses
I would like to direct this question to the Minister of Housing.
New homeowners increasing today due to the efforts of the Housing Corporation, but it seems to be at a snail's pace for public housing, although some private homeowners are increasing at a rate.
It seems that in some communities that the houses are very closely spaced together and you do not have room for a shack or other items.
It seems to be cluttered, and I would like to know if communities can be given more control over land within their boundaries.
Speaker: Thank you. Minister responsible for Housing, Mr. Anawak.
In respect to the close spaces between the houses, I am well aware of the issue and the concerns that he raises.
In respect to the spaces there are regulations for that, I am not sure of the exact details.
In respect to community governments and their mandates and responsibilities I am not aware of what they have done and the codes that they have to follow.
But I will let the member know that this problem is something I am well aware of it and I will work with the communities on this issue..
I know that it is a problem and I just wanted to tell the member that I will look into the matter.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Anawak. Oral questions.
Question 143 - 1 (2): Banking in Smaller Communities
I will direct my question to the Minister of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, the question I would like to raise today is in respect to the lack of financial institutions such as banks in smaller communities.
I am wondering how that will be dealt with in the Nunavut Territory.
My question is with the creation of Nunavut, we are now running more our own finances .We should ensure that these financial institution services are close to the people, Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Sorry Mr. Speaker, I didn't quite catch that question from the member. Could he please repeat it.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Puqiqnak, could you please repeat your question.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): I apologize to the Minister of Finance, I didn't know he was away from the table, because we are on the same side of the table.
My question is directed to the Minister of Finance, the communities that are smaller than the regional centres do not have access to the financial institutions and their services especially for the unilingual Inuit.
They could take advantage of the financial services, so my question to the Minister of Finance is, with the creation of Nunavut and knowing that we must operate with funding, I am wondering whether these types of services and financial institutions will be available to the communities?
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Puqiqnak. Minister of Finance, Mr. Ng.
Mr. Speaker, part of the proposal call that the government of Nunavut put out for financial services from the banking institutions included what type of services they could possibly provide outside of the main centres and within Nunavut as a whole.
So that was part of the component in the assessment of their proposals.
As members know the Royal Bank was the successful proponent as the result of those proposal calls.
I don't know the full details quite frankly, of the analysis, and what was proposed outside of the regional centres, so I will find that out and get back to the member.
Question 144 - 1 (2): Polar Bear Management in Hudson Bay
Mr. Speaker, I want to direct my question to the Minister of Sustainable Development.
In respect to polar bears and the Hudson Bay management area as well as Hudson Strait.
I know that there was research into the populations but there were problems during the process.
A bear was killed by the researchers and Sanikiluaq's quota was reduced as a result.
The researchers inadvertently killed that bear.
So my question is directed to the Minister, are you going to be utilizing traditional knowledge in relation to wildlife research.
We know that they have to be incorporated, but although I have stated that it should have been incorporated, it seemed as if our opinions were sloughed off and I am wondering whether researchers are utilising traditional knowledge, because the communities contain a lot of traditional wisdom about wildlife and the government researchers have limited knowledge about wildlife.
I am wondering now whether they are going to use traditional knowledge.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker. My officials and I want to incorporate traditional knowledge in the workings of my department.
But I am not sure how they're being utilized in wildlife research in respect to traditional knowledge.
As the Minister responsible for Sustainable Development and Wildlife and specifically polar bears, I will direct my department and specifically the researchers to incorporate traditional knowledge in their research.
In respect to his question, yes we will try to utilize traditional knowledge to ensure that it is properly used and in the proper context.
It is not really a question, more of a comment.
The researchers now use satellites to do research, and again traditional knowledge states that bears leave the area once they have been captured.
Also Inuit do not like to hunt polar bears which have been captured and drugged by the researchers.
In this day Inuit are now leery about research caught bears and the people of Sanikiluaq are concerned about this.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Wildlife, Mr. Kilabuk.
This is not much of an answer either but I will try to clarify this situation.
I want this clearly understood in respect to the research that has been undertaken to date, they do not intentionally hurt the animals, but they are trying to discover characteristics or other things about the animals that they were conducting the research on.
In respect to the traditional knowledge I know that we will be utilizing this and that there will be more of traditional knowledge in the future.
I am encouraging traditional knowledge to be incorporated so that it will meet our needs and challenges that we face in our operations today.
As to the other issue raised that Inuit do not want to eat polar bear meat that has been tainted by the drugs of the researchers, it is true.
I would like to state that in our department we are aware of the concerns that Inuit have in respect to the research caught bears and there is a 48 hour limit for the drugs to pass through the body. We also ask people not to eat the meat if it had been drugged within the past 1 year.
Speaker (interpretation): Oral question, Mr. Tootoo.
Question 145 - 1 (2): Increase in MDAPP
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister responsible for Community Government, Housing & Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was listening to the radio and heard the Minister announcing that the MDAPP program was going to be increased from 15 thousand dollars to 30 thousand dollars.
I am just wondering Mr. Speaker, if that is now being put into place under that program.
Minster responsible for Housing, Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Mr. Speaker, I don't know if the translation came out wrong but the interview was in Inuktitut, but all I said about MDAPP was that we are looking at it and we would like to take a second look at it and see if we would like to target it more towards the lower income group rather than having it applicable to anyone who applies.
Oral question Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, I heard on the radio in English saying that the program would be increased to 30 thousand dollars.
I am wondering, Mr. Minister if that is indeed what the intention is.
Minister responsible for Housing, Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Mr. Speaker, if I said I was going to do it, it was probably in the context that we would take a second look at the program to see if we should raise it, as has been mentioned before.
I have made no commitments to either raising it or doing away with it, but I repeat what I have said all along, that we would like to take a second look at all the housing assistance programs to see if we should re-target them, but again no decision has been made on this.
Mr. Speaker, the interview also stated that the Minister was going to be making an announcement in regards to this program prior to the existing program running out at the end of June.
I am wondering Mr. Speaker when the Minister will be making that announcement.
Minister responsible for Housing. Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak: That comment I made about an announcement was just that.
As the program is running out at the end of June, we have to make an announcement of some kind , one way or another, and that was the context of it.
If we are going to make changes to it I can assure the member that we will be seeking input from the members.
Oral questions, final supplementary Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, this program has been criticized in Nunavut, and I believed I have made those comments as well, saying that 15 thousand dollars isn't enough for someone to buy a house.
I commend the Minister if they are looking at increasing that amount so that it is adequate and suitable for residents in Nunavut.
But I would also like to ask the Minister to ensure that, although doubling the money would make it more suitable to here, I would like to ask him if you are going to take a serious look at ensuring that the dollars that go to the people that need it.
The other criticism of this program was that it went to people that didn't need it.
I would like to ask the Minister if that will also be taken into consideration.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Yes, Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I agree with the member and I have said it as soon as the program was announced back in 1998, the concern that I had was that anybody would be eligible for it, and I would like to confirm to the member that whatever decision is made, whether it is doubling or whether it stays the same, I fully agree with the member that we should be targeting the more needy, lower income families for assistance, if they so desire, to try and find, build or buy a house.
Speaker: Mr. McLean.
Question 146 - 1 (2): Liquor Warehouse
My question today is to the Minister responsible for the Liquor Commission of Nunavut.
I know this government is only in its infancy and we have other priorities in Nunavut, but I am getting concerns and questions from people in various organizations about the accessibility of alcohol.
The current situation is that we have one liquor dispenser in Nunavut at this time.
Has the Minister considered making any more buildings available in Nunavut for the residents.
Minister responsible for the Liquor Licensing Board. Mr. Ng.
Mr. Speaker, I know that it is an issue out there right now in respect of access.
Right now I am in the process of the call letters for appointments to establish the Liquor Control Board so that they can take office and review the status and make recommendations on how we can proceed.
We also have the issue, of course, on the decentralization aspect of the Gjoa Haven situation where the Commission and the warehousing is supposed to go.