EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In the Kitikmeot area, we can look at the mining development, or the potential of it. We are doing all we can to give support to the communities and even the non decentralized communities, so that there would be job creation.
The decentralized communities do require essential services like RCMP’s, Nursing stations and so on.
But we do try to do our best to make things available and we’re waiting for the communities to indicate to the government where they need the services or what they need at the community level.
I would like to thank the Premier for responding to my question.
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier the two communities that I represent.
One community is decentralized and the other is not.
Taloyoak and has the potential like any other community in Nunavut.
And I think that it would be good to put a department in there because of course that would create jobs.
I would like to ask the Premier if Taloyoak would be placed on the priority list.
I will be waiting to hear from the communities and as a Cabinet we look at the request or proposals that are made, especially by the non-decentralized communities.
If Taloyoak would make a proposal we would review it and see if it’s going to benefit not only the community of Taloyoak but all the communities based in Nunavut.
We’re just waiting for requests from the community and I can assure you that the Cabinet will be reviewing it carefully and considering it.
Question 232 – 1(6): Flying in Certified Electricians to Communities
That was quick. My question will be directed to the Minister of Public Works and Services.
There are electricians and usually they need assistance.
If an electrician is required in wiring up a building, usually the electrician has to be certified.
A certified electrician is required in the inspection and installation of wires and to make sure that it’s safe and up to code.
Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation or Public Works, if there is a hazard or wiring default, usually what is required is to fly in a certified electrician so that it’s up to code.
The regulations that we are currently using were inherited from the Government of the Northwest Territories.
At our Spring meeting in Iqaluit, we reviewed a draft set of regulations that will be used in Nunavut.
What we are looking at is a Nunavut made set of regulations or codes, and we are currently reviewing those to see what would be Nunavut made and utilized.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you for your explanation.
The problem will have to be rectified in the future.
In Pond Inlet, as I am a homeowner, if my boiler or any electrical problems arise, we have to bring a certified electrician.
As an example, if one of the Hamlet staff houses has an electrical problem, then they have to fly in a certified electrician.
This problem will have to be rectified.
Also for the information of the Minister, Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, we need certified electricians.
After the completion of the wiring, they are inspected to make sure that they are up to code.
Looking at it on the other hand, there is a private homeowner who is building his house and did his own wiring, and he was also informed that a certified electrician would be coming in December.
He will have to wait that long in order to have his house inspected before he can do any other work.
We have to do all those things.
We have a lot of problems.
This individual, who built his house, could now be living there if he did not have to wait for a month for the certified electrician to do the inspecting.
And if does put in dry walling already, he could be liable.
I am just identifying some of the problems that we have.
And the long delays that we experience in order to wait for certified trades people.
How long is going to take in order to get the made in Nunavut regulations?
Speaker: Just to caution on the amount of time for your preambles.
It does take time away from your fellow Members.
These rules are your rules so let us try to follow them.
The Act is now being reviewed by the Standing Committee.
I cannot tell you when this Act will be enacted, but it is currently in the works.  I can only tell the member when this act will be implemented, but it’s currently in the works.
I can only tell the member when this act will be implemented, but it’s very true what they’re saying.
It is true that we need certified trades people to do inspections to make sure they’re up to code.
And what we’re proposing to do is to not necessarily get a certified trades person, but to have options available so that the inspections will be done quicker.
Question 233 – 1(6): Igloolik Arena Community Hall Capital Plan
The mayors had a regional meeting in Iqaluit even though the meeting was stated to be in Cape Dorset.
I would like to direct my question to community government and transportation regarding the 5 year plan.
We have a problem with the existing recreation centre in Igloolik.
Has this project been moved forward?
The Igloolik community hall or recreation centre, that the member has been repeatedly requesting has been moved up and we’re going to be dealing with it again.
We’re looking at having the architectural drawings in 2007 and Mr. Speaker, this project has been moved forward.
This has been an ongoing concern of the MLA and also the mayor of Igloolik.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for moving up the project.
Could the minister tell me if this community hall project will be included in the five year plan that we’re going to be reviewing for capitols?
We’re just looking at the architectural design and there’s a price of $50 thousand dollars.
The project has been moved forward, but we do have to do the budgeting for the construction of the building.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker for the response.
Since the project is getting under way, could the minister tell me when this community hall is slated for construction?
I can’t tell the member when it will be constructed, but at the mayors’ regional conference there were quite a number of communities that requested to have new community halls.
I also told the mayors that we will have to look at funds and possibly work together with other departments and also with the department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth in order to plan the buildings of these community halls, but specifically, the Igloolik community, the architectural designs are currently under way.
But today I can’t tell you when the completion date will be.
Question 234 – 1(6): Fishing Rights in Nunavut
Mr. Speaker, my question, I’d like to direct it to the minister responsible for Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
In March of this year, the Makivik Corporation initialled an agreement with the Federal Government that would give the Inuit of northern Quebec fishing rights off the shores of Nunavut.
At that time, the premier was vocal regarding the primary rights of Nunavummiut to fish in those waters.
On October 25th, Ottawa signed an agreement in principle with the Nunavik Inuit.
Can the premier update the house as to our position, the government of Nunavut position on this most recent agreement?
Our position continues to be the same, that we do not support outside parties getting guarantees in our waters without us getting the same guarantees.
So what we have done is purport a joint proposal with Makivik and NTI and have given that to the federal government.
To date, the Prime Minister has been well aware of the issues and has made a commitment to me in writing that our issues will be addressed before the matter goes to a final agreement.
So today for example, my officials are meeting with the Prime Minister’s officials on this very issue and I’m hopeful that we can resolve this before it is finalized.
Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to hear that the minister indicated that there is a joint agreement coming forward from the Nunavut government, with NTI and from Makivik as well.
Mr. Speaker, I’m still concerned the, you know, given the premier’s indicated that the commitment from the prime minister’s office or from the prime minister himself, that our issues, our concerns will be addressed.
All too often in the past we’ve had kinds of commitments, I guess earlier this week, I raised the infrastructure funding thing that was something that was supposed to be taken care of and there’s change at the last minute.
Is there any guarantees?
Can the premier indicate a minimal level of or a maximum level of quotas and things like that regarding to this agreement that this government will agree to?
The position that we have taken this, we really want to be treated like Canadians as we are Canadians and we want the same allocation portions that southern Canadians received.
There’s around 80 to 90% of any commercial allocations adjacent to the others are given to those residence and we have been asking for the same.
We need the jobs, we need economic activity more than anyone else. To be put on the backburner each time is quite objectionable.
I think that we can make progress.
I cannot say how far these discussions will go at this time because there is still a lot of work to be done.
As I mentioned that there is some work that is happening today.
I am very optimistic that we can resolve this issue for everybody’s concerns to be addressed.
Quyannamiik Uqaqtii.
Mr. Speaker, again I am pleased to hear that the numbers that the Premier has put forward that they were seeking.
Also I noticed a comment that we want to be treated as Canadians; I think that is a very good approach to take.
Aside our federal government, the Prime Ministers’ Office saying our issue will be addressed.
Can the Minister indicate if there has been a commitment from the Prime Minister and the Federal Government, that Nunavummiut, the Nunavut Government will be treated like Canadian in this case?
(Interpretation ends): I can assure the Member that the Prime Minister is well aware of Nunavut’s concerns.
In my last meeting with the Prime Minister, I did not even have to brief his officials.
He was the one briefing his officials during our meetings on this matter.
I think that the Federal Government has heard us.
The Prime Minister has directed his officials to resolve this matter.
I am trying to make sure that that happens.
If there is no progress, I am sure that we will take whatever steps we have to take at those appropriate times.
For the time being, I am trying to make sure that I am trying work with the Federal Government and all the parties to try and resolve this matter.
Mr. Speaker, can the Premier commit to this House to update all Members of this House in regards to the progress that they made, or any decisions that are made in regards to this as soon as possible, as he can make that information available to Members as things go along.
Question 235 – 1(6): Response to Standing Committee Report on Tourism
Nice snappy questions and nice snappy answers.
That is what I would like to see on a Friday.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister where the Government of Nunavut’s response is to the Standing Committee’s report on the From Potential to Payoffs on the Future of Tourism in Nunavut.
We will be tabling our document in the next sitting in Iqaluit in a couple of weeks’ time.
Supplementary. Mr. Tootoo. Mr. McLean.
The second part of the question is, and thanks for the answer. I am happy with that.
There was an extra 1 million dollars provided to Nunavut Tourism this year for 2002-2003.
Can the Minister give me a brief summary of how it was spent?
We are still checking to see what we are going to do.
There is quite a bit of programs and training courses that we want to put on within Nunavut Tourism.
I will include that on our next meeting to give how much money we have had to spend on for that million dollars that we contributed towards Nunavut Tourism this year.
I will be looking forward to seeing that information.
I want the Minister know that I know that in our region, the Kivalliq region, there was a great influx of tourists, especially in sport hunting.
The region experienced a tremendous growth in sport hunting in all communities this year.
And there was a lot of courses being given, in that area of sport hunting this year, and it paid off.
There was probably hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent in the region this year on big game hunting.
Does the Minister know, I know that it is early in the season, the season is over, how the other regions in Nunavut did in regards to tourism?
We are trying to get more information out of Nunavut Tourism, so that we could have a really good briefing for the Members of the Legislative Assembly on where we are on the tourism department.
How many tourists came in.
I will get back to you on that one also.
Question 236 – 1(6): Response to Special Standing Committee Report
(Interpretation ends): My question is for the Premier, as the Minister of the Executive.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the Government tabled its response to the Standing Committee on the Government Operations and Services Report and the Recommendations regarding the Auditor General’s Report.
My question for the Minister is why hasn’t the Government tabled its response to the three outstanding Standing and Special Committee Reports, which were tabled earlier this year?
Maybe the Member can advise which specific report she refers to.
I am talking about the Special Committee Report that was due July 3rd.
And the Annual Report on the Information and Privacy Commissioner that was due in June 25th.
Those are the reports that I am referring to, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the reports that she is referring to are still in the final drafting stages and will be expected to be tabled as soon as possible.
Can the Minister make a commitment to table the response to the Interim Report on the Special Committee when we sit in Iqaluit?
The work is still going on.
It would be good to have the response from the government.
Mr. Speaker, yes, the departments’ responsible will work to try to meet those timelines.
Question 237 – 1(6): Funds to Business to be Made Available
My colleague from Nanulik was asking some questions about private businesses.
My question is in the two communities that I represent, they have been disagreeable about the benefits and grants supposedly available from the Department of Sustainable Development.
Once they have reached their contribution allowance limit, usually to other communities, and the other departments don’t make any contributions as this is outside of their purview.
He stated that he will be hosting a meeting of the various stakeholders for an economic development conference in February with all parties participating, such as Kakivak and other NGO’s.
I know that they are not a part of the Government.
The Minister indicated that there is no more funding available for contributions for businesses in his department.
I would like further clarification on why there’s no more funding made available for these businesses.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): I’m sorry, Mr. Speaker, the reports, financial reports have to be done properly and I want to say that the funds going to different programs, we’re able to supply those programs.
Like the Kakivak Association, there are sibling organizations in Kivalliq as well as Kitikmeot, retaining funds available to businesses.
Back when I was an employee with economic development, if they maintained the same process, whenever the communities asked for funding for economic development from the government, we would collaborate with the Kakivak Association to look for further funding for private businesses.
The economic development officers’ mandate is to assist the people in the communities to attain business development funds.
And we would look at the different funds to see what could be accessed and I believe that is still the practice.
The funding that we allocate at present is appropriated by the government, and these are public funds so we have to follow the requirements under legislation for the government.
Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Seeing that it is structured in that manner, this means that the people of Nunavut whenever they apply for the money, it seems like they’re not treated equally.
Some applicants who are bilingual have no problem getting money, but others receive nothing but further barriers.
And the people, the original people of Nunavut seem to have a hard time getting money, and maybe if, the way I understand it, they’re looking for excuses not to give the money.
I seem to understand this process that way, perhaps it’s not like that, but that’s the way I look at it.
They are not being treated equally because if they get on their own two feet, they may become self-sufficient.
That is how I perceive this situation.
Perhaps when you hold a meeting in February, the people who made proposals for funds regarding the private sectors funding programs can be invited.
So that the proposals can be assessed as to why they have difficulties receiving funding, well some people have difficulties and others don’t.
I’m the minister, so therefore I want to help the private sector in as far as I can.
There are a lot of proposals that were refused and just like with the refusals, we contribute to many proponents.
This is our mandate and that is why the proposals have to be written properly.
Mr. Iqaqrialu has stated that we have to make accessible these programs to our Inuit.
I know there are some who deserve a contribution and they may not be approved.
As I stated earlier this week, to one of Mr. Arvaluk’s questions, I will commit to doing a review the next time we meet.
We have discussed this issue with NTI and they have mentioned that they’re going to review the proposals from the beneficiaries.
Perhaps if we work better together, collaborate more to ensure our people get the benefits which are available in all of the different funds.
My question was partially answered, but one of my questions was not answered.
The people of Nunavut I am sure have written all sorts of different proposals requesting funding.
Are you going to give them reasons as to why they’re refused?
Is that going to be done properly before February 2003?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Yes, we will look at those.
I didn’t hear the answer, please answer again.
Yes, we will review that for sure.
Question 238 – 1(6): Chesterfield Inlet Physically Handicapped Facility
I would like to pose some questions to the Minister of Health.
The work that we did in Chesterfield regarding a home for physically handicapped, what stage is this work at now?
In the next five to ten days, we will be meeting with the principles of the Chesterfield Development Corporation in Iqaluit.
At that time, Mr. Speaker, I would be asking the MLA for Chesterfield to participate with us in the meeting.
Where we are right now, Mr. Speaker, very quickly, is that we are looking at the final design drawings for the new facility.
We advanced money to the Chesterfield Development Corporation to be able to meet sealift requirements and I believe, Mr. Speaker, that we weren’t able to get the product on the boat of NTCL before freeze up, but that will happen in the spring.
That was not the fault of the government Mr. Speaker, as the member knows; it was a logistic problem with the development corporation.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Has the minister spoken with the management people of the development corporation of Chesterfield Inlet?
Can he state exactly when he’s going to meet with them?
He says that it will be close to ten days, but can he be more specific on the date?
Speaker: Minister Picco
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the members’ involved within this project, in this file. Last week, I did speak to Walter from the Chesterfield Development Corporation and I indicated to him, I believe it’s this week, I didn’t know the exact date.
I think it’s either Thursday, or Wednesday or Thursday next week in Iqaluit.
Walter, as well as David Simailak and other principles involved with the Chesterfield Development Corporation will be coming to Iqaluit.
The plan is to meet with them and go over some of the final arrangements for the development of the Chesterfield Inlet facility.
Does the minister plan to make a concrete decision or agreement between the two principle players of the development corporation and the department of health?
The member’s correct, Mr. Speaker.
Right now, we’re in the process of reviewing the design specification as presented for the Chesterfield Development Corporation.
We will hope that after next week’s meeting with our good friend from department of finance to look at some of the opportunities that present themselves and Mr. Speaker, move forward with the project.
As the Premier has indicated, Chesterfield Inlet is a non-decentralized community.
We know that there is a lot of employment around the area of the Residential Facility for Chesterfield Inlet.
It is the priority of this Government to make sure that non-decentralized communities have that opportunity and with the good work of the Member, that is moving forward.
That commitment is in place and we will carry it out.
Due to the fact that the design was delayed, and the construction is not going to go ahead, pending your agreement with the principal players, next summer at the earliest, have you made plans to extend or at least a guarantee to have the existing facility to operate for another year?
Mr. Speaker, we have had some ups and downs with the arrangement with the Chesterfield Development Corporation on this project.
I can say in all sincerity, Mr. Speaker, there is an effort between the Chesterfield Development Corporation and ourselves to move the project forward.
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at the final design work right now.
I would suggest to you that after the meeting next week, we will be in a better position to see what the timelines are.
The plan is right now in concrete to move forward with the construction of the new facility in Chesterfield Inlet this upcoming construction season.
The delays were caused by some of the logistics as well as administrative problems on behalf of the Development Corporation and we have moved forward from that point.
The commitment is on the table and I don’t see any change in that.
I will have more of a sense of where we are going next week, after the meeting with the Development Corporation representatives.
Returns to Written questions.
Tabled Document 045 – 1(6): Transportation of Dangerous Goods Annual Report – 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002
Today I wish to table the following document.
Transportation of Dangerous Goods-Annual Reports.
I rise today to table copies of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Annual Reports in accordance with Section 62 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act for the following fiscal years 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.
The Department of Community Government and Transportation has been concentrating on certifying instructors, inspectors and promoting educational awareness in regards to the handling, offering for transport, or transporting dangerous goods.
As a result the Annual Report show limited activity in the area of Transportation of Dangerous Good today.
Mr. Speaker, I gave Notice of Motion yesterday for Motion 10-1(6).
I seek unanimous consent to deal with my Motion today.
The Member is seeking unanimous consent to deal with this Motion today.
You have unanimous consent, please proceed with your Motion.
Mr. Speaker, whereas the Members of the Legislative Assembly have identified urgent needs in the area of infrastructure investment in Nunavut.
And whereas the Conference Board of Canada has identified the state of infrastructure in Nunavut as being a serious problem that is affecting both the economic and social development in the territory.
And whereas a prosperous and economically self-reliant Nunavut, is a goal that all Members are working towards.
And whereas the meaningful efforts are required from our Federal partners to achieve this goal.
And whereas Members of this House are concerned that the Government of Canada has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to investing to Nunavut’s infrastructure requirements.
And whereas it has been demonstrated that per capita funding formulas are not appropriate for the North.