EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
These young Canadians are currently working in the offices of Members of Parliament. They are in Nunavut this week for their program’s annual study tour.
I had the opportunity to meet with the group on Sunday for some round-table discussions, and I was very impressed by their questions.
It was a little hard for me.
I would like you to please join me in welcoming the following individuals, and I promise to try to say your names correctly. I would like you to stand up when I call your name. They’re on both sides of the House today.
Matthew Blackshaw;
Alec Boudreau;
Jeanette Carney;
Michael Forestell;
Astrid Krizus;
Skeena Lawson;
Josh Regnier;
Anna Rotman;
Claire Sieffert; and
Ryan van den Berg.
I would also like to take this time to recognize two other constituents I have in the House.
Mr. Qajaaq Ellsworth is here with us today. Welcome. Also I would like to welcome Mr. Pitseolak Pfeifer, who is with us today.
Mr. Pfeifer is currently enrolled in a master’s program at Carleton University and is back home for the summer, where he will be kept busy working at the Nunavut [Research] Institute as a summer student under the mentorship of Mary Ellen Thomas.
Today I would like to recognize and welcome to the House visitors in the gallery, but I’ll first talk about a funny story.
I received a letter from the people I will be recognizing.
They had asked me a while ago that if I had the opportunity, they wanted to join me for breakfast and have a meeting as they will be in Iqaluit.
As I read the letter and saw where it came from, I did a double take and it was from David Johnston. I automatically thought that the letter came from the Governor General.
I was very pleased and honoured that I’m going to have breakfast with him.
When I saw the letter again and reread it carefully to confirm if it was really him, it turns out there’s another David Johnston, although he also holds a high position.
I would like you to know that, my colleagues.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, good afternoon again.
Today I would like to recognize in the gallery a couple of individuals that are present here today.
They are special guests from the national office of the official languages commissioner, the office of the national commissioner in Canada.
Here that I would like to recognize today are starting with… . Maybe you can stand up when I say your name. Ms. Mary Donaghy is the assistant to the commissioner on policy and communications.
Welcome, and Mr. David Johnston…
…the commissioner’s representative who represents Quebec and Nunavut. (interpretation) They represent Nunavummiut.
(interpretation ends) Welcome to our Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. (interpretation) Welcome. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 711 – 4(3): Chesterfield Inlet Airport (Sammurtok, T)
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, last year the minister tabled her department’s Nunavut Airports 20-Year Infrastructure Needs Assessment.
This report indicates that Chesterfield Inlet’s airport, and I quote, “requires immediate replacement with a new building” as a consequence of its “failing structural and building system condition.”
During our recent winter sitting I asked the minister to indicate where Chesterfield Inlet stands on her department’s capital priority ranking list for airport terminal building replacements.
Can she provide an update today on where this project currently stands?
It’s explained in the 20-year capital plan.
The 20-year capital plan is not for capital items. (interpretation ends) The 20-year capital plan is a planning process for the economic development and transportation agenda and it’s not projects that are in or we are working to try to put them in a capital plan.
At this time Chesterfield Inlet is recognized that it is a priority for the department and that it needs replacement, but at this time there is no further movement.
She just gave me some more questions to ask in a few days.
As the minister will be aware, the Auditor General of Canada recently issued a report on the topic of civil aviation infrastructure in the north.
This report indicates, and I quote, “satellite-based navigation has improved the efficiency of air transportation.
These navigation systems allow more direct flight paths, and they allow pilots with aircraft appropriately equipped for satellite-based navigation to land aircraft under conditions with lower cloud bases.”
However, it is my understanding that Chesterfield Inlet’s airport currently lacks a modern GPS approach, which has a negative impact on the ability of aircraft to land at the airport during certain weather conditions.
Can the minister indicate if her department has raised this issue with the appropriate federal authorities?
Mr. Speaker, our department works closely with federal authorities and this is one topic where we have been communicating, especially with the Nunavut Airports Division, with the instrumental procedures that the member is talking about.
We have identified several runways in Nunavut that need improvements in the navigational/instrumental aids.
We are currently working on some and currently addressing others to be worked on.
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) As the minister will recall, the recent federal budget announced, and I quote, “investments will also be made to resolve critical transportation needs in Canada’s north…” Mr. Speaker, that is indeed good news.
Can the minister indicate if she has been advised by her federal counterpart as to what specific investments will be made to our transportation infrastructure?
As we know, the budget was just recently announced. The terms and conditions of those funding arrangements are currently being discussed, so I’m not able to say exactly which funding we will have access to, but I believe there are some in there that we will gladly be taking advantage of.
Question 712 – 4(3): Carbon Tax (Angnakak)
My question was going to be for the Premier, but I have just found out that there has been a change of the minister for this portfolio.
My question is for the Minister of Finance, who I understand now has taken over this file, and it concerns the issue of the federal government’s plan for a national carbon tax to be in place for every province and territory by the end of next year.
Earlier this month a question was asked in the Senate of Canada on this issue. The government’s representative in the Senate responded by stating, and I quote, “The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate specifically recognizes the unique challenges faced by Northern and remote communities with respect to pricing carbon pollution, compared to the rest of Canada, including high costs of living and of energy, food security, and emerging economies. (…) As part of this effort, a study to assess the implications of carbon pricing for the territories is expected to be launched this spring and completed in the fall.”
Mr. Speaker, summer is just around the corner.
Can the minister indicate the extent to which the Government of Nunavut will be participating in this study?
I would expect the Government of Nunavut to be a full and serious partner in the discussion.
The three territories have been recognized as special circumstances up here. It’s exactly for the reasons you mentioned and it was mentioned in the Senate.
I don’t have the details of when we’re going to get involved in the study, but I think the study is supposed to be complete by the end of August and we will go from there. I expect we will be full partners in the discussion in how we can move forward on carbon pricing.
I’m hoping, with the new minister, that you will be up to date on the file for my next question.
During our recent winter sitting of the Legislative Assembly, the Premier’s letter to Agnico Eagle Mines was tabled in the House. In his letter the Premier wrote that the Government of Nunavut is, and I quote, “working on developing a carbon tax that will make sense for Nunavut.”
Can the minister describe what kind of carbon tax would “make sense” for the territory?
Again, because of our unique circumstances up here, we’re almost 100 percent dependent on fossil fuels. We don’t have hydro projects and we don’t have much of any alternative energy up here, so we’re 100 dependent on fossil fuels.
When we get into the meetings with our sister territories and the federal government, I’m sure we’re going to have some real, in-depth, hard discussions on how carbon pricing could affect Nunavut and ways to mitigate the potential additional costs on our territory, economy, communities, and government.
I’m guessing now, but up to 80 percent of the communities rely on government funding one way or the other through fuel subsidy costs.
It’s going to have a huge impact on our government.
Of course I know the mining industry is very important to our territory, so we will have to take their concerns and other business as well into consideration and ensure that the Government of Canada understands our circumstances.
Thank you for your response, minister.
That leads me to my last question.
The Government of Canada recently released its Technical Paper on the Federal Carbon Pricing Backstop.
In his response to this release, the premier of the NWT noted that the paper did not specifically address the north.
Can the minister clarify the extent to which the three northern territories are working together to develop a joint position on the issue of carbon pricing?
I can’t clarify to the extent. I know the Premier and his colleagues have had extensive discussions over the last year or year and a half on carbon pricing at their various meetings in detail.
It’s one of these situations where an issue of significance to the three territories requires us all to work together.
I don’t anticipate that we will go individually to the government. We will be working together and probably establish a common message and arguments to approach the Government of Canada.
Question 713 – 4(3): Emergency Measures Act (Akoak)
As the minister is aware, sections 5 to 9 of the Emergency Measures Act, which was passed in 2007, are still not in force.
Once in force, sections 5 to 8 of the Act will require that all departments, public agencies, and municipal corporations to prepare emergency management plans.
During our recent winter sitting, members were informed that almost all municipal corporations had completed their emergency management plans.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell us if all government departments and public agencies have completed emergency management plans?
The member is right that almost all communities are done now.
There are three communities that do not have it yet, that is, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, and Kugaaruk.
The training for the two communities in Baffin has been done and the training for Kugaaruk is planned for either the summer or fall of 2017.
Once these are done, all of the communities will have their emergency management plans completed and approved.
Once in force, section 9 of the Emergency Measures Act will mandate that municipal and departmental emergency management plans “shall be made available to the public for inspection during ordinary business hours at an office of the government institution or municipal corporation.”
Can the minister tell us if those emergency management plans that have already been completed are currently being made available for the public to access?
My understanding is yes, the ones that are done would be available for the public to view at their hamlet office.
The emergency management plans are a community document. It’s a plan on how the community would act in an emergency and what resources they have to deal with the emergency and where they can get more help if they need be.
If any members would like to look at the emergency management plan in their community that is done, my understanding is they can just go to the municipal office and ask to view it.
Can the minister tell us if the government plans to bring sections 5 to 9 of the Emergency Measures Act into force before the dissolution of this Legislative Assembly in September?
As I stated earlier, the last training session for the last community will be in either late summer or the fall of 2017.
We will do our best to make sure that’s completed, but I can’t make any commitments as to whether it will be done or not because we have to arrange for a mutual time for the training to be done for the last community. If it’s done in a timely manner and it gets done, then it will be done.
If we have unforeseen circumstances to keep us from getting the training done, then it would have to be delayed, but it will come into force and we plan to have this done as soon as we can.
Question 714 – 4(3): Baker Lake Airport (Mikkungwak)
On March 24, 2017 the government issued a construction tender for renovations to Baker Lake’s airport terminal building.
The tender closed on April 19, 2017.
Can the minister confirm if the contract for this tender has been issued and when the work will begin?
The Baker Lake improvements for their airport were tendered not too long ago and who the proponent will be is currently being considered. The announcement will be made this spring.
Can the minister indicate approximately how much has been budgeted for the renovation of Baker Lake’s airport terminal building?
The budget in 2016-17 was for $1,550,000, which some has been carried over.
This report indicated that, and I quote, “satellite-based navigation has improved the efficiency of air transportation.
When I last raised the issue of GPS approaches at Baker Lake’s airport during our recent winter sitting, the minister indicated that a report would be provided to me concerning the status of Baker Lake’s airport.
Will the minister commit to tabling this report during our current spring sitting?
Question 715 – 4(3): Pond Inlet Marine Facility (Enook)
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall from your recent visit to Pond Inlet, the community is very much looking forward to the opening of our new marine facility.
My first question for the minister is: can you indicate when the final design of the facility is anticipated to be completed?
This project is proceeding well.
As the member is aware, we’re expecting that the work will proceed in the summer of 2018 with the regulatory bodies. As he indicated, it was discussed openly in Pond Inlet in February 2017.
Before their plan could be given to the Nunavut Impact Review Board, they had to do consultations.
We expect, as indicated before, it’s proceeding as planned.
If I wasn’t clear enough, I apologize.
I’ll try to ask again. This was discussed in February and the design is probably being finished.
Let me ask this question. Once the design is complete, when will the project be submitted to the Nunavut Impact Review Board?
The geotechnical and environmental baseline studies are being carried out under a screening decision report that was issued on August 16, 2016 and is intended to cover activities up to September 2017.
The NIRB application will be submitted by the end of April 2017.
Perhaps once the Hansard is out tomorrow, I’ll ask again.
The dates didn’t coincide with each other in the minister’s response.
Once the dates are clear tomorrow, I’ll ask about it again.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister will recall, the Legislative Assembly voted last fall to approve $2.0 million in the 2017-18 capital estimates towards this project, and I thank all of my colleagues for their support of this critically needed infrastructure.
I also thank the federal government for its support of the project through the Building Canada Fund.
My question for the minister is this: can you indicate approximately how much funding your department will be seeking in the upcoming 2018-19 capital estimates for the Pond Inlet marine facility?
I also thank the member for asking these questions.
All I can say is that money has been budgeted, but it will have to be submitted to the House and it still has to be approved.
The project is proceeding well and we will be reviewing it in the House.
Question 716 – 4(3): Kimmirut Airport (Joanasie)
My questions today are also for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, during our recent winter sitting the minister informed me that her department is continuing to look at the need to relocate Kimmirut’s airport. As the minister will be aware, this issue was noted in the Auditor General of Canada’s recent report on civil aviation infrastructure in the north.
Mr. Speaker, the recent federal budget indicated that, and I quote, “investments will also be made to resolve critical transportation needs in Canada’s north...” I would like to ask the minister if she can indicate if her department will be submitting Kimmirut’s airport relocation as a priority project under this new federal investment plan.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the Auditor General for his report. It will help us in terms our work for funding from the federal government.
Also to answer the member’s question, the department will ensure that the relocation of the Kimmirut Airport project receives full consideration under the Government of Nunavut’s capital plan.
Sometimes when we’re dealing with federal funds, before we can submit an application for funding, those funds have to be in the capital plan of our own government. Having said that, we will be looking into the details of the current budget to look at and determine how to proceed with applications.
I would like to update the member that consultants have been hired to prepare phase 2 of the Kimmirut Airport relocation so that they can do a concept design and cost estimates. That work will be starting in June 2017.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the minister for providing me with copies of recent technical studies that her department commissioned regarding the relocation of Kimmirut’s airport. I also thank you for informing me that phase 2 will commence this summer.
Will you be able to table the results of the study in the House during our fall sitting?
I’m not sure if that is something that we do on a regular basis, but I will have the staff look into that possibility.
Just to also say that the conceptual design drawings and detailed report will provide us with our class “C” cost estimate and that information will be used to develop a substantiation sheet for consideration in the capital planning process for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
Your final supplementary, Mr. David Joanasie.
Can the minister indicate what the approximate cost of relocating Kimmirut’s airport is currently estimated to be?
Currently I don’t have information of that nature in front of me.
Question 717 – 4(3): Funding Transfer Decisions (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Speaker, in March I received notification from the minister that funds had been transferred from the Kivalliq Visitor Centre project to the Grays Bay Road and Port Project.
Can the minister provide an update on why the Grays Bay project was prioritized to receive extra funding and what other capital projects may receive funding out of the anticipated surplus from the Kivalliq Visitor Centre project?
I’m very pleased that a project had surplus and with that minor surplus, my colleagues were able to approve that we could transfer those funds.
I’m glad that the minister is pleased and she might be able to transfer some of that funding to my next question.
Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues will be well aware, I have lobbied at length for the establishment of an elders’ care facility in Rankin Inlet, either by leasing a facility such as Nanuq Lodge or renovating another facility.
Can the minister confirm whether any consideration was given to transfer surplus funds from the Kivalliq Visitor Centre project to a project that will support the establishment of an elders centre in Rankin Inlet?
The funding that we request from the federal government are arrangements and there are documents that we have to go by. If there is a surplus of that nature, the funding has to go within the same parameters that we asked for.
It is very disappointing that our government will not adjust its capital plan to address needs which have been identified in the Kivalliq region as well as in the Kitikmeot and Baffin regions.
Will the minister commit to working with her cabinet colleagues to ensure that surplus funding from her department’s capital projects can be made available for such projects as a Rankin Inlet elders facility?
Mr. Speaker, those funds that we are talking about was a small surplus from one infrastructure project and we already discussed what happened to them.
At this point I can’t answer the member’s question to any other surplus that may occur in the future.
Question 718 – 4(3): Qikiqtarjuaq Marine Infrastructure (Keyootak)
I would first like to thank the minister for her recent visit to Qikiqtarjuaq.
This was an excellent opportunity for her to meet with local leaders and to see first-hand the need for new marine infrastructure in the community.
As the minister will recall, I have raised the issue of marine infrastructure on a number of occasions.
Can the minister indicate whether or not her department is working with the municipality to update the proposal for a new marine facility?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleagues for keeping me on the hot seat.
(interpretation ends) I made a trip to Qikiqtarjuaq last week where I saw first-hand the community plans for the project to support fisheries, tourism, and other growth industries in his community.
Mr. Speaker, I could gladly say that I have asked my officials to open discussions with other departments that will need to be involved in this and I look forward to their input.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, again, I have directed my staff and we are going to have a close working relationship with the hamlet on the marine infrastructure project.
As the minister is aware from her recent visit to Qikiqtarjuaq, a new marine facility would greatly help the community’s fishing industry.
The recent federal budget indicated that, and I quote, “To help connect northern communities to trade and investment opportunities, investments will also be made to resolve critical transportation needs in Canada’s north…” Can the minister indicate whether or not marine infrastructure is eligible for funding under this federal initiative?
Looking at the requests from Qikiqtarjuaq and he federal government’s recent announcement that there’s funding available, we have to review all of the details. The federal departments are currently doing a review on the application process.
Even if that’s the case, we are going to start working with the community. I would also like to indicate to the member that the Department of Economic Development and Transportation might not be the lead department.
It might be either the Department of Environment or another department because it’s mainly for the fishing industry.
She already responded to part of my next question, but I would like to ask if the minister can indicate what the next steps are with respect to the Qikiqtarjuaq marine facility.
Near the end of last week we were in Qikiqtarjuaq and we had a first-hand look at the plans for the marine infrastructure.
I can tell him that I had brought over a large conceptual design to Qikiqtarjuaq and I will make sure that it’s put up in a visible area in my office this week so that my colleagues can see it.
My officials have indicated that they are going to work with other departments within the Nunavut government and they’re going to discuss and review the plan, including the request that was made by Qikiqtarjuaq.
We have indicated our willingness to help and I have also requested some documents which will be provided to the mayor and the hamlet council to show how our visit to the community was productive.
Question 719 – 4(3): NNI Policy (Angnakak)
I didn’t want to be the only one not asking the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation a question, so this question is directed to her.
As the minister is aware, the government’s new NNI Policy came into effect on April 1, 2017. Section 9 of the new policy provides for the establishment of an NNI Tribunal, which replaces the contracting appeals board under the old NNI Policy.
The tribunal is to be composed of five members.