EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Can the minister indicate if his department’s Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Secretariat investigates complaints in this area?
That is an excellent question and I will endeavour to answer him. Mr. Speaker, what the hon. member is talking about and asking about relating to the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Policy is something we have been working on continuously and regularly.
It is not just our department which draws attention to the details inside of it. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated also deals with that. If there is an improvement that needs to be made or required, we will address it with them.
Relating to whether there are investigations, we do have a group, a board, to which people can address their concerns in relation to contracts that the government awards.
The minister has stated that the government has been working closely with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on reviewing the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Policy.
Recent news reports have indicated that the review is scheduled to be completed by March 2015.
For the benefit of the listening public, can the minister confirm if the review of the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Policy will be completed by March 2015?
Yes, this issue is quite complex. As per my earlier statement, one of our partners is Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, whom we have partnered with in this initiative and we will continue to do so.
I had tried to maintain this as a priority.
What I can indicate here is that the process has been slowed due NTI having more pressing issues causing us to wait. They may be dealing with other issues or their schedules are conflicting with our proposed meetings, as they haven’t been communicating with us on this issue to date.
However, our department continues to communicate with them and we will endeavour to move ahead on this initiative.
I have received concerns from constituents regarding the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s contracting practices.
In the external report to the NNI Policy Review Committee that was completed in 2013, a recommendation was made to apply the NNI Policy to the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
Can the minister indicate if this issue is part of the current discussions with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Mr. Kuksuk.
Yes, this is included in the review of these contracts.
Question 233 – 4(2): Airport Safety in Nunavut (Savikataaq)
My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and [Transportation].
My questions today concern airport safety in security in Nunavut.
As the minister is aware, a significant number of airports in Nunavut, including Arviat’s airport, currently lack emergency backup generators, which means that when the community suffers a power outage, the airport goes dark.
Earlier this year, my colleague from Hudson Bay raised the issue in relation to his community’s airport. At that time, the minister indicated that he could direct his department to review the issue of emergency power generators.
Can the minister update the House today on the status of his department’s work in this area?
The emergency standby generators, yes, I agree with the member that not every airport does have emergency generators, but pursuant to the federal regulations, in Nunavut, the only two airports that are required to have those emergency generators in the airports are Iqaluit and Resolute Bay.
We did look into what it would cost to install other standby generators in some communities.
The department is still looking into the cost of installing such generators.
We’re not simply looking at a generator to light a building; we’re looking at making sure that everything that is in the airport, including the beacons, the CARS equipment, and all of that will be considered when installing generators.
Can the minister indicate a timeframe, how much roughly it will cost per community, and when we can look forward to seeing emergency generators in our airports?
The cost to install a gen. set in one airport would be quite extensive. At this time, I can’t give a timeline of when we would be looking at or even if we would be looking at putting one in.
We do have smaller gen. sets in other communities, but those generators are only big enough to provide things such as heating in the terminal buildings. They are not suited to generate the entire power that would be required to include runway lighting and so on.
The minister’s department has been working on a 20-year capital needs assessment for Nunavut’s airports.
Will the minister commit to tabling this in the Legislative Assembly before the end of our current fall sitting?
If I can get that information from the department, then I’ll be able to divulge that information at the sitting.
If not, it will have to be after the sitting.
Question 234 – 4(2): Coordination of Poverty Reduction Programs (Hickes)
I would like to direct my question today to the Premier.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut has a number of programs to assist with food security that stretch across a number of different departments; country food programs, the cost of food study that the Department of Family Services is doing, and a number of other different programs, including the poverty reduction roundtable with other organizations.
My question to the Premier right now is: how is this government coordinating the various programs and projects that are the responsibility of these various government departments?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Premier of Nunavut, Hon. Peter Taptuna.
The programs are coordinated through the Poverty Reduction Secretariat with support from the Department of Family Services and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
The Minister responsible for Family Services mentioned the other day that they’re doing an analysis of what is causing high prices.
Although I understand the program is a federal one, there is currently a review by the Office of the Auditor General on the Nutrition North program.
A number of citizens have expressed concerns to me and I’m sure my fellow colleagues over the actual economic benefit to the average resident on accessing affordable, healthy food choices.
What is the government’s position on the impact of Nutrition North?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Premier of Nunavut, Hon. Mr. Taptuna.
Mr. Speaker, Nutrition North Canada is a federal program and that has been audited by the Auditor General of Canada.
We really don’t have any position on this until we see the final report coming out.
Once that report comes out, I’m sure this government will have some opinions and possibly some action items to go along with whatever the report or whatever the Auditor General comes up with in his report.
Although I understand the role of the poverty reduction committee that’s working at helping our residents provide healthy food choices to their families and I do realize that the timetable for the Office of the Auditor General’s report is looming, there are a number of different programs, including income support, that can help the average citizen of Nunavut have access to healthy food choices.
I understand that the Minister responsible for Family Services has committed to providing an evaluation of the Income Support Program.
I was wondering what the government’s work with other departments is. How is that coordinating with that evaluation?
Mr. Speaker, when the Makimaniq Plan was developed, as my colleague has indicated last week, there was a meeting taking place to get the final draft of the action items, November 24 to 26 here in Iqaluit.
Once the action items are identified… .
Within the Makimaniq Plan, there are six thematic principles that we are focusing on and of course, that’s one of them, income support, healing and well-being, education and skills development, food security, housing, and community economic development.
Those are the themes we are going to be focusing on and those are the action items that the secretariat and the organizations and our partners are going to be looking at to eventually, hopefully reduce poverty in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, as Nunavummiut are well aware, this government has made education a number one priority and it’s not a quick fix, but down the line, that’s one of the things that’s going to solve most of our social issues.
Question 235 – 4(2): Status of Medical Clients Living in Other Jurisdictions (Rumbolt)
My questions are directed to the Minister of Health.
Mr. Speaker, my questions are very similar to those that were asked by a fellow member earlier today.
Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine from the community of Sanikiluaq requires dialysis treatment which is not available in Nunavut.
The Department of Health organized the necessary health services in another jurisdiction and helped my constituent find an apartment to live in.
Now it seems that he is being pressured to become a resident of Manitoba and Nunavut’s Department of Health no longer wants to provide for his medical treatment.
From information that I have received, all he has in his apartment is a bed and he is being left to fend for himself for the rest.
As recently as three weeks ago, there was an announcement through the local radio asking for donations for the patient of money and household items.
Some Hon. Members: Shame, shame!
Mr. Rumbolt: Can the minister clearly explain what options are available to Nunavut residents who are required to relocate to other jurisdictions in order to receive the medical treatment they need in order to stay alive?
I thank the member for that question. Mr. Speaker, I’ll take that question as notice.
Question 236 – 4(2): Property Taxes (Mikkungwak)
I say “hello” to all the people of Nunavut.
Last week, my colleague from Hudson Bay asked questions concerning the issue of property taxes. I want to also raise this issue today.
Mr. Speaker, I have also been contacted by a number of constituents who have recently received property tax assessments indicating that their assessed values have increased.
However, the assessments do not explain exactly how the assessments were calculated.
Will the minister commit to ensuring that notices are provided to property taxpayers in Nunavut that clearly explain the assessment calculations?
I thank the Member for Baker Lake for the question. (interpretation ends) The assessed values for land improvement did increase this year since last year was the general taxation year.
However, the assessed values had not increased since the previous general taxation year and that was ten years ago.
Normally what happens is that when the assessments are done, assessment notices are provided to each property owner throughout Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you.
Under the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, the minister appoints the members of the territorial board of revision, which hears complaints from members of the public concerning their property tax assessments and related matters.
The minister also appoints the members of the Assessment Appeal Tribunal, which hears appeals of decisions made by a board of revision.
Members of the board of revision were appointed last year.
Can the minister confirm who has been appointed to the Assessment Appeal Tribunal?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I don’t have the list of names right in front of me at this moment. However, I would be very happy to provide that information to the member once I get it.
It appears clear that the recent increase in the regional base rates for developed parcels has resulted in increases in the assessed values of properties across Nunavut.
Can the minister indicate what the total increase in property tax revenues is expected to be as a result of this change?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok: Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker.
My department only does the property assessments.
The evaluation of the property assessments are looked after by a different department in this government, the Department of Finance. (interpretation) Thank you.
Question 237 – 4(2): Oil and Gas Development (Angnakak)
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
The government’s current business plan states that, and I quote, “Nunavut has significant petroleum potential. Current estimates place its conventional undiscovered resources at 25 percent of Canada’s conventional crude oil resources and 34 percent of Canada’s conventional natural gas resources.
Significant future exploration activity will be required for a more accurate picture of Nunavut’s oil and gas potential...”
Can the minister indicate what actions his department is taking to support oil and gas exploration activity?
In regard to the question, at this time, with respect the petroleum and fuel exploration, I don’t have information in front of me. (interpretation ends) I will take that as notice.
Question 238 – 4(2): Operational Expenses of Nuliajuk (Savikataaq)
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Environment.
I would like to question the minister on his statement today.
At the very bottom, it says, “Mr. Speaker, the Nuliajuk is an important resource to Nunavut and will continue its marine research in Nunavut for years to come.”  The minister stated, not here, but the minister said before that the operational cost of the Nuliajuk is $1,224,000 for 2014.
I would just like to ask the minister if that is money well spent. I’ll start off there.
We have only identified just a few of the programs and there were various research programs undertaken. There have been various applications for the Nuliajuk to do their research.
There are researchers that do the ocean bottom study, those who study the flow of the ocean currents.
I can tell you that I have no concern in regard to this issue. I believe and know that the money is well spent.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is the response that I was expecting, that it is money well spent. I would like to ask the minister when the boat will leave Baffin waters and do some research in the Kivalliq or the Kitikmeot.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to thank the member for the question.
We are currently using the Nuliajuk’s plan in Nunavut, but I’m not exactly sure when they will complete their research plans. At this time, I can’t pinpoint when they would be passing through.
However, what I can state here is that the list of activities is laid out in the research plans as well as which areas to conduct their research here in Nunavut. This is based on assessment of fish stocks for Nunavut.
Will the minister commit to tabling the Nuliajuk Research Vessel’s plan for the next five years in what waters and what research it will do, if they are planning that far ahead?
There are different types of research applications that are reviewed. There are also community initiatives to conduct fishery-related research or benthic species, as well as with arctic char research for commercial potential. There are many types of applications to research various species and most of the research proceeds.
I don’t quite grasp the member’s question as to which type of research the member referred to, but what I can respond with is that if a community makes a request to conduct research on animals they consider important, then it is obvious that some communities don’t require the Nuliajuk to conduct their research, as community-based research is one of our priorities and we fund these projects as well.
With respect to the type of research the Nuliajuk conducts, I can provide more details on their research plans in the future and what research will be next.
Question 239 – 4(2): Public Housing Mobility Guidelines (Joanasie)
I also have questions for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
A number of constituents have raised concerns with me regarding mobility guidelines for public housing tenants.
I am aware of situations where public housing tenants leave their communities for periods of time in order to attend courses or receive training.
However, in some cases, the residents return to their community only to discover that their public housing unit has been declared vacant and been reassigned to someone else.
Can the minister clarify whether local housing organizations are responsible for developing their own mobility guidelines or does the Nunavut Housing Corporation require all LHOs in Nunavut to follow the same approach?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Hon. Minister Mr. Kuksuk.
We work with local housing associations on various programs that are offered and these are generally governed by service contract agreements.
With respect to the question from the member about tenancy issues, if a tenant leaves their unit either to accept a job or to attend to a course, if they are leaving their unit for a set period of time, then these are dealt with by the local association.
However, the tenants themselves have to clearly indicate to the local housing association about their extended absence from their unit.
I am concerned that current practices in this area will deter Nunavummiut from pursuing educational and training opportunities, especially when the opportunities may only be available in larger communities.
Will the minister commit to having the housing corporation work with LHOs to review this issue?
This issue is continually being dealt with. If the tenant is going to move or go to another community and if they are renting a public unit, they have to inform the local housing organization. The tenant can make an agreement for someone else to take care of the unit.
When residents are allocated public housing units, it is important that they be provided with clear information concerning the terms and conditions of their agreement with the LHO, including terms and conditions regarding temporary absences from the unit and the ability of the tenant to break a lease.
Can the minister clarify what information is provided to new public housing tenants?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said earlier on, we work with local housing organizations. The LHO has a policy they provide to the tenant.
The tenant has to know that information. The LHO provides that information to the tenant through an agreement. They have to sign an agreement.
Everything is identified and spelled out to the tenant. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Question 240 – 4(2): City of Iqaluit Contracting Process (Hickes)
I’ve got a question to the Minister responsible for Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of CGS provides funding to the City of Iqaluit.
It’s under the contributions program, so I won’t be able to ask it in the current committee meetings. There has been some recent media coverage highlighting an issue in the contracting process.
Does the Department of CGS assist the City of Iqaluit in their contracting process?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Sammurtok.
As the member is aware, Iqaluit is a tax-based municipality and they operate as a municipal government.
However, should they ask us to provide them with any kind of advice, we would be more than happy to help them with that.
The media response that I mentioned was very recently some work on a project that started prior to the contract being formally awarded. City council had to deal very quickly with that matter and did so.
Where I’m going with this is that the Government of Nunavut does provide funding to the City of Iqaluit. What accountability does the city have to the Department of CGS on the funding?
I think I have finally caught onto what you were referring to in the media.
Again I have to reiterate that unless the city comes to us and asks us for advice or assistance for that matter, there is very little that we can do at this point. Thank you.
While I appreciate that, the portion of my second question that I was getting to was the accountability.
What accountability or reporting requirements does the City of Iqaluit have to the Department of Community and Government Services on funding contributions that the government provides to them, and are those reporting obligations being met?
Every year, a formal audit is done of the city’s finances and once that audit is done, it is then provided to us. Based on the information that we get, that we can gather from the audit, we will work with the city to ensure that they are meeting their obligations.
Question 241 – 4(2): Planning Process for Nuliajuk (Savikataaq)
My questions are to the environment minister again.
The minister stated that they had the plan for the Nuliajuk and he stated that communities can or must request for research to be done.
I just want clarification on whether they have a plan year to year or a multi-year plan or they make a plan after a request from a community for research.
In regard to research and the Nuliajuk, if there is a request for research, there is usually a plan set up to utilize the Nuliajuk.
However, if the communities would like to initiate their own research, then it would be best if the request came from the community because it shows that the community would like certain research done.
They don’t have to use the Nuliajuk specifically. That’s what I was trying to say. They’re not required to use the Nuliajuk if they don’t want to use it.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since this is a Nunavut boat, research should be done all within Nunavut.
I realize that there might be a lot more water and resources in the Baffin, but there’s all the other water too in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot.
Can the minister indicate if, in the very near future, this boat will be leaving the Baffin region to do any research in the other two regions of Nunavut?
I indicated that we follow the Nunavut plans and we follow the fisheries plan, and that’s where the Nuliajuk goes.
The ship follows the plan. As I indicated this spring, we follow the Nunavut Fisheries Strategy and the Nuliajuk is going to be following the research in that order.
In the Nunavut Fisheries Strategy, is there anything in the strategy referring to the Kitikmeot or the Kivalliq or is the strategy just Baffin?
We have not completed the strategy, but we will be completing it this year. As I indicated earlier, we’re going to be using the strategy and we have been putting a strategy together for the year to date.
The Nuliajuk is going to be sent wherever that strategy indicates.
(interpretation ends) We will proceed to Item 7.
Committee Report 003 – 4(2): Presentation of the Report of the Standing Committee on the Review of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 Annual Reports of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut (Hickes)
I rise today to present the report of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts on its review of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 annual reports of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut to the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, as an independent officer of the House, the Information and Privacy Commissioner is required to prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislative Assembly.
*See Appendix for full text of Committee Report 3 – 4(2) filed with the Clerk.
Ms. Elaine Keenan Bengts was appointed Nunavut’s first Information and Privacy Commissioner in 1999.
She was reappointed in March of 2010 for a third five-year term of office.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to note for the record that she has served as the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories since 1996, when that jurisdiction’s legislation originally came into effect.
Mr. Speaker, since her initial appointment in 1999, the Information and Privacy Commissioner has submitted an annual report each year to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act exists to achieve two broad goals: ensuring that the public has access to government information while preventing the unauthorized use or disclosure of personal information held by government departments and other public bodies.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner plays a key role in maintaining this balance.