EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We are still dealing with this issue at this point and as you are aware, the new gasoline that we put into the community was mainly for snowmobile use.
I am not sure if that tank is still full and if they still have a problem with the gasoline but we will deal with this issue as soon as possible.
As the member indicated, they have closed the new gasoline that was mainly used for snowmobiles. Did he indicate that the tanks are now closed for public use. Is that what the member is indicating, that the new tanks that we erected were mainly for snowmobile use.
I thought the member indicated that the tank is now closed for public consumption.
My response to the Minister of Public Works is, yes they have closed down that tank.
Mr. Speaker, perhaps when we get into committee of the whole and we start dealing with Public Works I can raise my questions. More specific questions regarding this issue.
That will be it for me.
We will move on to the orders of the day.
Petition 11 - 1(3): Kugaaruk School Gymnasium
I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of a school gymnasium in Kugaaruk.
Mr. Speaker the petition contains 271 signatures of residents of Kugaaruk and Mr. Speaker, the petition requests that capital funding be approved for the gymnasium.
Speaker: Item 10. Petitions.
Petition 12 - 1(3): Cambridge Bay School
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a petition signed by approximately 194 adults and 184 students.
The petition requests that the Government of Nunavut follows through this year with the construction of the high school and enlarged gymnasium for Cambridge Bay, including the heritage centre within the school.
The gymnasium would be the only large one in all of the Kitikmeot capable of supporting major sports events. As the Kitikmeot is the only region without a large gymnasium, this is not a luxury but a necessity.
Mr. Speaker, this petition was started on the afternoon of Friday April the 14th.
I received it Sunday morning on the way to the airport.
I would like to make a point that the signatures collected on this petition were collected in less that two days.
Speaker: Petitions.
Tabled Document 80- 1(3): Cambridge Bay School Drawings
Mr. Speaker, today I wish to table the drawings for the high school in Cambridge Bay so that could be a matter of public record.
Tabled Document 81 - 1(3): Arnaqjuaq School Project Brief
Mr. Speaker, today I will be tabling a document regarding the Arnaqjuaq School addition in Hall Beach.
These are the blueprints of said school in Hall Beach.
Tabled Document 82 - 1(3): Letter From NEU Member on Negotiations
I do not know whether this is the last one or not. But the Nunavut Employees’ Union gave me a copy of these letters.
The documents are in both Inuktitut and English.
Tabled Document 83 - 1(3): Nunavut Arctic College Programs
I would like to table a document on the Nunavut Arctic College.
This was in regards to a question brought up by Mr. Barnabas during committee of the whole.
Tabled Document 84 - 1(3): Community Government & Transportation Business Plan
I would like to table in both official languages the Department of Community Government & Transportation business plan for the fiscal year 2000/2001.
This is the first business plan drafted entirely by the Department of Community Government & Transportation.
In accordance with motion 14 - 1(3), the Business Plan for Community Government & Transportation is referred to the committee of the whole.
Tabled Document 85 - 1(3): Justice Business Plan
Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, I am pleased to table in both official languages, the Department of Justice Business Plan for 2000/2001.
This document indicates the work the department will be doing this year.
In accordance with motion 14 - 1(3), the Business Plan for Justice is referred to the committee of the whole.
Motion 22 - 1(3): Appointment of Peter Kattuk to Executive Council
WHEREAS section 55(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act requires that there shall be an Executive Council of Nunavut;
AND WHEREAS members of the Executive Council of Nunavut are appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;
NOW THEREFORE I move, seconded by the Honourable member for Tunnuniq, that this Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of Nunavut that Peter Kattuk, Member for Hudson Bay, be appointed to the Executive Council.
Bill 13, Tabled Document 41 - 1(3), Tabled Document 51 - 1(3), Tabled Document 60 - 1(3), Tabled Document 61 - 1(3), Tabled Document 77 - 1(3).
According to the authority vested in me by motion 3 - 1(3) the committee of the whole will stay in session until it reports itself out with Mr. Iqaqrialu as Chairperson.
Prior to the commencement we will take a 20 minute break.
>>House recessed at 3.25 and resumed at 3.50 p.m.
Chairperson (Mr. Iqaqrialu) (interpretation): We will proceed.
We are on the main estimates.
During the committee of the whole, we will deal with Bill 13, Tabled Documents 41-1(3), 51-1(3), 60-1(3), 61-1(3) and 77-1(3).
On Friday we dealt with Bill 13 and tabled document 61-1(3) and 60-1(3).
We are on Baffin, petroleum products, on branch summary and we will just continue.
Friday we completed the general comments and although we had the floor open for general comments on our last day I am not to sure what we wanted to do because things are critical at this time and we could not complete the session at that time.
What are the members’ wishes.
Do you want to get on to the figures right away.
That is where we concluded but due to questions we had to get back to a previous item.
Mr. Tootoo: Mr. Chairperson I would suggest we start where we left off on Friday.
Chairperson (interpretation): I apologize, I did not have my receiver on.
Could you repeat that please. Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Tootoo: I would suggest that if members wish that we pick-up where we left off on Friday.
We will just continue on where we left off Friday.
I agree with my colleague and I was going to mention what he just stated.
Before we get down to the figures, I do have a couple of questions to ask.
We finished our session and we started to go into detail.
We will allow questions but if we could get to the details as soon as possible I would appreciate it.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairperson and thank you to the officials from POL.
Just recently we received a letter or correspondence in regards to Gjoa Haven's bad gasoline.
I do believe that the minister was given a copy of the letter this morning.
Under members’ statements I made a statement in regards to the 800 thousand litres of bad gasoline that was delivered in 1999 to Gjoa Haven. I know that 800 thousand litres is huge and we received lots of it and there is lots left over.
We received 100 thousand litres that was shipped last summer to Gjoa Haven as residents were complaining about bad gasoline.
This 100 thousand litres was shipped by your department and we have been told once the weather gets colder we will use that 100 thousand litres.
That was during the fall and we still have not used all the 100 thousand litres, but we started using some of it in the fall.
We just recently started using some of that gas and according to the correspondence that I have received from my riding they say that 100 thousand litres of gasoline has been depleted.
It has all been consumed, but Mr. Chairman, I have a question.
This 800 thousand litres of gasoline is in huge bulk, and my constituency is requesting that 10 thousand litres of the gasoline be changed.
Replace those 800 thousand litres completely.
That is what my community is requesting.
My constituency would like to get a response to that.
When you are asking your questions please make them brief and once the officials understand they will be able to respond to you quickly.
So please try to make your questions brief so they can give you an adequate response.
Minister of Public Works, who we forgot to welcome to the witness table.
I would like to welcome you to the witness table.
Would you identify your staff first before you respond.
We feel very welcome here.
On my right is Mr. Mrazek who is the Deputy Minister of Public Works.
On my left is Patrick Galbraith, he is the Director of Finance for Public Works Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mrazek will respond to the Member from Gjoa Haven’s question.
Brent Boddy, who is the Regional Superintendent for Public Works spoke to him and has a better idea what the information is and I will let him respond to the question.
The situation with the gas in Gjoa Haven came to us just before the weekend.
I spoke to Mr. Boddy a few times during that time and the last time this morning.
He was in the community over the weekend and last Friday.
What had been arranged is a number of samples have been shipped last Friday to the laboratory for examination and we are waiting for the result of the test before any other potential work is organized.
Any decision will be made after we receive the test results.
We are thinking the results will reach us some time this week and at that time we will make some preparations and changes regarding the gasoline situation.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mrazek. Mr. Puqiqnak
Which laboratory is going to be doing the test.
Is it going to be the same laboratory that did the test in 1999.
Chairperson: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mrazek: Thank you Mr Chairperson.
According to my knowledge the first samples have been sent to Edmonton.
How about the ones previously. Were they sent to Edmonton too.
I thought you would have all the details right now as to the ones that were tested in 1999.
I thought you would have the results by now.
What is wrong with the results from the first testing.
The Gjoa Haven gasoline already had samples taken out, they were already tested, and we were given detailed information from the test.
So are you now going to be looking for another test to find out where the problem occurs.
The reason for new additional testing is that we considered the time lapse, which is approximately 6 months, and we want to be sure if there is anything wrong with the gas.
That is why we went for additional testing of the gas.
I have a very brief question in regards to the oil, not gasoline, the oil price in the communities.
The price varies from community to community for example, for aviation fuel and for diesel and heating fuel.
Even though it is the same fuel why does that fuel vary although it is the same.
Chairperson (interpretation): Who would like to respond. Mr. Mrazek.
I will try to explain to the honourable member the difference between the pricing per community.
One of the components which is needed in order to calculate cost is the cost of shipping to the different communities.
Even if you buy oil in the south or anywhere else for the unit price the cost of shipping is slightly different for communities.
I would use the simple example of shipping the fuel to Cape Dorset or Kimmirut compared to the shipping of fuel to Grise Fiord.
If you look on the map you see the considerable distance which the ship has to carry.
Therefore there is a slight difference between the products and the communities.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr Mrazek. Mr. Alakannuark.
My second question, as you have stated that the same fuel costs different amounts in different communities, which community pays the highest amount for fuel.
I know there is the fuel, the heating fuel and the fuel for vehicles.
I would like to know which community has the most expensive fuel.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the price list with me at this time so I cannot answer the question at this time.
However, the information can be made available tomorrow without any problem.
At this time I do not see anyone's hands up.
Right now since we are on the topic of fuel, we heard earlier this year from the Minister Responsible for the Power Corporation about the Ikuma Report.
I was just wondering if there has been any type of a reaction, or has the department prepared any type of briefing or a recommendation on the Ikuma Report.
Either one of you can respond to his question.
Following the recommendations that were put out by the department as of yet we have not been able to deal with those recommendations. We have not even looked into the details of the recommendations as of yet.
In the departmental business plan and we heard earlier, the new Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy that was put forward by this government, I understand that it will be your department that will be doing the monitoring, implementation and enforcement of this policy.
Now that the local governments, the municipalities and the hamlets, are going to have to follow these policies, have there been any steps taken to figure out a way to do this with the other appropriate ministries like Community Government and Sustainable Development.
Yes, we have implemented the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy, the Department of Public Works will be the monitoring agency, and also Mr. Mrazek will elaborate a little bit more on the hamlets regarding the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy.
To answer Mr. Tootoo’s questions regarding the implementation or potential enforcement of the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy.
Discussion has already started with two major partners, which are Community Government and Sustainable Development.
As you know the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy has been approved and put into operation.
We have regional centres in Cambridge Bay, Rankin and Iqaluit.
According to the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy any organization that receives fifty-one percent of their funding from the government, which applies to the hamlets, specifically it is mandatory to use the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy.
We are discussing at this time the methods for the enforcement and controlling the situation.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Mrazek. Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Tootoo: I am glad to hear that the work is underway with the other two departments.
Does the minister or staff have any indication as to when they expect to have something developed that members could be able to see.
Madame Minister or Mr. Mrazek.
I cannot make any commitment time wise but our idea is to have a joint MOU of understanding within the next two weeks regarding the department’s controlling the hamlet expenditures.
Mainly the hamlet expenditures.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you Mr. Mrazek.
It is good to see the department is picking up stuff like this and getting it done as soon as possible.
I imagine that it must be difficult in regards to the capacity problems they alluded to last week.
Going to something different now Mr. Chairperson.
The Department of Public Works is responsible for operating and maintaining all the government facilities, I assume.
Is there a record kept or a preventative maintenance schedule kept track of for all our government facilities that we have across Nunavut.
Which one of you is going to respond to the question.
Madame Minister of Public Works.
The regional Public Works all have staff in each community and all the assessments have been recorded.
So therefore there are records available.
Then I assume there should be a fairly up to date record. How up to date are these records as far as the condition ratings and the requirements for preventative maintenance to be done on facilities.
Yes, all the records are kept in each individual department and all the maintenance has been recorded individually.
According to the conditions of each government buildings, yes all our records are up to date and we have ongoing record keeping.
Mr. Chairman I would just ask that in the minister's opening remarks she indicated that she would be taking over the facilities that were previously administered by the health and education boards.
I am just wondering if a similar type of information is available on the facilities that were administered by those boards as well.
Or is that something that the department would have looked after in the past.
Or has it been done in the past by the boards.
The health and education boards, all the assets have been handed over to my department.
Mr. Mrazek will be able to elaborate more on that.
Chairperson: Thank you Minister.
Mr. Mrazek: Thank you Mr. Chairperson.
To answer Mr. Tootoo's question about maintenance of the government buildings and the government assets.
Yes, we have records because we have been providing the maintenance for the health facilities.
Yes, we have the records for the education facilities.
The only thing we are dealing with right now are the new assets coming on stream from the integration of the health and education boards, and those are mainly leased buildings which have not been controlled or anything like that under Public Works.
They have been with the boards but now the responsibility has come to Public Works.
Then Mr. Chairman I believe it is safe in saying that the Department of Public Works has an accurate report of the condition of all of the government facilities throughout Nunavut and would know what the requirements and needs were.
They have that information already for all the facilities.
Am I correct in assuming this, based on the answers that I just received.
Yes we have the maintenance records of the facilities but we do not have the complete conditional report of every one of the facilities.
We know what stage the building quality or what the performance is, but we don't have the final condition reports for every facility.
We have to also take into consideration some of the records may not be available, specifically in the community transfer initiative, which is about four to six communities throughout Nunavut.
They are most likely with the individual hamlets and there is no problem to get those reports.
Based on this information, if the department has all that information, we have heard other departments talk about developing a 5 year plan or twenty year capital plans based on the needs that are out there.
From the sound of it, what I've heard, we have that information there and it just needs to be, I'm just wondering have other departments requested that information in putting together their plans. Are they utilising the resources that we seem to have already in developing those plans.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: I will respond to that question.
As we do Public Works for the government we make available the numbers if they are requested by the Department of Education or whichever department, we give them the information they request as soon as possible.
If they are going to be reviewing or making a five year plan they are free to ask for any type of information that we have, if they wish to do so.
Would it be fair to say that the Department of Public Works, given the information that it has could put together an objective list of projects based on historical numbers and the reports and stuff like that, that the department does maintain.
I realize that this is just on existing government facilities.
I would like some further clarification from the member.
Did you want to see all the documents that we have, all the reports that we have or are you requesting that the information be given to the government departments.
Are you requesting that information right away.
Mr. Chairman, what I was asking is, based on the information that I have heard and the answers provided, would it be safe to assume that the Department of Public Works on all our existing government buildings could put an objective plan prioritizing the need for maintenance or overhauls or anything like that on any of these facilities based on the records that it keeps.
I don’t know if that clarifies it a little more or not.
I would like to recognize two people from Broughton Island, Mr. Steve Audlakiak and his wife, he is one of the clam divers in Broughton Island.
Madame Minister if you would like to respond please.
I would like to answer the question from Mr. Tootoo.
Public Works is providing the maintenance or any other work that is requested by clients.
The only Public Works has and owns is basically some trade shops in the communities. The rest of the work is done for the individual client departments.
The information for client departments is available through us, but we are not in the position, nor have we been mandated to solicit or recommend or anything like that to any other departments regarding what to do with the buildings or with any other asset.
I hope that is clear at this point.
Mr. Chairman, I understand that it is not the department’s mandate to do that, but given the wealth of information that the department seems to have on all these facilities, I was just wondering that wouldn’t it be safe to assume that the department has the potential, given the information that is has, in doing that.
I guess, every time we get in here in a budget debate, it’s this project is in and that one is not, this one’s in that one’s not.
That does create a lot of animosity and questions and concerns by members in this House.
I was just thinking that based on just the facts. The information available, the historical data.
If there was a way to develop a plan that would be objective and only take into account those things into consideration and eliminate a lot of the politics, that there would be one system set up based on need.
Based on that information that might be an easier method in determining what projects are put into the capital plan.
Any one of the witnesses.
I know exactly what Mr. Tootoo is saying.
We work with the Hamlet Councils and with the Community Government & Transportation.
They work together to identify their priorities and the Hamlet Councils are asked what their priorities are going to be.
We do not want to overshoot the Hamlets and start taking on this project as a department.
We are just representing or just providing a service to the government departments.
I know exactly where the member is coming from, but we provide service to the departments.
We cannot tell them what they should and should not be doing or which projects they should take on.
I hope that’s clear Mr. Chairman, I know exactly where the member is coming from in regards to prioritizing and using all the information that we have.
But the Hamlet Councils and Community Government & Transportation get together with the staff members of the Hamlets and they prioritize things.
Then we provide the service.
We try to provide the required information.
For example, if there is a nursing station anywhere that needs reviewing we could look at the data or a school we could look for the data and provide it.
But it is not our mandate to do the prioritizing or to make recommendations to the government departments.
The local governments with Community Government & Transportation decide on the prioritisation.
Mr. Chairman, just to clarify I wasn’t talking about new projects on non-government owned facilities.
I am specifically limiting my comments to government owned facilities, not municipal owned or otherwise.
Just the government assets that are owned.
I guess the Department of Public Works does all the project management.
They are a service department for the other government departments.
A government department would determine a project and at what point is it turned over to the Department of Public Works.
Maybe the Department of Public Works should fix these mikes.
What I was trying to say you did not get it because it had to go through the interpreter and I apologize to the interpreters for not getting the information across.
Suzie and the other girls from the Keewatin speak the same dialect as I do so I will speak in English.
(interpretation ends) What I was trying to say is that the Hamlets prioritize through Community Government & Transportation what they want done in their communities and sometimes the priority of the government might not be a priority of the community.
That’s what I was saying.
Even if we provided them with information and said you need to upgrade your sewer and put aside your building for such and such a thing, the Hamlet might decide that something else is a priority.
That’s what I was trying to say.
Now because of the mikes not turning on, I have lost the question.
I will ask the member to repeat his question again and that’s what I was saying.