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So the Committee asked, in their letter to the Government of September 30, whether the Government would consider delaying the coming into force of Bill 3, for communities where the time zone adjustment would be two hours.
However, the Committee never received the courtesy of a formal response.
Regular Members are also very concerned that the way the Government chose to implement the time zone change was by regulations which were made and passed behind closed doors.
The way this came about seems to have bypassed the Legislative Assembly.
The Government appears to have assumed that just because it had the legal power to make these regulatory changes, the members would pass Bill 3 without question.
It was only last week that one of our standing committees, the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment, was informed that regulations had already been passed by both the territorial and federal governments to make the time zone changes come into effect.
We now have learned that the necessary regulations were passed in early September by the Nunavut Government and in early October by the federal government.
As recently as last Friday, some Regular Members were under the impression that delaying the passage of Bill 3 would delay the implementation of the time zone changes.
It was only late last week and early this week that the Regular Members began to realize that it is not necessary for Bill 3 to pass for the time zone change to come into effect.
The regulations were already made before our current session even began.
Our caucus feels that this should have been clearly disclosed to us and the public by the government.
The result is that many regular members are feeling that they have had no voice in this important matter.
Some members were feeling that this Legislative Assembly is not important and they are concerned that the cabinet may be able to use its power and authority in this way again.
They are concerned that they have had no opportunity to voice concerns and questions from their communities; and that those questions and concerns have been treated in a dismissive manner.
Mr. Speaker, the Regular Members do not want this to happen again.
We ask the Government from here on to make it a practice to disclose to us, in advance, the details of any regulations which the Government is planning which will have significant impacts on our communities.
We also ask the Government from now on to treat Regular Members with the spirit of openness, co-operation and respect which has been promised in Pinasquaqtavut.
Member's Statement 65 - 1(3): Remembrance of Pangnirtung Hunting Accident Victims
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Nutarak.
Please shut off your microphone.
Member's statements.
(Note: Some inaudible sections due to technical problems)
I will ask today, and I want to thank the people who went to Pangnirtung for a ceremony with me.
First of all I would like to thank you Mr. Speaker for going to Pangnirtung and Mr. Okalik, our Premier.
We also had invited regular member Mr. Nutarak.
I would like to thank the members for going to Pangnirtung yesterday for commemoration in memory of the individuals who had died (inaudible) November 1st.
This ceremony was aired on a CBC program called Igalaaq and it was also broadcast on CBC radio.
Yesterday, we gave an (inaudible) item that could be used by the students of Aluki School in memory of Charlie Koonilusie who had died at the age of 10.
The hunting party perished during a vicious storm.
During the commemoration these victims, I also would like to thank the Pangnirtung residents who have been very co-operative.. Last year when they were searching for those victims, I was the coroner at that time and also the leader for team number 2 of the search & rescue effort.
Member's Statement 66 - 1(3): Passing of Titus Seeteenak
I stand today to pay tribute to an Elder's passing.
Titus Seeteenak of Baker Lake passed away quietly at his home Wednesday October 27th.
Seeteenak was a kind and caring man, father and community leader who cared for everyone he knew and today Mr. Speaker, he will be missed by all of Nunavut.
Member's Statement 67 - 1(3): Passing of Titus Seeteenak
Mr. O'Brien: Thank you Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I also would like to offer my condolences to the family of Titus Seeteenak, especially his son Robert.
I've know Titus and his family for almost 10 years now and consider them very good friends.
They supported me over the last number of years.
Mr. Speaker, Titus Seeteenak, was truly a prince of a man and really one of the true pioneers of Nunavut.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Member's Statement 68 - 1(3): Time Zone Change - Bill 3
On Friday, although I really did not enjoy Friday, it was quite funny for some though I will not go into the details.
I'd like to speak on Bill 3 because the MLAs have been working very hard on the time change issue.
I was so happy that Bill 3 didn't get passed on Friday but I didn't realize that the time change was going to go ahead anyway.
But while I have the opportunity Mr. Speaker, I will speak to the issue further when we start dealing with Bill 3.
I would have liked to speak on that issue last Friday however.
Speaker (interpretation): Members’ statements, Mr. Alakannuark.
Member's Statement 69 - 1(3): Consultations with Constituents
Mr. Alakannuark: I rise today to say that I am very pleased about the issues we've been working on.
Perhaps for the future of the Nunavut Government, how are we going to be operating as a Nunavut Government when we don't please some of our constituencies who elected us.
As we have stated, and as the Nunavut Government has stated, we want to be open and closer to the people of Nunavut.
I ask today, how are we going to represent our constituencies, how are we going to consult with them and how will we be working and making decisions openly.
So that's why I rise today.
Member's Statement 70 - 1(3): Recognition of Artists
I rise today in recognition of the artists in Nunavut.
The youth artists in Nunavut will start following the path of their parents and I want us all to recognize them and to provide more support to the artistic community in Nunavut.
I also would like to express my appreciation to the Culture, Language, Elders & Youth Department on the Arts Council.
I was recently appointed to the council and as a former carver, I'm really honoured.
I would like to see full recognition of the art community.
Member's Statement 71 - 1(3): Joamie School Family Fun Night
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, last Thursday night the Joamie School held their annual Family Fun Night.
Mr. Speaker, the Family Fun Night is eagerly anticipated and the turn out at this year's event was excellent and the money goes to support school programs and extracurricular activities.
As part of the Joamie celebrations, a mock jail, games of chance and a target practice using a soaking wet sponge thrown at various personalities, including yours truly, helped raise much needed money.
Mr. Speaker, I don't know what was worse, being locked up in the mock jail with Peter Kilabuk or actually being hit in the face with the wet sponge.
But seriously Mr. Speaker, I would like you and this house to join me in congratulating the students, the staff and the many involved who helped arrange and carry out this annual event.
Return 02 – 1 (3) : Question 42 – 1 (3) Contractors use of Government Equipment
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker I have two returns on behalf of the Hon. Manitok Thompson.
The first; On October 26, 1999, Mr. Irqittuq asked Ms. Thompson if the Nunavut Government is allowing contractors to use government infrastructure to carry out their contracts.
Mr. Speaker, when a contractor obtains a contract from the government, they're not supposed to use government infrastructure to carry out their contracts.
Return 03 – 1 (3) : Question 67 - 1(3): Lack of Aviation Fuel
The second return to an oral question, if I may Mr. Speaker, asked by Mr. Alakannuark on October 27th, 1999. I rise today to provide a response to the question posed to Minister Thompson by Mr. Alakannuark on October 27, 1999.
The member requested information as to why there was no aviation fuel in the communities of Repulse Bay and Pelly Bay.
Mr. Speaker, with regards to Repulse Bay, the department has placed drums of aviation fuel in this community this past re-supply season.
However, this fuel is for emergency medivac purposes only.
Certified bulk aviation fuel is available to aircraft in the surrounding three communities of Rankin Inlet, Coral Harbour and Baker Lake for requirements other than emergencies.
Mr. Speaker, with regard to Pelly Bay, the department has a two year agreement in place with the Canadian Coast Guard for sea lift purposes.
The capability of the Coast Guard Tanker to move fuel products to this community is restricted to one product, so only P50 fuel is transported to Pelly Bay.
Given the extreme cost of airlifting additional types of fuel to this community we have not chosen to locate aviation fuel in Pelly Bay at this time.
Having said that Mr. Speaker, it should also been pointed out that there have been no requests from aircraft companies to position certified aviation fuel in Pelly Bay.
Airlift companies are currently using the P50 fuel in Pelly Bay as an acceptable alternative to certified aviation fuel.
P50 fuel is historically cheaper than certified aviation fuel.
The air companies are quite satisfied.
Additionally Mr. Speaker, those companies who would rather use certified aviation fuel can obtain this type of fuel from their alternates such as Hall Beach, Taloyoak, Igloolik and Gjoa Haven.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ng. Returns to Oral questions.
Speaker: We'll take a ten minutes recess.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Sergeant At Arms.
We will call the meeting back to order.
Return 04 – 1 (3) : Question 45 – 1 (3) Proper Spelling of Names
I would like to make a response to an oral question raised by Mr. O'Brien on October 26, 1999, concerning the proper spelling of names.
Mr. Speaker, the spelling of people’s names is a very important issue that we cannot rush into or begin to solve overnight.
There is a long history to learn from and the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth has begun working towards addressing everyone’s concerns.
I envision a Nunavut wide public awareness campaign informing people of their options for making changes to their name.
We know that the people of Nunavut are responsible and accountable for their own well-being.
Our role is to provide awareness of this issue and to provide choices for people who want to change their name.
Mr. Speaker, on this sensitive and difficult issue my Deputy Minister is developing a working plan that would be implemented over the next two years.
The first action my Deputy Minister has taken is to invite Deputy Ministers of the Department of Health & Social Services, Education, and Justice to strategize how best to deal with this without disrupting peoples’ lives too much.
In the strategy sessions, it may be advisable to have input from the Nunavut Law Review Committee and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, as 85 percent of our population are Inuit.
Mr. Speaker, from these actions my department will also develop an options paper that will outline the strategies we wish to propose.
It is my desire to consult with the members and work together on establishing what it is that should be done.
Returns to Oral questions.
Return 05 – 1 (3) :Adult Educator for Hall Beach
This is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Irqittuq on the Arctic College Centre.
The Nunavut Arctic College Centre has been without the services of an adult educator for the month of September and October.
Therefore, there were no programs running at the NAC building.
NAC realizes the need for adult education services for the community of Hall Beach and has hired Susan Leblanc who started on October 25th, 1999.
The College will be delivering an adult basic education course as well as providing other services to the community, such as career counselling, testing and assessments.
The college will be working with many community organizations to develop a training plan for the community and seek alternate funding to fund these programs.
Susan Leblanc is looking forward to having the opportunity to work with the community and help deliver the programs that they request.
Speaker (interpretation): Returns to Oral questions, Mr. Kilabuk.
Return 06 – 1 (3) : Question 92 - 1(3): Gjoa Haven Fish Plant
Return to an oral question on Friday, October 29th from the member for Nattilik in regards to the Gjoa Haven fish plant.
The department has reviewed the proposal for the Gjoa Haven fish plant and staff are now examining the cost estimates.
The plant will require significant capital investments to upgrade it.
This funding has not yet been identified within the department’s budget.
The department staff in the Kitikmeot Region are currently examining the option of incorporating the fish plant into the operations of Nunavut Development Corporation.
The President of the Nunavut Development Corporation will be provided with a copy of the Gjoa Haven proposal and discussions with the Nunavut Development Corporation are expected to take place this winter.
I know the fish plant has provided productive employment for the people of Gjoa Haven in the past and I will keep the member informed as we look for affordable and practical ways of continuing it’s operation.
Return 07 – 1 (3) : Question 93 - 1(3): Purchase of Country Food from Kivalliq Communities
Since I spoke in Inuktitut, so that Enoki would hear, I will provide this response in English.
(interpretation ends) This response is to an oral question asked on Friday, October 29th, by the member from Baker Lake on the purchase of country food from the Kivalliq communities.
At the present time the Keewatin Fish and Meat Plant in Rankin can only purchase caribou from Coral Harbour.
This is the only community that has a large enough quota to conduct a federally inspected commercial harvest.
The community has a quota of 6 thousand commercial tags, the communities of Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Repulse Bay, Whale Cove have a total tag allocation of 925.
This does not make it economical to conduct a federal harvest in these communities.
The Keewatin Fish & Meat Plant is purchasing about 40 thousand pounds of arctic char from Rankin Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet and Whale Cove.
As markets for these products increase, the Keewatin Fish & Meat Plant will look at purchasing arctic char from the other communities in the Keewatin Region.
I am advised that the Nunavut Development Corporation is currently examining options for increasing their processing capacity and the opportunities for increasing market demand for caribou.
Mr. Speaker I would like to recognize five members of a delegation that some of us had the opportunity to meet with earlier today.
First of all, two of them are my constituents, Mr. Charlie Evalik, President of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, and Mr. Clare Basler with the Kitikmeot Corporation and also accompanying them is Mervin Hempenstall and John Zigarlic both of Nuna Logistics.
Also a former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Brian Peckford, who acts in an advisory capacity with that group.
Speaker: Welcome to the Assembly.
Hon. Ed Picco: Good afternoon Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker it gives me great pleasure to welcome to the gallery today a constituent and a good friend of mine, Mr. Andrew Tagak.
Sitting next to Andrew is well-known Iqaluit entrepreneur and recycler, Mr. Speaker, and noted thespian, Mr. Brian Hellwig.
I would like to recognize one of my constituency members who is here for the purpose of supporting opposition to the time zone.
John Illupaliq from Igloolik.
Question 117 - 1(3): Boundaries Between Regions
I really don’t know who to direct my question to.
The Baffin region and Kitikmeot cannot really figure out which area this belongs to.
I never really know where to draw the line for Keewatin area and the Kitikmeot area. I would like to know where the boundaries are.
Perhaps we’ll have to sleep on it because in the past Kitikmeot was in the central arctic, when it was the NWT, but now that it is Nunavut, perhaps they are west now.
Now at least I know who to direct my question to.
Keewatin, Baffin and Kitikmeot if you can tell me the names of those regions, which ridings are in them.
I was wondering if they do have names for the three regions.
Yes, I know that people get confused, perhaps mostly people are getting confused because of the time zone.
Central time can be translated as standard time for the people who are living in the central area.
Your third question Mr. Nutarak.
I am not talking about time zones I just wanted to get clarification on what kind of names the regions have.
So I was wondering sometime if the Premier in the future could enlighten me with the names of those regions.
Yes, Kitikmeot was usually in the west and the Keewatin was the centre and Baffin region was higher, or further east.
Today we’ll have to review the issue.
Question 118 - 1(3): Cost of Health Residential Facilities
Mr. Speaker my question if for the Minister Responsible for Health & Social Services.
In a presentation that we received from the minister, it indicates that there were six facilities in Nunavut where we had residential facilities.
I was wondering if the minister could inform us of the costs to the department to maintain those facilities.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut has several boarding home facilities set up to house our patients that have to travel outside their home and indeed, in some cases outside of the region.
This happens Mr. Speaker, for the Baffin Region, here in Iqaluit we have a boarding home for Baffin patients that use the Baffin Regional Hospital facility, but we also have a facility in Ottawa, which is run by the OHSNI group which is called the Rotel.
In Winnipeg we have a facility there for boarding our patients that go from the Keewatin region and for the Kitikmeot patients we have a boarding facility in Edmonton and we also have a facility in Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker at this time I don’t have the actual costs of each of the facilities with me, but what I can do is to commit to this House, Mr. Speaker, to get that information and make it available to the member after the sitting, or at least by as late as tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if maybe the minister didn’t understand or didn’t hear the question.
I know it was mentioned that there were six facilities in Nunavut and that there were 77 placements and I was wondering as to what it is costing us to have those facilities for Nunavut.
I have the numbers for the facilities, 80 placements that we have outside of Nunavut, and I would like to know what the costs are for those services for the six facilities in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the member could clarify if he is talking about boarding homes for hospital patients, is he talking about the group homes that we have located outside of the community or inside the community.
For example, here in Iqaluit we have a group home for handicapped.
Is he talking about the placements that we have out of jurisdiction for handicapped kids, exactly what type of placements is the member asking about.
I will allow you to rephrase your question Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker in the report it says 77 placements in 6 facilities in Nunavut.
I would assume that includes things like the group home here in Iqaluit, I believe there are two in Rankin, 1 in Arviat, I am not sure where the other one is but those are the ones that I am talking about.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member clarifying the question.
The group homes that we have placements in, I believe the member’s original question was what is the cost to operate those facilities.
Those facilities are operated, as the member and the House know, in most cases, by the Regional Health Boards.
In some cases they are actually on a contract basis, by a private corporation and in some cases a non-profit society.
I don’t have the actual costs with me, Mr. Speaker, that we are using right now for the placement of those facilities, or the O&M costs, the staffing costs and so on, but I can get that information and make it available to the member.
Question 119 - 1(3): Manitoba to Keewatin Power Grid
Mr. Speaker my question is directed to the minister responsible for the Nunavut Power Corporation, or I should say the NWT Power Corporation, I am not quite sure how to handle this since right now it is sort of in between.
Recently we had a delegation in discussing a preliminary study that took place regarding the power corporation and the possible linkage of the power grid that could be set up between Churchill and Arviat and the Keewatin in general.
Also in that study was the possibility of a road link between Churchill Manitoba and the Keewatin.
I am not sure if the minister can speak to the road linkage but possibly to the status of the power grid preliminary studies. Basically what were the results and also if there is a possibility of moving onto the next step, which would be a more detailed analysis of this particular issue.
Mr. Speaker, the report that the member talks about, Mr. Speaker, came from Manitoba Hydro and it was a pre-feasibility study.
Now, my understanding is that it was a pre-feasibility study, that it is broad in its implications and that indeed, it made some assumptions.
For example, my understanding after reading the report is that one of these assumptions was that every home in Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove and Arviat would switch to electric heat.
So that would be some major cost implications if that occurred.
There are also some huge capital dollar implications, so what we have done through our partner, Sustainable Development, that is Mr. Peter Kilabuk’s department, we have done an analysis on this pre-feasibility study and I would assume that the next step would be to do a feasibility study.
The study that was presented took some time, I believe it was several months in the making, and a feasibility study would have to look at the environmental impacts, it would have to look at major bridges, major rivers that would have to be crossed, it would have to involve NIRB, the Nunavut Impact Review Board, it would have to have environmental assessments and so on.
What I am trying to do now as the minister for the power corporation here in Nunavut, is to make contact with our Manitoba counterparts and to find out exactly what the next steps would be.
Mr. Speaker, my second question to the minister.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier earlier in our mandate spoke very positively and was very supportive of a road link between Churchill Manitoba and the Keewatin and also about a possible power grid.
My question to the minister is; will the minister be supporting the next step, which is a detailed analysis of these particular projects.
Mr. Speaker, I can only speak to the transmission issue, as the road is outside my scope and I guess it would be the Minister for Transportation who would be reviewing that information and that detail.
I can say that on the pre-feasibility study, that has been prepared by the Manitoba Government, that has been transmitted to me as the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Power Corporation, that we have had a chance to analyze, that we have had a chance to review it at this time.
We will be able to look at it again in some detail, which is what we are trying to do now with our partners, Mr. Kilabuk’s department, and from there with our meeting that we are trying to arrange right now with the minister for the power corporation of the Government of Manitoba, to see what the next steps would be.
The next steps, I would assume would be a feasibility study.
Now given the intricate amount of work and the complex nature of the work that had to be carried out to put the transmission line in place, that could be a two or three year project from the information that was made available to me.