EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, what we’d envisioned in the Department of Health and Social Services and in our discussions over the last several months with the mayors, is that these committees after April 1st would be mainly in an advocacy role also dealing with some issues of confidentiality and being the point of reference at the community level for social and health concerns.
As we get more into the system, there may be some opportunities for more of an administrative role in the delivery of health and social programs at the community level.
Final supplementary, Mr. Nutarak.
My last supplementary.
Can the minister advise if the Community Health Representatives are going to play a support role and work with Community Health Committees as recommended by the Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Nutarak.. Minister responsible for Health, Mr. Picco.
Mr. Speaker, we have drafted terms of reference for the formation of these committees.
In a discussion with the mayors we have made it perfectly clear that these will be committees of the Hamlet and that is why I’ve been meeting with the mayors asking the mayors are they in a position where they want to start these committees and it’s up to them at the community level, at the Hamlet level, at the local level to decide first of all who the membership should be on the committee.
We provided them with some of our ideas.
For example we think that the current Health Board members would be an excellent resource at the community level and the direction that these committees take after April 1st, along with the reference work, the training, as well as some of the logistic work that we are prepared to deliver to these committees, give them better understanding, I guess and more flexibility in what decisions they take.
But ultimately Mr. Speaker, it’s up to the community and up to the Hamlet in what directions those committees take and who their representatives are and what other areas they decide to get into.
Question 219 - 1(3): Sanikiluaq Athletes at Arctic Winter Games
My question is in regards to my constituency.
Today, I’m going to be making reference to comments that I made this morning under Members’ Statements.
Sanikiluaq would be very interested if they could be involved in the Arctic Winter Games.
They would also like to be involved in the Nunavut Arctic Winter Games.
But I know that the co-ordinator of the Arctic Winter Games is here in Nunavut and I know that the minister is not involved in the co-ordination and the planning of Arctic Winter Games.
But I would like to ask the Minister of Community Government and Transportation about the funding provided to the Arctic Winter Games.
(interpretation ends) My question to the minister, does he agree that the Arctic Winter Games should be open to residents from all communities, even the smaller communities.
I feel very much for the comments made by the member.
When we were elected and when we are truly representing our communities, we have to represent everyone.
I believe that every community has the right to be involved in any of the programs, services or games because of course Sanikiluaq is a part of Nunavut.
I don’t believe that there is going to be anybody from Sanikiluaq going to Whitehorse but looking at the 2002 Arctic Winter Games, they have to be planned so that we can include Sanikiluaq in the Arctic Winter Games held by Iqaluit and Greenland.
Listening to the response, it’s not adequate.
Saying that Sanikiluaq is too expensive has always been an excuse for a very long time and it’s something that doesn’t sit well with the residents of Sanikiluaq.
We were very glad when Sanikiluaq was given a seat on this Legislative Assembly so are you saying because Sanikiluaq is too expensive, is that why we are not involved in the Arctic Winter Games.
Minister Responsible for Community Government, Mr. Anawak.
Mr. Speaker, what I had said and I apologise, because Sanikiluaq had representatives in the trials, we shouldn’t be looking at the cost of the communities because we have to treat everyone equally.
Everyone has a right to participate in the same services, be it health, games or anything.
Sanikiluaq is a part of Nunavut, but I think that because of their location they weren’t involved.
I don’t think we should think about the cost, the next time there are Arctic Winter Games in 2002, and we should include all the communities.
For example, Sanikiluaq should be involved in the 2002 games and not think about the costs.
We have to start the planning process so that they will be involved.
Thank you very much for that response but Sport Nunavut, do they have regulations or a policy, saying they should treat all communities equally including the smaller communities.
I would like to know that the small communities, all the communities of Nunavut should be involved whether they have a large population or not.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Community Government and Transportation, Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): There is no such policy saying that any community can be involved or participate.
The problem that we encountered should not even be considered.
If there are athletes in Sanikiluaq, they have to be included in the trials, and I don’t think that we should even have looked at the costs.
What I’m trying to tell the member here is that there is no policy to not include the smaller communities.
I can use Coral Harbour for example.
It’s a small community, but there are a lot of athletes who will be participating at the Arctic Winter Games.
We shouldn’t even include or consider the expense.
We will take that into consideration.
Question 220 - 1(3): Funding for Inuktitut Language Programs
In your statement, you said there is 5.1 million dollars that will be made available and 1.1 million dollars that will be used for Inuit languages and I’m sure for teaching the Inuktitut language.
That’s a very small amount when you look at the vast territory that we have.
I’m not quite happy about the figures that are here with the money.
They are looking at the whole of Nunavut.
There are no French schools.
There’s only one I believe in Iqaluit, and they have a French school.
The amount of money that is handed out for the French language, programs and services is larger than the one for Inuktitut languages.
Talking to the elders this morning, they’re saying it is now an urgent matter to teach our youth and again there is no money put aside for the elders.
There’s going to be nothing that’s going to be coming out with the small amount of dollars that’s put towards Inuktitut language programs.
We have to do something about it.
Mr. Minister, can you make sure that there’s going to be more money made available because the communities are very far apart and make sure that they provide adequate funding so that they provide adequate programs and services.
Before the minister makes a response, please make you question short and to the point.
I would appreciate it.
In your questions, it’s very good and I agree with that.
In Inuinnaqtun language, it’s aimed at all the people because this agreement is for 2 years and if the funding is not enough we will try to go for more.
We have funding there for anything to do with language.
And also we have money, it’s in our department and also for elders.
We can always try and get funding from other sources, and we can look at the plan.
Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for making your point.
I don’t think you should just look around, you should find some so that there will be adequate funds available for the elders for the teaching Aboriginal languages.
You should find the money because there has to be proper money made available for the programs that we’d like to see and also so that the elders could go ahead and do the work that they consider urgent.
I don’t hear a question.
Question 221 - 1(3): Pelly Bay Gymnasium
My question is for the Minister of Education.
In my community of Pelly Bay, we still don’t have our gym.
My question is, when are we going to be getting a gym.
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, my colleague knows very well that we have not considered the budget and I cannot make any comments about that.
The reason why I’m asking this question is because you took it as notice and said you would respond.
Have you made any plans, is the gym in the plans that you’ve put together.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Education, Mr. Arvaluk.
It’s very true, we’re setting up goals for the schools, for the curriculum, for Inuit teachers, but your question, we would be breaking a rule if I tried to respond to your question before we considered the budget.
Question 222 - 1(3): List of Contracts from Nunavut Government
Mr. Speaker, since our Honourable Premier didn’t have any questions, I thought I would give him a chance to stretch his legs. Mr. Speaker, about 5 months ago, I posed a question to the Premier in reference to contracts. My question concerned the number of contracts that were issued from April 01, 1999 when we were first elected.
I wonder if the minister could tell me what the status is on my request as of today.  Speaker: Thank you, Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Premier.  Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We are in the process of finalising the list. We’ve had to work with each of the departments and try and find out every contract so it’s taken a bit long. But we hope to table, hopefully if not at the end of this week, by the end of next week.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Premier. Oral Questions. Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier seemed to enjoy that stretch, so I’ll ask one more question here. Mr. Speaker, that was almost five months ago that I asked that and I realise that it’s a long ordeal and in some cases complicated, but given the fact that we’re four or five months past that request, the information that the Premier will report to the House, will that information include contracts up to this day.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  Speaker: Thank you Mr. O'Brien.
The question was asked in October so we’ve been working on the basis of October contracts and it’s taken a while. That’s the base of the question.
If the new question is, to update to this year, I don’t know how long that might take.
Mr. O'Brien: Mr. Speaker given the fact that we're just about to debate the budget, I would assume that this information should be somewhere recorded in some form of fashion and I guess my question to the Premier is what system is in place to track what we are spending on the various contracts because if there is no system in place how do we control the budget.
Premier, Mr Okalik.
Each department is accountable for all their expenditures and they track their systems and it takes a while to get a complete list, so it's kind of difficult at times to try and compile the complete list from each of the departments.
And the question was very broad, so we're trying to accommodate the member.
Oral Questions. Final supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Speaker, would the Premier commit to providing the House with quarterly reports on contracts that have been issued.
This way it would avoid this long wait and would provide the members in the House with information that I think is critical.
Would the Premier commit to that.
I wish to thank the member for the wonderful suggestion that the member has been making.
Throughout the process of renewing contracts we have been reviewing the comments of our members and we hope to come forward with new approaches to contracts.
We will take a recess for 20 minutes.
>>House recessed at 3:30 p.m. and resumed at 4:00 p.m.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Sergeant-At-Arms.
Orders of the day, number 7, written questions.
Item 12, reports of committees on review of bills.
Reports of committees on Review of Bills.
Item 14, notices of motions.
Mr. Speaker I give notice that on Friday, February 25, 2000 I will move the following motion.
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member from Arviat, that Tabled Document 27 - 1(3) on the Business Incentive Policy be moved into the Committee of the Whole for discussion.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will seek unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Tootoo. (interpretation) I apologize on the orders of the day under 16 we will be dealing with the motions.
You gave notice of the motion last week.
Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills.
Motion 09 - 1(3): TD 24 & 25 - 1(3) to Committee of the Whole
My mistake I am sorry.
Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Honourable member from Arviat that Tabled Document 24 - 1(3) entitled "Response to NTI letter" and Table Document 25 - 1(3) entitled "Subsidy by Territory, Customer, Class and Product" be moved into committee of the whole for discussion.
The Tabled Documents are referred to committee of the whole.
Item 17, first reading of bills.
Item 18, second reading of bills.
Ministers' Statements 45-1(3), 50-1(3), 51-1(3), Tabled Documents 20-1(3), 24-1(3), 25-1(3), 27-1(3).
Mr. Irqittuq in the chair.
Chairperson (Mr. Irqittuq) (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Iqaqrialu’s chair is quite tiny.
In the committee of the whole we are going to continue dealing with the items from yesterday, and the Ministers' Statements.
Maybe if the minister could go to the witness stand, we are going to deal with 45-1(3), and the tabled document 27-1(3).
Thank you Ed Picco.
If you could take the witness stand to discuss the tabled document.
We realize that you'll have to introduce yourself for the record.
Hon. Ed Picco: With me today as, I guess I'll start off with my name is Ed Picco, Minister Responsible for Power Corporation and over there talking and laughing is Kelvin Ng, Minister of Finance and also with me today is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Executive, Laura Gauthier.
We're going to continue with the Minister’s Statement and the tabled document we dealt with yesterday.
Are there any comments.
The Ikuma Report, under 9, I'd like to get a better clarification on the conclusion.
I'd like to get better clarification that the Ikuma Report, it's purpose is to provide a reference for implementation of the Nunavut Power Corporation as a body separate from the Nunavut government once this has been adopted.
Would they continue, would they proceed the way this Ikuma report is tabled.
That's an excellent question from Mr. Iqaqrialu.
And I appreciate his question.
Mr. Chairman, the Ikuma Report was commissioned to look at various options available to the Nunavut government to provide electrical power to Nunavummiut.
There were two main parts of the report, and it describes number one, the possible structures for the Nunavut Power Corporation and then we tried to analyze the pros and cons of each structure.
The number two point was general policy and regulatory issues associated with power rates and subsidies that must be decided by the people and the government of Nunavut.
So in regards to the actual structure of the report the member is asking about, the report recommended that the Nunavut Government set up a Crown Corporation called the Nunavut Power Corporation and we have accepted that recommendation.
That's what we’ll be moving forward on, our own Nunavut Power Corporation.
So, that's the recommendation the member was talking about I think.
I hope that helps answer the question.
I thank you Mr. Chairman.
On page 22, in Inuktitut, it states that the Federal Government and Nunavut Government, it states here that the headquarters for the NWT Corporation, it seems like the headquarters will not change.
Do I understand the headquarters are going to remain there, can you elaborate that to me and make me understand.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr Chairman, it's a good question.
Some of the options that we, I am sorry, go ahead Mr. Chairman.
Chairperson (interpretation): Before the minister makes a statement, you should address me.
Go ahead minister.
Hon. Ed Picco: Mr. Chair, excellent decision.
Thank you Mr. Chairman, a good question again from Mr. Iqaqrialu.
On the location of the head office and maybe some of the responsibilities I think what he was trying to say, the head office functions.
Mr. Iqaqrialu again is correct, that some of the head office functions that you see right now in Hay River, in the Hay River head office of the NWT Power Corporation, you wouldn't have those in Nunavut.
For example, in Hay River they have positions that are dedicated to gas, for example, we are not dealing with that here in Nunavut.
Hydro electrical power, they operate some hydro electrical power generating stations in the west and you don't have them here, those positions wouldn't be there.
On the location of the Nunavut Power Corporation he is correct, the headquarters for the Nunavut Power Corporation would be located in Nunavut itself.
We would have an opportunity for training and the other positions that are involved in the Nunavut headquarters of our Corporation.
Chairperson: Iqaqrialu.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman, I don't want to be the only one making comments but in their written report as it is, the Nunavut….I think it should be Nunavut instead of NWT, it should be noted that it will be Nunavut, because we are not part of NWT anymore.
If they could make a correction on the title of the Territory.
Chairperson (interpretation): Did you want to make a response Mr. Picco.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr. Chairman and thank you Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Very observant of you to spot that.
So, yes Laura has just made a note of it and we'll make sure that’s fixed in the Inuktitut copy.
Chairperson (interpretation): MLA for Uqqumiut.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman, my last question.
On page 26, it states that the 10 million is allotted, 10.2 million is allotted for a three year period and that this will be for the NTPC facilities in Nunavut and in the Inuktitut version it states under NTPC.
I think we should make a correction that Nunavut, NTPC, I just wanted to make a clarification on that.
Would the minister like to respond to that.
Mr. Chairman, on page 26, on the forecast of the annual capital expenditure of NTPC, it is NTPC, it is taken from their five year capital plan on the monies they have budgeted to spend in Nunavut over that five year period of time.
So, the member is correct on how the capital plan is spelt there and the name.
The difference being, it shouldn't be the Nunavut Power Corporation, it's actually taken out of the NTPC one and therefore I think the terminology used is correct.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do you have any other questions.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): My question is very brief now.
Once we get the Nunavut Power Corporation, at that time we'll take over the Northwest Territory part of it.
Chairperson: Mr Picco.
Mr. Chairman, that is a good point.
Over the next twelve months as we build capacity within the new Nunavut Power Corporation, as we get the new President on line and the Board of Directors in place, we'll be able to look at the figures and the projections made by the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and find out what we can use from them so that we do get our Nunavut Power Corporation after April 1, 2001.
Then those figures will be presented as ours.
So I would thank the member again for his suggestion and guidance in that area.
Chairperson (interpretation): Perhaps I would like to remind the Minister again, his question was very brief.
Your response is quite long, you should respond yes or no.
The question requires a yes or no answer.
So I'm just reminding you to keep your responses short and for the people who will be asking the questions I give you the same reminder that you make comments and preambles very short.
The second speaker, Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Chairman I just have a few comments to make.
I know the other members have numerous questions they want put forward.
So I'll be brief.
In speaking of this report, yesterday, my comments to the minister were that I didn't see any major problems with the report.
I think Ms. Gauthier and the team that they put together that compiled this report did a tremendous job and my concern was not what was in the report, but what was not in the report, and that's alternative types of energy such as the hydro link, a hydro link for example from Manitoba to the Keewatin.
In the examples that the minister gave to me, to show it wouldn't be as easy as I guess one might think to look at such a linkage, he cited an example that the mine outside Yellowknife and the Akati mine and the BHP diamond mine, that they themselves went with their own independent generating plant and that they did not run a line from Yellowknife to the mine.
Just a point of clarification to Mr. Chairman, it's my understanding that the reason why they did not run a line out to that particular sight was that Yellowknife could not provide the power.
They were at the point where they were even using diesel generators to provide power to the rest of the area.
So it wasn't that it wasn't a good idea, the mines were looking at a power link but unfortunately, the Power Corporation could not provide that amount of power.
Mr. Chairman, my only comment or request to the minister is that he take it upon himself and his department to, as soon as possible, look into providing a study as to the costs and benefits of alternate power sources such as hydro from Manitoba into Nunavut.
That's my concern right now Mr. Chairman, and if the minister would agree to take this upon himself and have some review done and study I'd be more than pleased to accept the report.
Chairperson: Minister.
Hon. Ed Picco: Yes Mr. Chairman.
Chairperson (interpretation): What a wise response.
Mr. O’Brien: Thank you Mr. Chairman, I realize that you asked the members to keep their remarks short, but I don’t think that necessarily meant non-existent.
I would ask the minister if he could elaborate very briefly as to the timing of this review and when we could expect to see the results of his study, I guess, when it would come back to the House.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Minister, would you like to respond.
Hon. Ed Picco: I guess Mr. Chairman, over the next three to six months would be a pretty solid time frame to be able to complete an analysis of the Manitoba Report.
Mr. Chairman, I find that time frame somewhat long and unacceptable.
I think the basic report has been in the hands of this government since the fall.
There were presentations made in the fall to various ministers and departments, and the recent presentation that was made here this week.
There have been no significant changes to the report.
So I would assume that over the last number of months that somebody in your department would have had the opportunity to be pro-active and to review the issues that were put forth in the report and the recommendations.
I realize that you yourself are not in a position to commit to any large expenditure and that is understood.
I think that is a decision of the House.
But, I would like to hear what your department and yourself have to say about this report.
I don't think one needs to pull together a totally new team to analyze this, I think it is pretty straightforward and I am asking just for, or to take another brief look at the recommendations that were made.
I would like to see your response back to this House within the next two months.
Chairperson (interpretation): Would you like to respond Mr. Minister.
Mr. Chairman, first of all, I have no department.
The Nunavut Power Corporation exists only in name, only on paper. What I have tried to do through the auspices and the good office of the Premier, through the Department of the Executive, is use money and line items from his budget to be able to bring forward the items under discussion today.
As the members know, we are in the middle right now of hiring our first employee of the Power Corporation, that would be the President.
So when I say three to six months, that means I will have to reconstitute probably some of the members of the Ikuma working group and also work in a multi-disciplinary fashion with inter-departmental help, even Sustainable Development, the Department of the Executive, Intergovernmental Affairs and so on, on this report to see what it states and give us the level of comfort and the comprehensive analysis I'm sure the member wants to have put in front of them.