EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So, I have experienced that myself, so I know how heavy it is. I know what you have to go through with; I went through it myself.
The community economic development officers will be given more training and assistance so that they can provide more assistance and support to private businesses.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask another question in regards to sports-hunt booking agents.
Do you have the responsibility or jurisdiction over the big-game sports hunt?
Or, does the other department have the responsibility for that?
Hon. David Simailak: That’s not within our responsibilities; it is in the Department of Environment’s wildlife division.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Curley. Mr. Tootoo.
Under this area of corporate management: one of the things it says here is that the division is responsible for overseeing the management operations of the department, basically overall leadership, setting policy, and things like that.
If one of the other divisions that have a program have something that they want to try and implement… .
The final say on whether that would go ahead or not, would that flow through this division here?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Mr. Minister.
Hon. David Simailak: Mr. Campbell will answer that question.
Mr. Campbell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The way we have the department structured is the corporate units report directly to my office.
It through this office that we provide recommendations on policies and recommendations on programs, through the minister.
Corporate Management is the coordinating body for the department itself.
I wanted to ask this question here, now that I’ve noticed in the business plan, on K-11 the number of priorities from last year. There were a couple of things that were deferred: one was the launching of the carving stone and supplies program; and changes to the Nunavut Development Corporation. Maybe this final decision went through this division.
What rationale did they look at for deferring that? Also, it is not even listed as a priority in this year’s priorities.
So, I was wondering why, and when we can expect to see these things that have been deferred come forward again.
Alex Campbell will respond to that question.
Chairman: Mr. Campbell.
There has been a lot of research done already on doing this initiative.
One of the things that we discussed in the department, as recently as today, is that we would be proceeding with developing the strategy around this and providing some recommendations to the minister to recommend the carving stone strategy itself.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Campbell.
I think that it was a very important program.
As you know, there are even members that carve.
Certainly not me, I’ll be the first to admit. But, there are members that carve, and there is a great deal of people out there who depend on carving for putting food on their table.
The more access to the raw materials they have, the better and easier it is for them to be able to produce those carvings.
Not only just here, all of the communities. I know that you can look at a carving, and someone who knows can turn around and determine which community it came from; there are a lot of different and unique stones from all over the place.
Would you think of looking at having a… . In some places, maybe it is more feasible to get carving stones from another area instead of spending a whole bunch of money in a place where it may be very difficult to get the stone in community: transfer and trade to other communities. As part of that program at least everyone would have an opportunity to get some.
They are all in the communities.
I know that a couple of communities have already asked about getting a supply of soapstone from other communities.
From discussions with a couple of the members of the Legislative Assembly, we are now starting to look at possibly setting that up as a business for other individuals, for the arts community in those communities.
So, yes, that’s a strategy that’s being looked at very seriously, in terms of accessing soapstone from other communities.
I’m sure that everyone’s happy to hear that and I’m looking forward to that coming out from the department.
One of the other things that was deferred was changes to the Nunavut Development Corporation Act.
I’m just wondering if the minister or if his officials could elaborate on what changes they are looking at and why they were deferred.
Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Minister.  Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will have my deputy minister to respond to that question.
Chairman: Go ahead, Mr. Campbell.
Mr. Campbell: There are a number of initiatives and other legislation that we would be looking at providing recommendations for, for revision, or Nunavutizing, as I like to put it. Currently we are working on the previous Northwest Territories government acts, the Nunavut Development Corporation Act and the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation Act.
Right now we don’t have the resources and the capacity to fully implement some of the changes we wanted to do in the department. So, we put those not to the bottom of the list, but it’s something that we will continue to monitor and see what progress, first, we can make within the policies that we have in the department.
We will propose legislative amendments or propose new acts of the government.
Although I don’t have too many questions, I do want to ask a question.
During the full caucus meeting last April, we were informed of this $120,000 funding for soapstone quarries, but the communities will have to apply for this funding. I know about that.
The comment that I want to make is in regards to the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association.
It is provided some funds, and it is really good and it is very helpful and very beneficial.
We need to give support; that funding does not go as far as the other arts, such as singing arts.
Many Nunavummiut are now starting to get into singing. There are many songwriters in Nunavut, but there is not enough funding for them, even though they apply. The funding for contributions or grants is so low.
There are many opportunities out there. I’m sure that Ed Picco would be able to complete his CD if there was such an assistance program.
But, I do want to ask what your position is in regards to this. Perhaps through partners development they can apply, but it is not really defined and I’m not happy with that. So, I would like to ask you, Mr. Minister, to defend that for me.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Alagalak.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Yes, there is funding available for the communities, called the community initiatives program.
The economic development officer knows about this community initiative program.
I’m sure we could provide assistance through the program.
The economic development officers could look into it because they know what the community initiatives program is.
They could be provided some assistance through this program. Your community could look into that.
We have been utilizing the community initiative program at the hamlet level, although at times this is a small surplus. But, this community initiative program is mainly for associations.
I am talking about individual applicants so that these individuals can be supported.
I am talking about individuals, songwriters, so that they could at least sell their songs, like the carvers who sell their artwork, to make a small bit of money.
For the songwriters, I was thinking more along the lines of providing some funding program to the songwriters.
I was wondering if you could find some funding for individuals to apply.
I am sure that this community initiative program is insufficiently reaching all of the songwriters.
Perhaps the minister can look into finding new funds just as a pilot project for the songwriters; I would really appreciate it.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): The song writers, the Arviat singers, the Arviat Choir; there are many choirs… .
You are talking about choirs.
If they are going to run it as a business, again, the CEDO can assist them. There are contribution funds from business development.
They can apply through their program; the CEDO knows where the other pots of funds are to give assistance, and the CEDO knows where the loans can be found.
If it is going to be run as a business, then they could be provided some assistance through these programs.
Just to elaborate further to the members, I am not talking about the Arviat Choir, whether it be through the association or through the school choir. I am talking about individual people of Nunavut.
There are many good singers now in Nunavut. Although they apply for funding, they are unable to obtain some funding from this program because the program does not provide sufficient funds.
I was thinking more along the lines of individual singers, just to elaborate further to the minister and clarify that.
We are on page K-5.
Mr. Peterson: Sorry, I thought we were on K-6.
Chairman: Thank you for correcting me, Mr. Peterson.
We are on K-6. No, you have not approved K-5; they have not approved K-5 yet.
You are ahead of me.
You are on K-6; maybe we will have a replay. Okay.
Economic development and transportation branch summary. Corporate management, $2,872,000.
K-6.
The information is on K-7, K-8, K-9, K-10, and K-11.
(Interpretation.) There are some information items.
(Interpretation ends.) Mr. Curley.
Mainly two issues and I am sure that I could ask them anytime.
Although I mentioned this previously in the standing sommittee, I do want to state it again.
After the development officers get their programs, they would like to have other funding agencies such the community Brighter Futures program, Nunavut Business Credit Corporation… . I think they are in Cape Dorset.
Because they are so segregated in the Keewatin region, we get confused with the small businesses trying to apply. They go through hardship and they face challenges, especially the ones who have received the lowest and are about to go to the court. Or, they could be assisted through re-financing or give them some advice or counselling; perhaps you can try and slow this down.
They should be helping them instead of just putting or threatening… . Some of the Kivalliq partners have been stating that there was no cooperation.
I believe the department should look into this. They can only be given direction from your department because the economic development… . I’m sure the credit corporation should be looked into and dealt with again.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Simailak.
Yes, many people have spoken to me about this, about being threatened; they go through hard times.
This coming week, maybe next week, I will meet with the senior managers in Baker Lake and discuss this further, because they have to provide more assistance.
The staff should provide more support and be receptive. I will ask them to rectify the situation when we have the meeting.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes. Thank you.
I met with your superintendent and I want to thank you for making him available, although I did not discuss this matter.
I want you to know that I want to discuss this with you and your deputy minister and your assistant deputy minister.
The last question that I want to ask you is, since now there is a commission, there were some applications to take pictures of the whole Keewatin region’s residents… . They were requesting support and because the program guidelines were not set, they were not able to be given assistance.
Has this been rectified?
The policies have been set already for the Nunavut Film Commission.
Since the guidelines have been set for the program, I’m sure that you’ll provide us with information about the eligibility and provide that information to the regional offices.
I will have you provide that information to the communities. I will conclude my questions.
Yes, they have already been set. We will provide the information to the communities and to the public. If it didn’t already start, then we’ll start again.
No more names. Mr. Tootoo.
I have a few questions on this provision, mainly dealing with some of the grants and contributions that are out there.
As I indicated, I believe that tourism is an untapped industry within Nunavut. I’m just noticing that there is a $200,000 decrease in that. I’m just wondering if it was a direct result of fiscal restraints on the department or if it is just that we don’t need that $200,000 and we’ll take $200,000 less this year.
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It was strictly for fiscal reasons that there was that decrease. “Qujannamiik, Itsivautaq.”
Do you know if there are any plans or directions given to Nunavut Tourism on looking at developing that industry?
Any plans in conjunction with the department for Nunavut Tourism to find ways to develop and market the industry nationally and internally?Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Yes, I will have my deputy minister respond.
Chairman (interpretation): Go ahead, Mr. Campbell.
We have been working with Nunavut Tourism in the past three month to try and get the agreement that we have with them revitalized, rejuvenated, or whatever word we want to use.
My staff is presently meeting with them this week to try and map out exactly their priorities in tourism.
It is going to result in an MOU being signed off with them. We’ll clearly expect some of our priorities as a department and some of the reporting requirements that we will be asking him to fulfil to be part of the agreement.
As a department what we’ve done, as well, is in order to assist the industry we’ve created two new positions in the headquarters, positions based out of Pangnirtung to support the industry itself.
Until this year we didn’t have a person dedicated to support the industry.
In addition to that, we are also proposing three regional positions that will be located in each of the regional offices, again, to assist the industry.
That was proposed right now. But, we’re still sort of looking at things right now to support the tourism industry.
In the past I remember going through the Rankin Inlet airport. They had a little office there; there was someone working and there and that was a regional person.
I understand that actually worked for Nunavut Tourism and for the government.
I am just wondering if this is a roll-back. Instead of having these people work directly for Nunavut Tourism, having them work for the department to assist Nunavut Tourism.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Campbell.
The position that the Nunavut Tourism did have in the region is still there.
The positions that we were proposing in those offices are additional to that, to provide the service.
We’re here. In the industry to let the communities, when they are asking us to provide more support for the facility operators out in the communities as well… .
So, we’re trying to address that issue.
I’d like to ask the minister a few questions about their programs.
In the community initiative program, you’re budgeting $2.9 million.
There doesn’t seem to be any increase from last year.
But, do you have breakdowns by communities or regions for those funds?
Do you have a report to show the results of that $2.9 million? Do they generate $10 million of economic activity to create X number of dollars in the communities?
Do you have that kind of information?
The CIP program is strictly… . Each community is eligible to access up to $100,000 of that program funding.
Each community is eligible for that amount.
If they access the full amount is another matter, but the budget that we have included in here could include up to $100,000 for each of the communities.
In addition to that, we also fund each community through the municipalities, $90,000 for their seal funding, as well.
In total, the communities could be eligible for $190,000 of economic development funding through our department.
It is good to give money to hamlets, but do they have a way to show the results of money that you provide to the hamlets?
You’ve funded the economic development officers, presumably to help people get into business, to use the community initiative program and other programs.
Do they provide you with reports to show that yes, we created this many jobs, we helped this many people, we result in this many revenues coming to the community; that is what it represents?
Do you have a method to show that money resulted from activities?
We do have contribution agreements with the municipalities, and they are supposed to be reporting back on the results of the funding that we provide.
I have to admit this is an area that would require some improvement over the next few years, as we concentrate on economic development in the territory.
We do have to work on the reporting back of the monies spent, so that we know what we are spending for our economic development fund.
The minister and I talk about not making it too bureaucratic. I remember, at the hamlet of Cambridge Bay, for a $90,000 contribution, the government paid it out in five payments. That just resulted in too much paperwork for us, too much for the government and everybody else involved.
So, it relates to some part of it, I guess. The contribution program is being used now, but then again, we want to see that the money is going to good use and is resulting in economic activity.
I want to ask about Nunavut Tourism. Do you have any numbers that indicate the amount of tourism revenues, on an annual basis, that are generated Nunavut-wide; $50 million or $100 million that could be identified as tourism revenues?
Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Campbell.
Yes, we do have that information, it is just not in front of us right now.
I remember, a few years ago when I was a spectator in the gallery, some of the questions asked by a former member, Glenn McLean. At the time, Nunavut Tourism generated $50 million in tourism revenues. Nunavut Tourism was given $1.1 million.
So, he was saying, why not just double it, and then they could generate $100 million?
I do not know if that is how it works, but we have a lot of potential. We should really look at that sector. It is not all about mining and mineral resources and fisheries.
Our region has a lot of potential there.
You may recall discussions over the years about Community Futures Development Corporations. I read, on page K-8, your total contributions made to three regionally based not-for-profit Community Futures organizations. I do not think we have a Community Futures in the Kitikmeot.
I am wondering if you could update us on the plans to create a Community Futures in the Kitikmeot.
Yes, on those, presently, there is the Kitikmeot… . But, discussions are under way with the regional inuit organization and the business community, aimed at re-establishing the Community Futures program in the Kitikmeot.
So, those discussions are under way.
Mr. Peterson: That is good to hear.
We had the Community Futures in the Kitikmeot several years ago, and then it went out of business; we are not sure why.
But, Community Futures are important. They are able to give smaller loans to clients.
The Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, I think they have loans of $75,000 or higher, and you have got that Atuqtuarvik Corporation that has large loans as well. But, Community Futures would be very important in our region, if you can get that going.
It was just a comment.
That is a comment.
I have got no more names on my list.
So, we are on “K.” Mr. Tootoo.
I was just going to go to the Nunavut Development Corporation. Under that, it says that its mandate… . Basically it is there to support community-based businesses and employment creation and economic diversification and looking at developing new economic opportunities.
I’m just wondering… .
There have been a number of subsidiaries, if you want to call them that, of the corporation that have been around for a while, and it seems it’s pretty stagnant.
I’m looking at new opportunities.
I’m just wondering if there are any thoughts of them looking at new opportunities, to venture into creating employment and economic opportunities in other communities.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): My deputy minister will respond.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Campbell.
Yes, we are presently looking at diversifying one of the subsidiaries, and are checking that with the board of directors of Nunavut Development Corporation.
One of the things that we have to make clear for some of these is that we do provide a subsidy to these subsidiaries.
If we diversify and get them to majority ownership, that would mean our subsidies would have to decrease on a sliding scale, eventually. So, they will be losing some of that subsidy we would be providing.
But, on the other hand, they would be eligible for other funding through the federal government, so they might be able to gain Inuit business status as well. So, in that sense, it will be a plus.
Then, it would give us an opportunity to move on to another file so that money could be redirected from that subsidiary.
In the minister’s opening comments, and the chairman’s, and what come out of the last cabinet retreat, focusing on economic opportunities for all the communities… . Trying to focus more on some of the non-decentralized communities… .
Other than existing subsidiaries diversifying, are there any new opportunities in other communities that are being looked at? Or, is there an area in the corporation that looks at that, that tries to identify new opportunities?
The answer is, yes, we are, and we are working with Nunavut Development Corporation to identify other possible opportunities in the smaller communities.
Again, I don’t want to start giving anything right now because of the negotiations that are going on. Nunavut Development Corporation is having initial discussions with the one of the communities in that respect.
I can understand not wanting to raise that: your bargaining power goes down a lot, once the cat’s out of the bag.
One thing my father mentioned to me in his… . Something that people like all over, Inuit like all over Nunavut, is eggs, whether it be goose eggs or duck eggs.
I know that there are some communities that have more of an abundance than others.
Has there ever been any thought of looking at any type of inter-community trade or being able to market… . I don’t even know if that’s something that we can do, because people can go out and pick them; they can do that.
I’m just wondering if that’s something. There are a lot of eggs out there. In one community that I know of, that they were actually hiring people to go out and kill geese because there’s too many of them.
So, instead of hiring someone to go out and shoot geese, why don’t they just go out and pick the eggs; it makes more sense.
Chairman (interpretation): Is that a comment and a question at the same time?
Chairman (interpretation): Okay. Mr. Minister.
No, we have never looked at that.
“Mat’na.”
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Is that all, Mr. Tootoo?
Mr. Tootoo: No, that was just a minister wondering if something can’t be done with the migratory birds.
I guess that is something that they can look at in the intergovernmental agreement, in the land claim agreement, where you can get an exemption.
It seems like you don’t have enough Inuit employed in the Keewatin in your department.
I think it would be a good idea to set up some training programs in order increase the number of Inuit hired.
We’ve been talking about the people who are in hardship, and some of these people who were in the training programs did not know who to turn to.
I think it would be extremely successful if you reinstated the training program at the community level.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): We think that it is extremely important to train Inuit and in Rankin Inlet we have 33 percent Inuit employment.
They are currently in a training program.
We have one trainee in the Keewatin. Training Inuit is extremely important in our department.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Alagalak.
In regards to the Nunavut Development Corporation, I think it is based in Rankin Inlet… .
There has been a decrease this year. There are a lot of us rookie MLAs here; when they were a Crown corporation… .
As government, we have to give them some type of support.
Sometime in the near future, we should consider that.