EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Thank you. Item 13. Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 137 – 2(4): Environment Assessment of the Eastmain 1-A & Rupert Diversion Project: Panel Report, November 30, 2006 (Kattuk)
I would like to table today the Federal Review Panel Report on the Environmental Assessment of the Eastmain 1-A and Rupert Diversion Project.
Most of you may better know this as the James Bay Project.
This project would divert large amounts of fresh water into Hudson Bay.
Tabled Document 138 – 2(4): Dangerous Activities in Clyde River – Clyde River (Arreak)
I wish to table pictures of dangerous activities in Clyde River.
These pictures show a group of children sliding down the slope at the front of the health centre and into the main road.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that steps be taken to address this dangerous situation.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Arreak. (interpretation) Item 13.
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No.2, 2007-2008 – Notice
Bill 15 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No.2, 2007-2008 – Notice
Bill 17 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2006-2007 – Notice
I have three Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills.
First, Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, November 5, 2007, that Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2007-2008, be read for the first time.
Second, Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, November 5, 2007, that Bill 15, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2007-2008, be read for the first time.
And third, Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, November 5, 2007, that Bill 17, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2006-2007, be read for the first time. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
>>House recessed at 15:11 and Committee resumed at 15:39
Chairman (Mr. Barnabas)(interpretation): Thank you for coming back, my colleagues.
Mr. Kattuk: Thank you, Chair Barnabas.
We wish to continue with Bill 16 and the review of the Capital Estimates for the Department of Justice, followed by the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, and if time permits, the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Kattuk. (interpretation ends) Does the committee agree we continue with the Capital Estimates for the Department of Justice?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Mr. Okalik, would you like to have witnesses brought to the witness table?
For the record, Mr. Okalik, please introduce your witnesses.
On my right is my Deputy Minister, Marcus Weber, and on my left, Mr. Edward Dingle, he’s our Director of Finance in our office at the Justice Department.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. (interpretation ends) Does the Chair of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit have comments?
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The Standing Committee Ajauqtiit has reviewed the proposed Capital Estimates of the Department of Justice for the 2008-09 fiscal year, and I am pleased to provide you with the committee’s comments.
Mr. Chairman, the committee notes that the department’s proposed 2008-09 capital budget of $2,900,000 is approximately 52 percent higher than its 2007-08 budget, primarily as a result of the proposed new men’s healing facility in Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Chairman, the minister has indicated that the correctional centre will primarily house residents from surrounding communities and that Rankin Inlet has the policing and medical resources required to provide support to a facility of this size.
The department expects that this new facility will cost $34,084,000 in total.
Mr. Chairman, the committee is hopeful that the department may spend less in the long term by repatriating offenders currently being held in the NWT and other facilities outside of the territory.
The Standing Committee Ajauqtiit recognizes that having two major correctional facilities in Rankin Inlet and in Iqaluit will require significant ongoing operations and maintenance expenditures.
The standing committee urges the department to adequately budget for this.
Mr. Chairman, members would wish to see the new facility offer culturally relevant programs, as well as counselling to reduce the rate at which Nunavut inmates re-offend. Now that the location of the facility has been determined, the standing committee would like to see the government move forward with local training and employment opportunities while ensuring a high quality of staffing in this facility.
Mr. Chairman, the committee notes that the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s projected budget for staff housing for this facility is slightly different than the Department of Justice’s figures.
The committee recommends that the responsible ministers work closely together to ensure that adequate housing will be ready and available for the staff of this new facility.
Mr. Chairman, members are pleased that the Family Abuse Intervention Act is in the process of being implemented as this will also help reduce the rate of re-offending in Nunavut.
Members expect to be regularly updated on the implementation of this new law.
Mr. Chairman, in May of 2007, the department brought forward a number of capital carryovers.
One of the carryovers was for the Iqaluit Women’s Correctional Facility in the amount of $1,187,000. Mr. Chairman, the lack of a women’s facility has always been a concern for this committee and it has also been an ongoing issue for those women of Nunavut who, unfortunately, have gone through the justice system.
Mr. Chairman, the minister has indicated that the major work for this facility is to begin in 2008.
The cost of the project is estimated at $4.5 million.
Members expect to be kept fully informed on its progress.
Mr. Chairman, members remain supportive of on-the-land programs, particularly for young offenders.
The minister did indicate that his department is in support of these types of programs and encouraged members to inform their constituents in their home communities that funding does exist for these types of camps.
That concludes my opening comments. Individual members may have their own concerns and comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to welcome the minister.
The minister’s officials went to Rankin Inlet recently and we had a meeting along with my colleague from Rankin South.
We were able to have a meeting in regard to the healing facility.
We also had a public meeting on that issue and I would like to inform you that the people were very pleased with the discussion.
We also had a discussion with the hamlet to find out where the site of this facility would be.
Mr. Chairman, I would just like to tell the minister that after the officials were there, as they were both deputy ministers, the people of Rankin Inlet were very pleased that we were going to proceed with the building of this facility.
I think it would be good to have you go to the communities to give them a follow-up on what is going to be happening and the people will be extremely pleased with that.
We were told by the residents of Rankin and also the elders who couldn’t make it to the meeting, I had face-to-face meetings with them and they were extremely pleased.
I wish you would keep doing that.
Again, I would like to emphasize to your department, the people of Rankin Inlet were very pleased and I just wanted to give you that message.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to welcome the minister and his officials here.
One thing I just want to ask, just a general question that I’ll be asking the minister if he could clarify as the chairman of the committee indicated that the women’s correctional facility did not proceed.
I know that that’s something that when I was on the committee and for a number of years now, I have been raising that issue with the department.
Had the minister been asking questions on when we can expect to see a facility for women here in Nunavut coming up in the near future?
At this time I have no other names on my list for general comments.
So we will proceed with the Capital Estimates for the Department of Justice.
We will begin with page E-6. (interpretation ends) Justice. Detail of Capital.
Directorate. Tangible Assets. Headquarters Region. $400,000.
As the chairman of the standing committee pointed out that there was one carry over for Iqaluit Women’s Correctional Facility in the amount of $1.1 million, I’m just wondering if the minister could give an indication as to why that project did not proceed?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) From what I understand, we did some studies over the past year and trying to make some plans to build the facility. We had to make some changes.
Also, I want to thank my colleagues in FMB. They recently approved a planner just for the sole purpose of getting this done, along with the Rankin Inlet facility.
So we hope to make some gains this coming year and build a facility because we know that this is much needed.
We’re currently using a trailer but we also know that we have to do a better job of housing our female inmates. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I have to I guess echo the minister’s comments for thanking his colleagues for putting a planner in place for this project. He indicated that they’re hoping to make some progress.
I’m just wondering if he could give a more specific indication or something we could look forward to when we could start to see the construction take place on this facility. Will it be next year or the year after?
Can he give an indication if they have an idea of when we can see the actual construction take place on that facility?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We are planning to get the materials on the next sealift and, hopefully, get the construction completed.
It’s not a big facility, so, hopefully, we can get it done within the coming fiscal year. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Justice.
Tangible Assets. Headquarters Region. Total Headquarters Region. $400,000.
Total Tangible Assets. $400,000.
Chairman: Now, we will go to page E-9. Justice. Detail of Capital.
Tangible Assets. Kivalliq Region. Total Kivalliq Region. $2.5 million.
It’s not so much a Kivalliq capital question but rather; even with the present plan to create a facility in the Kivalliq region, which we pray will be a useful facility; I’m concerned somewhat that some community facilities but not so much facilities but camp programs have reduced in their use.
I know that the department still supports that but how much effort is made to accommodate some deficiencies in the camp program?
With regard to the lands program, it’s excellent because it helps the inmates and we would like to see more lands programs geared toward inmates. We give them support and we’re hoping to see more. It’s very beneficial, especially to the young people, and it also helps us out.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we are all aware that the young people need the assistance. It’s very beneficial for them to be a part of the lands program.
A very high percentage of these people have been growing up more or less on their own, and when they’re given guidance and the support from the elders, they start fixing their lives right away.
They are usually the ones that were brought up in dysfunctional families.
I think that knowing the reason why they’re incarcerated helps a lot because when we find out that they grew up in a dysfunctional family, we’ll know how to get them back.
In the lands programs, do you do that sort of stuff?
Usually, we try to give the best support that we can to the outpost program.
We give them the programs that they request and we would like to see a lot more of that happening. If you would like to establish a camp program, we would be more than happy to help you.
My last question is; recognizing that most of the communities know the reason why the young offenders and the younger adults need that assistance, however, there hasn’t been much research done by the Departments of Justice and Health and Social Services, maybe even CLEY, on why the young offenders had committed the offense and needs help. This trend, I think, jumped a significant point in the past years but before that, there probably were hardly any.
There are many factors, such as economic boom during Pan-Arctic, or other activities of the government, or the federal government coming into town, etcetera, or maybe even when the hostile residents become parents.
Many factors like that when maybe the economic situation for some parents and the others, the gap widens.
My question would be: are there any plans to find the root cause of these trends and work more on the prevention in many areas, not just in Justice but many areas of Nunavut to recognize that lack of education is one of them.
Yes, that’s a very good comment.
Our staff works in that field and they try to work with the inmates and help them to find out what the root cause is of why they have been incarcerated.
We’re trying to turn this around so that we can start healing the inmates.
As we are all aware, in the past, there used to be barrier problems for Nunavummiut.
So therefore, we’re now focusing more on healing programs.
Mr. Arvaluk: Mr. Chairman, I’m not trying to go away from the capital but we are dealing with the capital because of these issues.
The federal government has contributed, in their apologies to former students, a significant amount for healing.
Are there any plans to talk with the federal counterparts to get a similar type of funding for a healing process for other people, especially young people, on the issues they may have had before going to these facilities?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. Mr. Minister.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We’re very pleased that these facilities will be used for healing.
I cannot really tell you exactly what they’re going to be but there is some planning in progress right now.
Our staff try to find out why these individuals have been incarcerated.
They focus on healing.
If one’s life is not healed that life is not going to change.
So each individual’s reasoning varies because it’s very hard to figure out all of the inmates. Each person is different; some are incarcerated with individual issues, while others may have institutional issues.
Therefore, our staff tries to do each of their own jobs to find out more and provide healing for each individual.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. We’ll go to (interpretation ends) Justice. Detail of Capital.
Corrections. Tangible Assets. Kivalliq Region.
Total Kivalliq Region. $2.5 million. Total Tangible Assets. $2.5 million. Does the committee agree?
Chairman: We’ll go back to page E-4. Justice. Department Summary.
Detail of Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $2.9 million. Are you agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Are you agreed that the Department of Justice is concluded?
Mr. Minister, if you have closing comments, you may do so now.
For the comments that were made, especially in the outpost camps, we have encouraged the outpost camps to do camp programs because we wanted to see more of them.
Perhaps, we should do that publication in this department. It would be beneficial, so I will ask my officials to start planning on that and that they will publicly ask the Nunavummiut to open an outpost camp program and apply for it.
We’ll try and do that again next year. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Okalik, Mr. Webber and Mr. Dingle.
At this time, Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses.
Thank you, Sergeant-at-Arms. We still have items to cover during the Committee of the Whole.
I would like to ask Minister Simailak, Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, if he has opening comments.
Minister Simailak?
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Economic Development and Transportation
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Yes, I have opening comments.
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to be here today to present my department’s 2008-09 capital plan to the Committee on the Whole.
The Department of Economic Development & Transportation is proposing a $9,470,000 Capital Plan for the fiscal year 2008-09.
Safe and reliable transportation is crucial for development of an economy for Nunavut.
Recognizing this, and considering the high capital cost of transportation infrastructure, nearly 100 percent of my department’s capital plan for next year is dedicated to transportation related projects.
This is to provide Nunavummiut improved access to their resources, to each other, and to the rest of the world.
Over 80 percent of this total capital commitment will be carried out in community specific projects, while the other 20 percent will be used for strategic projects that affect the territory as a whole.
The focus of our funding in 2008-09 will be on completion of two major airport projects.
Construction of the Arctic Bay Airport will be in its third year. Activities will include completion of the civil works and electrical components of the project, and construction will begin on the air terminal building and navigational aids.
In addition, Mr. Chairman, we will be undertaking work to improve the runway surface at the Kimmirut Airport.
Granular sources for this project are located several kilometres outside the community and are not currently accessible.
In the course of this project, we will be working closely with the Hamlet of Kimmirut and the Department of Community & Government Services to provide a long-term solution to the granular needs of both the airport and the community.
Completing these two major projects demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the quality of the runways and the related infrastructure that allows safe aircraft operations.
Surface Transportation
The department’s investment in the Community Access Road Program is once again $500,000 for the 2008-09 fiscal year.
Access roads are public roads and trails that connect a community and its residents to nearby locations, including harvesting or camping areas, tourism, and sites of cultural importance.
This program has been very well received by the communities, and we are pleased to be able to continue extending access to a community’s resources outside of their municipal boundaries.
The 39.7 kilometre Arctic Bay/Nanisivik Highway continues to be used as an access between the community and the airport, and will be needed until the Arctic Bay Airport is complete.
In the capital plan we have allocated $70,000 to ensure that the road remains in a safe operational state over the course of the year.
Small Craft Harbours
The Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans in collaboration with my department released the Nunavut Small Craft Harbours Report at the end of 2006.
The report concluded that small craft harbours in our communities could provide very high returns in safety, access to our resources, and economic activity.
Mr. Chairman, we continue lobby Fisheries and Oceans to begin construction of these facilities, which includes recent letters from the Premier to the Prime Minister, from my office to Minister Hearn and from Deputy Minister Keenainak to the DFO Minister.
We have included $1 million in this fiscal year to contribute towards that program. To help try to advance projects along, design proposals for the Pangnirtung harbour have been evaluated jointly by DFO and my department, and a contract will be issued shortly.
Through showing this level of commitment to the federal government, we believe we will see results through DFO investment in this badly needed infrastructure.
Small Capital
There are also some other projects, under $300,000, which are grouped together under the heading Small Capital Projects.
We have allocated $1.2 million to complete these projects, which will include an airport snow-blower for Resolute Bay, a plow truck for Repulse Bay and a grader for Gjoa Haven.
In addition, we will undertake planning studies to ensure our dollars are properly spent on developing the economy and transportation system of the territory in fiscal years.
Mr. Chairman, during our standing committee appearance in September, there was a question about the new Driver’s License System project.
I am pleased to say that this project is progressing and is close to being awarded with an expected completion date of February 2008.
The other question was in relation to other airport development priorities.
My department is working closely with the Departments of CGS, CLEY and Finance on negotiating the Building Canada Fund, which will see much needed infrastructure funding for Nunavut.
My colleague Minister Brown is the lead on this and the negotiations are going well.
Mr. Chairman, these are the major projects we will be undertaking in the 2008-09 fiscal year.
I believe this plan makes good use of our limited resources, and is well focused on the department’s mandate.
I will continue to work hard with my department to ensure that partnerships with the federal government, with industry, and with the communities are strengthened, and that the current level of activity in Nunavut has a lasting value on the economic and social future of our territory.
I will be glad to answer any questions from my fellow members. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
At this time, are you going to bring your officials down to the witness table?
I asked, Mr. Minister, are you going to bring your officials down to the witness table?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Yes. Thank you.
Chairman (interpretation): Does the committee agree to bring in the wtinesses?
For the record, minister, please introduce your officials.
To my right is Rosemary Keenainak and Reverend Methuselah Kunuk on my left.
At this time, I would like to ask the chairman of the standing committee if he has opening comments.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, I do have opening comments.
First of all, I would like to thank the minister for his comments. Welcome to the Assembly, Deputy Minister Keenainak and your director.
As Chair of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Housing and Economic Development, I am pleased to provide opening comments as the Committee of the Whole begins its consideration of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation’s 2008-09 Capital Estimates.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation in September of this year to scrutinize the department’s draft 2008-09 capital estimates.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s 2007-08 capital estimates included $1.0 million in funding for the GN’s contribution towards the construction of small craft harbours in seven Nunavut communities: Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Kugaaruk, Clyde River, Chesterfield Inlet and Repulse Bay.
The department’s 2008-09 capital estimates also include $1.0 million in funding.
The GN’s total budgeted contribution of $6.0 million over the next several fiscal years represents approximately 10 percent of the total expected cost for these important projects.
The standing committee remains disappointed at the lack of federal support for the development of Nunavut’s small craft harbours, given their potential to enhance the territory’s economic development and self-sufficiency.
Members support the minister’s ongoing lobbying efforts in this area, including his appearance earlier this year before a Senate Committee.
While the standing committee recognizes that the department’s annual appropriation in this area represents our share of overall funding, it is disappointing to see the amounts lapse as a consequence of federal inaction.
Members are hopeful that the infrastructure investment plans announced in the federal government’s 2007 budget will help enable Nunavut to achieve progress in a number of strategic transportation and economic development sectors, including harbour and airport developments.