EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Can the minister indicate whether he has had discussions with his colleague, the Minister of Family Services, to ensure that office space will be made available for the ongoing delivery of this program?
Our staff have been talking with the staff of Community and Government Services to try to come up with a solution for this. The building we’re talking is 50 years old and it has gone to end of its useful life. We are working to try to find another suitable place for the prenatal program that’s being run out of there.
That’s about where it is right now. We haven’t found a location yet and we are looking for a location.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, as you can appreciate, the managers of the very successful Baker Lake Prenatal Nutrition Program are somewhat concerned about the ongoing survival of this long-standing program.
Will the minister commit to working with his colleague to ensure that adequate and appropriate space is available for this program for the foreseeable future?
I agree that the prenatal society, I’m not sure what they’re called, does provide a very valuable service to Baker Lake and they are going to stay where they’re currently working out of until a suitable location is found.
That’s the best I can commit to, that we are looking to find a suitable place for them in Baker Lake.
As the member is quite aware, we can’t just magically produce a building that is suitable, but we are working with the community to find a suitable location for the prenatal program.
Question 537 – 4(3): Visiting Specialist (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Alexander Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Greetings to my fellow residents of Rankin Inlet and Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that during a recent visit by a medical specialist, none of the specialized equipment arrived, which resulted in appointments being cancelled or medical clients having to wait even longer for their appointments to be rebooked.
Medical travel does not just include patients travelling out of their communities to receive medical care; it also covers medical specialists travelling into communities to deliver care.
Can the minister provide an update on what specific agreements have been negotiated with Nunavut’s major airlines to ensure that medical specialists are able to travel and arrive with their equipment?
Services provided in the Kivalliq region, specifically to Rankin Inlet, are provided by the J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit that provides a number of different specialist services.
With regard to specifically with the airlines of what types of contracts, normally the contractor would be responsible for getting their equipment to the community that they’re providing those services in.
I can look into the specifics.
The member knows my door is always open to discuss such issues as they arise.
I wasn’t made aware that there was an issue and a delay in the services to be provided out of the specialist clinic, but it’s something that if the member can give me more information on, I can look into the situation.
While I recognize that everyone has the right to travel with their personal belongings, I believe the minister and my colleagues will agree that when specialists are contracted to deliver important health services to a community, extra care must be made to ensure that their professional equipment arrives safely, securely, and on time.
Can the minister clarify whether the government’s medical travel contracts specifically address the transportation of professional medical equipment?
In the time that I have held the portfolio as the Minister of Health, I haven’t had the opportunity to go through every contract and all conditions within the contracts. The way I understand it is that the contractor is responsible for getting the equipment to the community.
I’m sure if that information gets communicated appropriately to the airlines, I know that they’re not there to hold up medical clinics, I think that they would make all accommodations possible to get that equipment into the community as needed.
Again, 90 percent of the issues that I deal with on a day-to-day basis are communication. I think that if the member wants to sit down with me and discuss this circumstance in a little bit more detail, I can find out the specifics of this incident and make sure that communication lines are open between the contractor, the airline, and the Department of Health to make sure such an incident doesn’t happen again.
Mr. Sammurtok: Mr. Speaker, it would seem that the cost of flying in a medical specialist to a community only for them to be unable to see clients and the cost of rebooking appointments and maybe even adding more days to the specialists visit contract would be an unwelcome additional expense to the government.
Will the minister commit to raising this concern with Nunavut’s major airlines as soon as possible so that it doesn’t happen again?
We’re in continuous communication with airline officials. As recently as last night a lot of members here attended a presentation of one of the new planes that First Air is putting out.
At that function I had the opportunity to speak to the CEO of First Air and talk about some of the circumstances that I have been made aware of over time.
He himself said that he is very concerned on making sure that there are no errors when it comes to providing services to medical clients.
Although we didn’t talk specifically about medical contractors, I can assure the member that I’ll look into the circumstance to find out where the breakdown was. If it was with the airline, then we will have discussions with them to make sure circumstances like this don’t arise again.
Question 538 – 4(3): Hivuliqtikhanut – Senior Management Program (Okalik)
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The Premier mentioned that we’re a public government.
I would like to follow up that the Charter of Rights permits some of forms of discrimination for public governments where a group has been disadvantaged from prior years and where the group needs to catch up to the rest of society.
We’re a public government and we all know that Inuit are at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, so we have to do all we can to allow Inuit to catch up to the rest of our communities here in Nunavut.
When will this government introduce programs to truly support this initiative to allow Inuit to catch up to the rest of the territory?
When the Premier says there is this program called Sivuniqattiarniq, for example, it’s an Inuit word. One would think, “Is it for Inuit to try to catch up in terms of management in our government?” We then realize 79 percent of those participants only, not even the level of our population.
When are we going to catch up to the rest of society if our own government does not permit programs for Inuit to participate equally according to the population?
I ask the Premier: can you reconsider this for the benefit of our own territory and citizens?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the question from the former Premier of nine years that put in some of these programs.
We have many more; priority hiring for Inuit. For him to say that Inuit are on the social bottom of our society is absolutely wrong. Inuit are right up there with everybody else.
I don’t know where this is coming from.
We have many programs to try to increase the number of beneficiaries in our government.
We have Article 23. We have a partnership with NTI.
We have Inuit employment plans. We have Inuit employment programs, many of them; career development; Sivuliqtiksavut. We contribute to the funding of Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa.
We support the students that do go down there. The number of the students that are out there is well over 300 in colleges and universities, and that’s Inuit. We support those students through FANS.
There are many programs we run to try to ensure that we have Inuit employment within the government.
We want to increase those to 85 percent representative, but everybody knows that if we don’t have those bodies there, it is just next to impossible. We just have to keep training our beneficiaries to try to reach that number.
Mr. Speaker, we have many committees. We formed a committee and board of directors for the Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation in partnership with NTI, and that is multi-year funding. We’re quite optimistic that we will train more Inuit to be employed not only in the territorial government but also in other governments and other entities that are out there.
We do have to remember that some of our graduates don’t necessarily want to work in the government. They go out and work for other industries and other Inuit organizations.
We can’t just pluck them out and grab them and force them to work for the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) We need only look at the unfortunate situation that Inuit face today in our own territory. In every level of education and every level of participation in our own government and employment, we are not even close to our target of 85 percent.
How are we going to get there if we’re not going to train for senior levels of government in our own territory?
I am offended that our own Premier is questioning that Inuit are well off. We are not even close. If we were close, I wouldn’t be explaining where we are today.
I have done whatever I could in every office I have held in my own territory to try to improve our standing in our own communities. I’m offended that my past would be brought up. I have done whatever I can.
I will continue to pursue this in every level that I hold.
Can the Premier explain again why this program that he’s touting, which has an Inuktitut name, only permits 79 percent of its participants to be Inuit, not even 85 percent at our level of population in our own territory?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the passion of the member in trying to increase Inuit. It’s the same as my passion.
I am offended that we put more programs into this government and they’re not good enough.
Mr. Speaker, we can’t grab our employees and force them to do what they don’t want to do. We accept any beneficiary into these programs when they want to.
We do not force people or Inuit to do what they don’t want to do. It’s as simple as that. I’m offended that even with the 79 percent beneficiary participation in one program, and we have many programs, it’s not good enough for the member.
Mr. Speaker, we want to increase Inuit beneficiary numbers and that’s exactly what we’re doing. With our increasing graduation rates, I’m sure that the numbers are going to increase.
There’s no magical solution.
If he has one, show it to us.
Hon. Minister of Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Paul Quassa.
Tabled Document 211 – 4(3): 2015-2016 Annual Report for Nunavut Arctic College (Quassa)
I am pleased to table the 2015-16 Annual Report for Nunavut Arctic College.
Tabled Document 212 – 4(3): FPT Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference (Ell-Kanayuk)
I am pleased to table the FPT Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference 2016 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, August 21 to 23, 2016.
Tabled Document 213 – 4(3): Interim Financial Report (Unaudited) March 31, 2016 (Peterson)
Tabled Document 214 – 4(3): 2015-2016 Grants and Contributions Report (Peterson)
Tabled Document 215 – 4(3): 2015-2016 Nunavut Liquor Commission’s Annual Report (Peterson)
Tabled Document 216 – 4(3): 2015-2016 Annual Report for the Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board (Peterson)
I have three documents I would like to table as the Minister of Finance.
I am pleased to table the Interim Financial Report (Unaudited) for March 31, 2016.
I am pleased to table the 2015-16 Grants and Contributions Report.
I am pleased to table the 2015-16 Nunavut Liquor Commission’s Annual Report.
As the Minister of Justice, I am pleased to table the 2015-16 Annual Report for the Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board.
Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Tom Sammurtok.
Motion 037 – 4(3): Extension of Review Period for Bill 19, Unlawful Property Forfeiture Act – Notice (Sammurtok, T)
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I give notice that on Monday, November 7, 2016, I will move the following motion:
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, that the period of time for the Standing Committee on Legislation to report Bill 19, Unlawful Property Forfeiture Act, back to the House to be extended by a further 120 days.
Hon. Member for Qamani’tuaq, Mr. Simeon Mikkungwak.
Motion 038 – 4(3): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Mikkungwak)
I give notice that on Monday, November 7, 2016, I will move the following motion:
I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Aggu, that pursuant to the provisions of Rule 3, that when the House concludes its present sitting, it shall be adjourned until February 21, 2017.
>>House recessed at 15:13 and Committee resumed at 15:32
First of all, Nunavummiut watching the televised proceedings and listening to the radio broadcast, welcome to your committee.
In Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: Bills 14, 20, 22, 23, and 24.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with Bill 24 and resume the review of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, then we would commence with the review along with the supporting documents of Bill 20, Bill 22, and Bill 23.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Members, are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 24?
Let’s deal with that bill first.
As we proceed, would you like to have your officials with you at the witness table?
Minister Kuksuk would like to have his officials with him at the witness table. Do you agree?
With me again this afternoon (interpretation ends) to my left, (interpretation) Gershom Moyo, Chief Financial Officer for the Housing Corporation, and to my right is Terry Audla, President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Welcome to the House, Mr. Audla and Mr. Moyo.
We can proceed. We are on page L-3.
I have a bunch of people still on my list.
The first one will be Ms. Angnakak.
Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I almost called you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Chairman, thank you.
I want to touch a little bit about homeownership because for myself, for example, I own my own home. It’s not easy to own your own home and it’s expensive.
The former president of the Nunavut Housing Corporation appeared before a committee of the Senate of Canada. I think it was last year. In her testimony she said that the cost of owning and operating a house in Nunavut ranges from about $158,500 to $186,000 per year.
This means that it’s the minimum income you would need to be able to afford homeownership in various communities. If you make under that, it would be very hard to have your own home.
Can you tell me if you think that these estimates are still accurate?
I also thank the member for that question about the cost of homeownership.
Mr. Chairman, first of all to operate and maintain a house, to live in the house and to make all the payments, it’s around $26,000 per year and that’s just to operate and maintain it, to keep it warm and other expenses that are needed to run the house.
If I understood the other question or please advise me if I did not, but I think she asked how much they’re supposed to be making in the household. It’s a different number for each community. The question was if the number is still the same.
Yes, we still follow those same figures.
Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): My question was not answered.
Mr. Chairman, what I’m trying to ask is the former president of the Nunavut Housing Corporation said that you have to make $158,500 to $168,000 a year to be able to afford your own house in Nunavut because it’s so expensive.
I was asking if you think that estimate is still the same.
I thank my colleague for clarifying the question.
Yes, the figures are still the same.
The household income is still set at that.
If you want to request a subsidy from the Nunavut Housing Corporation, some people are said to make too much money and that makes them ineligible to get approval.
What is the salary cap or income threshold? Can you remind us what the figure is now?
Minister Kuksuk, please remind us.
The income threshold is $155,500 right now.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you for reminding us about that.
It’s set at $155,500 right now. Will that figure stay the same or when will that number be reviewed?
We have started reviewing that, but we are still using the same figures. We know that the threshold is different in each community, whether it’s in Arviat or Iqaluit or other communities. Each community has a threshold.
Even though we use that threshold today, we have plans to review it again to see if we can improve it for those people who are interested in getting their own homes.
Can the minister tell us if CMHC has anything to do with the thresholds?
According to your agreements with them, do they have anything to do with “This should be the threshold agreement” or not?
Can you tell us if CMHC has anything to do with that?
If you don’t mind, I would like Mr. Moyo on my left to respond to that in detail.
Yes, CMHC provides income eligibility limits for homeownership, but in Nunavut, NHC adjusts the CMHC number to take into account the higher cost of living and the higher cost of owning and maintaining your home.
We last reviewed the HPIE limits (homeownership program income eligibility limits) in 2014.
As the minister said, we will continue to review and to take into account inflation and many other factors.
I’m trying not to ask too many questions.
Could the minister tell us how flexible CMHC is when you make allowances for certain environments that we experience in Nunavut? How flexible is CMHC?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Yes, they are pretty flexible and they’re even beginning to be more flexible in working with the numbers that we deal with in terms of the type of questions you’re asking.
We’re quite pleased and happy to work with them in those areas.
That’s a good thing because we are different here, aren’t we?
I want to go on to my next question and that is to look at the new Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Housing Options Program that you have. I know that Mr. Mikkungwak also wants to ask you questions on that, but I’ll keep it to Iqaluit.
To date, how many applications under this program have been received and how many applications under this program have been approved for Iqaluit?
We will find it for Iqaluit.
Mr. Chairman, if you don’t mind, I can’t read the script here; the font is just too small.
He has better sight.
If you don’t mind, I would like Mr. Audla to respond.
That’s fine with me.
Mr. Audla (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) If I understand your question, for the 2016-17 period for Iqaluit for senior-specific programs for homeownership, we have zero.
Under the opening, pending, waitlisted, and new applicants for Iqaluit, we have two in one category, two in another category, and one is on the waitlist.
There are five total for Iqaluit. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Angnakak: That was going to be my last question.
I’m talking about the program where if an elder is in their home and then they feel that they can’t keep up with their costs anymore, just that really, where the Nunavut Housing Corporation buys back the home.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Right now there are none for (interpretation ends) this year.
I guess you heard my name since you said it.
In talking about private homeowners in Baker Lake, the situation is many of them are getting older and some have physical disabilities.
With that being the case, earlier my colleague was asking about this matter.
How will this benefit homeowners who are seniors or have physical disabilities?
In my constituency of Baker Lake, is this issue noted by your corporation and how will these homeowners receive assistance?
It seems on top of aging, they have to also deal with the increasing costs of fuel and electricity. When you are a homeowner, the (interpretation ends) insurance (interpretation) can’t be allowed to lapse.
Mr. Chairman, yes, we do have programs specific to senior homeowners or persons with disabilities who may struggle as homeowners. There are various programs available to assist them.
However, he asked about aging homeowners who may have physical limitations but have to pay for fuel or electricity and if this results in their inability to pay these expenses.
In looking at this scenario, existing programs are available for assisting them in paying for the expenses.
The community where the home is located may have public housing available for them.
This is another program that can be used for elderly homeowners to move into (interpretation ends) public housing (interpretation) units to alleviate their challenges. This can be resolved with another LHO to sell their home to another resident or body.
Hopefully I was understandable with my response.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the minister for clarifying that.
What about the homeowners who are aging or have disabilities and they want to keep their home? How can the housing corporation provide assistance in that case?
We have different programs for that purpose for disabled people and elders.
We can provide funding assistance for renovations or for maintenance.
They clearly indicate as to what kinds of assistance we can provide them.
If the homeowner is going to stay in the house, then they can utilize our funding programs.
As I stated earlier, if they want to let go of the house or if they want to transfer it to the housing organization, that’s open for elderly homeowners and the cost of maintenance, fuel, and utilities would be under the housing association. If they want to move into a public housing unit, then their house can be given to the housing association or organization.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the minister for that clear response.
We’re on page L-3 and my colleague asked questions, but I wanted to ask an additional question.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation, as I look at the substantiation sheets, gets funding from CMHC for people in public housing.
My question is: with regard to other income or revenue, can you provide further details so that it is understandable?
I’m sorry if I didn’t understand.
I think that you are asking about the funding we get from the federal government for different programs.
We get funding for different programs from the federal government for the elders.
We work closely with the Department of (interpretation ends) Family Services (interpretation) to run programs for elders’ homes.
We get federal funding for different programs, but the biggest part of it is to provide (interpretation ends) public or social housing (interpretation) in Nunavut and the funding is slated towards that.
We’re on page L-3 and I’m referring to the last paragraph on the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
“The corporation receives additional funding through contributions provided from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), tenant rentals and other income.”
Is other income from Family Services or do you have any other income that you could identify?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, my colleague, for clarifying that.
I’ll have Mr. Moyo respond to that, Mr. Chairman, if it’s okay with you.
I’ll try to be as specific as possible.
We had received funding from mainly four sources, the first one being the Government of Nunavut, which is the budget that we’re discussing today, $39,965,000.
The second major source of funding for our capital budget is from CMHC. During this planning period we will be getting a total of $84.1 million from CMHC through the Social Infrastructure Fund.
We have also been receiving $4.2 million every year from CMHC under the Social Housing Agreement and that money is set aside specifically for renovations, modernization, and improvement.
The last envelope that we get is also from CMHC under the Investment in Affordable Housing and it’s $1,465,000. That money is specifically to construct new houses or purchase new houses.