EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We work very closely with the federal government in regard to environment protection, and we work very closely with communities and hamlets on any types of spills that may occur. The immediate response is with Environment Canada or INAC and with us and communities, and also with the proponent who is responsible for the fuel that is either being spilled or where it is. Immediate clean-up takes place.
The responsibility lies with the proponent. There’s no question about that. However, we will ensure and work in cooperation to ensure immediate action is taken on all spills.
As the pace of mining development in Nunavut increases so do the environmental risks associated with such projects.
Can the minister clarify what role his department plays in working with companies and other levels of government to ensure that these projects have adequate contingency plans in place to deal with spills and other incidents that have the potential to damage the environment?
We absolutely do work with proponents and companies to make sure they’re aware of their obligations when it comes to the environment.
These guidelines, directions, and legislation are all outlined in the whole process under the land claims agreement.
That is a process through NERB, a very comprehensive process when it comes to environmental protection, and everybody is made aware of their responsibilities under that process.
The Department of Environment’s website includes information on this subject, including a document titled “Contingency Planning and Spill Reporting in Nunavut.”
After reviewing this document, I would note that it still refers to the old “Department of Sustainable Development,” so I would suggest that it should be updated.
My question for the minister is this: would he commit to having his department produce and table an annual report in the Legislative Assembly that describes his department’s activities under our territorial Environmental Protection Act?
I will ensure that that happens, that we update our website.
As far as tabling information, we do provide numbers of spills and numbers of occurrences to take place, and that type of information, Mr. Speaker, I can say, will be tabled.
If there’s any further information, I would like more detail on exactly what the member is referring to.
Question 207 – 3(3): Coming into Force “Official Languages Act” (Tapardjuk)
My questions are for the Premier in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Executive Council.
As the Premier is aware, Nunavut’s new Official Languages Act, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly in 2008, is not yet in force.
Section 49 of the Official Languages Act provides that, and I quote, “This Act or any portion of this Act comes into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Commissioner.”
This means that the cabinet has the authority to decide when the Act will come into force.
Can the Premier tell me today when the cabinet will bring the new Official Languages Act into force?
The language laws and the need to enact them are very important.
They represent the meaning of Nunavut’s creation itself, to ensure the Inuit language and culture.
This is very important and has to be properly planned. There is no doubt that when it would come into force is also very important to the Department of CLEY.
We are preparing solid plans together on that.
If this is indeed a high priority, why have we not seen it in the Nunavut Gazette?
The cabinet has yet to initiate the legislation, specifically the Official Languages Act.
Some parts of the Inuit Language Protection Act have started to be implemented and they are clearly identified.
Mr. Speaker, I’m asking the Premier again. You keep stating that it’s important and a priority.
When is cabinet going to initiate the enactment of the Official Languages Act?
It has to be carefully planned out because it is indeed a priority. We need to have our staff who will be responsible for Inuktitut translations and bilingual staff have to be available.
At this current time, the departments that have a role are also trying to plan how they will implement this legislation.
Up to date, the planning has not been completed, so I cannot give you a date as to when it will be in force at this time.
However, it’s quite obvious that my fellow minister, the Minister of CLEY, as well as the government as a whole will keep the public informed as to where we’re at.
Staff who are capable in Inuktitut as well as those capable in French and Inuinnaqtun will be increased in number to speed up this process.
This is extremely important. We sometimes have to wait for the translation into Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun.
I can reiterate that this is being worked on.
The departments are working on plans that they have to submit to the Department of CLEY.
At this current time, I don’t know the individual status of the departments’ plans, so I can’t make a statement on that.
Section 49 of Nunavut’s Official Languages Act states that the Act will be enacted by order of the Commissioner.
The Commissioner cannot make that order until cabinet decides on the date for the enactment of the Official Languages Act
The enactment of the Inuit Language Protection Act is already set.
The Education Act also has dates, but the Official Languages Act is still in limbo.
Section 49 of the Official Languages Act states that the Commissioner shall enact the legislation once the cabinet has provided direction.
I’m trying to ask the Premier when the cabinet will deal with the Official Languages Act.
I would like to thank the member for asking these questions because they’re very important to the people of Nunavut.
I will be happier once the plans are completed by the departments.
We will ensure, as we have always done from the beginning, this work is done.
Once the plans are completed by the departments, as per their deadlines, and are submitted to us, we can then announce when they would come into force.
Question 208 – 3(3): Conditions at Iqaluit Public Health Centre (Ell)
I was informed by some of my constituents about a concern they had with the public health centre.
My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services and it’s regarding what they have heard about the overcrowding at the public health centre.
They have quite a large number of employees.
At present, they’re holding a flu vaccination clinic.
Could the minister tell us what he has heard on that to this point?
The question, I believe, is directed to the public health centre here in Iqaluit and the fact that there was an attempt to set it on fire.
I heard about it, but I don’t have all the details. My officials are supposed to inform me once they know about the details. It’s not government property; we are leasing it.
I did hear that an attempt was made to set fire to the building.
Once I get more information, I will be able to speak to it, Mr. Speaker.
Can the minister provide information as to whether the public health centre’s operation is continuing uninterrupted?
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I don’t have any details whether this has slowed any services provided by the public health centre and if there were any issues related to that, I would have been informed.
With respect to the attempted arson, which was on the outside, around the porch area, once I have all the details, I will be able to say whether it impacted the operations of the public health centre.
The building is quite old and we sometimes hear that it drips. There are concerns amongst the workers.
Can the minister speak to the age or condition of this building?
I believe it’s one of the oldest buildings in Nunavut.
I agree with the member’s comments about that building.
What I can state is that we will have to look at the condition rating, but we don’t deal with that directly.
I will have to discuss that with the Department of Community and Government Services.
Buildings that are leased by the government are generally leased for a number of years and in that lease, it states who is responsible for the maintenance and any other issues related to maintenance.
If there are any other issues that are unacceptable, I will first find out.
I’m assuming that I will have to work with CGS to see how we can resolve these issues.
Ms. Ell (interpretation): We haven’t heard much about the attempted arson. I don’t think there’s a security camera in the building, although most government buildings have that.
Will they do that now for the public health centre?
As I stated just now, once I have received the details, I will be able to speak to it. If there are any recommendations to the security issues, I will have to discuss that with my colleague, the Minister of CGS, as to how to resolve that.
Once we have received the report of the investigation, I will be able to report back to the House.
Question 209 – 3(3): Funding for Elders (Oshutapik)
Up to today, our elders in nearly every community form our foundation.
We rely on them whenever we want to find out about any issue and whenever there is anything we are not aware of.
It’s sometimes observable that when elders have to go somewhere or when they have to undertake an activity, even within the community, we are forcing them to do this without any funds.
On one hand, we say the elders are our foundation, but on the other hand, we’re keeping them impoverished.
I’m wondering if there have been any plans so that this is no longer the case.
We hear so much about plans and I wonder if that has been done as well so that there is adequate funding for elders in the future.
Elders are our foundation and without them, none of us would be here.
It is a growing concern that elders are forced to use their own limited funds and fundraise for their initiatives.
That’s not very good to look at when we have the Department of CLEY that’s supposed to look after those issues.
Can the minister consider this aspect of funding for elders?
I thank my colleague for being very protective of our elders.
What he just stated is very true.
We do have proposals available for elders and youth towards their activities. If they have a committee for their operations and a building and operating funds for it, we do accept proposals.
With respect to grants only for elders, we don’t have any funds in CLEY for what he is specifically asking about.
Of course, that is a very good thing to consider.
Are the communities made aware of the program that you mentioned?
Wherever we can, we provide that information through written materials, through the radio stations, and we try to provide information at the beginning of the year, at mid-year, and at the end of the fiscal year. We do have these proposals open all year long and we can provide more information.
We try to use all the media available to us.
Your second supplementary, Mr. Oshutapik.
You just stated that you have some funds available for operations and buildings.
Not all communities have a building.
In our community, the elders have a sod hut that they use and they have to heat it if they’re going to use it in the winter.
I feel that they’re not being treated adequately.
You stated that there was funding available, so I will keep note of that.
What are the limits of funding available to each community?
I thank Mr. Oshutapik for his question.
With respect to operations, they can apply to what they assume will be enough for the year.
We know that a lot of the elders don’t have a building. If there is a building that has been made available for them, they can request funding for renovations. They can apply for operational funding and they can apply for as much as they feel is enough for their operations.
I believe that proposals would be reviewed but not all of them would be funded.
I believe it starts from $1,000 to over $20,000 or $30,000.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Oshutapik.
I thank the minister for providing good replies.
I will make this my last question.
Now, elders don’t have a lot of resources available, they don’t operate like offices do, and most of them haven’t gone through the school system.
This causes difficulties for them. What about funding for a part-time worker? If we were to apply for that, would you make that funding available to us?
There are no restrictions on hiring a worker.
This could be included in their application for funding.
Furthermore, the GN has started hiring government liaison officers in every community, so that could be a resource for our elders.
Question 210 – 3(3): Update on Liquor Task Force (Elliott)
Well over a year ago, the liquor task force was established and had travelled across the territory trying to elicit suggestions to our Liquor Act.
I’m just wondering if the minister could provide an update to that today.
First of all, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the members of the task force for their time in undertaking this very important task for all of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I made a commitment that all communities in Nunavut would be visited. Unfortunately the task force has been delayed by weather and other reasons, and at this time, has not been able to get into all communities.
They told me that they hope to get into all the communities this fall and I hope to have a report some time in the winter.
I know the minister himself has participated in some of those activities and I’m sure he has had reports back from the task force as to how it has been going in terms of the meetings.
I’m just wondering: are there any emerging themes that seem to be coming up or suggestions that you feel will be put into this?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Mr. Elliott again for the question.
Mr. Speaker, I have deliberately left the task force to be at arm’s length from myself as the Minister of Finance, although I have attended three community meetings in Cambridge Bay, Grise Fiord, and Resolute Bay.
There are quite a diverse number of opinions about liquor in Nunavut.
Some people say, “Get rid of the liquor altogether,” and others are saying, “Let’s have more liquor stores.” Some people say that we should have more rules to control alcohol.
It’s going to be very difficult when the task force actually sits down and writes a report. When you have 25 communities, you can get 40 to 100 people in every community coming out to town hall meetings and you’re talking to different groups throughout the community.
There’s quite a, as I said, diverse thought on what we should do about alcohol in Nunavut.
I think that’s part of the reason why I was asking the questions in terms of it’s your department that will be rolling up everyone’s opinions and putting them into a report that will hopefully be included and reflected in the legislation.
Out of curiosity, just to sort of help establish a timeline: has a legislative proposal been completed for what’s happening with this Act?
Again I thank Mr. Elliott for the question.
Mr. Speaker, as I said, the Minister’s Task Force on the Review of the Liquor Act is independent and at arm’s length from myself and my officials, although we do provide some logistical support to the group.
There is an organization that has been hired to work with them, to undertake all the travels, and to help them write the report.
My staff and I won’t be sitting down to help them write the report because, obviously, I would be accused of trying to water the report down or something.
There has been no legislative proposal developed yet.
Initially I had hoped that the task force would get into all the communities within a year. It has proven to be quite a challenge. As everybody knows, when you’re travelling in Nunavut, three regions and 25 communities, you’ve got weather problems, you’ve got airplane problems, and then you’ve got summers that people like to take off and go camping and fishing.
So we’re hoping that we will get a report later this year or early in the New Year, and then we will go from there.
With almost two years left in our term, when do you intend to introduce this bill in the House?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Elliott again for the question.
I know he’s quite keen on seeing a new bill in the House. I do recognize the timelines.
I can’t say with any certainty when we would introduce a legislative proposal and start working on the legislation, if any.
Question 211 – 3(3): Rethinking Support for Sports (Ningeongan)
I would like to direct my question to the minister responsible for sports and recreation programs, the Minister of CLEY.
In my earlier statement, I called upon the government to explore different options to support and fund sports across Nunavut.
Can the minister clearly describe how policies for selecting teams to represent Nunavut at the Arctic Winter Games are established?
I would like to thank Mr. Ningeongan for keeping the youth in mind, which we all have to do. When it comes to the Arctic Winter Games, there is a process to select athletes and coaches.
They are selected generally by territorial sports organizations.
These selections are made by organizations, such as Hockey Nunavut, the Nunavut Soccer Association, and the Nunavut Badminton Association.
In my Member’s Statement, I described the two different approaches that have been used to select teams to represent Nunavut at events, such as the Arctic Winter Games.
One approach is to select the winning team from the territorial championships. The other approach is to select individual athletes to form a new Nunavut team.
Can the minister clarify for this House the rationale for choosing one approach over the other?
As I spoke to previously, the sports organizations make those decisions on the players and the coaches.
That is still the process.
Furthermore, to date, we still use the same process, specifically in the regional trials, where they compete and assess each team.
In the non-team individual sports, some individuals chosen are still picked from these tournaments.
That has continued to be the practice to date.
In my view, the government could be more creative in expanding the opportunities for youth to participate in sports across Nunavut and to create more opportunities for teams and individuals to advance in their respective sports.
Can the minister describe what consideration, if any, has been given to increasing the amount of support and funding for sport teams across Nunavut?
Because he is a fellow Inuk, he can ask these questions in our language.
That is the way it is set up currently.
When they’re looking at representatives for the Arctic Winter Games, which will be in Whitehorse this upcoming spring, there are several trials coming up in February.
Luckily the funds for operations of the Arctic Winter Games have been sufficient to date.
They haven’t requested any further funds since their operational funds are sufficient.
Let me speak in Inuktitut.
Will the minister commit to raising the issue of having two teams represent Nunavut?
Based on my earlier comments with respect to the winning teams, they work together for many months and they practise really hard to prepare for the tournament. They put all their hard work and dedication into this.
The teams work really hard to fundraise to attend a tournament. Sometimes it seems all their efforts are for naught because less competitive players are taken out and they have to get new team members.
So the winning team that had expected to represent the territory has their dreams crushed because some of members are replaced.
Can the minister consider, along with the bodies that he alluded to, the issue of having two teams represent Nunavut, one being the territorial champion team and one being a Nunavut all-star team?
So maybe if they had a two-pronged approach, there would be many more young people participating in these winter games.
I thank my esteemed colleague, Mr. Ningeongan.
That is a very good suggestion to consider. However, to date, we still use the practice that we have inherited with the regional sports bodies.
I have faith in the regional sports organizations and in the teams that compete to win the regional trials.
When the athletes come together to represent Nunavut, they’re not representing a community but the territory in those winter games.
I can agree that this is something that we could consider. I cannot tell him for sure that this will be implemented for the upcoming winter games but perhaps in the future.
Question 212 – 3(3): Support for Women’s Shelters (Ugyuk)
Usually we have a little fun on Fridays but not today. With Halloween just around the corner, it is becoming a time to get scared.
Yesterday we approved the capital budget towards the strategy. We also know that there is the Family Abuse Intervention Act.
How are they going to support one another?
If he can explain how that works.
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for your question.
I wasn’t able to respond to the question that was posed yesterday.
The funding is within Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs to start considering that.
That responsibility was transferred to our department this spring. When that crime prevention program was transferred, it included the funding for that program.
It was transferred from EIA to the Department of Health and Social Services.
We will try to complete the comprehensive review of the crime prevention and healthy family initiatives by the end of this winter.
This budget of $177,000 was geared towards that.
The Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth had responded to some of your questions in regard to providing better support for elders.
The departments have to work together, so I have to talk with the department’s minister in regard to the alcohol abuse strategy. I know that we have been told that these are often late, but we need to have an action plan.
Without such a plan, we cannot expend funds.
Why are we late, Mr. Speaker?
The previous government was the cause for the delay. When we took this on, the mental health position was in Cambridge Bay.
We weren’t able to hire the director for four years since we work in a decentralized model.
Mental health and addictions workers take care of family violence programs.
That is why it is taking so long.
For those of us sitting over here, we are working on the action plan.
I know that some people are impatient, but as the Auditor General had stated, we need an action plan and a strategy in order to expend our funding.
I thank the Minister of Health and Social Services for the answers.
Another question: how many facilities do you have in regard to women’s shelters?
I will try to give a bit more detail.
Based on the information I have, I believe you had raised that question last year about the numbers and those numbers haven’t changed much since then.
In the Kitikmeot, some of the facilities that used to be operated have been closed recently.
I believe there used to be three in that region. The one in Taloyoak, I believe, has been closed.
I will have to check into this later on.
In the Kivalliq, there was one facility that operated out of Rankin Inlet. In the Baffin region, there were two facilities, with one here in Iqaluit and the other in Cape Dorset that received assistance to provide this service.
In Cape Dorset, the hamlet had responsibility for social services and it was not a GN responsibility.
What I can state is that things are changing and I will be able to provide more details on the number of facilities at a later date.
At the end of September, the Hamlet of Cape Dorset transferred their social services responsibilities back to the Department of Health and Social Services as they were unable to keep up with all the demands.
I will have to check into this and once I have those details, I can get back to the member.
I look forward to the answers. I’m just wondering how many shelters are open in Nunavut.
Another question: what amount of funding is used to operate the shelters in Nunavut?
Let us be aware that the shelters are operating in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay. I believe the one in Cambridge Bay has room for four.
If you include all of them and if you look at Iqaluit, to the end of 2010, operating funds totalled $1 million.
In the Rankin Inlet shelter, they used $250,000 based on their budget.
In Cambridge Bay, they used $85,000. In Taloyoak, they had expended $110,000 for the 2010 fiscal year.
At this time, I don’t have the details for the current year.
Thank you for replying fully.