EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Although he was recognized already, it was my original intention to point him out because he is from my constituency.
The Premier knows him very well as he has also worked with him for Inuit rights and he has been tireless in his advocacy for Inuit, Mr. Pauloosie Keyootak.
I believe the child on his left is his son, Adamie, so I would like to recognize him as well.
First of all, I would like to send my regards to the people of Kimmirut and Cape Dorset.
Although this person is now a resident of Iqaluit, she is originally from my community. She initially went for training at the Arctic College, but due to the length of the program that she attended, she has become a resident here.
She is now working at the Nunavut Arctic College.
I would like to recognize Katauga Saila.
She just came back from attending a course in France as part of her training.
If there are no more, (interpretation ends) Item 6.
Oral Questions. (interpretation) Member for Iqaluit Centre, Mr. Tootoo.
Question 623 – 2(4): Tax Issues (Tootoo)
I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Finance and they concern, especially now, everybody’s favourite topic, and it has been an issue that’s been talked about here and across the country, and that’s taxes.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister will recall from his Budget Address earlier this year, he announced a number of income tax measures, including an increase in the pension income credit.
In his Budget Address, he indicated that amendments to the territorial Income Tax Act would be made in the fall 2008 session of the Assembly.
I would just like to ask the minister if he could update the House today as to the status of the measures that were announced in his Budget Address and confirm when this legislation will be introduced in the House.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Financial Management Board, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk.
I thank the member for the question with regards to taxes.
I don’t have that information right now, so I will have to get back to the member.
I’ll take the question as notice, Mr. Speaker.
The minister has heard the question and has taken the question as notice.
Oral Questions. (interpretation ends) Member for Cambridge Bay, Mr. Peterson.
Question 624 – 2(4): Sudden Resignation of Cambridge Bay School Principal (Peterson)
Mr. Speaker, the education of our children is extremely important. Programs are critical but good caring principals and teachers are, too. In particular, our schools require principals who are leaders in their schools to the students and teachers.
Three weeks ago, on the second day of school, our high school principal resigned on sudden notice. The minister has met the principal and discussed his ideas for the school and there were some very good ideas. The principal’s resignation upset the students and the parents.
My question for the minister: will the minister explain to the House why the principal resigned on sudden notice?
The member is correct, I had an opportunity to meet with the principal of the high school on two or three occasions in Cambridge Bay and indeed found him to be very concerned and dedicated with the issues not only in the school but in the community of Cambridge Bay.
No, Mr. Speaker, I cannot get into the details and specifics of an employee’s resignation in this public forum.
That was the answer I anticipated. Mr. Speaker, when the principal departed Cambridge Bay, there were close to 100 of the students at the airport to say goodbye. Many of them hitchhiked, walked, or took a bus to the airport.
That’s unprecedented in Cambridge Bay for somebody to have that happen. It was a very emotional event and many tears were shed. The students from the Kiilinik High School clearly held the principal in high regard.
My question for the minister: can the minister explain to the House what steps or actions his department is taking to bring the principal back to guide and lead the Kiilinik High School in the 2008-09 school year?
I think the students of Cambridge Bay should be commended on their support of their principal in the community.
I can say to the member that once I was informed of what had occurred in the community, we had our regional office in the Kitikmeot, the KASO office, have senior staff in the community to ascertain what had occurred and indeed to look at what opportunities there may be to rectify that situation. I can say that there is ongoing work within that frame at the present time.
I appreciate the minister’s answer.
Mr. Speaker, the principal led a very dedicated group of teachers last year and they had some good ideas and programs planned for the 2008-09 school year.
My question for the minister: can the minister explain to the House what contingency plans his department implemented to reassure students, parents, and teachers that the Kiilinik High School’s 2008-09 programs will continue as originally planned?
In any school in Nunavut, the total program itself, the curriculum, the academia that is involved, and indeed the whole operation of the school is not dependant or interdependent on just one individual position or person.
That is the case in Cambridge Bay.
The plans that were in place that were approved through the local education authority, and indeed the majority of the returning teachers and so on, those are still in place. We do have somebody who is in the position acting as principal and the principal’s role is the leader of the school.
That has not changed and that will continue.
So we want to assure the parents and indeed the students and the faculty of the school in Cambridge Bay that we are monitoring the situation and indeed that things are progressing as normally as they would under any other normal circumstance.
I’m not sure what “normal” means in this context when your principal resigns after two days on the job in the second year. Previous to coming to Cambridge Bay, he was a principal in a very difficult community in Alberta where he did an excellent job.
My question for the minister: can the minister inform the House if the principal’s sudden resignation has exposed or has a potential to expose the Government of Nunavut to legal liability?
Again, this is a human resource issue, a staffing issue within the school and again, within the DEA and the department. I do not want to get into the specifics of this type, on potential conflicts, liabilities, and so on.
Question 625 – 2(4): Clarify to Nunavummiut How GN Sets Fuel Prices (Curley)
My question today is for the Minister responsible for the Petroleum Products Division.
When this question was posed yesterday, part of the response was unclear. In order to try and make this clear for the understanding of Nunavummiut and because we require leadership from the Cabinet and the minister responsible in particular, I would like to ask this question.
When fuel prices are adjusted following the changing rates, it becomes impossible to understand why the price per litre changes at the fuel pump. I believe that the government is aware of the exact price they pay when they purchase the fuel because we buy from the world market.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavummiut are getting tired of the haphazard pricing of fuel since it seems to be set with no coherent plan.
They are forced to pay prices, artificial prices, at least according to what I know.
Fuel is taxed, but people still have to pay for fuel surcharges when they fill-up their vehicles, income taxes, fuel delivery, so they pay taxes at several points.
Due to those reasons and the rising cost per barrel of oil in the world market, can the minister explain how prices are set?
Can the pricing controls for fuel be revamped to make it more convenient for Nunavummiut?
How does the GN set fuel prices? I think that’s the question I’m hearing in the details of it.
To clarify, I could say that the Financial Management Board has the authority to set retail prices in the communities and that is served by PPD. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I need your help in this area because I was hoping that the Minister of Energy would take the lead role in various pricing arrangements and I also understand that FMB is involved.
Can I be given a clear understanding of who I’m directing the various components of the pricing process?
In your first question, you asked about petroleum product pricing and you should be directing your question to the Minister responsible for the Petroleum Products Division.
Perhaps Minister Brown can respond to your question.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The retail price of fuel is based on the following components:
actual product cost itself;
actual transportation cost;
commission for local fuel sales;
dispensing and delivery service;
operations and maintenance expenses;
product evaluation;
shrinkage; and
tax where it’s due
These are the prices that are included in determining the price for the fuel oil.
Mr. Curley: I’m not sure whether that’s my second supplementary because I was asking for clarification on which minister was responsible for fuel prices.
It was clear in Inuktitut when I said, Mr. Speaker, that the Nunavummiut pay for taxes, what I would call ‘hidden taxes,’ because the government attempts to recover 100 percent of the cost, if possible, for shipping as well as buying at the world prices, as well as the transportation and storage charges.
They pass that cost on, I would say, by taxing Nunavummiut for the price of fuel products that they buy.
The government is the largest consumer of petroleum products.
Why do Nunavummiut, even if it’s an unemployed guy, there are many of them in Nunavut, have to pay for the consumption of the government when they, in fact, do not even use the facilities that the government is using?
Why not make it simple, Mr. Speaker, and establish a price for regular consumers and let the government pay for its own consumption?
The member raises very good points and I alone can’t answer that because it is an FMB decision, and I concur with the member’s concern.
However, I could also say that the fuel price is changing all the time, up and down, up and down.
And the questions that you are raising, I think they have to be directed to all of us at FMB because we do have to come to an agreement with that.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) I made a mistake when I said it was your second supplementary. It is now your second supplementary, Mr. Curley.
I sort of got off the track, too. Mr. Speaker, Nunavummiut are experiencing very difficult times because the cost of fuel, as the Minister of Energy indicated yesterday, is very expensive up here. There are various programs, but they’re really not enough to meet the needs of real consumers that have to purchase at high prices.
Businesses, communities, and homeowners are also paying for costs the government consumes and I don’t consider that to be fair because even if we double or triple the population right now, we would double or triple the cost of energy at the pumps and charge it to the consumers. So therefore, the pricing is important.
And therefore, will the minister commit that they will actually review the policy and make it fair and simple for Nunavut fuel consumers so that they don’t have to subsidize the government at the pumps?
I will have the Premier respond to the question.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I just want to add to my ministerial colleague’s comments.
We actually save money by buying bulk for the government and our consumers, so we’re doing our utmost to make sure that our costs are down. We also have tax programs to benefit our hunters and outfitters.
So we’re doing our part to try and help out our constituents that are struggling with the current world prices and we will continue to look for ways to reduce costs.
We’re always looking for the best price for our consumers and we ask for bids. We even exempt transportation from NNI to keep our costs down for our constituents.
So we will continue to look into this matter. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That is for later on. (interpretation ends) Your final supplementary, Mr. Curley.
In my preamble to the question, I indicated that all Nunavummiut pay for the cost of energy consumed by institutions, private sectors, homeowners, and unemployed people.
They pay the same price because the government, in itself, cannot afford to pay for the total cost that it consumes.
So what I’m trying to say is that this outdated policy is not good enough.
We need new leadership in establishing fuel prices for Nunavut and it should be based on consumption by individuals, the business community, homeowners, as well as institutions.
So can that be done, Mr. Speaker, and if not, why not?
I will have the Premier also respond to that question.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I must say that we’re doing our outmost to keep our costs down.
I appreciate the questions and I look forward to the coming campaigns so that we can improve it and make it more affordable.
There are other campaigners that are looking to increase the cost of fuel in our territory even further.
As I said, I’ll campaign to make sure that the issue is addressed where it should be and I’m pleased to see that one of the parties are looking to reduce some of the tax on diesel fuel and home heating fuel.
I must say that I’m puzzled that we’re letting unemployed people, those on welfare, pay a set price and we subsidize it.
I’m puzzled by that comment and I hope that we can get clarification on that. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 626 – 2(4): Late Delivery of Fuel to Repulse Bay (Mapsalak)
Mr. Speaker, the companies that deliver petroleum products to Nunavut usually set a shipping schedule for the dates of arrival to various communities.
Mr. Speaker, this was looked into because problems occurred while fuel was being transported to Repulse Bay last year.
Ice had started to form, so it was very difficult for them to offload the petroleum products.
We had concerns when we were told that the shipment date was set for October 11.
Mr. Speaker, the bay right in front of Repulse Bay will most likely be frozen by then.
Is it true that the fuel carrier ship will arrive at such a late date?
Due to the lateness of the ice break-up last year, we had to delay the shipping dates for the barges or a ship that was transporting the fuel to Repulse Bay.
It’s my understanding that it arrived at such a late date due to landfast ice not breaking up.
I haven’t been fully briefed on the date he listed in October, but I generally receive a schedule outlining the dates of arrival for each community and it’s disseminated to the communities as well as the press.
I will commit to look into it and inform my colleague as to whether or not that’s the case so that we will both have the exact dates for his community.
We were informed that there will be two shipments of fuel to our community this year.
According to the schedule that was given to us, the first date is listed as September 27 and that will be for the gasoline shipment.
If the next shipping date is October 11, can the minister commit to look into it and see if she can exert some pressure on the shippers to move that date up?
It’s obvious that the ship may experience more difficulties if it’s sent at such a late date.
Yes, I can look into that matter. The question of whether or not I can influence the shipment date is something I cannot confirm because the shipping companies set their own schedules based on their requirements as a business, but I can commit to discussing this issue with the companies.
Last year, we experienced problems in Rankin Inlet where the big barges transporting fuel were almost caught in a very dangerous situation.
I imagine that most of the members have already reviewed the pictures of that incident where it hit an ice floe and it was in danger of sinking.
We will use that incident as an example to urge them not to make shipments to the Arctic at such a late date.
There was a serious safety issue last year due to the formation of ice and nasty weather conditions, so it took a long time for them to offload the products.
Prior to my arrival from Repulse Bay, we still had multi-year ice which I imagine will move out, but the new ice will already be forming by the time the ships come and they will face treacherous situations.
Can the minister assure me that she will do everything in her power to advance the date and inform my constituents about this issue?
It’s apparent that if the date isn’t changed, the ships will be unable to come into the community and will place themselves in great danger.
So can she try to change it?
Yes, my colleague has made a convincing statement.
I commit to reminding them of the dangers and that their interests are being looked after so that the company ought to listen to the advice. I will also discuss the matter with my senior staff and direct them to discuss this issue with the shipping companies transporting the fuel.
Question 627– 2(4): Delivery of Fuel in Sanikiluaq When Fuel Truck Breaks Down (Kattuk)
This was a question that I posed yesterday to the Minister of Community and Government Services.
Yesterday, the minister indicated in her response that the contractors will be using 45-gallon drums when loading the tanks.
What vehicles will they be using - snowmobiles, ATVs, or trucks? What mode of transportation are they going to be using to deliver those 45-gallon drums?
What I was trying to say yesterday was that before the snow melted last spring, the fuel truck broke down in Sanikiluaq.
What I was trying to say is that we had a dialogue with the contractors and they have to have an alternative plan in case their fuel trucks break down as some communities only have one or two fuel trucks.
We wanted to have a plan in place because the contractors still have to deliver fuel to houses.
Should the fuel trucks break down, we would go to plan B. Plan B would be the contractor transporting 45-gallon drums either by snowmobile or some other mode of transportation to make sure that there’s continuous delivery of fuel to the households.
If that’s going to be the case, would the government purchase the snowmobiles, ATVs, or other mode of transportation in order to ensure that the fuel is delivered? Is the government going to be buying the vehicles for the contractors to use? Is that what the minister is saying?
What my briefings have stated was that when there was still snow on the ground this spring, the fuel truck broke down. The back-up truck was not working properly because it needed parts and the parts didn’t come in on time.
In the meantime, some people’s houses needed fuel oil. They were unable to deliver fuel oil at the time.
So what the contractor did was he was prepared to deliver fuel oil by using 45-gallon drums and a pump. That was the solution that was developed.
However, in the future, what I would like to see is the staff speak to the contractor and prepare on the long-term to make sure that there’s a truck that is available in the five-year capital, or whichever way possible, because what we experienced this spring was very unsafe.
Some homeowners were delivering their own fuel oil using 45-gallon drums. That was unacceptable and we recognized that.
So there always needs to be a plan A and a plan B, that’s what my message is.
I was just trying to say and clarify that it is the contractor’s or the fuel delivery person’s responsibility to make sure that the fuel oil is delivered to houses.
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Minister.
I understood something totally different yesterday because it seems like you’re giving me a different response today. You said that you had reviewed this and the contractors who deliver the fuel don’t want to see this type of problem again in the future. My question is: are you going to give financial assistance to the contractors to ensure that fuel is delivered?
They’re going to need something to transport the fuel.
What I understood yesterday is different.
Is the government going to provide financial assistance to the contractors to ensure that the fuel is delivered in case the fuel truck breaks down?
Is the minister saying that they’re going to provide the contractors with an ATV, snowmobile, or another mode of transportation?
With the experience that Sanikiluaq had this spring was that the contractor was even prepared to deliver fuel oil using 45-gallon drums because it was their responsibility to deliver fuel oil.
In the future, after reviewing the situation, my staff and I feel that it’s very unsafe to be delivering fuel oil using five-gallon jerry cans, and that was happening. In order to stop that, we told the staff to communicate to the fuel contractor to make sure that it stops and that it’s their responsibility to deliver the fuel to homes.
Furthermore, I will make sure the staff of CGS communicate with the contractor to make sure that it doesn’t happen again and that in the event, the staff should go down there and have ongoing checks twice a year or whatever to see how the trucks are running. I think we can eliminate a lot of problems by communicating.
During our spring session, I had alluded to this situation, perhaps I ought to start with it first. Perhaps it’s due to the fuel contractor not being available and unfortunately, that’s how the events transpired. I would also like to say that the contractor’s fuel truck was not broken at that time.
The homeowners had no choice but to put fuel in their tanks for heat because the fuel truck wasn’t running due to a storm.
So those homeowners had to fill up their five-gallon jerry cans and put it in their tanks.
There was a mother, a daughter, and a small child who had to go and fill five-gallon cans to fill up their tank. The reason why the fuel delivery contractor could not run the truck was because there was a storm. I think that should be reviewed.
Like you said before, the fuel contractors will be monitored by the Department of Community and Government Services to see whether they’re doing their job properly. Do I understand correctly that they will be coming down to Sanikiluaq?
I thank the member for his notification that the personnel didn’t arrive in his community.
I’m sorry that they didn’t go down to Sanikiluaq, but I have been told that they went down to discuss the issues with the contractor.
I will urge my officials to deal with this in an urgent manner. I will discuss the issue with my staff and I will also commit to writing a memo to that effect requesting a date of the visit.
Once I hear the news, I will notify the member about when the staff will travel to his community.
Question 628 – 2(4): Different Tiered-Pricing of Fuel in Nunavut (Arvaluk)
I would like to make a supplementary to my cohort’s earlier question for which he didn’t get a complete response.
Can the Minister responsible for the Petroleum Products Division provide some clarification?
Perhaps I should ask that she look into the matter first because I believe that the FMB was confused in regard to this issue. The entire bulk fuel purchase is not for resale. If the government is trying to resell the fuel, they are not a fuel distributor.
Due to public needs, the government is dealing with fuel.
If the government were to resell the fuel at cost, it would be too expensive and there would be discrepancies in fuel prices in the communities. This is a service that they provide to the people.
To use an example, NPC is also in that same category. NPC provides electricity to all residents and companies, submits the bills to the client, and they charge a per kilowatt-hour rate depending on the client.
So I would like to ask the minister this: why is it that when your department has had since July to set the prices, which is springtime and Inuit are caching meat, drying fish, and being out on the land, you included those who cannot afford the increases such as the hunters?
The price of the petroleum products shot through the roof during the spring. Due to this drastic increase, we had to try to offset the increasing costs and this is why we raised the price of fuel.