EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I am just wondering if any steps have been taken to try to achieve that.
Minister would you like to respond.
This was an agreement pertaining to our petroleum products, by bulk that we would do a review.
This is just part of that and it became evident, and I understand what Mr. Tootoo is saying concerning the word itself, subsidy.
It also means, ikajutiit in Inuktitut also means a form of assistance.
So using the money to cover the losses that Mr. Tootoo is referring to, in his mind he sees this as a loss but in accounting it's just a little bit more difficult not to use the word subsidy.
It's easier to use the word subsidy if you are not an accountant.
I understand the question, to date has this or is this going to be looked at including the subsidies to the Federal Government.
This money was supposed to be reviewed that deals with petroleum products and this is ongoing.
I think the review is going to take a while to be completed.
I hope he can understand me because sometimes even to explain it in Inuktitut it is very difficult.
We have a limited vocabulary to describe many different things with the same words.
Anything further.
In Hall Beach back in the 1960’s, the people of Pelly Bay used to get their petroleum products from us by aircraft.
The army used to have oil supplies and oil containers over there but nowadays they are going to make a newer spot to keep the petroleum products in, it is in the plans.
It has been a long time since the aircraft received petroleum products; they used to have a DEW line site around the Pelly Bay area.
They used to deliver the petroleum products back and forth.
I am just wondering if this is going to continue or if there should be a plane crash or an oil spill or if there was a disaster, what contingency plans do you have as far as delivering petroleum products.
If there should be a disaster occurring he understands what we have to do.
Mr. Mrazek is the person that I will ask to respond to that question.
Mr. Mrazek: I would like to assure the member that any potential disaster, environmental situation regarding the fuelling, refuelling regarding any type of fuel are covered by very strict rules and procedures which are in place.
They are mainly administered by Canadian Coast Guard.
In addition, the PPD operations and the PPD contractors in communities, the rules, first emergency kits and all the procedures are community based and they are in place.
My question is mainly that in the spring we expect that they are going to bring some fuel over from Kugaaruk to our area by aircraft.
Do you have a contingency or emergency plans in case a disaster strikes.
If you can understand the question, he is asking about the aircraft carrier that has to have fuel supplies.
If you wish to respond please.
These little lights are really in control of us so when this light is on I think it would be better if it lights over here instead.
These are controlled by outside technicians.
Go ahead with your response please at any rate.
Mr. Mrazek: Thank you Mr. Chairman. In the case of the earliest resupply of the fuel which is used by the aircraft and the specific rubberised fuel tanks that sit in the fuselage.
The same procedures are in place with the airline carrier, which is responsible for the delivery of the fuel.
So to answer that question yes, the procedures are in place.
Mr. Chairman, I think I am being confusing.
If a plane crashes, if an accident happens there would have to be a clean up.
What plans do you have for a clean up of an accident.
In case of an environmental spill in different communities, the government mandated the staff from the Sustainable Development Department, which is Wildlife Officers in every community, who carry the responsibility for the first action in that type of operations.
So I am hoping that answers your questions.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Mrazek, very good answer, and very clear answer.
Do we have any more questions.
Mr. Chairman, in the minister's opening remarks she communicated that the department has a total of 212 funded positions and she had indicated also that the regional offices were virtually fully staffed and they are focusing on hiring at the headquarters level.
Could the minister provide us with a number of, or an update of where they are at with the staffing, I mean how many out of the 212, how many are vacant, how many at the regional level and how many are at headquarters.
If you look at the Main Estimates, we are currently under Baffin region.
Please keep that in mind.
Minister for Public Works if you wish to respond.
Do you plan to respond.
We are just looking at the numbers.
At this time at the headquarters level we have 28 filled positions, we still have 38 to fill.
Is that his question or in the Baffin region, or is he asking for all three regions.
Baffin we have to have 38 and right now we are still looking for seven more employees.
Keewatin should be 39 right now they need 6 more staff members, what we call 6 vacancies.
Kitikmeot there should be 28 but there are still 6 vacancies.
Under Petroleum Products there are supposed to be 15 employees but we are still looking for two more people.
Mr. Chairman, I beg the indulgence of the members and yourself Mr. Chairman, as I was out on some urgent business for the minister that had to be done, I wasn’t able to be here to ask general comments, and I am doing that now.
Mr. Chairman, the minister indicated the three regions, is that the numbers, 7 in the Baffin, 6 in the Keewatin, 6 in the Kitikmeot and 2 I would assume in Petroleum Products would be in Rankin.
Are they the regional office vacancies only I am also just wondering about vacancies at headquarters.
If you wish to respond we will leave that to your discretion.
Seven vacancies Baffin, 6 vacancies Keewatin, 6 vacancies Kitikmeot, 2 more for Petroleum Products.
For headquarters I shall have Mr. Mrazek respond with the figures and I pass it on to him right now Mr. Chairman.
If this thing will help Mr. Hunter I will basically say that the headquarters right now, which is located here in Iqaluit, is staffed at 50%.
With 52 vacancies.
Baffin region, which is the regional office, is staffed, total staff 38, minus 7 vacancies which is 82%.
Kivalliq region, 39 total positions, minus 6 vacancies, 85%.
Kitikmeot region, 28 minus 6, 79%…
Thank you for the percentage breakdown.
I was just looking for numbers as the minister indicated earlier that they are very short staffed in the headquarters function and I can see that only being staffed at 50% that she is not kidding.
What are the plans, I guess throughout this year, how soon is the projected plan to be fully staffed up.
I know only being staffed at 50% creates problems for yourselves and also for the staff as well, as staff are being asked or having to do much more, almost everyone is having to do two jobs and it is very hard on staff.
I am just wondering what the plans are or the projections for filling or becoming fully staffed.
I am extremely happy to hear from Mr. Hunter that he recognizes that the department is not fully staffed and I am really glad to hear that from that point.
The plan is to have 80% staffed by November of this year.
I am hoping this is realistic.
Mr. Tootoo, Mr. Hunter Tootoo will recognize that one of the major problems which we are facing is to attract technical staff into the department.
That seems to be one of the major problems these days, even the hiring from the south which we try to avoid as much as we can, is not working properly and we are trying to explore some other options how to deliver the work.
Mr. Chairman, I guess I asked and I realize that Mr. Mrazek just indicated that they are having a very difficult time attracting the technical people and we all know that these people are hard to find and not easy to attract.
The number of 212, I believe it was, funded positions is that different than the total number of positions that were within the department last year.
Is there an increase or a decrease in what those numbers are for the department.
Either one of you.
Madame Minister or the staff can respond to his comment or question.
When I became a minister I asked how many staff members I had within the department.
There were only three positions filled at the time and since then we have filled many vacancies within our department.
I just wanted to state that but if Mr. Mrazek wants to add to that he can do so.
But I do remember that when I became a minister for the department there were only three staff members there.
I think we have made progress in that area and I expect to have all the positions filled in the near future.
If you possibly look at the organizational chart of the department you will find that our priority right now is to staff the technical division which is headed by Jamie Flaherty.
That's where the most vacant positions are now.
We are advertising, we are soliciting, and we are trying to find the people for the very near decentralization.
So we are making some progress and as I said before we are looking realistically that by November of this year we should have 80% of the staff.
Mr. Chairman, maybe I can narrow it down a bit.
In the area that Mr. Mrazek indicated, the technical services areas I believe that he talked about that they want to concentrate on.
Is that area, that total number of funded positions whether they are vacant or not, has that changed from last year to this year.
The number of the positions remains in the technical group very much the same as before.
You may know that the organization charts and the set up of the department has been done by OIC, Office of the Interim Commissioner, with the Footprints II and it hasn't changed.
Some of the positions may have changed but the basic principle is the same and so are the numbers.
Mr. Chairman, I am just wondering, I guess, I know in the initial, last year the way the department was set up and that, included in the technical services division for public works was the technical function for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
I understand now that the minister had indicated that there is a stand alone Housing Corporation and Ms. Hines is the President of that Corporation.
The minister also indicated that technical services functions for Housing are going to be going back into that stand-alone corporation.
So I guess I am just wondering if there is one function that has been removed out of that technical services function of Public Works and then moved over to another area, why the numbers are the same.
One would have thought that there would be a number of technical positions that would go along with that function to the Housing Corporation.
We are under page 6 – 5.
If Mr. Mrazek would like to respond to his question.
To answer Mr. Hunter's question, yes, eleven technical positions were originally transferred from Community Government & Transportation to Public Works and they will be in the process of being transferred to the Housing Corporation back.
I can confirm that those positions are in the budget.
They are not reflected on the chart and the budget transfer will happen within the next few months.
Mr. Chairman, so I just want to make sure that I understand what Mr. Mrazek was saying that the number, that 212 number is a decrease in positions that will be transferred over, technical positions that will be transferred over to the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
I just wanted to make sure that I had a good understanding of what he was saying there.
Any one of you can respond.
There are 11 positions that will be transferred to Housing.
They are not under Public Works.
The technical staff.
These numbers here on this page relate only to Public Works, it has nothing to do with the Housing Corporation.
Mr. Chairman, I guess I am a little confused now, Mr. Mrazek had indicated that the function to provide those technical services for Housing were last year or prior to the formation of the Corporation, of a stand along Corporation, included in the technical services division of Public Works.
So is then the minister stating that although that big chunk of work that goes along with providing those technical services, the number of staff that she has in her technical division is going to remain the same.
Even though those responsibilities are going to be transferred over to a different area.
I fail to see the transfer, it reminds me of the old Community Empowerment days.
Deputy Minister, Mr. Mrazek.
I will be very brief with that.
Basically the 11 positions are budgeted within the Public Works, within project management and those positions will be transferred after the capital is approved, after the Main Estimates are approved back into the Housing Corporation.
That has been agreed and it is in the plan.
I thought I understood but then I asked if those numbers then in Public Works, total numbers of funded positions would, should I would think if they are going to transfer those positions it would effect that number and the minister indicated that it wouldn't.
That's why I was a little confused and I am glad to hear then that they are going to be transferred over.
I am sorry for the confusion, I just got confused there I guess.
Mr. Chairman, maybe in light of the time, I don't know if anyone wants to ask more questions, but if you want to ask more questions now or I know that some members have to leave.
I was just wondering if it would be best to report progress now.
I know Mr. Alakannuark had his hand up before so I would like to check with him to see if he would like to report progress or go ahead and ask a question.
Mr. Tootoo, I will ask if you are making a motion to report.
Mr. Tootoo has a motion on the floor to report progress.
The motion is not debatable.
Opposed. The motion is carried.
I will now stand and report progress. Thank you Madame Minister and your officials for being at the witness stand.
We will see you again next week, perhaps on Monday.
Thank you, have a good Friday, have a good weekend.
I think the Speaker can come back to the House.
Speaker: Returning to the Orders of the Day.
Item 20. Report of the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 13 and Bill 16 and Tabled Document 41 – 1(3), 51 – 1(3), 60 – 1(3), 61 – 1(3) and 77 – 1(3) and would like to report progress that Bill 16 is ready for third reading and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with.
There is a motion on the floor. Is there a seconder.
Mr. Irqittuq is the seconder today.
Item 21. Third Reading of Bills. Mr. Anawak.
Bill 16 – An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act – Third Reading
Hon. Jack Anawak: Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Pangnirtung that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act be read for the third time.
Motion is carried. Bill 16 has had third reading.
Orders of the Day, Monday April 17.
Motion 20 – 1(3)
Well members it's Friday and I think we had a very productive week.
I understand that some of the members are travelling to Cambridge Bay tonight and some to Pang on Sunday.
Have an enjoyable and safe trip.
This House stands adjourned until Monday April 17, at 1.30.
>>House adjourned at 2:12 p.m.
DAY 36
Monday, April 17, 2000
Pages 1566 - 1623
Opening Prayer 1566
Ministers’ Statements 1566
Members’ Statements 1569
Returns to Oral Questions 1574
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1575
Oral Questions 1576
Petitions 1592
Tabling of Documents 1592
Motions 1594
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1594
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1622
Orders of the Day 1622
Monday April 17, 2000 1566
114 - 1(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Arvaluk) 1566
115 - 1(3): Coroners’ Training (Anawak) 1567
116 - 1(3): Nunavut Home & Community Care Program (Picco) 1568
322 - 1(3): Nunavut’s National Wrestling Competitors (Arvaluk) 1569
323 - 1(3): Construction of Schools in Nunavut (Irqittuq) 1569
324 - 1(3): Gjoa Haven Gasoline (Puqiqnak) 1570
325 - 1(3): Iqaluit Resident Climbing Mount Everest (Picco) 1570
326 -1(3): Members’ Visit to Pelly Bay (Alakannuark) 1571
327 - 1(3): Tribute to John Arnalukjuak Sr. (McLean) 1571
328 - 1(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Elders (Anawak) 1571
329 - 1(3): Cambridge Bay High School (Tootoo) 1572
Return to OQ 223 - 1(3): Funding for Mobile Treatment Programs (Picco) 1574
Return to OQ 452 - 1(3): Honoraria for Jury Members (Anawak) 1574
468 - 1(3): Drop in Centre for Taloyoak (Puqiqnak) 1576
469 - 1(3): OIC Decentralization Plan (Barnabas) 1577
470 - 1(3): Clam Diving Policy (Iqaqrialu) 1578
471 - 1(3): Implementation of GNWT Capital Plan Projects (Irqittuq) 1579
472 - 1(3): Artificial Ice in Arenas (Akesuk) 1581
473 - 1(3): Commercial Diving Standards (Tootoo) 1583
474 - 1(3): Delay in Capital Budget Jeopardising Projects (McLean) 1585
475 - 1(3): Commercial Clam Diving (Irqittuq) 1586
476 - 1(3): Urgency of Commercial Diving Policy (Iqaqrialu) 1587
477 - 1(3): Pelly Bay School Addition (Tootoo) 1588
478 - 1(3): Gjoa Haven Gasoline (Puqiqnak) 1590
11 - 1(3): Kugaaruk School Gymnasium (Alakannuark) 1592
12 - 1(3): Cambridge Bay School (Ng) 1592
80- 1(3): Cambridge Bay School Drawings (Tootoo) 1592
81 - 1(3): Arnaqjuaq School Project Brief (Irqittuq) 1593
82 - 1(3): Letter From NEU Member on Negotiations (Akesuk) 1593
83 - 1(3): Nunavut Arctic College Programs (Arvaluk) 1593
84 - 1(3): Community Government & Transportation Business Plan (Anawak) 1593
85 - 1(3): Justice Business Plan (Anawak) 1593
22 - 1(3): Appointment of Peter Kattuk to Executive Council (Alakannuark) 1594
Monday April 17, 2000  Nunavut Hansard
Iqaluit, Nunavut  Monday April 17, 2000
Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. Olayuk Akesuk, Honourable Jack Anawak, Honourable James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (Mr. O'Brien): I would like to ask Mr. Akesuk to say the opening prayer.
Speaker: Members before we proceed with the orders of the day I would like to sadly acknowledge the death of an elder from my home community.
He was well known for many, many years in Nunavut. John Arnalukjuak Senior passed away last night at the elder's centre in Arviat.
As you know I've made many statements about John and his contribution to Nunavut and to the people of Nunavut and he will be sadly missed by everyone that he touched.
To his family Nick, Charlie, Paul, George, Amy and Margaret in Baker Lake and Lucy we offer our sincere condolences to them and their family.
Moving on to the orders of the day.
Minister’s Statement 114 - 1(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
Mr. Speaker, there have been a number of questions in this House recently raising the important issue of preserving the traditional knowledge of our elders, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and using this wisdom to make the programs and services that this government provides more relevant to the needs and the aspirations of Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I'm therefore very pleased to bring forth to the House today two excellent examples of students in Nunavut's Arctic College language and cultural programs.
Working with respected and knowledgeable elders across Nunavut and with internationally renowned scholars they are working to make a permanent record of the knowledge of our people.
Mr. Speaker, these books available in both English and Inuktitut record what Inuit elders told the students about Inuit Maligait and Piqujait, traditional law.
The books are just two of the five volume sets that are being published for Arctic College in partnership with Pairijait Tigummivik, the Iqaluit Elders Society.
The college has published a number of books under Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit since the language and cultural programs began five years ago, and the research work with Inuit elders is continuing today.
Shortly the remaining three volumes in this series dealing with aspects of traditional Inuit Cosmology, Health and Child Rearing will be published. The book dealing with our elders' recollections about their transition to Christianity is currently being pressed.
These add to the collection of more than forty books on the Inuit language and culture published by the college in recent years.
Mr. Speaker, I commend the college and, in particular, the Language and Cultural Programs for this excellent work.
I thank Iqaluit's elders’ society Pairijait Tigummivik for their generous support and I also want to thank the elders for providing this invaluable information most sincerely.
Copies of this text will be available in the assembly’s library.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Minister. Item 2.
Ministers' Statements. Mr. Anawak.
Minister’s Statement 115 - 1(3): Coroners’ Training
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform you and the Legislative Assembly that the Department of Justice held a successful training workshop in Iqaluit over the weekend of April 8 and 9.
The workshop was attended by twenty-eight Coroners who live outside Iqaluit and six coroners from Iqaluit.
Elizabeth Copeland, the Chief Coroner and Tim Neily the Administrative Coroner both attended.
I also had the opportunity to be at the workshop and to meet our Coroners.
(interpretation ends) A number of very important areas were covered in the agenda.
The trainers were well-qualified professionals who have had significant experience working with Nunavut Coroners.
Doctor Gowling, the Chief Medical Officer of Alberta, was the main instructor.
He was assisted by Larry Campbell the Chief Coroner of British Columbia as well as Caroline Anawak, Doug McGarvey and the RCMP.
This is the first workshop that our Coroners have had since April 1, 1999.
Prior to that time the Government of the Northwest Territories held about one workshop per year.
We have a system of lay Coroners in Nunavut.
The only training they get is through these workshops.
So the workshops are essential if our Coroners are to maintain the high level of efficiency that their job requires.
We hope to have a least one session every year to provide our Coroners with the training they need.
We hope that the training will not always be held in Iqaluit, but would take place in other communities.
(interpretation) Twenty Nunavut communities have at least one resident Coroner.
The Coroners play a very important role and must work closely with police, health care and other professionals.
Their job is not easy and it takes a strong individual to be able to do it effectively.
One of the benefits of training workshops, in addition to improving technical skills, is to allow Coroners talk and support each other.
In all ways the workshop we held in Iqaluit was very successful.
I would like to urge all members of the Legislative Assembly to support our Coroners.
They perform a difficult and very important job in communities across Nunavut.
Ministers' Statements. Mr. Picco.
Minister’s Statement 116 - 1(3): Nunavut Home & Community Care Program
Mr. Speaker, last year, 1999/2000, the Federal Government approved funding for an Inuit and First Nations Home Care and Community Care Program.
Across Canada this program will help a broad range of people, including those who have long-term disabilities, those who need home nursing care and those who have returned home after an illness or surgery.
Mr. Speaker, it is not intended to replace family and community groups but to allow people to remain in their own homes and communities and receive care for as long as possible.
This program will also increase capacity at the community level since people in each community will receive training in order to care for people with a range of illnesses and disabilities.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell you that the federal funds for this program are expected to be ongoing, not just a one time or one year allocation.
The good news Mr. Speaker, is to support this program the Federal Government will give Nunavut roughly 1 million dollars this fiscal year, 2000/2001.
Next year Mr. Speaker, and each year afterwards Nunavut will receive a total allocation of approximately 4 million dollars each year.