EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In regards to the 215 million dollars, we owe to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
How many units does that involve.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: That's about 3,226 units.
The interest rate that we are paying on that 215 million is that a fixed rate that we've assumed at division.
What is that rate.
I'll pass that onto Ms. Hine if you would allow me to.
I am not certain what the exact rate is.
It is part of the housing agreement that we took over, the Northwest Territories housing agreement signed in 1997.
When we became our own territory it was passed on to us.
We didn't have a part in the negotiations on that agreement.
The money that we do pay, the 28 million that we do pay on an annual basis is actually given to us from CMHC.
So they give us the money and then we give it back.
So, it's part of their money.
I can check specifically on the details of the interest rates.
Having a mortgage of my own. 1% means a lot over 20-30 years on my mortgage.
But on 215 million it may if it is I don't know what the rate is.
It might be 4-5%.
But then again it might be 10%.
If it is 10% or even higher and I think the going rate for the bank now is 7%, then there could be significant savings there.
I know what you are saying.
We are getting the 28 million dollars from CMHC and we give it back.
But the condition of the 28 million dollars that we are getting from CMHC is that based on the rate of interest we now paying on that long-term debt.
Yes, it would be based on the long-term debt.
Mr. McLean: So, if the minister went to renegotiate this or talk to the CMHC and saying that we are being charged, I am just picking a number out of the air, 10% can we renegotiate that down to 7%.
Would that mean that they would also give us less than 28 million.
Is that basically a no win situation on this one.
Again, we had the board members of CMHC here with the President and we’ve had good meetings with them.
They’ve seen the north and seen sealift in action and we have asked for continuous meetings with them.
At this point, it seems that way but we are not giving up yet.
That is the attitude that I like to hear.
We are not giving up because, being a businessman, I don't get the right deals from my bank, I certainly walk across the street.
Then I’d have to fly to Rankin to walk across the street to deal with the bank.
Is there any way that and I am just throwing ideas and you probably got your people in your department that are far wiser and smarter than me.
Is there any other options of looking at maybe going to another like a financial institution to refinance this debt and maybe save us 5-10 million dollars a year.
When I look at over 32 hundred units at 215 million dollars.
The ratio of debt to equity I don't think is that high in these units.
Compared to what it cost to build a unit today, we are looking at about 175 thousand dollars to 200 thousand dollars to construct a unit today.
So the debt ratio compared to the number of units is not bad.
Would the minister maybe commit to maybe looking at refinancing to another organization out there, and look at the possibility it would save us, if it would save us 5 million dollars a year.
Maybe that could be put into the housing program to build more public housing units.
It is just something that I wonder if the minister would commit to looking at.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: We can certainly look at that option.
Right now we are tied to the agreement that is already signed.
So we would have to go back to the agreement and break it with CMHC.
We would have to look at that. We would have to look at that, we would have to definitely go back to the agreement because it’s signed already but it’s an option we can look at.
I know where the minister’s coming from and their hands are tied and the department hands are tied and the corporation’s hands are tied on the 28 million dollars that you get from CMHC and the money you give back to them.
In the throne speech, it was said that there’s going to be an emphasis on aboriginal housing and the government is in a fiscally strong situation at this point.
If they’re really serious about helping aboriginal housing programs, in communities like First Nations and the Inuit communities, you’d think they would be a little bit flexible on trying to help us rather than you know, I know that’s a big machine out there like we’re just like an insect on an elephant compared to what the government can do.
We’re so insignificant but if we’re so insignificant and they know that we probably have the worst housing situation in this territory than anybody in North America, that they would be a little bit flexible on helping the minister try to alleviate even a little tiny bit of the overcrowding and the situation that we’re in
It’s more of a statement than anything, but I would really like to see if the minister when she has time commit to maybe looking at talking to her federal counterparts, maybe looking at refinancing, save 5 million.
If we save 5 million, doesn’t that show we’re being fiscally responsible, and if they can give us that money back, put it into housing programs.
That’s all I have.
I think what the member has just said it’s more of a statement, it’s not a question.
It’s something that we can look into, there were some other things the member has said, there’s a lot of good ideas floating around.
We’re already working with federal officials on the programs to see if they can be more flexible.
We’ve been working on them, since the throne speech.
Yes, we can look at all the ideas that the members have raised, to see what we could do.
This 215 million…I was going to ask a question in regards to that but I have no more questions.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to follow along the line of my colleague from Baker Lake and the ideas that he had there.
I think that’s something worthwhile pursuing with our federal counterparts.
I know from experience that in the past, the federal government and CMHC have said they’re not into social housing.
They don’t want to put any new money into social housing because if they do it for us then they have to do it for the rest of the country.
They’ve been getting out of social housing for the last six years now, seven years now, this idea and I think we have no problem showing them the crisis and the needs that we have here in Nunavut and the needs for housing. Given the throne speech talked about aboriginal housing, this approach may be a win, win approach for both of them and us.
If we can refinance this amount, I know from past experiences some of the interest rates, on some of these mortgages are extremely high from the days when the interest rates were really high, because the life on some of these mortgages were up to 50 years.
So we are looking at interest rates from the 80's and they are as high as 17 or 18 % on some of these individual mortgages depending on where it was at that year, that’s the rate that it is fixed at.
The idea behind the CMHC signing the social housing agreement with the territories was to allow us as a territory, first it was the GNWT and now Nunavut, a little more flexibility on how to use those resources that we get.
I know that everyone here knows the circumstances here are much different from the ones that we face in the south.
I think this was done to recognize that.
It won't cost them, the federal government, any extra money.
They pay us over the next 30 years.
But if we pay off that 215 million that leaves us 28 million dollars a year that we don't have to give back to them.
I think if we go from 17% to, I'm sure we could probably negotiate a much lower rate at a financial institution outside of CMHC.
We could save a considerable amount of that money.
I think that CMHC as long as we assure them that this money will go into housing, it might be an option worth looking at and pursuing down the road. Just a comment.
That is something that I had in my head ever since I remembered looking at the list of mortgages and the rates that were on there.
I am glad it was bought out here and I'd be willing to sit down with minister and staff and discuss it further.
I know that if it means re-looking at the agreement, there is no scrapping the agreement entirely it would be like modifying it little bit.
I am wondering if you might be looking at that.
Chairperson (interpretation): There was no question.
If there are no further questions on page 12-9.
We will go on to page 12-10.
District offices.
Local housing organizations.
I am glad there is a 2.1 million increase from last year.
Can the minister tell us what is our overall or total rent collected from Nunavut communities that goes to general revenue.
I didn't really realize where we were.
I was lost a little bit so I will refer that question to Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
The rents that are assessed and collected at the local housing organization stay with the local housing organizations.
They do not come to the Corporation or go to general revenues.
Mr. Arvaluk: Whatever they collect in the communities plus the grants and contributions combined those two are for operations and maintenance and maybe minor capital.
What type of incentive is used to have the Corporation be more efficient in operating the LHOs in the community, apart from telling them that whatever they collect could stay in that community.
Mr. Darcy: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There are two specific things that we work with the LHOs on, in terms of, you know, making sure that people are adequately running their organizations.
First of all, in terms of rent assessments and bad debt, the allowance that the local housing organizations have is 3 % for bad debt.
Anything else comes out of whatever their accumulated surplus would be.
The second part of that is we block fund the administration and the maintenance.
In other words through our funding formula the local housing organizations get a set amount depending on basically upon how many houses they have for administration and maintenance.
We do not make up those deficits.
They are responsible if they go into deficit for their own associations, their own organizations.
Page 12-11.
This line item 61 million dollars under that line item it is distributed to the local housing organizations.
Under grants and contributions. I would like to get further clarification.
Some communities in Nunavut, the local housing organizations are under the hamlet councils and it's not the case in all the communities.
What kind of impact does this funding have to the hamlet councils.
The grants and contributions don't change when they are allotted to the hamlet councils.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. According to the community and according to the units that local housing organizations have they are given a certain amount of dollars according to what they have.
The funding is allotted for operations and maintenance.
Like my community of Clyde River for example.
There is a shortage of housing.
Sometimes people can't afford to pay their rent and the smaller communities in Nunavut how do you give support to the, how is the support structured and given to the communities. Do you try and give them adequate support.
We try to give them funding enough for operations and maintenance.
Is that according to the needs of the communities.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): It is according to the number of units they hold, this funding formula is followed according to the number of units the LHO is responsible for and the formula just follows that.
For instance the local Housing Association, I heard comments about that area before.
If they go in a deficit are you saying that the Housing Corporation can help out to pay for that deficit.
I kind of missed that answer before, can I get clarification on that.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: I do know that if a Housing Association is having a lot of problems, we have the staff available to assist them, for budgeting and so on.
So we’re always there, as a Corporation to assist our communities with their O&M and if there is an urgent need then we usually help them out.
Mr. Havioyak: My question then would be if they keep going into a deficit annually and if that’s accumulating, I’m just wondering if they assist the local Housing Association.
Let’s say for example one local Housing Association is going into deficit for a number of years and it’s accumulating beyond their control and they can’t do anything, what happens then.
There’s two parts to Mr. Havioyak’s question. Firstly the deficit, if it is for utilities, we will make it up and bring the LHOs to zero.
We’ve done that since 1995, and we expect that we will be able to continue to do that.
However if an LHO goes down into financial difficulties because of administration or maintenance we normally do not bring that up to zero.
However we do bring a team of people from the district office into the local housing organization and work with them, on what, in the community Government and Transportation wording, would be a deficit recovery plan and work with them how they can work their LHO back up to a non-deficit position.
Chairperson (interpretation): Local Housing Organizations, 12-5.
Nunavut Housing Corporation, program summary, 12-5.
O&M 40 million 644 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Total expenditures, 54 million 644 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): We have completed the Housing Corporation.
Who else.
I think you are getting old, but you are my junior.
I thank the Chairman, and committee members for their comments and questions. That’s it for us today.
You are older than me so that means you are an elder.
I would like to also thank the witnesses.
We are finished with the Housing Corporation and what is the wish of the Committee.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): I move to report progress.
Chairperson (interpretation): There is a motion to report progress.
Speaker (interpretation): Orders of the Day.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 1 and would like to report that Bill 1 is still under consideration and would like to report progress.
We have a motion on the floor.
Mr. Picco is the seconder.
All those in favour of the motion. Motion is carried. Orders of the Day.
Third Reading of Bills. Item 22. Orders of the Day.
Madam Clerk.
Deputy Clerk (Ms. Aglukkaq) (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Orders of the Day for Friday March 9, 2001:
Bill 2- Appropriation Act 2
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, the House stands adjourned until Friday March 9 at 10:00 in the morning.
>>Assembly adjourned at 6:58 p.m.
Friday March 9, 2001
Pages 559 - 595
Ministers' Statements 4
Friday March 9, 2001 4
028 - 1(5): Arctic Winter Games 2002 (Anawak) 4
029 - 1(5): Nunavut Broadband Task Force (Akesuk) 4
102 - 1(5): Chesterfield Inlet’s St. Therese’s Hospital (Arvaluk) 4
103 – 1(5): Economic Benefits from Mining (Thompson) 4
104 - 1(5): Recognition of Janet Armstrong and Meeka Mike (Okalik) 4
105 - 1(5): Residential School Survivors (Anawak) 4
106 - 1(5): People Project by Anne Hanson (Picco) 4
107 - 1(5): House Recess (Alakannuark) 4
108 - 1(5): Isuma Productions Project (Irqittuq) 4
109 - 1(5): Trade Show Auction (Tootoo) 4
110 - 1(5): Constituency Visit (Kilabuk) 4
111 - 1(5): Hoarses and No Cowboys (McLean) 4
105 - 1(5): Liquor Board Consultations (Iqaqrialu) 4
106 - 1(5): Certification for Airport Employees (Irqittuq) 4
107 - 1(5): St. Therese’s Hospital (Arvaluk) 4
108 - 1(5): Capacity to Deal with Conflict, Crime & Drug Abuse (Williams) 4
109 - 1(5): Financial Crisis in Nunavut (McLean) 4
110 - 1(5): Museum / Heritage Centre (Nutarak) 4
111 - 1(5): Additional Funding from Federal Government (Tootoo) 4
112 - 1(5): Dealing with Housing Shortage (Iqarialu) 4
113-1(5): Homeowner Arrears Statistics (Tootoo) 4
Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, 2000-2001 – First Reading (Ng) 4
Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, 2000-2001 – Second Reading (Ng) 4  Friday March 9, 2001
Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Honourable Jack Anawak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Deputy Speaker (Mr. Puqiqnak) (interpretation): I would like to ask Ms. Thompson to say the opening prayer.
Speaker (interpretation): Good morning…  >>Applause
…Mr. Premier and Members of the Legislative Assembly. Let's move to the Orders of the Day.
Minister's Statement 028 - 1(5): Arctic Winter Games 2002
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, the Arctic Winter Games International Committee chose Nuuk and Iqaluit to co-host the 2002 Games.
I rise to ask for the support of Members of the Legislative Assembly and all Nunavummiut for work being done by the Iqaluit Host Society in preparation for the Games.
(interpretation ends) The Arctic Winter Games is the most prestigious international, multi-cultural, sporting event in the circumpolar north.
These Games will leave a lasting legacy in the areas of sport development, volunteer development and infrastructure.
They will inspire sharing of traditional cultures and appreciation of emerging talent, elder contributions, and elite athleticism.
The Games are a great opportunity for the national and international exposure of Nunavut.
Broadcasts of the Games will reach millions of people and provide a forum for the promotion of the history, culture and artistic traditions of the Inuit and our beautiful land.
From March 13 to 18 the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, and all the Chefs de Mission and representatives from Sport Canada will attend the first of two scheduled information and planning sessions in Iqaluit and in Nuuk.
Your support and the support of all Nunavummiut will be a key factor in making these the best Arctic Winter Games ever.
Minister's Statement 029 - 1(5): Nunavut Broadband Task Force
Mr. Akesuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to report to the House the progress of the Nunavut Broadband Task Force.
(interpretation ends) The Nunavut Broadband Task Force was created in January of this year to research and report on the development of high-speed Internet service in Nunavut.
The Task Force also will assist with the preparation of a Nunavut submission to the Federal Government, which recently announced a commitment to provide all Canadians with high speed Internet access by 2004.
High-speed Internet services soon will be essential for all communities in Nunavut.
Affordable Internet access can serve many purposes – for telehealth, for distance education, for access to information on government programs and services, cultural development, and for business use.
It is essential, Mr. Speaker, that we work to ensure that the Federal Government’s commitment to Canadians for the year 2004 extends to all Nunavummiut.
The Nunavut Broadband Task Force consists of five representatives from the private sector, three from non-governmental organizations; Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the Nunavut Social Development Council, and the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, and four departments of the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the Task Force made a successful presentation to Industry Canada officials in Ottawa two weeks ago.
Task Force members made the point that with Internet access, as with many other things, Nunavut is unique in Canada.
In most of Canada, high speed Internet access is being developed using land-based systems, such as fibre optic cable, and microwave towers.
These technologies cannot be used here in Nunavut.
Nunavut is the only jurisdiction in Canada that is entirely dependent on satellite systems for Internet access.
We must ensure that the Federal Government understands this reality, and includes support for the use of satellite technologies in its plans to assist all Canadians with access to high-speed Internet services.
Mr. Speaker, I have asked the Nunavut Broadband Task Force to provide a written report to me by the end of this month.
The National Broadband Task Force will publish preliminary recommendations late this spring, and I am confident that the work we are doing here in Nunavut will ensure our needs will receive national attention and support.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that the Nunavut Broadband Task Force now has its own web site with all related documents and information posted on it.
Information about the web site can be obtained from my department.
I hope to be able to provide a further update to this House on the Nunavut Broadband Task Force before the end of our current session.
Member's Statement 102 - 1(5): Chesterfield Inlet’s St. Therese’s Hospital
Even though it is Friday I will speak on the Chesterfield Inlet St. Therese’s Hospital.
The minister said that he was not aware if or when the home would be closed.
It is operated by the Catholic Church and we don't know the future of this institution.
The St. Therese's Hospital is a home for disabled people. It was established in the 1930's and has been in operation since then.
My statement mostly concerns the fact that a lot of the in-patients grew up in the hospital and have always been taken care of by the people of Chesterfield.
Approximately 10 or 15 people work in the hospital, residents of Chesterfield Inlet, and the hospital operates on a 24 hour 7 day a week basis.
Because there are few jobs available in Chesterfield, this hospital is one of the main employers in the community. The home is very important to a lot of people, especially the patients.
The patients see the local workers as their parents, their mothers and their fathers.
Mr. Speaker, I would like you to know that not all of the workers are salaried employees, some are volunteers because they know they can make a difference and for their love for the patients.
For these reasons, I will be asking the minister about the future of this hospital keeping in mind that it has been in operation for so many years.
Member's Statement 103 – 1(5): Economic Benefits from Mining
Today I rise to speak about mining.
It is very important in our region, especially to the people of Rankin Inlet.
There are quite a few miners in Rankin Inlet, that are still alive and quite a few of them are elders.
It was a very important industry in our region and it helped to develop our region in the past and has a lot of potential for development in the future and providing employment for our residents in that area.
I went to see some mines near Edmonton where they are trained in this type of employment.
We will be recessing for a while from the Assembly, and while we are recessed, I want my constituents to know that I will be going to Toronto to attend the mining industry symposium and we will be talking about a lot of mining issues in Canada.
I will be trying to find out more about Nunavut mining operations.
I know in Rankin Inlet there are a lot of possibilities for gold mining.
Internationally, gold prices are lower at this time but I know they will eventually pick up and the gold mines near Rankin Inlet will open up again.
This would develop our region greatly in terms of employment and economic benefits.
It is with these things in mind that I will be attending the mining symposium in Toronto.
Member for Iqaluit.
Member's Statement 104 - 1(5): Recognition of Janet Armstrong and Meeka Mike
I rise today to speak about two members of my constituency that were given recognition last week.
Janet Ripley Armstrong is a well-known artist.
Her rendition of our official flower, the purple saxifrage, was published on the cover of the Northwestel phone book.
I am proud of that.
The other constituent, Meeka Mike was given the Business of the Year award for the Baffin Region.
She runs Qimiq Adventure Tours and is very successful.
I wanted to tell the House about these two very special people that were recognized for their efforts last week.
Member for Rankin Inlet. Mr. Anawak.
Member's Statement 105 - 1(5): Residential School Survivors
I rise today to talk about individuals that were involved in residential schools and the issues surrounding that.
Many of us went to Chesterfield Inlet residential school for our education.
On the academic side, we probably got the best education in Nunavut.