EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Even though we have faced many, many challenges for many years as a child in the community, our parents, the Inuit parents, such as our grandfathers had worked very hard to survive and I’m very proud of that.
Because we’re able, we have survived in Nunavut and have come a long way and now we can govern ourselves in Nunavut.
It seems like we’re getting back the way our grandfathers used to govern themselves.
At least now we can govern ourselves and I am very proud of Inuit.
We have to be very capable even though we are the younger generation to follow suite from our forefathers and also our younger generation are looking up to us and they depend on us.
We have to be quite proud of them and we have to be proud of all Nunavummiut.
We should be very proud of Nunavummiut even though we have lived in a very challenging environment.
We now live in very different culture and we have been assimilated to a different culture and it has taken a very short time to get accustomed to it.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpreter): Thank you Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize from my community and my constituency, from Cape Dorset, Mayor Mathew Saviakjuk Jaw.
I welcome him to the House.
Mr. Alakannuark (interpreter): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I’d like to recognize a resident from my community.
She has been working in the local Housing Authority for many years.
She’s here for a meeting in Iqaluit and she’s long time housing worker.
I would like to recognize Tologaknak and her step brother Immanuel; I recognize both of them.
Are we still on item 5?
We move on to 6.
Oral Questions Mr. Irqittuq.
Question 617 – 1(6): Discount Prices on Bad Gas Issue
Mr. Irqittuq (interpreter): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Regarding the fuel planning that I had requested, I know they had said that they will look into the matter now that the results are out and we know about the bad gas, and it was confirmed.
I gave the Minister a notice few weeks in advance and his responds was that they had not reviewed the study. Then I found out that they didn’t even have to review the result.
My question is, that gas that we went through and those who have been bought it at discount prices, is that still possible?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpreter): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Recently when he asked, I responded to him that in Hall Beach, the issues that were faced regarding bad gas, we had told him, to date, there are still many questions that require answers, that the Department of Public Works still has to find out about and that I also responded that we are working with the Risk Management Division and Department of Finance.
We are working with those two divisions to try and deal with this matter, so I can’t really say much further today, but I do expect in the near future we will know the next steps will be.
I don’t have a response for it today, because we still have a lot of question to answer our selves.
The Minister it seems is saying that his officials will deal with it and than he’ll respond.
That’s how I understood his response.
Doesn’t the Minister have the authority to direct his officials?
Speaker: Minister. Mr. Kattuk
I’m going by what my officials are telling me, but I still have directions that I have given to the staff.
We’re still waiting for an answer, which is what I had said, that there are many questions to be answered.
I’ve directed my officials to look further into the matter; they are dealing with that at this point so I can’t respond to him.
And once we have those results than I can back to the Member with the information, Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I know that when we used the bad gas, samples were sent and they confirmed that it was of poor quality right away and they stopped using it.
There are not too many questions surrounding the matter because obviously it’s of poor quality.
So my question is because they reduced the cost of that bad gas and they were still selling that gas; the Petroleum Products Division already knows that bad gas was confirmed and so I am asking for those who purchased gas, can they be refunded?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. first of all let me say, that we’ve never had specific concerns voiced by the residents out of Hall Beach, that there was some damage to their snowmobiles.
The only thing we heard about is from this Member.
I don’t have an answer for you but what I’m trying to say is I will have an answer for you in the near future, and I don’t have an answer for you today, until we find out all the facts surrounding the case.
So I’m asking the Member to please be patient.
Question 618 - 1(6): Update on the Issue of Medivac Contract for the Kivalliq Region
Mr. Anawak (interpretation): Thank you. Thank you, thank you.
I would like to ask him what has he done regarding the medivac in the Kivalliq Region, medivac contracts, what is the status of that today?
Mr. Speaker, there has been some more meetings held since the last update that we gave the House earlier; in Baker Lake the topic was brought up at that time.
There has been several regional meetings and I believe there was recently a mayors’ meeting in the Kivalliq where the representatives of Keewatin Air actually laying out what was occurring from their point of view.
Right now, Mr. Speaker, the contract is still in place with the Keewatin Air and we are still working with Skyward on the scheduled medical travels.
One of the problems that we have in the Keewatin was in regards to medical emergency services was the lack of bathroom facilities on the plane that was being used.
Are there any plans to ask the carrier to conform to the need for bathrooms?
Mr. Speaker, indeed, that was one of the major areas in the contract itself.
It was to improve services to the patients.
We dictated in the request for proposals that any flight that was over one hour would indeed have bathroom facilities.
That there was, for example, if you were leaving in one community A and going to community B and that flight was over an hour, and then actually there would be facilities available.
I am somewhat at a loss; I guess most of the Keewatin communities you can travel by that airplane that they use in less than an hour.
However, I think it is the portion from Churchill to Winnipeg, you take longer than that.
So, is there a plan in place to change planes in Churchill, I know that the portion from Churchill to Winnipeg is longer than one hour even though most of the communities in the Keewatin are shorter than that.
Mr. Speaker, what we try to do on the contract is to work with the airlines to ensure that facilities are available and we have talked about it here in this House before where someone needs facilities because they were sick and stay, you know, in light in the situation that they needed bathroom facilities that they would be available on the carrier.
So, I can state to the Member, for example, if a flight was going from Rankin Inlet direct to Winnipeg, there had to be a bathroom on that plane, you know, flights going from Rankin Inlet to Churchill, from Churchill to Winnipeg, a bathroom would have to be on that plane.
And we have specified that logistically as well as administratively in the contract and as our understanding of the last review that was done just recently that that is actually occurring.
We have not had any complaints from any residents or patients from the Keewatin over the last three months concerning facilities on the plane and so on.
Indeed, it has actually worked out quite well.
Question 619 – 1(6): Update on the Fisheries Meeting in Ottawa on Quotas
He recently attended a meeting in Ottawa and I think it was televised.
Regarding his meeting in Ottawa, I believe they were talking about fishing quotas.
Could he provide some information on why he attended and what the reason was?
Good morning colleagues and the people who are watching on TV.
The meeting that I attended in Ottawa
involved the Senators and I was invited to attend the conference to talk about fisheries in Nunavut.
They wanted to get some information on the status in Nunavut and we had met with the federal ministers and to try to get some information from Nunavut Ministers or myself in regards to fishing in Nunavut.
We had a successful meeting and the senators who I met with will be in support of what we want here in the Nunavut region.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I understand the Minister’s response.
But would also like to ask another question.
Has the Minister made any concrete plans or was it just for information purposes for the federal ministers?
We understand what we want here in Nunavut in regards to fishing.
We would like to work with the Baffin Fisheries Coalition, and they are 100% Inuit owned, we want the federal ministers to recognize that coalition in regards to fishing and that it’s an Inuit owned body.
The reason why I went down to Ottawa for that conference was that I wanted to provide information and Mr. Ben Kovic was involved as well, and he is the chairman for the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
Because they are involved in providing quotas for the fisherman here in the Baffin region, this information will be beneficial for the people of Nunavut that I had given when I went to the conference in Ottawa and it was a successful meeting.
The issue of fishing in Nunavut, and the people of Nunavut have been involved on the issue of fishing but they don’t have a fishing vessel and the Federal Government has not given us a quota and there’s a huge quota given to Newfoundland; I realise the waters belong to all of Canada.
Did they talk about having a fishing vessel and total allowable harvest for Nunavummiut?
We mentioned those items that the Member mentioned, also mentioned to the senators, we only get 26% of allowable quota, to use the zones 0A and 1A as an example here in Nunavut.
The 51% that was supposedly given to Nunavummiut became 26% and that’s the information I gave to the federal senators and mentioned to them that the other Canadian fishermen get about 80 to 90% or more.
But here in Nunavummiut we have only 26% allowable and then we mentioned that we would like some more support here in Nunavut to get a larger quota for the fishermen of Nunavut.
We wanted to be on the same playing field as the rest of fishermen in Canada, and we talked about the vessels as well for fishermen.
In regards to the allowable quota and the fishing vessels, the Minister said that he went down there to provide information.
Are there any concrete plans or any concrete responses that you have from that federal government in regards to allowable quota for Nunavummiut?
Are there any decisions made at that time, about allowable quotas?
As I mentioned at the beginning the senators that we met with wanted to get some support from the people of Nunavummiut in regards to fishing and allowable quotas.
I can show the Member the topics that I discussed and if Fisheries and Oceans would go before the senators, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans would be able to give information about want the needs are for the people of Nunavut in regards to allowable quotas.
They have reports on want I said during the meeting and this will probably be very useful for the senators to be able to get some information so they can support the people of Nunavummiut in regards to allowable quotas and fishing here in Nunavut.
Those are the types of things we talked about but there was no concrete decisions made at that time.
Question 620 – 1(6): Plan in Place for the 100th Anniversary of Roald Amundsen
Mr. Speaker, on October 22, during Members’ Statements, I mentioned that I would ask the Minister of Sustainable Development but he was not present and I would like to have the chance to ask him a question.
Last summer they celebrated the 100th Anniversary in Gjoa Haven of Roald Amundsen’s voyage.
Canada should recognize the north.
It was used by the explorers in the 1800s and 1900s.
As the elected representative of the people of Gjoa Haven I asked a question to the Minister whether there are any plans in place by the Department of Sustainable Development to continue the anniversary celebrations of that expedition by Roald Amundsen?
The Department of Sustainable Development had been involved in that celebration; we have contributed $70 thousand towards the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of that explorer.
To date we have worked with the community of Gjoa Haven and we have worked with tourism in regards to that celebration that the people of Gjoa Haven took part in last summer.
We will continue to support the celebrations that the people of Gjoa Haven will be holding in the future.
We would like to also support this endeavour to recognize what has happened in that community.
I would also like to thank the Minister responsible for providing support for the 100th year anniversary celebration.
Mr. Speaker, I do like to ask another question.
I know that the Department has plans to identify that as a park and as a tourist attraction and he is working with the hamlet council of that community.
He has also worked with me.
I know that this is the initial stages and the committee is making plans for this.
Did any one of the officials or the Minister say that they could go down to the community to speak to the people?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Yes, we have asked an individual who is directing this program to go down to the community sometime in the future.
You were invited to that community to make sure that you could see the area yourself, but you were unable to make it down to the community, so when do you expect to make it down to the community?
First of all I would like to apologise to Mr. Puqiqnak for not being able to make it to his constituency, but the government official did make it down to the community.
Premier Okalik has gone down and he briefed me on what happened in that community.
I don’t know whether we are agreeing to get re-elected or not, but I cannot really give you a concrete answer whether I can come down in the future due to elections.
Question 621 – 1(6): Rents for Staff Housing
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation which is also responsible for staff housing.
Mr. Speaker, about a year a half ago in May, and then again last March I questioned the Minister on some issues relating to staff housing and rent and conditions of some of the units that are out there.
We know that there are people who have raised concerns that they live in some of the older, more decrepit staff housing units that are out there and they’re paying the same rate as people who are put into the new, luxurious units compared to some of the other ones.
Mr. Speaker, we also know that some people are in staff housing but they can’t afford not to be in staff housing.
They don’t have much of a choice; they can’t afford a house.
You know what the market is like here.
I’d like to ask the Minister if he could assure those people living in staff housing units, especially the older ones, that they will not be seeing their rent increased.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you, Minister.
Mr. Speaker, I can’t make that assurance today.
I can the Member that there is an extensive review of the staff housing rental policy and all
issues surrounding housing; that’s underway right now being led by the Housing Corporation and involving all departments and the Interdepartmental Housing Working Group and the plan is to bring forth a new policy to Cabinet in November.
At that time, obviously Cabinet will have an opportunity to debate that and make some amendments to the staff housing rental policies that we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister had indicated in May, a year and a half ago, that one of the things that would be taken into consideration in developing the scale, that’s been undergoing for quite some time now, it’s almost taking as long to do that as it is to develop the staff housing policy.
Is he still going to ensure that the condition and the age of the units, as he had indicated in May would be a factor that would be taken into consideration in assessing the rental rates for those units?
Yes, and other factors such as size of the unit, as well as income levels of the tenant; those are two of the main factors that will be a part of the proposed new Rental Scale Policy.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister had indicated that income levels and things like that will be taken into consideration and I know as the Minister Finance, he is probably quite aware of the subsidy program that was out there where any employee who was paid more than 30 percent of their income towards rent, would be subsidized that difference.
Back last year, the Minister also indicated that they are looking at streamlining and making the rental, staff housing rental stuff and rental housing more streamlined and consistent with each other.
I would like to ask the Minister if 30 percent is still the threshold for the housing subsidy and if it is, is it consistent with the social housing and income levels that are charged for rent, assessed for rent?
Mr. Speaker, there is the hardship allowance that the Government of Nunavut still has and that is still is in place and of course, as I have indicated and the Member is correct, we are trying to bring the staff housing rent scales more consistent with the public housing rent scales that we have and we will continue to move in that direction.
Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the Minister has not forgotten those comments that he made last year.
Mr. Speaker, knowing that the threshold for the hardship program that the Minister is talking about, 30 percent and knowing that the percentage that is used in the Public Housing Rent Scale is around 21 percent, hopefully we see something like that come into line, more in line with each other so that everyone is treated equally.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister when these effects, these changes where people may see changes in their rent come into effect, when that will happen.
I know you had indicated that they are going to be reviewing it in November; is that something that we are going to see happen in this fiscal year?
Is this something that is going to happen in the new calendar year or next fiscal year?
When will this happen and will the Members have an opportunity to review that Policy and comment on it prior to it going into effect?
Mr. Speaker, first to correct the Member on the Public Housing Rent Scale; it is up to 28 percent right now.
It will be an average of 18 to 20 percent.
But having said that, it is the same things that are more in line and yes, there is no anticipated date for the implementation right now.
I can say that it will be fairly implemented.
Individuals will be protected in the phase in and if there are increases for employees and it is way premature right now to be speaking of implementation dates and impact until such time as Cabinet approves the Policy.
Having said that, once it is approved, I will let Members know and give them an opportunity to provide some feedback and input into our new Policies before we put them in place.
Question 622 - 1(6): Information Items on Government Subsidies, Grants and Contributions
I would like to direct my question to the Minister for Sustainable Development, if he can provide a response that is.
This is in regard to subsidies in Nunavut, to private businesses and the role of the Nunavut Government in these programs, whether they come from the Government itself or from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated or from Federal Government.
Can he tell me how those were used in Nunavut?
In reference to the grants and contributions that are made available for Nunavummiut, we have to know which communities have been allocated grants and contributions and we have to make the CEDOs aware of that.
We try to provide them all the information to the best of our ability.
When we provide grants and contributions we provide that information to the Community Economic Development Officers.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpreter): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Could he respond to me again?
The large already existing companies are given grants and contributions by the government and also by NTI, to provide an advantage for Nunavummiut.
I’m talking about new companies, it seems like they are not being supported financially although they‘re from Nunavut.
They provide support to the larger companies.
I was wondering if the Minister can commit to reviewing this.
I’m happy that the Member from Uqquqmmiut asked me that question because it gives me an opportunity to inform the public that we have been reviewing the grants and contributions.
I think it was last month that we tabled information jointly with the President of NTI, Kathy Towtongie, called ‘Nunavut Economic Development Strategy’.
I know it’s going to be beneficial to all the communities today and in the future.
It will help us to envision what kind of support we’ll be required in the future.
We will use the Economic Development Strategy and we will also provide support to the private companies and we have always provided support to date in Nunavut.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpreter): Thank you.
It’s good to hear the responses of the Ministers when we ask of them.
However, it’s hard to receive responses that we are seeking.
There seem to be barriers within the work place.
Can you look at what types of barriers there are that are preventing Nunavummiut from starting up their small businesses?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpreter): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In Nunavut it is apparent that there are many grants and contributions given through the Baffin Business Credit Corporation.
This is quite beneficial to businesses within Nunavut or those who are starting up small businesses and that is still continuing and I see it as being successful.
It shows through the reports what the progress is of those businesses that are starting up.
Our Government Departments also provide grants and contributions and that is something else that helps.
There will always be room to improve with this program that deals with concerns as they come.
It would be great to hear and work with those Members on those concerns.
I would also like clarification regarding your joint release of the economic development strategy with the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated president.
Were you also aware the types of programs that are delivered by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and how they benefit the people of Nunavut?
I was recently in Ottawa with the Vice President of Finance for NTI, Paul Kaludjak, we met and with the Federal Departments and dealt with the types of delivery of programs and services for small businesses.
We outlined the types of services that are offered for Nunavut for small businesses and that we are trying to keep in constant contact so that we do not overlap these services and programs.
It’s quite apparent that in the future that we will have a better working relationship which would be of benefit to Nunavut.
I don’t have the exact figure of how much Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated has contributed in this area; however I do keep in contact with Mr. Kaludjak for future plans in providing these types of services to small businesses.
Question 623 – 1(6): Foster Parents Guideline Handbook
I think it was yesterday when the Minister made a Statement regarding foster parents, and that they are coming up with a handbook for foster parents so that Health and Social Services and foster parents are aware of what criteria and guidelines to follow.
I would like to ask him who is compiling these guidelines.
Mr. Speaker the guidelines are being assembled and put in place by the senior members of the Department of Health and Social Services within our Social Services division.
This handbook that I’m talking about, I was hoping it was done by both the Foster Parents and by the Department and I was hoping that was going to happen.
I would like to further ask the Minister that because they are beginning to do these kinds of things, are they are also thinking about forming a foster parents group in Nunavut?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday when I unveiled the information concerning the handbook for parents, I wanted to also add just a little chance to say that we are still in need of the issue around having more foster parents and lines of questioning like this will help us do that.
Mr. Speaker, there has been some movement towards setting up a Foster Parents Association.