EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It’s getting a little cool here in the chambers.
We’ll be dealing with Bill 18, Minister’s Statement 072-1(6), Bill 13, an Act to Amend the Worker’s Compensation Act.
We would like to start with Bill 18, Appropriation Act and today we can start with capital, Department of Sustainable Development.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do we agree that we’ll deal with the Department of Sustainable Development, Bill 18, Appropriation Act?
Does the Minister have opening comments?
The reason why it’s so cold in here is that we’re in support of the Kyoto Protocol.
We are trying to conserve energy.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Sustainable Development’s proposed capital budget for 2003/2004 is $2 million 520 thousand.
My department has identified 30 capital projects that focus on three key areas of investment:
Attraction and Tourism Development
Investment in our Territorial Parks
Investment in Operational Infrastructure
Part 1 - Attraction Development
Visitors Centres.
We realize the importance of Visitors Centres in developing a tourism industry.
Because Visitors Centres must constantly grow to meet the needs of their programs, $200 thousand has been allocated to visitor centre projects.
Projects that will be funded include the completion of the Unnikkaarvik Centre in Iqaluit, promoting tourism in all regions of Nunavut; and purchases for the Katannilik Park Visitor Centre exhibit display.
Remaining funds will be allocated to visitor centre projects where the need arises.
(interpretation ends) Attraction sites help with developing tourism and therefore the departments focuses some of its annual funding to help non-decentralized communities meet their goals.
Examples for 2003/2004 include the celebration of the Amundsen Centennial in the decentralized community of Gjoa Haven, and various tourism and attraction development feasibility studies for the non-decentralized communities of Clyde River, Hall Beach, Coral Harbour, and Kugaaruk.
In total the department will be investing $280 thousand in 2003/2004 on community based attraction development projects.
(interpretation) Tourism Marketing.
My department, in partnership with Nunavut Tourism, will continue to invest in the marketing of Nunavut as a primary tourist destination through a $25 thousand capital contribution toward the development and/or replacement of Nunavut Tourism’s booths and exhibits.
Part 2 - Nunavut Parks Program and Parks Investment
(interpretation ends) The upgrading and improvement of existing parks within the Nunavut parks system provides many direct benefits to Nunavummiut, it will encourage local usage and increased tourism and ensure that the Nunavut Parks System develops as planned and not as a series of isolated and unconnected projects.
With the signing of the IIBA earlier this year I am confident that the pace and level of capital investment in our territorial parks will continue to grow.
In light of this, ongoing capital investment in the Nunavut parks system will continue to be a high priority for the department.
The department will spend $545 thousand in the following parks: Katannilik Park near Kimmirut, the Thelon-Kazan Heritage sites near Baker Lake, Qaummaarviit Park and Sylvia Grinnell Park near Iqaluit, Kekerten Historic Park and Pitsutinu Tungavik Park in Pangnirtung, Qilaluqat Park in Pond Inlet, Kuklok Park near Kugluktuk, and Ijiralik Park near Rankin Inlet.
In addition we will be investing $50 thousand towards the assessment of Axel Heiberg Island in the high arctic as a potential Territorial Park.
Part 3 - Operational Infrastructure.
The third area of focus within our 2003/2004 capital plan is capital investment in operational infrastructure.
These capital investments are made to guarantee that our staff and crown corporations have the facilities and equipment necessary to do their jobs.
(interpretation) Wildlife Area Offices - New Construction and Upgrades.
The largest projects within our 2003/2004 Capital Plan are focused on the replacement of old and outdated wildlife area offices.
My department has proposed a capital plan that will see the staged replacement and/or renovation of old and rundown buildings.
Planning for replacement is done based on the age and condition of the existing building, and its estimated remaining useful life.
In 2003/2004 my department will invest $575 thousand toward the construction of a new wildlife service area office in Grise Fiord. (interpretation ends) The wildlife office in Grise Fiord is currently housed within the Hamlet complex, which is made up of three old trailers that were recently condemned.
In addition, my department is also proposing to spend $230 thousand on the renovation of existing stations in various communities including Pangnirtung and Kugaaruk to ensure they meet building codes, as well as completing the Sanikiluaq office.
(interpretation) Mobile Equipment - Repair and Replacement.
My department is planning to spend $190 thousand on mobile equipment purchases.
Mobile equipment purchases support the department’s enforcement and conservation activities.
Some of this money will go towards providing equipment in Sanikiluaq where we have no mobile equipment, and to Igloolik to support the decentralization of the Wildlife Services Division.
Laboratory and Monitoring Equipment replacement and upgrades are also proposed in the amount of $75 thousand.
(interpretation ends) In terms of Parks infrastructure my department proposes to spend $75 thousand to repair and/or replace damaged park infrastructure like signs, buildings, trails and mobile equipment.
This money will be spent in parks throughout Nunavut as needs and priorities are established.
My department has identified $200,000 for the completion of the evaluation contracted out by the Nunavut Development Corporation of the condition of the Cambridge Bay Meat and Fish Plant and the start of any construction related to the contractor’s findings.
For 2003/2004 my department will continue its support and investment in the Art for Nunavut Program.
This is a program that acquires and organizes displays of artwork by Nunavut artists for Government of Nunavut buildings in communities throughout the territory.
An arts consultant will be engaged to finish cataloguing and inventory and to manage additional purchases in the second half of this year.
Capital investment in this project will total $75 thousand in the 2003/2004 year.
As you can see Mr. Chairman, this Capital Plan is a well balanced and focused plan that clearly supports the needs and priorities of the government as well as the needs of communities throughout Nunavut.
Our plan is focused on providing support to the three key areas within our operations that need heavy capital investment, and in doing so, ensure that these projects provide real benefit to Nunavummiut.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Minister of Sustainable Development, Mr. Olayuk Akesuk.
Before we go ahead, I would like to recognise my youngest brother who just walked in.
Samuilee Iqaqrialu.
And also the two people who are from Clyde River, I would like to welcome them to the House and recognise them.
Thank you, Mr. Akesuk for your opening comments.
If you would go to the witness table with your officials.
Do you agree that we can have witnesses in the Chamber?
If you could introduce your officials, Mr. Akesuk.
With me today is Mr. Alex Campbell, Deputy Minister and Director of Corporate Services, Ms. Terryl Allen.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Irqittuq, do you have any opening comments?
As Chairman of the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development, I am pleased to be able to provide opening comments as we begin the review of the 2003-2004 capital estimates for the Department of Sustainable Development.
The Committee was pleased to note the signing of Inuit Impact Benefit Agreements for territorial parks.
The Standing Committee urges the department to move forward in creating similar agreements for the conservation areas in Nunavut so that development can begin in a timely manner.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee was pleased to hear the Minister speak about the test fishery in the Coronation Gulf.
The Committee encourages the Minister’s efforts to develop further fisheries and meat plants to responsibly utilize one of Nunavut’s best renewable resources, our abundant wildlife.
Mr. Speaker, last year Nunavut was given a new four thousand ton quota for turbot in Davis Strait and Baffin Bay.
This increased quota is an opportunity for Nunavummiut to enter in International Markets.
Mr. Speaker, the committee urges the Minister, encourages the Minister to investigate the International Markets for all of Nunavut’s products.
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee remains committed to economic development in non decentralized communities.
The committee supports initiatives by the Minister to encourage economic growth in non decentralized communities.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that the Minister focus on development in these communities to ensure that all Nunavummiut prosper from the creation of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, there are many sites of archaeological significance across the territory.
The Standing Committee is concerned that increased tourism traffic is disturbing these sites and strongly urges the department to ensure that proper signage is used and that education materials are made available to advise tourist of the cultural significance and limit the number of artefacts that are being removed from sites across the territory.
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee urges the Minister to continue working with the Public Works and Services on Environmental Cleanup Issues across Nunavut.
It is important that we leave our children and grandchildren, a clean and healthy environment.
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee looks forward to Wager Bay being designated a National Park; the Committee urges the Minister to work with the federal counterparts to ensure that tourism infrastructure is in place in Rankin Inlet and Repulse Bay to take advantage of increased tourism traffic.
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee notes that the government finally tabled its response to the Committee’s Report on community consultations on the future of tourism in Nunavut and looks forward to reviewing the Nunavut Tourism Strategy when it is tabled.
That concludes my remarks on the capital estimates on Department of Sustainable Development.
Individual Members may wish to raise questions or comments.
Before we go into questions, we will give the Members an opportunity to make their statements.
Each member is given a 10 minute opportunity for general comments then afterwards we’ll go into questions, which again is 10 minutes.
We will now open the floor for general comments.
If there are none we can go immediately to the capital estimates.
In the minister’s opening remarks, I would like to make a few comments that will take less than 10 minutes.
Yes, I’m happy to hear the minister say that developments are going to occur, particularly in the non-decentralized communities in regards to parks.
But I don’t understand on page 4 on the minister’s opening remarks, on page 4 the third paragraph.
In regards to the identification of the 200 thousand dollars for the completion of the evaluation, what I don’t understand is the people that are contracted for the Cambridge Bay meat and fish plant, I just wondered are they for consultants or contractors?
I would like clarification on that before we move on to other subjects.
If the minister could please give the member some clarification.
I’m sorry Mr. Chairman.
The meat and fish plant in the Kitikmeot region is an old building and it has been inspected to see whether we should utilize it, to make sure that is safe.
So what we have to do is an evaluation on it, to see that it meets the health standards so it could continue to operate.
This is for the evaluation for the Cambridge Bay meat and fish plant.
That’s what the money has been identified for.
The evaluation is being done so that the plant can stay in operation because if it were to close down it would have an economic impact.
I would like to inform the members that we’re not on questions we’re on general comments.
So your general comments won’t be omitted I won’t let you ask another question.
Once the general comments are done with then you will be able to ask questions.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): I won’t be asking another question but I just wanted to be able to get some clarification on the third paragraph it states that the contractors will be doing an evaluation of the Cambridge Bay meat and fish plant to see whether it requires repairs.
If I was the contractor and there were repairs required I would start on them right away.
From what I understand from the minister's explanation, why do you want the contractor to do an evaluation?
That’s one question on his statement.
Looking at the Inuktitut translation of that paragraph, it is not clear what they are going to be doing, and we will be doing the Capital Estimates.
There is money in their explanation of the Capital Estimates; but it does not really state how the money is going to be used.
They have the titles in there.
It does not explain exactly what they are going to do.
It is very hard to understand from the explanation exactly what they are going to be doing.
It could be equipment, it says equipment, I could have equipment such as a vehicle, snowmobile, or a boat, or hockey equipment or many other things.
There is 75 thousand dollars for Parks; it does not say how it is going to be used for Parks.
Under Grise Fiord it says the Wildlife Office and the garage, they are understandable but the top ones under headquarters, and it does not really explain what kinds of equipment will be replaced.
Like mobile equipment and other items.
It does not have much of an explanation as to exactly what is going to be replaced and what is going to be purchased.
Perhaps if I could tell the Minister that they should elaborate more in the explanations in the Capital Estimates, because these are going to go to the communities after we approve them.
We would really like to know exactly what you are spending the money on.
I will be asking questions later on about those things.
Following what we discussed today, we have a problem here in Nunavut, especially in the non-decentralized communities in terms of support.
We all know that there are Fish Plants that are in operation at this time in some of the Nunavut communities.
We heard today during Question Period that they are going to be doing something about the Fish Plants in the Nunavut communities.
When they do the Capital Estimates for next year, I think that there should be a Fish Plant provided for the people of Amitturmiut, so we will be able to sell fish commercially.
I was pleased to hear that we requested a quota of 50 thousand.
I know that that is not enough for my community of Amittuq.
You can get a quota for 100 thousand pounds in my riding.
This could be sustainable for five to ten years.
They should be given the opportunity to be provided with employment, because 100 thousand pounds is, I think, adequate for my community.
For those people who receive Income Support, they would get employment.
People receiving Income Support are evaluated every so often to make sure that they are not getting over the amount that they should be receiving.
When we deal with the capital estimates for next year, perhaps the department can look at providing a fish plant in the Amittuq writing.
Those are my comments at this time Mr. Chairman.
Anyone else for general comments?
A short comment.
First of all, I would like to thank the department for providing some funding for Grise Fiord for that office and a garage because their office is not adequate at this time and because if I understand this comment, that wildlife office has been condemned.
They’re replacing it but I don’t see in the two years anything in there to do with the closure of the mines and the cleaning up of the mines in my riding, around Resolute or in my riding of Quttiktuq.
I don’t see anything in here to deal with helping the people to gain employment.
It is unfortunate in my riding that there is nothing in the capital estimates for employment for the people of Quttiktuq.
They’re used to working in the mines and there are two mines that are closing in my constituency.
I could say that there should be more work for the people of my riding and they should do something to open a place such as a meat and fish plant.
We know that there are whales up there and they could be something that could be harvested.
I don’t know what else I can say to try to convince the minister and his staff to try to get some help for the people of Quttiktuqmiut.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, minister.
We have had a few concerns in regards to tourists coming into our communities.
When the tourists want to go out to visit a tourist attraction; for example in Kugluktuk, the Bloody Falls, which is called Unuagahiuvik, when the tourists come to a tourist attraction they go hiking and canoeing.
Last year, and this summer included, I haven’t noticed any workers there, but now I understand that this position is now in and I want to thank you for that.
This is good news for tourists that come up.
Once we come to the questions I will ask a question in regards to the capital estimates at 2003-2004 for the Kitikmeot region
Just to differentiate between the capital estimates from the previous year, I wanted to raise the question of the $300 thousand.
I will ask a question in regards to the park in the Kugluktuk area.
I have a short comment to make as well.
I realise that their job is quite large in regards to wildlife, and the department should try and work using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in terms of the mobility of the wildlife, their migration routes.
The department should consider getting the assistance of the people that know the migration routes of the wildlife because the communities were not very populated at one time.
There are more people in the communities now so they tend to go a different migration route.
The community of Repulse Bay does some fishing as well and I would like them to get started on commercial fishing so that a wage economy can be created in that community and to be assisted by the Department of Sustainable Development, whether it is a small or medium sized assistance to that community.
Those are my comments at this time.
At this time we are dealing with Department of Sustainable Development.
Please try to stick to Department of Sustainable Development.
Just on the minister’s opening comments, in general I think it’s good to see some work being done on attraction development.
The centre here in Iqaluit that promotes tourism in all the regions, I think that’s one of our most untapped resources is tourism and we need to market as best as we can.
Since April 1st in 1999, the number of people visiting here, especially here in Iqaluit, was much more noticeable, just coming to see what Nunavut is all about. I think that’s something we should plan to capitalize on as much as possible.
The more information we can get out there the better, the ability for that information to get out there the better.
So it’s good to see work being done.
Again tourism marketing, there’s 25 thousand dollars in there for contributions for Nunavut tourism booths or exhibits.
I know that is something that one of my colleagues has indicated before. It would be good to see gateway displays in some of the larger airport entrances across the country and maybe even some places, we don’t want to go the states right now.
Something that people could see that we’re here and how, how do you get a hold of it because there are people all across the country and all around the world that are curious about what goes on here.
This is one of the last frontiers, I guess, is the way some people would look at it.
People love to come and see what it is all about.
The more we can do to capitalize on that, the better.
And also the fact that tourism is a reusable resource.
It’s not something that we can use up; it’s always going to be there.
Looking at the Parks programs and investments, I think that I am finally glad with the signing of the IIBA’s. The Minister had indicated in his statement that there has been some work that has been delayed here in Iqaluit.
The Sylvia Grinnell Park should finally get under way and ensure that residents and people that like going for a walk can look forward to the bridge that is going to cross the river, so that they can get over to the other side of the river throughout the year.
I am glad that the IIBA’s have been signed and that work can move forward.
On Axel Heiberg Island, there is a potential territorial park.
I know the difference between a territorial and a national park.
I was just wondering if something like that would be better if we could get the Federal money to make it a Park, or a National Park, or a Historic Site, or something like this.
I don’t know about this.
I am just wondering what the best option for that site is.
Infrastructure investment to support the Crown Corporations is $200 thousand dollars for the evaluation for the Cambridge Bay Meat and Fish Plant.
I think I’ve been to the plant; I have been to all of the NDC Subsidiaries and the work that they do in those different locations throughout Nunavut, whether they are in Pangnirtung, Rankin Inlet, Taloyoak, or Arviat.
I think those places create employment in the communities so that we need to try and make sure that they keep going.
I don’t know what the status of the musk-ox harvest in Cambridge Bay is over there now with this being done.
I know that is something that I was certainly interested in looking at; purchasing musk-ox hides might help.
I know that other people enjoyed getting musk-ox meat as I do the caribou ribs from Rankin Inlet, and the shrimp and fish from Pangnirtung.
Those are the items that are sought after all over the place.
So it is good to see most of that in there and hopefully, I don’t know if that is enough, if they are to start any construction related to that $200 thousand dollars, it is not going to go too far as far as construction goes.
Art for Nunavut, it is important if we are going to put a lot of art there.
You see it a lot in the community here.
They have an art program and there is always an abundance of students taking that program.
The works that they are coming out with I think are spectacular.
There was a display out in the lobby here until last week, from the Matchbox Gallery in Rankin Inlet.
They displayed very fine pottery from some young artists in Rankin Inlet.
I think that they sold a lot of work here, as well as I think that those kinds of programs are important.
We need to make sure that they are adequately funded and have the resources that they need.
That’s about it for my opening comments on the Minister’s opening comments.
I might have some questions as we go along.
I would just like to welcome the Minister and his staff here to the House. Thank you.
I have no names on the list for general comments.
We are now going to questions. If there are no further comments, we will move on to the pages. Are there any questions?
If there are no questions, we will move on to page 11-4.
On 11-5, Sustainable Development. Branch Summary. Program Development and Delivery.
Now go to page 11-6, if there are questions. Sustainable Development. Detail of Capital.
Program Development and Delivery,
Total Headquarters Region $25 thousand.
Mr. Chairperson, on your, I am looking at 11-5, there’s a substantial drop in grants and contributions from $250 thousand to 25 thousand.
Capital assets are down roughly a little over $2 million dollars from the previous year.
I am just wondering if the Minister could explain.
Is that something that has been reallocated somewhere else?
Why is there such a big drop here?
Some of them were not used in the previous year. There were carryovers, and that’s why it seems large. Thank you.
Akesuk.
Mr. Chairperson, some of these things last year, they had 250 thousand just from signing the contribution because I would imagine that would be monies that were available to go out to individuals throughout the communities for various reasons.
I was just wondering, how come there was 250 thousand last year?