EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The concerns I raised in my statement led to the fire marshal’s restrictions on opening the building that is shared both by the library and the Unikaarvik Tourism Office.
I will definitely have a discussion with my colleague.
But in the last few seconds, I have just received an update and that the work I mentioned is still ongoing.
It is looking very promising that we will be able to hire part-time staff to meet the needs of the special interest.
Can the Minister indicate when this person will be available to be hired for the library?
I’m sure that the staff and the board and the user groups with access to the library would be very interested in knowing exactly when that will be.
I may not be in a position to indicate to the Member exactly when we will have the staff there.
But what I will commit to is making sure that once we get the staff in there, which I will ask the department to put in there A.S.A.P, but the special interest groups can, I’m using the wrong words but, develop a proper working schedule that they can meet.
Question 413 – 1(6): Assist Carvers of Quarry Site
I just wanted to direct my question to the Minister of Sustainable Development in regards to my statement earlier on.
I said in my statement I would like a project to be undertaken in consultation with the Kugluktummiut to improve the safety at the quarry site.
Can the Minister commit to going to the community, or at least his officials going to the community to see how they can assist the carvers in this quarry site?
Thank you, for your question.
Yes, that has also been an ongoing concern in the South Baffin quarries with the safety problems at the quarry.
These soap stone quarries are being discussed as to how the best way we can protect the public safely in these quarries.
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association has worked hard to ensure the safety of the public and set policies for quarrying as well.
I will commit to work with the local carvers and the Inuit association in his region regarding the safety of the public in the quarries. I will try and make it to the quarry to check out the dangerousness of the site.
I thought I heard the response saying the region which is great, but I am just trying to make sure he gets to my community to work with the carvers and take them to the site and analyse the type of things they need to do to make sure the carvers get into that site safely in the future.
I wanted to ask a question to him as to when we can schedule these visits to the communities.
Yes, it is hard to say whether I would actually go the site, personally.
But, if I were to visit the community, I would want to visit the site along with the carvers.
Otherwise I will direct staff to go to inspect that site and give direction to staff to assess how much of a public safety issue there is in the quarry site.
I can commit to this type of endeavour to improve access to the site.
I guess I am just trying to get his officials or himself to the community to also meet with the carvers.
I would like to suggest that he come to the community in the summer.
But again, I just want to make sure his commitment to come to the community this summer.
As I said I will be going there in April but it’s harder to say if I could arrive later on in the summer.
I do not know exactly what my schedule is like, but I will keep him updated as to what direction the department is taking in dealing with the concerns regarding safety at the quarry site.
If the tourism departmental staff travels to his community during the summer, I can commit to try to arrive at that time.
Question 414 – 1(6): PPD Positions Moving to Baker Lake
Mr. Speaker my question today is to the Minister responsible for decentralization.
Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of weeks I understand, have heard, and read articles about the PPD positions.
Can the Premier confirm to me that all these PPD positions will be moving to Baker Lake?
What I can say is that Cabinet has an agreement in principle to move 13 positions to Baker Lake.
What we are planning to do is a feasibility study on the best steps of getting there.
We can confirm that there are 5 positions moving from the new Power Corporation, for instance, that will compensate for the 13 that are targeted for Baker Lake.
I’ll try to make my preamble very brief.
I am not on the inside of Cabinet.
I am not privy to their decisions.
My mayor has not come over here and had a meeting with the Premier.
My question is, one of the first questions that I asked in this House was on decentralization and if the government committed to it.
I was assured by the Premier and he kept his promise to my community time after time on decentralization.
What I am a little disturbed about and I am getting to my question, why is there a feasibility study being done?
Is there going to be a feasibility study done on every job that is decentralized?
What we are creating is a new corporation, a crown corporation and it will be a separate entity of our government and we want to make sure that their operations will be the most feasible.
We are currently completing a feasibility study for the Workers' Compensation Board for Pangnirtung.
So, feasibility studies are for bodies that are outside of our control.
We are moving forward on the Qulliq Corporation.
And we have recently appointed an interim President to assist us in doing the feasibility study.
So we are doing our utmost in ensuring that the job is completed as soon as possible.
I think I'm getting the answer I want.
Will the Premier table the terms of references for this feasibility study?
As soon as they’re done I will make sure they’re tabled in this Assembly.
Mr. McLean: Mr. Speaker, I hope in this terms of reference on this feasibility study that it is not just one-sided for one community.
I am hoping it is fair to the other community, and I am saying Baker Lake because sometimes feasibility studies are slanted one way.
If the feasibility studies shows that there should be more than 13 positions moved to Baker Lake, will the Premier commit to that?
That is somewhat of a hypothetical question, but I will allow the Premier to answer it if he wishes.
Yes, that is a hypothetical question and I will answer the question when we get there.
So, we’ll wait for the feasibility studies to conclude.
Question 415 – 1(6): Kugaaruk Concerns on Muskox Quota
Regarding my Member’s Statement earlier, and as I stated is to the Minister of Department of Sustainable Development.
In Kugaaruk, the HTO and the residents have concerns regarding the muskox and they have a quota for only five animals in the area.
Has he heard any other information regarding concerns from HTO?
That is my question to the Minister.
Yes, I am aware of this concern regarding the requested increase in the quota.
I will endeavour to work and look into the matter in working with the local HTO.
When the quotas are being formulated, it is based on the study and the population and we are going to have to get a better idea how we can increase the quota by first getting a better idea of how healthy that population of the muskoxen may be.
Yes, I am sure it will lead to another study, but the muskox, I guess they are at another management zone.
Is there more than ten and is that too far from that other zone?
Can they also study the ones who are from the closer zone in the region because hunters do not usually go beyond the Gjoa Haven area?
Can you consider that this quota will come from a closer population within our area of Gjoa Haven?
I will attempt to respond to his question.
There are muskoxen from the other region or in the other zones who he is concerned about.
The Department of Sustainable Development has a program that allow communities to work together to harvest muskoxen.
We can provide funds to the community if they want to do a group community hunt.
As well, his question regarding increasing the quota, we need to do a study for management purposes as to whether or not we can increase the quota based on the health of that population.
Once I have that information I can inform the Member on the status that they are in.
Thank you, for your clear response.
You said that there’s going to be a study done on the muskoxen in our area.
As soon as you find out when you’re going to be doing the study, can you let the community of Kugaaruk know when they will be doing the study?
Yes, I would be willing to work with the community to do the study and because we have stated that we want to work with the communities.
When we start doing the muskoxen study, we will contact your community to try to work with them.
We will have to research the material as to when the last time was that they studied the muskoxen in your area.
I’ll let you know when we’ll be starting the study.
I thank you for saying that you will be working with our community because they are the ones who have the knowledge of the area and the traditional knowledge of our Muskox.
Have you decided yet when you plan to do the study?
Like I stated, we will need to find out first when the last time the muskoxen were studied.
I’ll get my staff to do the research and let my colleague know the outcome of that research.
Question 416 – 1(6): Portion of PPD Positions Moving to Baker Lake
I’d like to get further clarification.
I’ve constantly told the Department of Petroleum Products know that all the PY’s should not be moved from Rankin Inlet to Baker Lake.
I think on January 28th, they had a meeting with Ross Mrazek who is from PPD and that they stated that they would decentralize those PY’s to Baker Lake.
So, can I let my community know, the staff know that only a portion of those PYs will be decentralized?
We have talked with your mayor and told them that we have 5 positions that will be transferred to the community from Iqaluit and some of the positions will not be moved and will stay in Rankin Inlet.
As I stated earlier, we are going to be doing a feasibility study shortly to see how it will work in the community.
It is getting a little clearer that there was a wrong message sent out to the Inuit and residents of Rankin Inlet.
They were told that all the PPD positions were going to be decentralized to another community by the deputy Minister who stated that on January 28 and then he stated that there was going to be a feasibility study.
I would have presumed that a study had already been undertaken and the decision reached to decentralize the positions.
I would like to know how much that is going to cost to do a feasibility study and whether you will be hiring Inuit to these positions, especially for the study?
We were told now that there had not been a final decision on the 13 positions that would be transferred to another community.
This has been the entire justification for my removal from Cabinet.
Isn’t the Premier sending the wrong message to the Inuit?
The Premier stated that they had already had an agreement to move these positions and that was why I was voted out on a non confidence vote.
We are trying to follow the implementation plans of the decentralization report that were set out before the Nunavut Government was created.
We are trying to reach the number of positions allocated to Baker Lake that were noted in the Footprints II manual.
We are setting up a new organization that will be transferred to the community.
We have looked into who is going to be managing the new corporation and that person will be responsible for this feasibility study.
We will studying how best to use our funds to relocate those positions to the community so that is why we are doing a feasibility study to make sure that it is cost effective.
Supplementary. Mr. Anawak.
Perhaps the Inuit are tired of listening to this but we have to tell the truth to the general public to the Inuit.
We still do not understand when they say they are going to transfer those 13 PPD positions and I did not agree with the process of transferral.
My colleague from Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove initially opposed this decision, and then I was the one opposed.
That is what happened and why I was told that afterwards that I had disagreed with a Cabinet decision and that I was endangering Cabinet solidarity.
It is apparent now that the Cabinet never made a final decision about this matter, and that they had decided not to transfer all 13 positions to the community.
So is the Cabinet composed of one person?
It looks like the Premier decided personally to keep 5 positions in Rankin Inlet as a result of this furor.
Why if the Premier or the Cabinet were not going to transfer those 13 positions, why did we have to go through this process of ousting me of the Cabinet?
I do not know if they are going to be transferring all the positions or not?
So I would like an answer, will five, thirteen or all positions be decentralized?
Decentralization is a complex and difficult process with many variables.
We had to find out the best ways on how we can decentralize those positions to the communities.
The decentralization was decided upon before this government was implemented.
We will be doing the study to see how best we can work this out.
If we look at what we have used to date, wherever the employees are, we have always been able to find positions for them, similar to what their jobs were at the time.
That’s the same thing that we’re going to do with those positions.
If the staff in the present positions don’t want to move, we will be looking for other employment for them.
We’re not talking about other decentralized positions; we’re talking about these specific 13 positions.
The Petroleum Products Division employees in Rankin Inlet, we’re talking about the staff in Rankin Inlet, we’re not talking about decentralized staff.
We’re not talking about seeking other employment for the staff.
What we’re talking about specifically is, were they telling the truth when they said they were going to transfer those 13 positions.
Now we’re hearing a different story today that not all 13 positions will be transferred; some of them will be transferred only after a feasibility study is done first before they transfer those positions.
I’m specifically talking about those 13 positions in Rankin Inlet.
I’m not talking about other positions in the decentralized communities.
If they were to transfer these positions, and this was the reason for my removal, what is the Premier saying that is not true?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve tried to give the appropriate response and if someone is saying I gave the wrong information or that I’m lying, that is not the case.
I try to respond the best way I can on what process we took.
As Cabinet Ministers, we tried to go through the best avenue that we had in dealing with these positions.
Question 417 – 1(6): Decentralization Study on Impact to Smaller Communities
This is a question to the Minister of Decentralization.
I’m going to use the Power Corporation as an example.
They were talking about the discussion of the Petroleum Products Division, on decentralizing the power corporation to improve the services of our communities, but at the present time, the smaller communities have a major problem with the payment process and the payment centres.
In the smaller communities, when there’s decentralization, the smaller communities are always affected because of the way the billing system is done.
Although the larger communities have it easier than we do, when there’s decentralization, the money that is being used from decentralization is taking money away from the smaller communities.
And because of this, the smaller communities are affected when the Petroleum Products Division will be decentralized to Qamanittuaq.
Will this affect the smaller communities again?
I raise this because we are going to have to pay for expenses such as decentralization and every single one of the smaller communities is affected by the cost that is used for decentralization.
Have you done a study on whether this has a major impact on the smaller communities?
We try decentralization as best that we can and to effectively study what impact it would have on the other communities.
But, that is why Cabinet is given this task as it involves a lot of variables.
Those are the steps that we do before we decentralize positions to communities.
The result of the study was to see if we could amalgamate certain distinct organizations.
Certain positions could better be managed by one position.
That is why the Qulliq and the Power Corporation were merged as we have a more efficient way of doing things and that would help out the smaller communities.
And I feel that this is going to help out the smaller communities.
Yes, I believe what the Minister is saying.
But the people of Nunavut always have to pay out of their pockets for any incremental costs.
I just feel that if there is a problem with the Petroleum Products Division, then we will be impacted in paying our utility bills.
As long as the smaller communities will not be affected adversely, it would be okay, but we have to continually consider the impacts on the people of Nunavut because we are the Government for Nunavut.
We are spending the public funds of Nunavut and we are taking the money their pockets and allocating it to the services to the people of Nunavut.
I wonder if the Decentralization committee, the Cabinet or the Minister has done a study on the impacts of decentralization on the smaller communities?
We have done a study on the questions that the Member just asked.
As well, each Minister has submitted reports to be tabled in the House on the decentralization issues that they are facing.
We have done a study on the Qulliq and the Power Corporations merger and that is the direction we give for a study to make sure that all of the communities are not affected.
This also involves trying to find the best solutions and positive impacts of each step.
The Power Corporation and the Petroleum Products Division were not together in our past operations, but they are going to consolidate them.
I just wondered if there are inefficiencies created due to the PPD and the Power Corporation merging; will there be problems arising out of that particular merger?
That is the reason why we are putting the PPD and the Power Corporation together just so that it can be run more effectively, especially in relation to similar roles of acquiring diesel.
The actual fuel for the power stations is bought separately from the operations of the Power Corporation.
So, if those two Departments or those two Corporations are merged, we will have a more effective way of buying fuel in bulk and to make it better for the people in Nunavut.
And we would not spend as much money in buying our fuel in bulk and we will also be dealing with less administrative functions.
We have also been submitting reports on the merger for the last couple of years.
And we will be dealing with the Qulliq Legislation in the near future here in the Legislative Assembly.
The new contract for delivery of fuel, I just wondered if the Petroleum Products and Power Corporation will be working together to ensure that there will be no problems.
Have you considered this?
Like I stated earlier, we have done a feasibility study on the decentralization process.
This has been supported by the people of Nunavut regarding the two corporations getting together.
I’m sure that it is going to be running better and more efficient when that happens.
Tabled Document 079 – 1(6): Letter from Kugaaruk HTO
I wish to table the following document. A letter from the Hunters and Trappers organization in Kugaaruk, Nunavut concerning musk-ox quota.
Tabled Document 080 – 1(6): Business Plan of the Legislative Assembly
I have four documents that I wish to table.
Business Plan of the Legislative Assembly.
I am pleased to table the Business Plan for the office of the Legislative Assembly for the year 2003, 2004 in Inuktitut, English, French, and Inuinnaqtun.
Tabled Document 081 – 1(6): Pangnirtung Session Incremental Cost Report
I also wish to table the Legislative Assembly report on the incremental costs of the October 2002 session in Pangnirtung.
Tabled Document 082 – 1(6): Pension Administration Report March 31st, 2002
Also in accordance with section 21 of the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act, I’m tabling a Pension Administration Report for the period ending March 31, 2002.
Tabled Document 083 – 1(6): Statutory Requirements for Tabling Reports and Other Documents to the Legislative Assembly
I’m also pleased to table today a Comprehensive List of the Statutory Requirements for the Tabling of Reports and Other Documents in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. This will enable all Members to be aware of what statutory requirements exist for the tabling in this House of certain documents unless these obligations are being met.
First Reading of Bills. Item 19. Second Reading of Bills.
Bills 22, Bill 24, Bill 30 and Minister’s Statement 126 – 1(6), with Mr. Iqaqrialu in the Chair.
Before we proceed to Committee of the Whole we’ll take a 20 minute break.
>>House recessed at 15:21 p.m. and resumed at 15:49 p.m.
We will be dealing with what we dealt with yesterday.
Bill 22, 24 and 30 and Minister’s Statement 126-1 (6) are on the order paper for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to deal with Bill 24 and then Bill 30 commencing with the review of the Department of Education.
Chairperson (interpretation): You said Bill 24, first which is not the Department of Education, it is the Hamlet Act.
I think you have the Bill numbers wrong and you should correct this if you do not mind.
Havioyak.
We wish to deal with Bill 24 and Bill 30, commencing with the Department of Education.
There, I said it the right way.
Chairperson (interpretation): Okay, now I get it.
I will now ask the Minister responsible for Department of Community Government and Transportation to approach the witness table with her staff.
Chairperson (interpretation): Sit down please.
Can you please introduce your witnesses, Ms. Thompson?
To my left, who joined us just before we concurred, Mr. Peter Alison, Legal Council in the Department and to my right is Shawn Maley, Assistant Deputy Minister.
Mr. Chairman, with your permission, I would like to recognize the Mayors involved.
We recognized the other representative already, perhaps we have over recognized Lootie Toomasie, but these are the Mayors that I would like to recognize through their work in their hamlet.
Steven Maksalaaq Mayor of Taloyoak and beside him is Peter K. whom we all know, who is the Mayor of Arviat.
As well, beside Peter is Arthur, he was SAO for Chesterfield Inlet and now he has been seconded in Arviat.
Thank you for giving me the permission to recognize them and that is my ulu down there.
Chairperson (interpretation): Welcome, Mayors and the staff, hamlet staff, welcome to the House.
Yes, now that we are dealing with these Acts that will truly reflect the operations in the communities because we have had problems in the past.
It is good to see you here.
Going back to the Bill 24, we already had ten minutes each of general comments regarding the Cities, Towns and Villages Act.
Now, I would like to ask what the wish of the Committee is.
Would you like to go right into reviewing Clause by Clause on the Hamlets Act?
Bill 24, an Act to Amend the Hamlets Act.
Reprint summary, does everybody have a copy?
We will start with Clause by Clause review.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause, 38.
Chairperson (interpretation): Are we agreed that we’ve concluded with clause by clause?
We’ve dealt with the Hamlet Act.
Does the Committee agree that Bill 24 is now ready for third reading?
Chairperson (interpretation): That’s how smooth it can run when we all agree.
I would like to thank you Minister responsible for Community Government and Transportation for appearing before us.
Do you have any closing comments? Ms. Thompson.
I’d like to say thank you very much because I’ve waited for this for eight years.
To my understanding, you will all agree with my wishes.
I’d like to recognize the Chairperson for the committee, Mr. Glenn McLean as well as the committee.
I’m going to forget some people on the names.
Mr. Iqaqrialu, Mr. Havioyak, Uriash, Mr. Nutarak, and Mr. Irqittuq I think.
I might have forgotten some names.
Those guys worked tirelessly in drafting this bill and reviewing this bill.