EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The hon. minister did commit to giving me more information this week.
Will the minister now be able to tell me what’s happening with my question?
Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, (interpretation ends) Hon. Hunter Tootoo.
I would like to thank the member for remembering and keeping me on my toes with my commitments.
Mr. Speaker, as I had indicated verbally that day to the member, there’s a duplex that is under construction right now in the community and they’re anticipating, over the next month or two, that that unit will be completed for staff housing. Also, there’s another duplex that’s coming in on the sealift supply this year that will provide another two additional units for staff housing in his community.
I hope that that answers his question.
Mr. Ningark: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the first supplementary.
The minister did not indicate whether that house that’s coming up this week that will be completed is, in fact, for the teaching staff in Kugaaruk.
Will the minister commit to ensuring me that that house is, in fact, for the teaching staff?
I would love to be able to say yes to the member, but I would be misleading him if I could tell him for sure that that unit is going to be for a teacher.
Mr. Speaker, I know that there have been a number of positions and at this time of year that work is being done with the Department of Education to identify what their staff housing requirements are going to be for new teachers for the next school year.
That work is underway right now between the housing corporation and the Department of Education to determine exactly what their requirements are going to be.
Every year, there are teachers who are staying and teachers who are leaving.
Once the Department of Education and the housing corporation get their final tabulations as far as what the Department of Education’s requirements are for staff housing for teaching, we won’t know that. But I can commit to the member that as soon as that has been identified, I will provide him with that information.
Question 026 – 3(2): Contracts and Procurements with Government of Nunavut (Okalik)
A few days ago, he tabled a report on contracts.
In the past, they used to have detailed information as to whom the contracts were awarded to, especially with relation to sole source contracts.
They had that information to ensure that all contractors were doing their work properly.
The report, as submitted, contained no information on who were awarded the contracts.
If this is just a first draft report, I don’t have a problem with it.
However, I wonder if the minister will provide more detailed reports on contracted work in the future.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Okalik, for asking about that report.
Mr. Speaker, yes, if the members want more details in the report, I will ask my officials to provide that information.
Further, if you wish to see more details for certain line items, especially for items not included in the report, then I would prefer he identify the items or any item included in the report that was tabled a few days ago.
Yes, I urge the minister to do so because in the past, we used to table annual reports stating who were awarded the contracts. It became public information and as a result, there was less favouritism in the awarding of contracts. Any favouritism was made visible when we had to table annual reports on government contracts.
So I urge the minister to revisit previous practices of prior governments; it would be very useful for all of us.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Yes, I concur with his observations. In the future, we will have more detailed information when we’re tabling our annual reports and we will comply with his request.
We didn’t intentionally try to change the reporting style.
Question 027 – 3(2): Condition Rating of Cape Dorset Health Centre (Schell)
I would like to know if he received the conditional rating of the health centre in Cape Dorset yet.
Yes, we have seen the report that was done by CGS.
When will the minister commit to giving an answer back to me as to when a new health centre will be put in the works for Cape Dorset?
We are still reviewing the report that was done for Cape Dorset and it’s with our department’s capital planners at this time. The report will be very useful during our consideration of the health centre in Cape Dorset and we know it’s one of the oldest facilities in Nunavut.
Once we start working on capital items in the fall, we will take that into consideration. However, I can’t tell the member currently when the funding will be available since it still has to be considered at the cabinet level where we start planning next year’s capital estimates.
So at this time, I can’t tell the member exactly when the new health centre will be constructed in Cape Dorset.
Question 028 – 3(2): NTEP Students in Kugaaruk (Ningark)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education, Hon. Tapardjuk.
In Kugaaruk, NTEP students are supposed to be graduating in November of this year. However, if the instructor doesn’t return, all of the funds that were spent on training may go to waste. Can the minister tell me if… .
I wonder what hon. is in Inuktitut; maybe it’s Niqturnaqtuq.
Our community currently lacks sufficient staff housing for instructors. As the Minister of Education, can he ensure that there will be adequate staff housing for instructors?
Once Taiguusiliuqtiit is established, I’m sure they can come up with the word “Hon” in Inuktitut. It is hard to agree on the appropriate term at this time.
With respect to what he is referring to, Mr. Speaker, the Arctic College is responsible for that.
The Department of Education used to be responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, but some changes were made. Nunavut Arctic College is now responsible for NTEP and I want the member to know that it’s not under our portfolio.
But what I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that there’s an agreement between Nunavut Arctic College and the Department of Education for the provision of training teachers. Once the actual training of teachers commences, it becomes the responsibility of Nunavut Arctic College to provide those resources, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Your first supplementary, Mr. Ningark.
We’re experiencing a shortage of teachers and instructors.
Can he use his ministerial authority to tell both me in this House and the listening residents whether or not adequate staff housing will be provided to instructors in Kugaaruk?
I can only say to the Member for Kugaaruk that we can work with the Nunavut Housing Corporation in regard to staff housing for teachers and instructors.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation is responsible for staff housing and I can discuss this matter with my colleague and deliberate on our options as to how we will deal with the issue the member has raised, Mr. Speaker.
Please, I want you to discuss this matter with me so that you will understand the situation as I wish to remain as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and I want to ensure he holds onto his current portfolio.
Question 029 – 3(2): Cold Weather Testing of Aircraft (Okalik)
As we all know, the Minister of Transportation will be travelling to Europe to lobby European aircraft manufacturers to come to Nunavut to continue to conduct cold weather testing and airworthiness of their new aircraft in our type of weather.
I would like to ask the minister a question related to this matter. Some airlines in Canada don’t fly up in Nunavut and using Air Canada as an example, many airplanes can’t fly up here when it’s -40 degrees Celsius.
We encourage overseas companies to undertake cold weather testing in Nunavut. Yet, in our country, we have airlines that can’t fly up here since they haven’t conducted proper testing.
So I ask the minister to discuss this matter with his federal counterpart to make sure that airlines in Canada conduct cold weather tests in the north to ensure that they are capable of flying in cold weather some time in the future.
I would like to know if he can start preparing for that, Mr. Speaker.
Absolutely, some of these aircraft that are out there, commercial aircraft cannot fly in some cold weather areas of the nation and we all know about that.
The main issue that we have here is more or less not an issue but the purpose of our trip is to see if we can actually get some contracts for cold weather testing here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I support the minister in his efforts in enticing cold weather testing here in Nunavut, but at the same time, we have to show the world that we are doing our part as Canadians.
I have seen in the past, for flights that were scheduled for Yellowknife, once it had hit -40 degrees Celsius, Air Canada couldn’t fly there anymore.
So if our own companies aren’t doing the testing, how can we entice more international corporations to come and test their airplanes here in Iqaluit?
So I encourage the minister to talk to his federal counterpart and encourage these companies to do their part and test their airplanes here in Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Absolutely, the airplane manufacturers are not from this country. Some components might be manufactured within this country, but it’s up to the manufacturers to test their equipment for cold weather, whether it may be in Norway, in the United States, Alaska, Canada, specifically Iqaluit.
There are some other testing facilities in Norway.
It’s up to the manufacturer of where they are going to do their testing and not necessarily the owners of the commercial airlines.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I realize that we do not regulate airlines, it’s a federal jurisdiction, but at the same time, they fly to some parts of northern Canada and they are Canadian companies, so they are regulated by our federal government.
I would like to see the federal government being lobbied to test their aircraft here in the north. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Of course, the trip is to encourage and get some more information and pass on some more information to our counterparts in Ottawa with the transportation ministry there.
Some of the aircraft that are manufactured in other countries, it’s up to them whether they’re going to be cold weather testing their equipment and aircraft in whatever place they choose, whoever could come up with the best contract.
One of the things that we plan on doing, of course, is talking to other countries, not only with our Canadian counterparts but other countries, including China and India. As you know, their airspace programs are up and coming, and we want to encourage them also to look at the North, specifically Iqaluit, to do their cold weather testing.
And yes, I will talk to my colleague down in Ottawa, our counterpart down there in the federal government, to encourage these commercial airlines to have their equipment and aircraft cold weather tested.
Question 030 – 3(2): Consult Kimmirut for New Runway (Schell)
I was pleased to see in the paper this week that you’ve got a contract out for gravel crushing, building a road and a two-cell lagoon in Kimmirut.
My question is: when will the minister commit to making a trip to Kimmirut to be able to meet with the council and with the residents of Kimmirut to look at an alternate site for a proper runway in Kimmirut?
As you know, time is of the essence.
We did make a commitment as a cabinet to visit the majority of these smaller communities throughout our term.
Yes, I will try and find some time to actually visit and talk to the Hamlet of Kimmirut and inspect or look at… not necessarily inspect but talk to the folks who are considering an alternate airstrip there.
That’s all I expected.
I know you can’t tell me the exact date but as long as he commits to going down there this year, I would greatly appreciate it.
As things progress here, yes, I will have to go there and visit the community of Kimmirut.
As you know, it’s one of the priorities in Kimmirut for the airstrip there.
I won’t comment on the crushing because it’s done by a different department.
Question 031 – 3(2): Availability of Housing for Staff (Ningark)
My question is to the Minister responsible for the Arctic College.
As I mentioned earlier, we have an NTEP program in Kugaaruk and many of the young people in the community have been going through that program for about four years, I think. If all goes well, Mr. Speaker, these young people will be graduating in December of this year.
I had the pleasure of meeting with the school principal prior to coming here and he tells me that perhaps if there’s not enough housing for the teaching staff, including the teacher for the NTEP students, these young people will not be able to continue their education.
Will the hon. minister assure me that he will make sure that there’s housing available for the teacher of the NTEP students?
Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Hon. Daniel Shewchuk.
I would like to thank my colleague for the question that he has put to me.
I will advise him that it is very important to me and the Arctic College to have instructors in the community of Kugaaruk.
I assure him that we will make it a priority for us to work with Nunavut Housing Corporation in acquiring housing there. There is a policy with the Government of Nunavut in relationship with the Nunavut Housing Corporation that establishes teachers at a higher priority than other civil servants in government.
So I just want you to know that health nurses and teachers are the highest priorities in the communities.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Mr. Ningark.
Oral Questions. If there are no more, we will go back to the orders of the day.
Committee Report 001 – 3(2): Standing Committee Report on the Review of the 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut on the Nunavut Housing Corporation (Schell)
Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have the honour today of presenting the report of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts on its review of the 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly on the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, the Auditor General’s report on the Nunavut Housing Corporation was tabled in the House on May 22, 2008, during the Second Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
On March 17, 2009, the Third Legislative Assembly passed a motion to formally refer the report to the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts for review.
Mr. Speaker, since April 1, 1999, every report of the Auditor General to the Legislative Assembly has been referred to a standing committee for review.
Witnesses from appropriate Government of Nunavut departments, Crown corporations and agencies have been invited to appear in public to account for their responses to the Auditor General’s recommendations and the concerns of MLAs.
Mr. Speaker, housing issues are of significant concern to all MLAs and Nunavummiut.
The Auditor General’s 2008 report made a number of important observations and recommendations concerning the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s management of the territory’s public housing program and its delivery of new housing units under the Nunavut Housing Trust.
In January of this year, the federal budget announced that $100 million in new housing funding will be provided to Nunavut.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation subsequently announced on March 31, 2009, that 285 new housing units will be constructed across Nunavut between 2009 and 2011.
The announcement also indicated that the delivery strategy for these units was under development.
In light of these announcements, members of the standing committee were of the view that it was essential for the Nunavut Housing Corporation to account in detail as to what steps it had taken in response to the Auditor General’s recommendations in her 2008 report.
It was our hope and expectation that the Auditor General’s report and the standing committee’s hearings would help the NHC to improve its delivery of the essential programs and services for which it is responsible.
Members were of the view that these hearings were an excellent opportunity for the corporation to learn from the mistakes of the past in preparation for the challenges that lie ahead.
The standing committee held its hearings on the report on May 6 and 7 of this year.
These hearings were open to the public and news media to observe and were broadcast on local cable television.
The transcripts from the standing committee’s hearings were subsequently posted to the Legislative Assembly’s website in both Inuktitut and English on May 20, 2009.
I encourage all members to review the transcripts with care.
The Auditor General’s report on the Nunavut Housing Corporation presented 13 specific recommendations.
These recommendations addressed the following thematic areas:
Management and delivery of the public housing program;
The Nunavut Housing Trust Delivery Strategy; and
Planning, reporting and performance measurement.
Mr. Speaker, the standing committee concurs with the recommendations of the Auditor General and noted that the Nunavut Housing Corporation itself substantially agreed with all of the Auditor General’s recommendations.
As I noted earlier, the standing committee held its hearings on the Auditor General’s report in May of this year.
In preparation for the committee’s hearings, members were provided with a copy of the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s December 2008 update on its response to the Auditor General’s report.
During the standing committee’s hearings, members were advised that the NHC’s action plan in response to the recommendations of the Auditor General would be tabled in the legislature in June of 2009.
The standing committee looks forward to reviewing this document and is hopeful that it will be updated to reflect the concerns raised by members during the committee’s hearings.
The standing committee also looks forward to the eventual tabling in the Legislative Assembly of a final, audited report on the corporation’s total expenditures and activities under the Nunavut Housing Trust.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to clearly and strongly express the standing committee’s position that accountability applies to all of the government’s departments and Crown corporations.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation is no exception.
During the standing committee’s hearings, members were repeatedly told by the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s witnesses that staffing capacity issues have been an underlying cause of the problems identified in the Auditor General’s report.
However, members have observed that all Government of Nunavut departments, corporations, and agencies face challenges in this area. All departments, corporations, and agencies would like to have larger budgets and additional resources.
I would also note that while a number of the corporation’s positions are classified as being vacant, work is being performed by contract and casual employees.
Mr. Speaker, it is essential that explanations do not become excuses.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s new leadership must adopt a more positive attitude in this area and acknowledge that while capacity issues must be addressed, the essential work of the corporation must be done.
Mr. Speaker, a number of themes and priorities emerged during the standing committee’s review of the issues raised in the Auditor General’s report.
Accordingly, the standing committee recommends that the Nunavut Housing Corporation address the following ten critical areas for action:
The importance of developing and introducing a transparent, formal, and independent appeals process for public housing applicants and tenants.
This issue is of particular relevance to the public housing allocation process.
An element of this process should include provisions whereby applicants are provided with a prescribed period of time following a housing allocation decision during which they may submit an appeal.
Members were pleased to have received a commitment during the hearings that work will be undertaken by the Nunavut Housing Corporation in this area and will be closely monitoring progress.
Members recommend that the Nunavut Housing Corporation examine the experience of such existing Nunavut bodies as the Social Assistance Appeal Board in developing a model for use in this area.
The importance of enhancing the training and orientation provided to members of the boards of directors of local housing organizations.
The standing committee noted that the manual provided to board members by the Nunavut Housing Corporation has not been updated since 1995.
Given that it has been almost 15 years since this manual was developed, it is essential that it be updated to reflect current standards and expectations.
The standing committee also stresses the importance of providing clear guidance and training to board members with respect to the issue of conflict of interest.
The importance of working with local housing organizations to review the eligibility criteria for election to their boards of directors.
Members noted the desirability of ensuring that as many residents as possible have the opportunity to contribute to their communities through service on such boards.
The importance of partnering with such entities as the Municipal Training Organization to enhance the training and support provided to tenant relations officers.
During the standing committee’s hearings, it was also noted that these positions have historically experienced high turnover rates as a consequence of the stressful nature of the work and the relatively low remuneration.
The standing committee is supportive of measures that will serve to enhance stability with respect to these important positions.
The importance of working with LHOs to address the issue of rental arrears.
During the standing committee’s hearings, members were advised that between $11 million and $12 million is outstanding on a Nunavut-wide basis in rental arrears and tenant damages.
This amount has increased significantly since November of 2004, when the Nunavut Housing Corporation, in response to a question posed by a Member of the Legislative Assembly, reported that the total amount owing to LHOs was approximately $6.6 million.
The importance of enhancing the transparency of the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s operations through the annual tabling in the Legislative Assembly of a report on the corporation’s contracting, procurement and leasing activities.
Members note that while such information is tabled annually with respect to the Government of Nunavut’s departments, it is not done so for its Crown corporations and agencies.
The standing committee also stresses the importance of tabling the corporation’s statutorily required annual reports on a timely basis.
This is an essential component of accountability.
The importance of tabling in the Legislative Assembly a copy of the delivery strategy for the 285 new units that the Nunavut Housing Corporation has announced will be constructed between 2009 and 2011.
During the standing committee’s hearings, members were advised that the cabinet would be reviewing this strategy in May of this year.
Members encourage the Nunavut Housing Corporation to consult closely with LHOs with respect to the mix of housing types that are to be delivered.
Members also stress the importance of close cooperation between the Nunavut Housing Corporation and such partners as Nunavut Arctic College, the Department of Education, and the Nunavut Trades Training Centre, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, with respect to enhancing training and apprenticeship opportunities for Inuit.
While members recognize that efforts have been made to provide apprenticeship opportunities, it is disappointing that no certified tradespeople have emerged from the Nunavut Housing Trust Delivery Strategy.
Members recommend that the Nunavut Housing Corporation be open to innovative approaches in this area, including providing opportunities for apprentices to gain hours by working on projects in communities with longer construction seasons.