EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In this particular case with the narwhals and supporting NTI, as he has mentioned, will your department be helping in the same manner?
I will leave that to the request to be made. We have not received any requests to that effect. If we did receive a request, we would consider and look at all of the situations.
Question 553 – 3(2): Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay’s INAC Water Use Inspection Reports (Ningark)
I am asking this question from a matter that’s close to my heart.
I hope his hockey team keeps winning down the road.
My question relates to yesterday’s Hansard. When I made my Member’s Statement, I spoke about Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay and I had tabled the water licence inspections that were conducted by the federal government Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.
When we look at the water inspection reports for Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay, it talks about the solid waste site and that the mound is growing, it’s getting larger, and it has not been touched or burned for a period of three years.
I believe it’s urgent that this matter be dealt with because it impacts the people, it poses health hazards and risks to the environment as well as wildlife.
Can the minister inform this House and me, including the Hamlet of Repulse Bay, as to whether his department can provide assistance to the community?
That question is directed to the community and government services minister.
I am very glad that you are supporting the team I support.
Now, we have been bantering back and forth about this issue this week, either related to solid waste, sewage lagoons, and the various aspects.
Again, it’s an ongoing issue that we are dealing with in various communities.
A lot of these were reviewed and we looked at how we could improve the situation and to fix up these problems.
I know for a fact that in Repulse Bay, we provide assistance, and we expanded the solid waste dump.
Once a lot of these issues have been reported on and all of the problems are identified with this particular waste site, we would like to develop a work order to deal with all of these problems.
Once the issues have been identified, we can provide a cost estimate and a work order down the road.
I’m not really in support of that hockey team but I want to see them win.
With regard to Kugaaruk, there is also an inspection report that states that the sewage lagoon is seeping into the ocean. The hamlet requires assistance to solve this problem.
Can his department provide staff time, funding, or other assistance to the community?
I support those of which he supports.
However, this issue is being dealt with on an ongoing basis.
The last time it was dealt with was in 2008, where they made improvements to the site.
It’s obvious that once we have identified the projects, we will have a very large workload, especially if we look at the entire territory of Nunavut.
As problems surface and infrastructure is becoming an issue to deal with due to community growth, Kugaaruk will be one of the communities we will identify as needing help.
My second supplementary question is regarding the fact that I know that both communities require a lot of assistance because this is becoming more of a hazard.
I know that the government is strapped for cash.
Has the minister discussed this issue with the federal government to see how they could provide more assistance to deal with hazards related to dump sites and sewage lagoons?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for asking that question.
Yes, the Nunavut government is collaborating with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and we are looking at the problems that have to be resolved.
Once all of the problems have been identified and reviewed, we will work with the communities and the department.
Once we have been provided a cost estimate based on the problems we have to resolve, we have to look for funding and to try to find a large enough pot of funds that enable us to deal with these issues.
I know for a fact that we have been working with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs ourselves, including the hamlets, and we will have to partner on these problems because the hamlet are responsible for the dump sites.
They are the sewage and water truck service providers, and they will be included in this planning, along with those who provide funding. The approval agencies will all have to be in line.
It’s obvious this is not a petty issue and it’s very hard to fix immediately.
It’s going to take a while to fix all of the issues that communities face, but when we’re dealing with these areas, Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay will be included.
A lot of communities have similar problems related to these infrastructure issues.
My last supplementary question is regarding the minister’s portfolio.
He is the closest to the communities and most involved in their daily operations. He also deals with the communities with contribution agreements and funding, as well as municipal service issues.
If these issues are not resolved, I believe the hamlets may be charged with the responsibility to deal with this.
I think we heard from one of my colleagues that there are a lot of concerns out there. For example, if the hamlet was charged with not complying with the legislation, how can we provide assistance?
A lot of these communities don’t even have water licences.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): I keep reiterating that we are working with the hamlets and those agencies that we need to work with in order to resolve the problems.
This is a slow, ongoing process and will continue to be dealt with.
Once we reach the stage where communities will have to be taken to court, that will be one of the options we had planned for, but at this point, we are not expecting any communities to be taken to court.
Even though the inspection reports states so, the report is done by an inspector, not the approval agencies.
So when we reach that stage, we will have to deal with the court system. We will cross that bridge when we get to it.
Mr. Speaker, I know for a fact that we’re dealing with the issues as they arise.
It’s quite obvious that there is a lot more work than we’re able to do, but we will try to keep up in that manner.
Question 554 – 3(2): GN’s Participation at ICC Conference (Tapardjuk)
It’s quite aesthetic, and the reason why we moved to this side was to be able to ask questions. I have a question for the Premier, Mr. Speaker, with regard to a meeting that was held by the Inuit Circumpolar Conference in Ottawa.
My first question to the Premier is obviously with respect to Nunavut’s waters and offshore resources. They are areas of interest for a lot of companies and it’s quite obvious that we have become the focus.
So my question to the Premier is: what is the position of the Nunavut government on this? Are they involved? Are they being consulted, especially when negotiations are being undertaken for offshore drilling and the like?
That question is directed to the Premier.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank our colleague for asking the question.
A very important issue under discussion in Nunavut is the growing interest in the north.
We are listening to the Inuit Circumpolar Conference’s recommendations.
They are holding the meetings at this time in Ottawa. It is too bad that they are holding their meetings at the same time we are holding our session.
If we were not in session, I would have gone there, but I usually cannot attend two meetings at the same time, although I want to.
I do want to work with the Arctic Council, NTI, and ICC as they will be working closely together.
In the month of May, there is going to be an (interpretation) Arctic Council ministerial meeting (interpretation ends) in Greenland and I will attend that meeting.
I also thank the Nunavut government for becoming more involved in this process.
Another question I wanted to raise, Mr. Speaker: was the federal government still starting on the devolution talks between Nunavut and the federal government?
There are still a lot of areas that are administered by the federal government, either through legislation or through their departments, and it would be good to try and make progress.
My question, Mr. Speaker, with regard to the devolution negotiations between the Government of Canada and the Government of Nunavut: prior to the initialling of the devolution agreement, can we proceed to come to some kind of mineral and oil gas accord?
If they proceeded without that, would the Government of Nunavut lose out on royalties before the devolution agreement is agreed to, if oil and gas development commences in Nunavut?
The question is directed to the Premier.
Devolution is very important to our government because it is going to be very beneficial when the devolution agreement has been signed by the federal government and the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
I have been working hard on that, and I know that all of these entities have been working hard on that from the past.
I will continue to work hard on that, but we will have to complete the devolution agreement in Nunavut.
The land claims agreement has been signed and the Government of Nunavut has been established. In fact, the third issue is where we sign a devolution agreement.
This is very important and it is going to be very beneficial after the devolution agreement has been signed, especially for economic development and for exploration.
It is going to be beneficial as we continually say that we still need a lot of capital infrastructure, such as docking facilities. We need to improve and modernize the airports, and so on.
Once the devolution agreement has been signed, they will be able to provide funding.
I wanted to clarify this. Would the Government of Nunavut try to stop oil and gas exploration and resource development prior to the signing of a devolution agreement?
If that scenario presented itself, our government would utilize all of its resources to try and procure benefits and support for Nunavut.
However, I expect that the northern energy and minerals accords would have been signed off prior to any petroleum exploration occurring within Nunavut waters.
We will continue to prioritize this since it can conceivably provide a lot of benefits to Nunavut.
Oral Questions. Member for Nanulik.
Question 555 – 3(2): RFPs for Medical Travel on Scheduled Airlines (Ningeongan)
During yesterday’s proceedings of the Committee of the Whole, testimony provided by witnesses indicated that the government’s contracts for medical travel on scheduled airlines are up for review.
I have now had the opportunity to conduct a preliminary review of the GN’s actual request for proposals, which closes on April 15, 2011.
As the minister is aware, there have been concerns in the Kivalliq about such issues as providing adequate washroom facilities on aircraft and accommodating passengers with limited mobility.
Can the minister outline some of the major changes that the new request for proposals contains with respect to requirements for the airlines?
In regard to your questions and the details you highlighted, yes, it’s true that there is a request for proposals for medical travel.
We all know that the patients have to go back and forth to medical institutions where they have to undergo medical tests.
We have no other means of transportation other than aircraft, and this is one of the most pressing concerns faced by the Government of Nunavut. I’m quite proud that we are able to deal with it and provide assistance to the medical patients.
We have heard a lot from the mayors in the Kivalliq and other regions complaining about the service and they have asked us to conduct a review.
This current contract is under review.
Again, there are patients that sometimes have to travel a long distance immediately after surgery and they undergo a lot of stress and difficulty.
Along with my colleagues, we have received a lot of correspondence from various communities that this has to be fixed.
Due to this issue, cabinet came to a consensus that when the contract ends on March 31, we would create a new request for proposals and I believe it was stated that it would be open today.
I still haven’t seen them personally, but with respect to the evaluation of the proposals, I will ensure that he is included.
Your first supplementary, Member for Nanulik.
Mr. Ningeongan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the minister is aware, residents of the Kivalliq have had a bumpy ride in recent years with respect to the issue of jet service from Rankin Inlet to Winnipeg being provided.
Can the minister outline whether proponents will be required to provide jet service to medical travel passengers on this route under the government’s new contracts?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Health.
I cannot answer the question at this time, but what I can respond to is that when they are conducting an evaluation about the cost, it will be included in the review and they will look at the best contract.
It’s not just one area; they also have to ensure that they have proper oxygen tanks available and sometimes they need to have stretchers.
Part of what you alluded to with regard to inadequate washroom facilities and things of that nature, these will form part of the request for proposals.
So when they are evaluating each proposal, they will be looking into these issues and try to pick the best contractor. The cabinet will review which proposal would be approved.
When medical patients under duress are stuck with travel, it causes more problems.
That is all I can provide and answer at this time, Mr. Speaker.
Your supplementary, Member for Nanulik.
Thank you, Minister Curley, for your response.
As I recall, there was some discussion during the previous Legislative Assembly regarding the process by which the government evaluated proposals coming from airlines, including the question of whether proponents would qualify for bid adjustments under the NNI Policy.
As I also recall, there were some questions asked in the Legislative Assembly about the bid submitted by the Nunasi Corporation.
Can the minister indicate how the government will determine the eligibility of proponents for bid adjustments under the NNI Policy?
I am not on the evaluation committee or whatnot, or actually setting any details with respect to the RFP.
That is the responsibility of my colleague at CGS, with the help of Health and Social Services and managers.
With respect to the NNI Policy, that particular policy of the GN has been beneficial to many northern contractors.
At the same time, those bidding on the medical travel contract surely must have credentials also from the Canadian Transportation Agency; they must be licensed carriers for passengers. Without that, I think we would be compromising some of the regulations and whatnot.
I am sure the evaluation committee and the people responsible for bid criteria surely will consider all aspects of what the member is saying.
I will assure him that those who are bidding or taking advantage of the NNI Policy normally take advantage of that when they bid high. So they are normally awarded certain points to be eligible to compete for other bids.
I am not in that evaluation group, but I am sure that experts who consider the bid evaluation will take your concerns into consideration.
During the previous Legislative Assembly, I recall that the minister, when he sat on this side of the House, moved a motion to refer the government’s RFP for medical travel into the Committee of the Whole for detailed consideration and I recall that he asked a number of important questions on the RFP.
Would the minister welcome a similar motion to move the government’s current RFP into the Committee of the Whole during the spring sitting so that he can respond to questions from members?
I can assure the member that whatever the member’s privilege requires him to recommend to his colleagues, this side of the House, the cabinet, will go along with what the majority says.
I specifically have no control over that part, Mr. Speaker.
Question 556 – 3(2): High Rate of Tuberculosis in Cape Dorset (Schell)
My question today is for the Minister of Health and Social Services, and he had a timely Minister’s Statement today dealing with the issue of TB.
As the minister is aware, Cape Dorset has the highest rate of TB per capita in all of Nunavut.
I was just talking with a TB nurse and apparently there is close to 8 percent of the population of Cape Dorset that is on medication.
What is the minister doing to help the health centre in Cape Dorset with this serious issue?
Mr. Speaker, the information I have is that the program was initiated when the TB rates increased in Cape Dorset and was instituted, and I can assure the member that the continuation of the program to actually ensure that the patients who are affected take their medication and observed continues.
I can also assure him that the program that was initiated by Health Canada and the Nunavut government for Iqaluit particularly is modelled on the basis of the Cape Dorset experience.
At the same time, we probably have a larger group of people affected here now, but Cape Dorset continues to be something that we are taking seriously and support it.
It’s not something that we are turning our attention away from.
That’s what I can assure the member.
Your supplementary, Member for South.
The problem is that the TB nurse has indicated to me that people don’t show up to get tested.
They know there are more cases in town, and she has even come up to me and said, “Well, maybe we should have a feast at the community hall and maybe have some door prizes so that people come in to get tested.”
So my question is: how are we going to make sure? With the overcrowding of the housing units, it is very easy to pass it on from one to the other one, and if they are not going to go get tested, it’s just going to get to be a real serious issue.
What can we do to try to solve this problem to make sure that people go in there to get tested?
I do know that our health frontline workers are working hard, including the community health representatives, which Cape Dorset has one of the most effective community health representatives.
I know that he personally does go to each home that has infected TB clients that we have, and he travels there on his snow machine to ensure that they do take their medication.
But in terms of the public awareness requirement, we can certainly improve upon that.
I will take the member’s suggestion seriously and see what the department can do to provide an awareness level because we do want to take control of the TB issue and improve upon it.
I will take the member’s suggestion seriously and respond to him at some point, and I will pass that information on to our officials.
Question 557 – 3(2): Suicide Prevention Strategy (Elliott)
Earlier this week, I was pleased to get some commitments from the Minister of Health and Social Services regarding the role of the new Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Yesterday, my colleague from Akulliq tabled some sobering statistics on the number of suicides in Nunavut since 1999.
The Department of Education is one of the partners in the Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Can the minister clearly describe his department’s involvement in the creation of the implementation plan or the action plan for the Suicide Prevention Strategy?
I thank Mr. Elliott for that very important question.
I think the department officials have worked with the other stakeholders in developing that. As far as the explicit level of detail of what they actually did, I know they worked together, there were stakeholders brought together to help develop that and provide ways to roll it out.
I know that there is the ability for staff in the schools to take the ASIST program and stuff like that.
In that way, it’s where they are moving it out and trying to help and assist and make sure that there are opportunities to give our educators an opportunity to access that training to be able to do that.
I’m sure the minister is aware of the motion that was passed by the coalition of DEAs last October in which the coalition urged the Department of Education as a matter of the highest priority to make the suicide alertness and intervention training, the ASIST workshop that he was talking about, available to all staff in Nunavut schools who wish to take it as soon as possible and on an ongoing basis.
Can the minister update the House as to what steps have been taken to address the coalition’s motion?
As I indicated when I met with the coalition at that time, a lot of the professional development days and things like that are stipulated in the collective agreement.
The department has no problem with adding that as something that could be included into professional development days for our educators, but right now, the priority is rolling out the new roles and responsibilities, and things that our educators, our schools, and the DEAs have under the new Education Act. That’s our top priority right now.
If the Nunavut Teachers Association, with the schools and the DEAs, wish to, once that process is complete and once the training and the workshops are done with the staff on the new roles and responsibilities under the new Education Act, we would have no problem with adding the ASIST training into their professional development.
Your supplementary question, Member for Quttiktuq.
Can the minister indicate how many schools will be receiving the ASIST training this academic school year?
As I indicated, it’s not on our list of “We’re doing it right now.”
It’s once the professional development and stuff that they’re working on right now as far as the implementation of the new Education Act is done and it’s identified by the communities and the DEAs that they would like to hold professional development and include that ASIST program, it would be up to them.
Right now, I don’t have an idea of how many schools or communities would be holding that program.
I think that would be a request that would come through the schools to the DEAs and to the group that’s offering that training.
It’s not something that’s offered by the Department of Education.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Your final supplementary, Member for Quttiktuq.
I’m a little confused; when you have the coalition of DEAs putting forward a motion, to me, that is the schools saying to the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Education that they want this type of training provided.
So I’m a little confused as to what the minister is saying in terms of priorities and having the schools talk to the DEAs.
To me, it’s already done.
They have already said, “We want this and it’s something that we are concerned enough about to put forward in a formal motion.”
Will the minister commit to providing suicide prevention training for all Nunavut school staff at the earliest opportunity?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Education.
I’m sorry if I confused the member.
I’m fully aware that that motion was passed by the Coalition of Nunavut DEAs and the department does take their motion seriously.
As I indicated, and going back to previous years, getting the new roles and responsibilities that they have under the Education Act was their priority before this one and that’s the one we are following through on right now.
Once that is complete, as I said, we would have no problem in assisting them to make sure that this ASIST training program is offered in the communities.
Oral Questions. Member for Akulliq.
Question 558 – 3(2): Assistance for Business Start-up (Ningark)
My question is directed to the Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
While in Repulse Bay, I had the pleasure of meeting with different groups and different individuals.
One such person I met is a good hunter, a good provider, and he does well when it comes to harvesting country food. He wanted to start a business of selling country food in the community.
At one point in time, Mr. Speaker, he has indicated to me that he’s done it, but there is one obstacle: he is not an accountant nor has he any resources to hire an accountant.
My question to the hon. minister is: does the minister’s department provide assistance to such persons who are not able to make a business plan?