EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I have been thinking a bit about, first of all, that I commend NHC when, in your opening comments, you talked about how you’re addressing the housing needs of communities and trying to close that gap.
An example you provided for proposed public housing construction for the next two fiscal years, there will be no more communities at a critical or high public need or under the 35 percent needs level.
Also at the same time, looking at the housing allocation system, it’s going to become harder and harder for you to decide which communities are going to get housing allocations.
I guess my first question is: when there are equal or very similar needs in the communities, how will you decide which communities get housing after the next two years and moving forward?
That’s a good question, how we’re going to deal with it once they’re at the same percentage. Are the communities going to start competing?
Mr. Chairman, my deputy minister will respond to that question, if it’s okay with you.
Mr. Audla (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Based on the question, it is true that most communities will almost be at an equal level of need.
When we look at the current allocations for the construction of new units in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 fiscal years, most communities will be at the 32 percent or lower needs of stock within their community, but there will still be communities that will be ranked higher.
Ultimately we want every community at zero percent.
We will continue to concentrate on those communities that do have higher needs based on the percentage and it will be done again based on that level of percentage.
If, at any point, it becomes more and more difficult, obviously we will be allocating blindly in the sense of not selecting one community over another but based on actual figures for the actual level of need.
On another topic with regard to the cost of building housing, yesterday it was mentioned that it’s about $500,000 a unit. Can the minister clarify how many bedroom unit he is talking about?
That figure is based on a two- or three-bedroom unit.
Chairman (interpretation): I’m sorry, Minister Kuksuk.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): He was asking what size the units are that we were talking about yesterday when we construct houses for that amount.
My response is two- and three-bedroom units that cost that much.
If it’s a ten-plex, can you use an example? Looking at the 2015-16 annual report on page 35, they built ten units in Coral Harbour.
Can the minister say how much those ten units cost? I think it was a ten-plex.
I don’t have the figures on exactly how much it cost, but I believe our chief financial officer has the figures and I would like him to respond.
Just to make sure I understand, the Coral Harbour ten-plex? It was $4.2 million.
I wanted to find out if it saves you money when you build more units in a multiplex.
(interpretation ends) I’m going to make some references to your Blueprint for Action on Housing and one of the actions. In Action 7 you talk about conducting market and statistical analyses to determine the need for public housing construction.
Can you elaborate, under that action, what you plan on coming out with after that action?
I’ll have my deputy respond to that as to what we’re doing.
Mr. Audla (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) On Action 7, the action is to conduct market and statistical analyses to determine the need for public housing construction.
We will be working with the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics to conduct market and statistical analyses to define the need for public housing construction in the territory, including the number of new units needed to keep up with population growth.
The analyses will include an assessment of vacant units, their impact on the greater housing picture, and their value for repurposing or renovations.
We hope to do this in the short term.
We will be taking the lead on this action and we will be working with Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics, as well as the federal CMHC.
That’s going to be completed hopefully within the next year.
Once we have done that, we will be able to make a determination as to whether these units that we currently build and five-plexes are adequate or whether we need to make improvements to see if we can try to keep up with the population growth.
We know that in every community, 10 years ago we were short 5,000 units.
Fast forward to now with the amount of builds that we have already made, we’re still short 5,000 units.
We need to look at how we can keep up with the population growth within each of the communities. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that elaboration.
It caught my eye when you were talking about vacant units.
Does NHC have figures of the number of vacant units that currently need either renovations or you’re trying to find others, maybe repurposing, as you stated in your action plan?
With respect to his question on the vacant units, we don’t have those numbers right now.
I look forward to that assessment. I guess also with that, given that there are vacant houses sitting empty and with the need, perhaps the $500,000 to repair five units might be better spent as opposed to building five new ones.
That’s just maybe food for thought.
Moving on in the blueprint for action, one of the actions is on land development and how you work with people at the local level to prepare for when you do construct houses.
I brought it up in the House before that we need to make sure how houses are situated.
Right now, for the purpose of either emergencies or climate considerations, houses that sit with doors facing a certain direction, there is hard access for, let’s say, firefighters or in cases of emergencies. It’s hard to get access into the house.
Just to consider that when you’re building a new house, the land development should maybe consider where the front door is.
We talked about having two doors in the construction of housing.
That’s just a comment I wanted to make.
Since I brought it up, maybe the minister has a response to that.
We have to get lots and we have to make plans on the land. That’s usually the first thing we do in the communities. When we’re going to construct units, we consider whether there is enough space and the municipality would need to allocate lots to construct units.
We ask the communities what kind of housing units they would like, whether it’s going to be multiplex or duplex. We request information from the communities on what they would like to get.
The municipalities also work with the Department of Community and Government Services in this regard.
We have to work together to get the appropriate land. The communities have to identify the lot. We trust the municipalities and CGS when the housing corporation requests land.
Although I alluded to it earlier as to which way the unit should face, if the windows are facing the east where the sun rises, it would be warmer.
That is what we have discussed. I remember speaking to this issue in the past, either in this House or in standing committee.
We have taken that into consideration as the Nunavut Housing Corporation. We work with the local housing organizations to find out what direction the housing unit should face according to the land that is provided.
That’s just a supplement to the response I gave to his earlier question, Mr. Chairman.
Moving on. Mr. Okalik.
I would like to ask a question under page L-5, Seniors and Disabled Persons Preventative Maintenance Program.
The capital estimates for 2017-18 are $116,000. It’s geared towards private homeowners.
Which community uses that line item the most?
This program has been accessed by private homeowners in various communities in Nunavut.
I believe that this is a very useful program in the communities.
My question was: which community uses this program the most?
I don’t have that information in front of me, but Mr. Moyo has that information, so he can respond to the question.
Allow me time to refer to my document here.
For the period for the year to date, 2016-17, the Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Preventative Maintenance Program, I believe that’s what you’re talking about, and we have approved only two applications for, I believe, the period to end of September. Those two applications both came from Iqaluit.
Last year in 2015-16 up to March 2016 we approved four applications. Three came from Iqaluit and one came from Arctic Bay.
I’m very pleased that this program is there for the homeowners, but I heard that there was one applicant from Arctic Bay, which is a smaller community, and I would like to see that occurring more with the homeowners.
In Iqaluit we can just call a contractor to fix something if we have a problem as a homeowner.
However, in the smaller communities, there are no maintenance people and there’s no support for the private homeowners if something like their furnaces break down.
I would like to ask the corporation: can you establish a program for homeowners that will provide more services or training so that they have the skills necessary to maintain and repair their own homes?
I agree with the member. In the smaller communities especially, there are no maintenance people when homeowners need maintenance in their homes.
I understand the member’s question.
I would like to tell my fellow members that we have considered this aspect and we will look into this issue to see how we can improve the situation. In the smaller communities it’s very difficult for them to find a maintenance person to do repairs in their own homes.
I’m very pleased that he’s willing to look into that.
This can be very beneficial to the homeowners and also to the government.
Can the minister commit to tabling a report in the future?
We need to improve this.
We will be reviewing this.
Although we will not complete the review right away, we will consult with the LHOs and work with them. We will look into that.
We have less than a year.
Can the minister commit to tabling a report as to what kinds of programs they will be providing to the homeowners in the smaller communities so that they can provide programs and services for them to maintain their homes?
I would be very pleased to table such a report on the status and how much progress has been achieved.
However, this is an item we need to complete.
We will review this in detail and if possible, we hope to table it in the winter sitting and that would be acceptable, but I anticipate that it may take a bit longer after that sitting.
Yes, I wanted to see that while we still have some time in our term. If it could be completed, this is our only window to actually see that. That is why I wanted to know if it would be the winter or spring sitting and limit it to one of those sittings.
I would like an answer on this.
I would expect this to be completed by the springtime.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Now that I know which sitting, I will use the spring sitting as my limit.
When we meet in the springtime, I will again remind him if the report hasn’t been completed.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is it for me.
We will expect that in the springtime.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to welcome the minister, Terry, and the one on the left.
I wasn’t going to comment on the issue the member was commenting on, but
Arctic Bay is a smaller community and there are private homeowners there.
In the past we have experienced many problems with our furnaces.
The homeowners can’t maintain their furnaces themselves and when their furnaces break down, they have no one to approach in the smaller communities and it’s a problem.
The local housing organization is always busy on a daily basis and the homeowners don’t know where to go to when their house needs maintenance or if they’re having issues with their water pipes, especially in Resolute Bay and my community.
Will you commit to considering how you can provide those programs and services for homeowners in the smaller communities so that they can get help with the maintenance of their homes with the use of local housing organizations’ maintenance staff?
Can you elaborate further to me if they will be able to use the LHO maintenance staff?
As I stated earlier, we will be reviewing this and looking at how smaller communities experience these problems due to the lack of contractors who can provide maintenance or repair work for these units, which is not really an issue in the larger communities.
When LHO maintenance staff are not too busy and they’re caught up with their maintenance work, they could be asked to do the work. The maintenance staff of LHOs can be requested to do the work in the private homes as long as they’re not too busy.
With the contractors outside of the community, such as Arctic Bay, we would be able to bring a person to work on the private homes if there is no contractor in the community.
To elaborate further to my colleague, I believe that you’re asking us to review this.
Yes, I will expect this coming spring session that my department will have completed the review.
Mr. Shooyook, do you have another question?
I guess you didn’t see me.
It is of concern to the smaller communities because we have issues with plumbing, wiring, and other housing issues like boiler problems.
I’m telling you that there is an individual in my community who submits bids on contracts.
There is a tradesperson in our community who is willing to provide that sort of work.
The contract that is tendered has had no takers.
Can that person ask to be eligible for that contract based on their credentials, especially when no one bids on that contract?
Electrical wires are very dangerous when they are no longer functioning properly and perhaps cause a fire.
I’m aware that the LHO is overwhelmed with work, resulting in some units being taken off power for long periods of time.
We have to rectify that problem.
It is my sincerest hope that you are looking into this.
That will be my last comment. Maybe you are willing to reconsider possibly contracting the individual from my community.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Yes, as I indicated earlier, especially in the smaller communities, there are hardly any contractors available who can provide the maintenance and service work.
As the housing corporation, we are responsible to identify available contractors in the communities.
There are quite a number of individuals we can look at prior to the spring sitting.
We’re on the Nunavut Housing Corporation. Nunavut Housing Corporation. Total Capital Expenditures. $39,965,000.
Turn to page 2. It reads, Nunavut Housing Corporation. Detail of Expenditures.
Total Capital Expenditures. $39,965,000. Do you agree?
Are we in agreement that we have concluded the capital estimates for the Nunavut Housing Corporation?
Before we do that, Minister Kuksuk, if you have any closing comments, I now give you the floor.
I also thank you for asking good questions.
I would also like to thank the officials and the Nunavut Housing Corporation staff who I’m sure are watching the proceedings.
We will make sure that we look at all the issues that were brought up.
I would like to thank the interpreters once again.
I again thank my officials who are here with me at the witness table.
While we’re doing that, please make sure that you have your white legislation binders and refer to Bill 24.
They’re in your legislation binders.
We will proceed with Bill 24.
I do apologize because I do not have the Inuktitut copy, so I’ll just follow the English.
(interpretation ends) Bill 24, Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2017-2018. (interpretation) Clause 1. Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Let’s go to page 2.
It reads, (interpretation ends) Amounts Appropriated for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2018.
Vote 2: Capital. Total Capital Appropriation. $200,644,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Do members agree, pursuant to Rule 62(2), that Bill 24 can now be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Bill 20 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2015-2016 – Consideration in Committee
We will be considering Bill 20.
As we proceed with that bill, Minister of Finance, I now give you the opportunity to make your opening comments.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members.
I am here today to present Bill 20, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2015-2016.
Through this bill, the government is seeking an additional $3,181,000 in supplementary operations and maintenance appropriations for 2015-16.
This amount includes:
$523,000 for the Department of Justice to cover a budget deficit due to year-end accrual adjustments in compensation and benefits; and
$2,658,000 for the Department of Health to cover a budget deficit due to year-end accrual adjustments in compensation and benefits.
We will now take questions.
Before we go to questions, would you like to have officials at the witness table?
Members, Minister Peterson would like to have his officials with him at the witness table.
To my right probably wearing his Montreal Canadiens sealskin tie is Deputy Minister Jeff Chown.
He’s also wearing his Montreal Canadiens socks.
To my left is Dan Carlson, Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance.
Welcome to the House, Mr. Chown and Mr. Carlson.
We will now proceed. Are there any general comments on the opening comments?
If there are none, we will then proceed to page 4. I do apologize there is no Inuktitut copy in front of me.
I’ll just follow the English.
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): If you have those and turn them upside down, you have the Inuktitut.
It’s not going to be very nice if I keep turning my pages upside down.
I’ll just use the English for now.
On page 4, please indicate by raising your hand if you have questions. (interpretation ends) 2015-16 Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) No. 3.
Total Directorate. $523,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman: Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $523,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
It reads, (interpretation ends) Health. Operations and Maintenance. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Health Care Service Delivery. $2,658,000. Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $2,658,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Go back to page 2. (interpretation ends) Turn to page 2. (interpretation) It reads, (interpretation ends) Government of Nunavut 2015-16 Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) No. 3.
Operations and Maintenance Appropriation. $3,181,000. (interpretation ends) Do you agree?
Go to your legislation binder and refer to Bill 20.
I believe you have the bill in front of you now.
I only have the English copy, so I will just follow it. (interpretation ends) Bill 20, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2015-2016. (interpretation) Clause 1.
Chairman (interpretation): Turn to page 2.
It reads, (interpretation ends) Schedule. Supplementary Amounts Appropriated for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2016.
Vote 1: Operations and Maintenance. Total Appropriation. $3,181,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Does the committee agree to Bill 20 as a whole?
Does the committee agree, pursuant to Rule 62(2), that Bill 20 can now immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
We have completed that bill. Minister Peterson, you have other things to present.
We want to proceed to Bill 22.
Minister Peterson, if you have opening comments on Bill 22, the floor is now open for you.
Bill 22 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2016-2017 – Consideration in Committee
I appear before you today to present Bill 22, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2016-2017.
Through this bill, the government is seeking an additional $4,101,000 in 2016-17.
These supplemental capital appropriations consist of:
A budget reduction of $31,000 to the Department of Education’s capital budget related to carryover amounts for Cape Dorset’s new high school and ongoing lifecycle repairs;
A budget reduction of $65,000 to the Department of Health related to the carryover amount for the Qikiqtani General Hospital’s furniture, fixtures, and equipment; and
A budget increase of $4,197,000 to the Department of Community and Government Services.
The budget increase to Community and Government Services will fund various projects, including $3,598,000 for the following projects supported by Canada’s clean water and wastewater funding:
$500,000 for the Arviat Water Infrastructure project;
$425,000 for the Chesterfield Inlet Water Treatment System project;
$625,000 for the Sanikiluaq Water Infrastructure project;
$300,000 for the Emergency Water Treatment System project;
$875,000 for the Kugaaruk Wastewater Treatment project;
$625,000 for the Kimmirut Wastewater Treatment project;
$156,000 for the Water Plant Operation Optimization project; and
$92,000 for administration.
The supplemental appropriations to Community and Government Services also include the carryover of $599,000 for the following projects:
$430,000 for the Gjoa Haven Hamlet Office renovations,
$14,000 for the Nunavut CTI upgrade,
$344,000 for the Cape Dorset Baler Shear, and
A reduction of $189,000 for the new PPD system.
We will now take any questions.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Peterson. As we proceed, are there any general comments on the opening comments?
If there are none, let us go to page 4.
I have the English copy, so I will follow it.
Whenever you have a comment while I’m talking, you can raise your hand and your name will be written down.
It reads, (interpretation ends) 2016-17 Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) No. 3. Education. Capital.
Not Previously Authorized. Total Corporate Services. -$31,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. -$31,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
It reads, (interpretation ends) Health. Capital. Not Previously Authorized.
Total Directorate. -$65,000. Total. Not Previously Authorized. -$65,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Turn to page 6. It reads, (interpretation ends) Community and Government Services.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Total Community Services. $4,386,000.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Minister Peterson, welcome, along with your officials.
I just have a few questions on first of all one of the projects listed under… . In your opening comments you talked about emergency water systems. I understand this is to treat sewage or that sort of thing.
I think this one was a pilot project that they’re trying to do in larger communities.
Can the minister elaborate on what this emergency water treatment system will do?
With your permission, I would like to bring in another witness.
The minister is requesting to have another official join him at the witness table.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort one of the officials and bring in the new witness.
Minister Peterson, please introduce your new official that was just escorted in.
My new witness is Ms. Lori Kimball, Deputy Minister of Community and Government Services.
Ms. Kimball, welcome to the House. (interpretation ends) Minister Peterson, do you want me to ask the member to repeat the question or are we satisfied that you can answer the question?
We can answer the question, but I’ll ask Ms. Kimball to answer it.
For the emergency water treatment, several years ago we had an issue in Arviat and some equipment was brought in.
What this is going to do is allow us to configure that equipment in a configuration in sea cans so that we can deploy it. If we have a water quality issue such as the one in Sanikiluaq, we can quickly package this up and deploy it and actually turn it on within a matter of days. Right now the equipment would be weeks to months to be able to redeploy it.
We want to reconfigure it to have an emergency system.
It says here in the information that was provided that it’s a reverse osmosis unit and that this equipment is suitable for larger communities, but also you want to be able to deploy it to smaller communities if required.
Are you looking at doing this reverse osmosis unit in other smaller communities?