EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Whenever any facility is being planned or when there is an assessment of a facility to determine whether it needs to be repaired or replaced, the process is not simple.
A thorough review is conducted if a facility requires repair or needs to be replaced.
There are many factors taken into consideration, such as whether the water treatment plant is fully operational and whether the capacity is reached.
It includes a review on whether the plant is operating on schedule. The planning starts from that and then there’s a replacement process identifying priorities. So there are many aspects that have to be assessed during the process for looking at the repair or replacement of a facility.
It’s not a simple question to respond to because of the many parameters included in the process for the assessment of facilities to figure out if they need repair or replacement, especially with regard to government and municipal infrastructure.
I have heard concerns in the community that people get sick during the spring run-off season, potentially as a result of poor water quality.
How do the Departments of CGS and Health and Social Services work together to monitor and report on health problems related to the water supply?
I will ask the question in English. (interpretation ends) … with the monitoring and report on health problems related to the water supply?
Every spring, when everything springs back to life, people are outdoors more often and it seems that different sickness make their appearance as well. We tend to get the flu and other seasonal sicknesses, so it is sometimes difficult to ascertain the exact causes of sicknesses.
But what I can state to the member is that with respect to Baker Lake, the water quality has been monitored over three years as to whether the water quality has deteriorated or if there are any health hazards.
What I can tell the member is that during the three years of water monitoring, there were no health hazards or issues with the water quality.
There is also a drinking water testing facility in Canada that we sent samples to be tested.
The results showed that the quality of water in Baker Lake is better than the Canadian standard and this has continued to be the case and the water has no health hazards.
As I stated earlier, they test the water quality twice a month to see if there are any pathogens in the water supply in Baker Lake as well as in all other communities in Nunavut.
However, I can tell the member that the Baker Lake water is very good water that one can drink and it is probably one of the best tap water supplied throughout Canada.
Question 096 – 3(1): Repulse Bay Health Centre (Ningark)
I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Before I ask my question, I want to say that I’m happy that today is Friday. As well, yesterday, I met with Senator Willie Adams, a Liberal, who I was very pleased to meet.
In my Members’ Statement, I spoke about health issues and nurses. They need a proper work environment in the communities.
If they have a proper workplace, then they can provide better services to the public.
For that reason, I would like to ask the minister: what is the status of the plans for the new Repulse Bay Health Centre?
We discussed part of this yesterday during Committee of the Whole and during the capital plan review, it came out that the three health centre design plans for Repulse Bay, Taloyoak, and Arctic Bay are near completion.
If we get into Committee of the Whole today, we will be able to deal with them as per our earlier review.
After the designs have been completed, we will be able to do a feasibility study.
That’s all I could state right now.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): I would like to thank the minister for his response and it looks as if this will proceed further.
The member has stated his appreciation to the minister.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I apologize because I may have failed to ask the question clearly enough.
What I was trying to ask after I thanked the minister was: will this proceed to the construction phase?
With respect to the health centre, I can tell the member that his predecessor worked really hard on that issue and he ensured that it was included.
The health centre was not even in the books and there were no funds for the architectural plans, but due to his hard work, we will be able to put it back in the books.
I can tell the member that this is in the planning and design stage, it will eventually become reality. That is what I can state.
I would like to thank my predecessor, Steve Mapsalak, and I acknowledge his hard work along with the mayors in Repulse Bay.
What is the exact timeline to initiate the project? I would like to find out.
Speaker: Minister Curley.
I cannot tell you today when it will be started as the designs have to be completed first and once the design is completed, then we will have to consult and communicate that to your community.
The Department of Community and Government Services’ officials and our department’s officials will have to review the design along with the hamlet council.
I can tell you that we will get further clarification today because my Cabinet colleagues still haven’t considered which health centres or schools should be dealt with at this time.
We will have to deduce which projects will go ahead because it’s going to be impossible to construct all three health centres at the same time.
At this time, I cannot respond to which projects will commence this summer. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Question 097 – 3(1): Proposed EU Seal Product Ban (Okalik)
I would like to thank the Minister of Environment for making a statement on the European Union’s seal ban, which is an issue we grappled with during my tenure in government.
What I’m trying to point out is that the office can open doors that others cannot with respect to meetings with the elected officials across the ocean.
I am asking the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs to use the Department of Foreign Affairs to work towards lobbying the members of the European Union to oppose the ban.
I would like to first ask this question since I would like to support the minister in any way possible to further his mandate.
I would like to thank the member for that question on this very important issue.
I would just like to update and advise the member that we had conversations with both federal ministers yesterday and this is a very high priority issue with them too.
We have gone to Europe twice in the past couple of months to lobby against the seal ban. We are, along with the federal government, our colleagues, writing to the European Union with this time we have right now. We are going to keep each other informed on a daily basis of any on-goings or updates.
And when we do this, I will consider and ask the federal government if they plan on deliberating in Europe and making a trip over there.
I will keep the member updated and we will be part of that delegation if it does happen.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) One of the most effective ways that we found in our lobby efforts was that through my office, as Premier, it would open opportunities for us to meet with parliamentarians in Europe.
And when we had our meetings, one of the most effective ways that we dealt with it was to provide our knowledge and our firsthand information, and it would stump them.
I encourage our Premier to use her good offices to open doors and opportunities for us in Nunavut and work with Foreign Affairs to create openings. We have three weeks, let’s use it and go to Europe and lobby those parliamentarians and organize meetings.
Hopefully, our Premier can work with Greenland. It is another opportunity that opened the door for the European community.
So I would like to know if our Premier has any plans to go over to Europe and represent us. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would first like to ask Mr. Shewchuk if he can answer the question.
I take the comments very well and we will, in conjunction with Canada and on our own, do what we can to keep on and fight against the seal ban.
The Premier and I will consider this request, but we feel very strongly that we have to represent Nunavutmiut and also all of Canada and go together there as one common voice. So our strategy is going to be coordinated with Canada.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am trying to utilize my knowledge for the benefit of Nunavummiut. That is what I know.
Our stories have been the most powerful to tackle the animal rights movement and that is why I strongly encourage this government to work with our national partner and push our national partner to organize the lobby effort, to use the three weeks and push our national government to open doors in Europe and use it to fight this ban.
As I said in my Members’ Statement, we have five countries with us and there’s a majority of 27 that we have to get into our corner.
So let’s use it and hopefully our Premier can work with our national government and organize the very best lobby effort over the next few weeks.
So I ask again, please let’s work together and make this happen. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I didn’t hear a question, but I will give Mr. Shewchuk an opportunity to make a comment.
Again, we hear what the hon. member is saying and we will consider his request.
I must advise you that we are doing whatever we can at this point in time to be coordinated with Canada in this pursuit to oppose the seal ban. We will continue to do this and we will keep the member updated.
Question 098 – 3(1): Ombudsman versus Child Advocate (Elliott)
My questions are directed to the Minister of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, my colleague from Iqaluit West asked the Minister of Justice a question about legislation and more specifically, an ombudsman.
In his reply, the minister mentioned child advocate legislation.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell the House what the difference is between an ombudsman and a child advocate?
I probably need a couple of hours to explain it all to you, but in a nutshell, an ombudsman, as I understand it, is a person that would represent all people, it would be a neutral position, hear arguments from both sides, and then render a decision.
So that person could be an ombudsman for government employees or the public at large.
A child advocate would represent or be a voice for children and families. In other words, they would be specifically on the side of that group of people and they would advocate on their behalf issues that affect them and also serious issues.
Mr. Elliott: Mr. Speaker, recently, the Minister of Health and Social Services made reference to reviewing the Family Services Act and stressed the importance of reviewing the issue of a child advocate.
Can the Minister of Justice let the House know whether or not this government will introduce child advocate legislation?
I again thank the member for asking that question.
Mr. Speaker, the government has discussed the child advocate position and legislation.
We are looking into it, there’s a lot of information out there to consider, and once we have all of that information, we will be making a decision.
It’s no different than my answer earlier this week to Mr. Okalik about other types of legislation.
It’s something that we have to review and investigate closely before we actually introduce anything.
Can the minister tell the House how many other Canadian provinces and territories have child advocate offices in place at this time?
When I was a regular member on that side of the House, I had researched the child advocate in other provinces and territories quite extensively, in fact, going all the way back to the year 2000.
Since the year 2000, several provinces have instituted child advocates in their provinces.
I can’t be sure of the exact number, but several if not most jurisdictions have a child advocate.
I do recognize that the former regular member was well versed in child advocacy.
I have been doing research on it myself and in reading old Hansards, it seemed to be repeated over and over in some of your Members’ Statements and some of the Oral Questions that I have been reading anyway, and that’s why I figured you would be a good person to start asking questions to.
Can the minister tell this House how a child advocate would help children and families in Nunavut?
I know the member gets up early to research; he sends emails at 5:30 in the morning. Unfortunately, I’m not up that early.
Mr. Speaker, again, as I mentioned earlier, a child advocate is an important position because it is the actual voice for children and families. So issues that would normally affect children and families, there would be legislation that children and families may want their voices to be heard.
When the government introduces legislation, every government department has anything to do with children and families, but they could represent the children and families to those government departments.
If there are children who run into problems with the justice system or the law, they could represent them there as well.
If children are incarcerated in institutions, they can help the children to improve their conditions in those institutions.
If there are provincial/federal/territorial laws that may impact children and families in Nunavut, they can also have a voice in bringing their concerns to those levels of government.
Question 099 – 3(1): Assistance to Hamlets with Cost of Leasing Heavy Equipment (Pauloosie)
The Hamlet of Gjoa Haven has raised concerns with me regarding the heavy equipment situation in the community.
The hamlet is currently leasing a number of vehicles to provide essential services to the community. This is costing the hamlet tens of thousands of dollars in leasing costs.
Can the minister indicate if his department can provide assistance to hamlets to help with the cost of leasing heavy equipment that is needed to provide essential services?
Our department has funds available for heavy equipment and mobile equipment that are used to provide essential services in the communities.
Most communities have a 10 or 15-year replacement cycle and the funds are allocated to replace aging equipment.
We assist the hamlets with the leasing or the purchase of heavy equipment.
Each year, the department’s capital budget includes some funding for the purchase of heavy equipment for communities.
How does the department determine the allocation of this funding?
There are different types of determinations we use to allocate this fund.
Some communities have heavy equipment that are too old and have to be replaced according to the criteria used by the department, while some communities are able to keep really old equipment running.
So there are different determinations that we use for the replacement of heavy equipment for the communities and I will use Gjoa Haven as an example. We purchased a D6 bulldozer for the community.
Usually, the communities have different agreements for heavy equipment.
I will use the replacement of water trucks and sewage trucks as an example.
There are agreements between the government and the hamlet that outline the process.
These agreements include clauses that outline when the heavy equipment would be replaced and this is more with respect to water and sewage trucks.
That is generally how it is determined, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Pauloosie (interpretation): This will be my last question with respect to this issue.
In Gjoa Haven, the front-end loader used for snow removal is the only one and after a blizzard, it is inundated with work since the runway has to be cleared and it takes quite a while to get all the roads cleared.
Some of the residents will be calling for water and sewage service, but they cannot be serviced due to the roads.
On top of that, the water lake is about three kilometres away and the service road also has to be cleared after a blizzard.
So with all of that, residents have to wait for quite a while even though they are clamouring for water and sewage services due to the lack of snow clearing equipment.
The D6 bulldozer is quite small, so it has to go back and forth more often than a larger one.
I would like to know if the matter of more snow clearing equipment can be reviewed by the minister since our residents are experiencing long waiting periods for service. Further, they have to prioritize snow clearing for the runway.
I would like to ask the minister if his department can look into this matter.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): I thank the member for asking that question.
With respect to the concerns and the problems in Gjoa Haven, that is unfortunate, but I think that that situation is experienced throughout Nunavut as communities continue to grow.
There is usually a list of general equipment for every community, such as bulldozers, front-end loaders, and so on.
As I stated at an earlier time in this House, there are some communities that have inadequate equipment while others have adequate vehicles, and there are even some communities that have too much equipment. We are currently reviewing what type of equipment should be on this list.
I would like to use an example.
Some communities are experiencing gravel shortages and there are no gravel crushers available. This is a challenge that we are working on at this time to try and meet this need. The review is ongoing as we know that some communities need more than one front-end loader or one dump truck, while others are okay with only one truck.
So the needs are quite different and unique for each community.
Some cannot keep up with the demands as roads become more numerous while the snow clearing equipment remains static.
The issues that the member raised are what we face in all communities and they all have different needs.
The Department of Community and Government Services is looking at what is currently in each community, what equipment should be provided, and whether we should increase the allotted budget for purchases or merely to increase repair funds.
Question 100 – 3(1): $400 Rebate for Homeowners (Komoartok)
Last Friday, there was an announcement made that homeowners in Nunavut will be receiving a $400 rebate to help offset the high cost of fuel this winter.
Can the minister indicate where and how the homeowners in Nunavut can receive that rebate?
Minister of Finance, (interpretation ends) Hon. Keith Peterson.
There are several ways to get the form; you can go to the Department of Finance website if you have a computer, you can pick up forms at their offices, there’s a 1-800 number that you can call.
I have also asked officials to look at other ways to distribute the application forms to the communities. I haven’t received an update yet, but we’re trying to get the information out there to the homeowners.
In my riding, we have two outpost camps quite far from Pangnirtung that receive some funding annually to assist them in their fuel purchases and it’s usually insufficient for their yearly needs.
My question is: are outpost camps eligible for that rebate as well?
I don’t believe that they are eligible; it’s for a home in the community.
Your second supplementary, Mr. Komoartok.
There are a number of elders who are homeowners in our community.
These houses are inside the municipality and they get the elders’ assistance for their home heating fuel provided by the government.
Are they also eligible to receive that rebate?
I thank the member for that very good question. Mr. Speaker, I believe it’s pretty basic criteria.
If you own your own home and it’s…
Speaker: Keith, the light didn’t go on.
It’s very simple criteria. If you own your own home and it’s your principal residence, you are eligible for the $400 rebate.
Question 101 – 3(1): Nunavut Energy Centre (Schell)
I’m not too sure which of the two departments to ask the question to, but the good part is it’s the same minister for both departments, so I will be asking the question to the Hon. Hunter Tootoo.
The question is in regard to the closing of the Nunavut Energy Centre as it relates to the Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY grants.
Now that the centre is closed and according to the Government of Canada ecoENERGY website, it is the only agency in Nunavut that is qualified and certified as an energy advisor to perform home energy assessments in Nunavut.
Also, according to the ecoENERGY website, only homes that have undergone a residential energy efficiency assessment by an energy advisor certified by Natural Resources Canada will be eligible for grants from the program.
Where will residents of Nunavut be able to get a residential assessment in order to qualify for the $5,000 grant from the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program?
Again, I would like to thank my good friend and hon. colleague from South Baffin for the question.
Mr. Speaker, even though I indicated earlier in my Minister’s Statement that the Energy Centre under the Qulliq Energy Corporation will be closing its doors effective March 31 of this year, Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut is still committed to meeting the highest levels of energy efficiency and conservation throughout the territory.
As I indicated at that time, a lot of the programs that the Energy Centre was fulfilling at that time were also being done through other components within the government.
I know that the Energy Secretariat has been directed to carry out energy conservation and awareness activities as of April 1, 2009.
So once the doors close in one place, that function will be offered through the Energy Secretariat to carry on with those programs.
As I also indicated in my Minister’s Statement, any contracts for the delivery of programs would not end, that they would continue to be offered through other components within the government.
I just want to clarify one thing that the member mentioned in his question is that he used the term energy assessments and I’m trying to clarify that what goes on are not actual assessments but evaluations.
There’s a legal terminology or a difference in that, and as far as I’m aware, our staff and our officials within the government are qualified to perform energy evaluations, not the actual assessments.
I guess my next question is: in that $5,000 grant, is this $5,000 that the homeowner can get or is the cost of this assessment, or whatever you want to call it, taken off of that figure?
Much like what we have been saying here in Nunavut for many years, a lot of times, when federal programs come out, the way they deliver their funding on a per capita basis doesn’t work for us here in Nunavut.
And I must say that this program that the member is talking about under the ecoENERGY grants through Natural Resources Canada is another great program I think if you live in the south where you can get someone to come in for $300 and do an energy audit and come back again and do it after any renovations are done.
It’s my understanding under this program that the maximum amount of a rebate that a homeowner would be eligible for is $5,000.
But in order for an individual or a homeowner to access any of those dollars, they first off have to have an energy evaluation or an audit on their home prior to any work being done, and then they have to expend their own dollars and do whatever renovations that they get done, whether it would be replace the doors or windows, put some rigid insulation around there and reside it.
Whatever type of renovations that they want, they have to pay for that upfront and then they have to pay again for another energy assessment or audit to determine what the difference those renovations made and then based on the number at the beginning, the first audit and the change as a result of those renovations, it was a sliding scale up to $5,000.
But I think in order to get the energy audits done, especially in communities outside of Iqaluit where that equipment is, it’s very cost prohibitive to anybody.
But that’s the way the federal Department of Natural Resources Canada had that program set up.
Is there any chance that you could maybe get a hold of your federal counterparts and explain to them that it’s not fair to people in Nunavut? They can’t apply for these grants because they don’t qualify. Maybe they should be giving the $5,000 plus paying extra for getting these assessments done.