EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Members emphasize the importance of ensuring that the standards and criteria for such equipment are appropriate for our jurisdiction’s conditions in relation to such matters as ease of maintenance and repair.
Members also encourage the department to work closely with municipal governments concerning the administration of agreements regarding municipal use of GN-owned airport mobile equipment assets for the provision of essential services in clearly defined circumstances.
The department’s budget for small and minor capital projects also includes $428,000 for various studies, as well as upgrades to existing visitor centres.
Mr. Chairman, in June of 2007, $66,000 in funding for a Manitoba-Nunavut Road study was carried over in a supplementary appropriation.
At that time, the department’s five-year capital plan included funding for this project.
However, subsequent years’ capital estimates did not include funding for this initiative.
On April 26, 2013, a news release issued by the Government of Nunavut and the Government of Manitoba followed a meeting of the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Round Table.
The release announced that “The proposed winter road from Churchill to Rankin Inlet was a major discussion point at the meeting.”
Members encourage the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation to work closely on this initiative with the Minister of Community and Government Services, who is the Co-Chair of the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Round Table.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s 2007-08 capital estimates included $800,000 in funding for a project to provide a “Driver Licence and General Identification Card Security System Upgrade.”
The department’s proposed 2014-15 capital estimates includes $2.8 million in funding for the replacement of the government’s motor vehicle information system.
A total of $4.5 million is planned to be spent on this project between the 2014-15 and 2016-17 fiscal years.
The department’s substantiation sheet for this project indicates that the “motor vehicles division produces drivers’ licences, drivers’ record reporting, vehicle registration and General Identification Card services to Nunavummiut.”
The department’s substantiation sheet for this project also indicates that “the system’s hardware, software and operating system are obsolete.”
It also indicates that a new motor vehicle information system will “improve linkages with law enforcement agencies” and “enhance linkages with health care providers.”
Mr. Chairman, the importance of ensuring that such documents as driver’s licences and general identification cards are issued in a timely manner to Nunavut residents has been raised in the Legislative Assembly on a number of occasions.
Members are hopeful that this investment will improve the efficiency with which such documents are issued in the territory.
Members also encourage the minister to clarify his department’s plans with respect to the sharing of information with “law enforcement agencies and health care providers.”
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2014-15 Capital Estimates of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Well read.
Very much appreciated. (interpretation) We will proceed.
I would like to remind the members of the rules that we will be abiding by during this proceeding.
Firstly, according to Rule 77(1), you have 10 minutes to speak, and according to Rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of the Chair, a member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion but not until every member wishing to speak has spoken.
I suggest to members that wherever possible you ask your detailed questions during the page-by-page review. Do members have any general comments?
If there are none, we will then proceed to the capital estimates for 2014-15 starting with page K-3. I believe you are on the right page now.
If you have any questions during the proceedings, I will make sure that I look around to see if anybody has their hands up and if I don’t see you, if you want to make a little sound to catch my attention, please feel free to do so.
We will then begin with the department.
I believe you are on the right page.
Transportation. Total Capital Expenditures. $35,968,000.
Turn to page K-2.
Department Summary. Economic Development and Transportation.
Detail of Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $35… .
Mr. Hickes, go ahead.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would just like to clarify on the procedural matter.
Do we wait until the line by line on K-4 to ask questions on specific projects or can I get into it now?
Chairman: First of all, we would have to agree to go back to K-3 and if it is the wish (interpretation) of the Committee of the Whole, if you have a question on K-3, I will have to ask the committee if they would like to go back to K-3.
Do you want to go back to K-3?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. We will then return to K-3. Page K-3.
K-3 and K-4 are under the same item. We are on page K-3. Economic Development and Transportation.
Branch Summary. Transportation. Total Capital Expenditures.
Mr. Hickes, you have a question.
A little over $30 million is allocated for the Iqaluit International Airport improvements. I would like to get a breakdown of what of that is for actual improvements and what is for planning for the airport terminal.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Hickes.
Before the response, I would like to remind the members that if you have a question, please raise your hand and I will write down your names. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister.
I will refer this question to my deputy minister.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kuksuk.
I will give him the opportunity to respond to that question.
The design work for the airport is underway now and has been since last fall, when the contract was let. The majority of the $30,118,000 identified for 2014-15 is actual construction.
We don’t have a dollar-by-dollar breakdown, but the design work is almost complete at this point.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you for that answer.
With the design phase almost over… . I have raised this issue a few times with your officials of the lack of a jet walk to assist people with disabilities in a dignified way to enter and exit aircraft. Has there been any talk during the design phase of working in one of the potential three jet walks that were in the original plan?
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Hickes.
Hon. Minister.
Chairman: Qujannamiik, hon. minister. (interpretation) I’ll ask him to respond.
Yes, there are three secure departure lounges that will be used for flights to provinces and other territories. Each of those will have what you call the rough-in there, the electrical, the doorway will be there, and the installation of the actual Jetway or bridge, depending on the term you want to use, will be easy to complete after that.
We have held back at this point in including them in this project. There were some questions as to whether the airlines want them. There are some questions as to certain types of airplanes that can’t use them.
The Jetways will be installed as required when we determine how many are needed and the airlines expressing interest in using them.
Typically, with Jetways, the airlines pay a fee to use them.
That will be determined at the time, and I certainly hope that they are there.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that answer Mr. Long, I very much too hope that it will be there.
With the original estimates and numbers that I heard at the public meeting some months ago, it would entail less than 1 percent of the overall budget to at least start with one jet walk to allow our residents to access and exit aircraft.
Another concern that I had is, from what I understand, the memorandum of understanding regarding the lands transfer has been approved by cabinet and was pending with the City of Iqaluit and the date that I had was potentially April 2014.
Can the minister update me on the status of the land transfer with the City of Iqaluit for the airport?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Hickes. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the member’s question.
I can respond to you. I have not received that kind of information yet in regard to your question.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kuksuk. (interpretation ends) Mr. Hickes, are you done?
Mr. Hickes: Please be done?
This construction is starting as early as next month.
One of the concerns I’ve got is there is a strategy being implemented to guarantee minimum levels of Inuit employment during construction and operations, with incentives for increasing levels for Inuit labour.
Can the minister update me on how this strategy is being implemented?
In regard to Inuit employment, we will try to use Inuit employment to the best of our ability, but my deputy will provide you with detailed information, Mr. Chairman.
Which deputy? (interpretation ends) Maybe I will start with Mr. Long.
In addition to the minister’s comments, we have struck what we call an Article 24 committee.
They met for the first time last week. The representatives of the proponent, AILP, will be visiting, I believe, next week or the week after and they will start the process of recruiting Inuit employees.
We are engaged through a committee that is our department, it is other departments, it is federal, representatives of the land claims as well, I believe, are on it.
They will meet with the company and begin those discussions and guiding them.
We expect that they will bring their plan forward at that time and we will have a discussion and improve the plan, I expect.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just one quick question.
Could I get provided a copy of the committee list at the minister’s convenience?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Of course, we will provide that copy.
Still on the same page, Ms. Angnakak.
Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) My question has to do with the Iqaluit Regional Marine Facility Project.
This is something that we have been talking a lot about for quite a while now, I think, a few numbers of years. In the past, there were funds that were allocated towards this project.
I am just wondering if you can tell us what steps have been taken to advance this file to date.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister.
I also thank my colleague for the good question.
As we are all aware, the community of Iqaluit is now working on the strategy.
In recent months, there have been comments made by shipping companies, NEAS and Woodward’s, both indicating that perhaps a lower cost project could be done using the old causeway.
We currently have some marine professionals reviewing that possibility and to determine if there is, indeed, a way that we can use the old causeway at a considerably lower cost than $100 million.
That work is currently underway. We can report to the House if good progress is made on that.
Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Thank you very much for that.
We look forward to seeing that. I think that it’s needed in Iqaluit. It has been needed for a long time.
Just to go to something else a little bit, almost a year ago, May 2013, the Legislative Assembly approved several capital carryovers from your department.
The majority of these carryovers were for airport-related projects.
What factors are causing your department to carry over so many projects from year to year?
I would also like to thank my colleague for the question.
In regard to planning in transportation, I’ll ask Art Stewart to respond.
There are various reasons for large carryovers. One of them is trying to get the planning for the construction done in a timely fashion. That has not happened over the last couple of years.
We’ve also had some staffing difficulties where we did not have a full-time facilities engineer. We are currently working on that. Hopefully we will have the facilities engineer position filled within the next couple of months.
Those are the primary reasons.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Stewart.
Ms. Angnakak, if you want to continue asking, please raise your hand before we are even done with the answer so that I know whether to move on to the next person.
Ms. Angnakak, please proceed.
Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Just talking about airports and that, what’s the status on the Pangnirtung Airport Relocation Project? That has been on the books for quite a few years too. Where are we at with that project?
I also thank the member for her question.
I have partially been briefed on that issue, but I don’t have all the details at this time as to exactly where it is at.
However, I recall that it was in the plans, but I don’t have the details on the location and whether plans are already completed or not, or whether it is to move forward. The details can be explained by (interpretation ends) Deputy Minister Long, (interpretation) so I’ll give him the question.
Chairman: Qujannamiik, hon. minister. (interpretation) I’ll be the one to give the question to him.
We did some environmental studies on that. We received a completed report last year. At that point, the study had indicated that there were seven potential sites for an airport in Pangnirtung.
The environmental report indicated the wind conditions were not as anticipated and an eighth site is being considered by the consultants at this time.
We are planning to go into Pangnirtung within the next few weeks to continue the discussion with the hamlet council and come up with a final decision as to which location they want. From that, we will then proceed into the more detailed design work.
Ms. Angnakak: Thanks for that answer.
Just one more question. What is the long-term plan for the department regarding the working relationship between ED&T and NAV Canada?
Based on my understanding of the issue, the partnership and planning with NAV Canada and our department also falls under the general Nunavut government operations, so partnership is required to resolve our airport challenges, especially with the many airports under our department. Our government can’t deal with this unilaterally.
I will ask our official who undertakes the plans to provide more details.
Chairman: Qujannamiik, hon. minister.
Mr. Stewart: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
We met with NAV Canada roughly five weeks ago. The decision has been made that come March 31, 2015, our contract will end with NAV Canada.
However, the agreement with Nunavut Arctic College to deliver the CARS program will be continued for the next four years, I believe.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Stewart.
Let us proceed. Mr. Mapsalak.
In the minister’s statements, he stated that… . My question is about airstrips. As he stated earlier, they are only going to be working on the priorities right now because of the safety aspect of it, only the critical ones.
I would like an explanation as to what you mean by critical or needs to be put into priority when it comes to airstrips.
That will be my first question and I will have a supplementary afterwards.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the member for his question. Can I ask the member to clarify whether he is asking about the runway or if it is the airport terminal or actual airstrip?
There are many facilities located in the airports. Can you explain what you mean? If I say “airport terminal building” in English, we will know it means the place where people wait for planes, and the airstrip is where the airplanes land.
Chairman: Qujannamiik, hon. minister. (interpretation) Mr. Mapsalak, can you explain your question, please.
I was just asking for clarification on what you said earlier.
If it’s an airstrip or a terminal, it doesn’t matter.
A safety hazard can occur in either place, whether it’s an airstrip or an airport terminal.
Can you explain how it becomes a critical matter where it needs to be replaced or fixed up?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Mapsalak. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand better now.
Yes, there are different reasons why it could be a priority matter. It could be because the facility is too old now or if it’s just not safe in general. There are different reasons for coming to that decision.
Thank you for explaining that clearly.
In the capital plan, there is no money for that. I don’t see anything in the future for the three airstrips and terminals that need to be changed.
I think they’re dangerous.
The terminal in Repulse Bay is dangerous, as I stated in the House previously.
I explained how dangerous it is. I don’t think the Nunavut government is really aware of the situation there. They seem to be totally ignorant of it, although the hamlet council in Repulse Bay has tried to explain to the Nunavut government that our terminal is dangerous.
The terminal is 16 by 16 feet in measurement, and there are 1,000 people living in Repulse Bay now.
It’s tiny.
It’s too small. When the suitcases are brought in, there is no room left.
If 20 people are going to be leaving, some of them will have to wait outside, and that is the only way they’ve had to do it. It should be an absolutely critical matter. Can it not be looked at as an absolutely critical matter?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the good question.
I fully understand your question.
Airports, airstrips, and terminals, I’m sure we know what we’re talking about.
We have started looking into airport terminals and airstrips in Nunavut. We don’t have the results of that study yet. The airport terminal in Repulse Bay and also airport terminals in other communities are being looked at.
After they have looked into that and they have produced a report, and after we have carefully reviewed the report, we can move on from there and decide which one needs to be the absolute first to be worked on. We don’t have that report yet.
Is the minister making a statement that officials from his department will, in the short term, travel to Repulse Bay?
Thanks to my fellow MLA for asking that question.
What I am stating is that this review that is ongoing is looking at all airport issues in all of Nunavut. When this report is completed, it will be provided to our department.
Upon delivery of said report, it will highlight the issues we face and list all the challenges we face, such as old runways, and which dilapidated air terminals still exist.
Once these details have been provided to our department, our department will be able to start prioritizing these issues, such as which community has to have their old facilities replaced. That is my answer to that part of his question.
Further, the report is expected to be completed in the not-too-distance future. Upon delivery of this report, we will then be able to provide a clear answer to questions related to the facilities at the airports, including runways and air terminals.
Chairman: Qujannamiik, hon. minister. (interpretation) I would like to remind the members that questions should be based on the capital estimates. Mr. Mikkungwak.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
The question I would like to ask is in regard to the Iqaluit airport. (interpretation ends) The department’s substantiation sheet for the Iqaluit International Airport Improvement Project indicates that “Prior to the commencement of procurement, the project team sought and received Cabinet approval regarding the proposed strategy for complying with Article 24 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
The approach taken focused around guaranteed minimum levels of Inuit labour during construction and operations, with incentives for increasing levels of Inuit labour.”
Has NTI agreed with this approach and how is this strategy being implemented?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Mikkungwak. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister.
I thank the Member for Baker Lake for asking a good question.
When planning was commenced for this Iqaluit air terminal project, when they prepared these plans, it included that requirement for Inuit employment and it was included in the project review.
Both the Government of Nunavut and NTI were involved in determining the percentage of Inuit hires that would have to be met by prospective contractors in applying for this contract. This issue was carefully reviewed and further, there will be clear policies outlining the requirement to have Inuit hires at a certain percentage in order to win this air terminal contract.
This has been one of the priorities to date.
With respect to the percentage breakdown, I don’t have the numbers available. Perhaps my deputy minister can provide more details to that question.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Kuksuk, I didn’t quite understand your last comment.
Can you repeat it, please.
What I was saying was with respect to my colleague’s question about Inuit hires as outlined in Article 24 of the NLCA and regarding the amount agreed to for this project. I don’t have the actual figures agreed to. Based on my understanding, the question is specific to NTI and the Government of Nunavut.
I believe that was his question, so I wanted my deputy minister to provide further details. That is what I commented on.
Chairman: Qujannamiik, hon. minister. (interpretation) I apologize for not understanding you properly.
Leading up to the negotiations for this airport, there were discussions with some of the birthright corporations, QC, NCC, and companies like that, to discuss the potential for Inuit employment during the construction period.
As we prepared the document, the actual Inuit employment document for the Article 24 part of the contract, it was discussed with NTI on, I think, two occasions and ultimately we came up with numbers that we felt were reasonable.
It couldn’t be a high number in some cases because, in the construction, there are some parts of that that they are simply not Inuit companies that have the skills or the equipment to do and it had to be lower there, but the expectations were higher in some other areas and we did come up with an average number for construction.
On the operation side, over the period of 30 years, unfortunately I don’t have the numbers in my head, but it starts with a lower number for the first five years, then it increases.
There is an expectation on our part that there will be a training plan in place and over the course of the contract, it will increase until, I believe, in the final period, it’s over 60 percent Inuit employment.
This will be monitored very closely.
There are penalties for not achieving it and some bonuses for exceeding it. So the incentives are there. The penalties are pretty serious and expensive, so they will want to achieve those numbers.
While we are talking about the Iqaluit terminal, this is going to have an impact on all the communities in Nunavut. I appreciate the response and I would like to ask another question.
The Department of Transportation knows or realizes or is aware that this year and the previous years, there were a lot of aircraft and helicopters in all of Nunavut.
I just wondered if they thought about having a new terminal or larger terminal to be built in Baker Lake.
Prior to the question, the answer was included in my presentation.
The department has looked into the terminal issue in Baker Lake and it was included in this review of runways and air terminal issues in all of Nunavut.
With this review completed and the report submitted, we can start clarifying the issues. As per an earlier question from another community wanting a runway and the timeframe, I can only answer exactly how I did for that question and I can only do the same here. When the report is ready, we will have answers.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much.
Under K-3 and K-4, I have other questions that I would like to ask.
They talk about the motor vehicle information system. I have a question on that as well.