EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, I believe that healthy communities require adequate infrastructure that allows our constituents to come together for important gatherings and events.
The community of Baker Lake has identified the need for a new community hall to replace our current facility which is aging and increasingly inadequate to accommodate our rapidly growing population.
The hamlet council submitted a proposal for assistance from the minister’s department.
Can the minister inform me when she will reply to the proposal to share the cost of construction for a new community hall for Baker Lake? When can she respond?
There are a lot of proposals. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, we all know there are many demands and expectations for projects throughout Nunavut, and also, the projects outweigh the money that we get. We all know this.
(interpretation) I’ve been to Baker Lake more than once and I have been in the community hall. I do agree that the size of the building is inadequate.
It’s true that there’s a growing population and a lot of community halls are not adequate for the communities now.
The Baker Lake community will be visited by the planners and it’s been identified on how it will be... I can’t respond at this time but once I get the information I will be able to.
The hamlet council members and staff have to work extremely hard and some of the communities are not earning enough revenue.
The hamlet council had to order material for a new community hall but it will have to be built and the interior will also have to be constructed.
This was discussed by the minister last fall when all the mayors met in Baker Lake and this was brought up again at their conference.
The hamlet said that they wanted to pay half of the cost of the project but the demand for a new community hall is growing in the community of Baker Lake and CGS has been dealing with this issue for a few months now.
I would like to find out when this issue will be addressed because the hamlet council would like to know.
Yes, I do remember that being a discussion and being on the table.
At this point in time, it’s under review on how it would unfold because the community of Baker Lake is willing to pay half and the rest would come from the capital plan.
Because it’s a unique situation, it’s being reviewed.
We really appreciate the Hamlet of Baker Lake for doing this, and once I have the answer, I will communicate with the Member from Baker Lake.
The capital estimates which are approved by the Legislative Assembly for 2008-09 is only $368,000 for the community of Baker Lake.
The community’s increasing in population and we’re not able to keep up with the capital plans, so we need some more assistance.
Can the minister direct her staff and her officials to come to the community of Baker Lake and meet with the hamlet council to discuss the capital projects that are needed in their community?
I have stated that the capital plans are going to be reviewed once again. I also have stated that there will be consultation visits throughout the Nunavut communities because in the New Year, we had announced that there would be visits to review these capital projects, and one of them is Baker Lake.
I will ask my staff, in fact, I’ll give directions to the staff to go meet with the hamlet council there as requested by the member. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 392 – 2(4): Business Consultations on Energy Efficiency Bill (Curley)
I would like to ask a question as the Minister of Energy stated that he withdrew Bill 13 but he also stated that he was going to be revisiting the bill and replace it with a better version, so I thank him for that.
First of all, I would like to tell the minister, as he was talking about making offices, equipment, buildings and furnaces more energy efficient, that some of the office equipment like computers would be a good place to start because they’re quite expensive to run as opposed to furniture that don’t require electricity.
Can the minister consult with the business community, homeowners, and Nunavummiut so that the bill won’t just be one-sided?
In the first go around on Bill 13, we did have an opportunity to work with the businesses and take their suggestions. I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that that would also take place, for sure, with the proposal that we have brought forward this morning, and that is, again, to be able to take some of the committee recommendations and move forward with a newer piece of legislation.
Mr. Curley: In view of time, Mr. Speaker, I indicated when the bill was first introduced in this House that it was the biggest publicity stunt that the minister was introducing to the Nunavummiut on light bulbs but I will not argue with him any longer as he has been convinced that the bill that was drafted did not work.
I am impressed that he is now willing to look at new ideas and new restrictions on some of the wasteful energy that are occurring in Nunavut.
I would like to ask the minister if he would consider restricting the waste that has been expressed by Members of this House, particularly with the streetlights when the sun is 100 percent visible in Nunavut. I believe that we could save a lot of energy by way of using that.
Also, I would like to ask the minister: will he consider providing incentives from homeowners to reduce dependency on home heating fuel maybe by way of providing financial assistance to purchase stoves that use not other than home heating fuel?
There’s nothing more than I rather enjoy doing than debating the honourable member, and in this case, I won’t because I agree with his suggestions as I have suggested in the statement.
The Government of Nunavut does not have its own energy legislation that actually sets standards for household appliances, lighting, and computer equipment and so on. The only one that is actually on the books, of course, is the federal Energy Efficiency Act which was passed, I believe, in 1992. So a lot of things have changed in that period of time.
So I take the suggestions by the member seriously, and again, as we’re formulating this new piece of legislation over the next couple of weeks, I would hope to be in a position in early May to be able to present a draft of that proposal to the committee, and again, get some suggestions and ideas.
We will incorporate some of the things that we have heard here today, and again, this is at very early stages of this proposed legislation.
I certainly appreciate the minister’s willingness to consult as well as to receive some suggestions.
In view of the fact that we just had an emergency situation happening and homes have been shut off from the furnaces and so on due to the power shortages, I understand, from many of the MLAs as well as the other homeowners speaking occasionally, that having a woodstove reduces dependence on significant amount of energy, and I believe that’s one option the minister could consider.
Would that be the kind of program that you would be willing to discuss with the Members of the Executive Council?
In Pinasuaqtavut, we said that for the term of this government, from 2004 to 2008, we said that we would conserve and reduce the use of energy and find alternatives to diesel for electricity generation.
We’re trying to move forward in that way; we have our Energy Strategy in place and so on.
It may seem a bit strange for people listening in today that there is a suggestion where we can use woodstoves in Nunavut where we don’t have any trees.
However, we do know that many Nunavummiut have woodstoves in their houses, and indeed, there’s a lot of excess available from construction and so on.
This may be one alternative that we can look at, so again, I’m open to that suggestion.
I welcome and appreciate your willingness to look into all of these. I believe Nunavummiut need all the help that they can get to reduce energy consumption. In an emergency like this, these kinds of equipment would have been very useful for a number of homes.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate his willingness to consider them.
Mr. Speaker, because of the emergency situation in Rankin Inlet, I will no longer be needing this particular light bulb that I had purchased for myself.
In this case, through the Office of the Clerk, I would like to present them to the Minister of Energy; he now has withdrawn the Light Bulb Bill; that he did allow these particular kinds. I believe it will last him a lifetime. They’re only 100 watts; that’s all I can afford.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I do not believe there was a question to that last comment. Oral Questions.
Question 393 – 2(4): Pension Adjustment Announcement (Tootoo)
It’s really nice to see the Minister of Energy smiling.
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance and it again deals with announcements made during his Budget Address.
Mr. Speaker, in the sections where it talked about moving forward, it mentions that the government has announced a number of new tax incentives for Nunavummiut.
One of them, Mr. Speaker, was the pension income credit up to $2,000 which would provide relief for senior citizens; this increase is of $1,000.
Could the minister indicate if that is a new thing, or is that just a catch-up from the same amendment that the federal government made I believe in 2006?
This is under the federal government and we will be giving a pension income credit of up to $2, 000.
I asked the minister to correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that this was implemented for the 2006 year by the federal government.
If that was the case, why did they wait two years before the Government of Nunavut implemented that benefit as well for Nunavummiut?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have a response and I will have to take it as notice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I’ll ask another question on the Budget Address, and look forward to getting that follow-up information...
Speaker: I apologize, Mr. Tootoo, just give us a second, please.
Mr. Tootoo: So we can’t ask any questions on the Budget Address?
In reviewing the response from the minister, I believe the minister took that question as notice, so we will have to advance to the next member and allow Mr. Tootoo another opportunity at a later time.
Oral Questions. (interpretation) Member for High Arctic, Mr. Barnabas.
Question 394 – 2(4): GN Assistance to Grise Fiord Situation (Barnabas)
Mr. Speaker, currently, I believe there are approximately 30 people in my riding of Grise Fiord that will be leaving.
I would like to ask the Premier what kind of support the community has received with regards to this problem we’re experiencing.
The RCMP has been in contact with the hamlet council.
I can’t exactly say what has been happening but I will keep the member and the hamlet council informed.
We’re going to deal with it directly because we don’t want to put anyone in a dangerous situation.
There are no social workers or mental health workers in the community.
Is the government going to place a position up there so that there will be adequate support provided to the community?
I have been working with the respective minister on this issue.
The nurse in that community also wants to leave because of this problem.
If there is an emergency, what types of emergency plans does the government have in place?
The nurse is going to stay up there as we have not heard otherwise and we thank her for helping all she can.
I can’t talk about the RCMP’s activities but I’m sure that they’re prepared for any emergency that might occur.
We are giving the community all of the support it needs.
Question 395 – 2(4): Lead Department to Deal with Poverty (Peterson)
My question is for the Premier as well.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I rose and spoke about poverty in Nunavut, and I had some statistics from the National Council of Welfare that shows that on March 31, 2005, 13,800 Nunavummiut were on welfare, and in the previous year, March 31, 2004, there were 8,600 Nunavummiut on welfare.
So that was a 60.5 percent increase which I thought was quite huge jump.
I have been trying to find some information on what the government is doing to address poverty in Nunavut because I don’t seem to be able to find the information.
Various departments have responsibility for some of it but I would like to ask the Premier: can the Premier tell the House which department has the lead responsibility for addressing poverty in Nunavut?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I believe we all have responsibility to reduce poverty in Nunavut.
We have been doing as much as we can to make sure that we get out of the vicious welfare cycle.
I have been talking to my Minister of Education in finding ways to assist our students further in post-secondary studies so that they can get qualified and take on the jobs that are coming our way.
We have been trying as much as we can to stimulate our economy, promoting mineral activity, and doing as much as we can to support our fisheries, our arts and crafts industries, so I think we all have a role.
It doesn’t matter which department it may be.
We have been doing as much as we can and we will not stop until every Nunavummiut has an opportunity to work.
So I think that’s something that this government has been trying to do – to try and reduce the numbers of poverty in Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I agree that all departments have a responsibility.
The Premier spoke about some initiatives that the government is working on; I think they were general initiatives. Can the Premier tell the House what specific initiatives the Government of Nunavut has to combat poverty in Nunavut?
Premier of Nunavut, Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) For one, our economy is growing, so more opportunities are coming to Nunavummiut so they can take on some of the jobs that are being created.
So when a person is working, they tend to be healthier and have a much positive lifestyle in terms of being able to support their families. So I think that’s one thing that’s looking positive for Nunavummiut.
In preparation for more activity that’s coming our way we have been working very hard in creating trades schools that will be coming in the fall in Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, and Iqaluit.
So we’re doing what we can so that we can get out of this welfare cycle that’s been around long enough.
For other citizens that may not want a job in the mining sector, we’re creating incentives for education. I look forward to my Minister of Education supporting our students more. Our latest budget introduced tax incentives for students who are studying in post-secondary institutions to help them more financially through books.
So we’re trying to do a number of things and we will continue to try and find ways to make sure that we get out of this welfare cycle. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, a lot of work has to be done. These numbers are not made up; we did have that 60.5 percent increase and that was only two years ago, and the costs have gotten greater in Nunavut ever since.
I think that some of the issues that related to poverty are housing or the lack thereof, lack of a voice and access to legal aid or representation, literacy is a problem, lack of education and training, jobs, food, and health and wellbeing is another, family status; we have a lot of single parents raising many children, so it’s difficult for them. The government subsidies can only go so far.
The Premier indicated earlier that everybody has the responsibility; all departments.
So I’m asking the Premier: will he commit today to the House to establish a Government of Nunavut Interdepartmental Working Committee to address the growing poverty in Nunavut?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) That’s a very good suggestion. I know that our deputies have been working hard in terms of trying to make sure that the goals that we set during this term are implemented; one of which was economy.
So I’ll take that under advisement and see what else we can do.
I must say that we have done quite a bit if work in this area and there is much more to do, and I appreciate the member’s suggestion. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Premier for that commitment. Mr. Speaker, a little bit if research yesterday online - the National Anti-Poverty Organization - and I can provide the website to the Premier later. They indicated that Canada has never had a national anti-poverty strategy, and then they indicated that presently the only provinces are Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador that have provincial anti-poverty strategies.
My question for the Premier: will the Premier commit to the House that the Government of Nunavut will develop an Anti-Poverty Strategy to address poverty in Nunavut?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I appreciate my colleague’s suggestion, and as I said, I’ll take it under advisement.
I must say that we’re in an enviable position as Nunavummiut. We have a young population so we can do something about that. We can educate these young people so that they will be self-sufficient and self-supporting in the long run.
So that’s an advantage that we do have as compared to other jurisdictions.
So there’s an opportunity that we’re trying to utilize by training these young people and by keeping them in school. I look forward to all of my colleagues’ support in making changes to the education system through our proposed legislation so that we can keep these young people in school.
So I appreciate the member’s concern and it’s a concern shared by all of us in this House. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question Period is now over. We’ll go back to the Orders of the Day.
Tabled Document 178 – 2(4): F/P/T, Ministers Responsible for Status of Women – July 9 to 11, 2007 Iqaluit (Aglukkaq)
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the FTP Ministerial Report for Ministers responsible for Status of Women Meeting that was held in Iqaluit, July 9 to 11, which was a very successful meeting and a report from that.
(interpretation) Item 14.
Item 15: Notice of Motions
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, February 25, 2008, that Bill 24, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008, will be read for the first time, Mr. Speaker.
Minister, I would like to inform you that we are on Item 15.
We will give you another opportunity at the appropriate time.
Bill 24 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – Notice
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I will try again.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, February 25, 2008, that Bill 24, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008, be read for the first time.
Item 16. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. Minister Tapardjuk.
Bill 25 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – Notice
I give notice that on Monday, February 25, that Bill 25, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008, be read for the first time.
Item 16. (interpretation ends) Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. (interpretation) If there are none, Item 17. Motions.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I would like unanimous consent to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 24, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008, Mr. Speaker.
The minister is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 24 can have first reading today.
Bill 24 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit West, that Bill 24, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008, be read for the first time.
Please bring that document up.
Thank you. Bill 24 has had its first reading.
I would like consent to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 25, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008.
The minister is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 25 can have first reading today.
There are no nays. Please proceed, Minister Tapardjuk.
Bill 25 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nattilik, that Bill 25, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008, be read for the first time.
Please provide a copy of the bill.
Item 18. First Reading of Bills. Item 19.
Bill 25 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that Bill 25, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is to establish operating budgets for the Government of Nunavut. In some cases this bill has succeeded in reducing costs while controlling others incurred by the Nunavut Government as of this coming March 31, 2008.
Bill 25 has had its second reading and is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Item 19. Second Reading of Bills. Minister of Finance, Minister Tapardjuk.
Bill 24 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 24, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008, be read for the second time.
This bill is geared towards capital that has been identified by the Legislative Assembly.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
The motion is carried. Bill 24 has had its second reading and is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Item 20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 23, 24, and 25 with Mr. Arreak in the Chair.
Before we proceed with the committee meeting, we will take a break for lunch and return at one o’clock.
>>House recessed at 11:44 and Committee resumed at 13:03
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 23, 24, and 25.
We wish to continue with Bill 23 and the review of the Main Estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services.
Does the committee agree we will deal with the Main Estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister Aglukkaq, do you have witnesses you would like to bring to the table? Ms. Aglukkaq.
(interpretation ends) Thank you. For the record, minister, please introduce your witnesses. Minister Aglukkaq.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Welcome to the Chambers.
We were on general comments yesterday and I didn’t have any members on my list.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Can we ask questions now?
I would like to ask questions under Directorate. I am leaving today, so I wanted to go first.
We are not there quite yet. I don’t have anybody else on my list, so we will move on to the main estimates.
We will start with H-4. (interpretation ends) Health and Social Services.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you. First of all, I would like to welcome the minister and her officials.
I raised this question last year but I feel I didn’t get a response. Last May, in Rankin Inlet, there was a death in the waiting room.
For that reason, I was unable to ask questions and the minister couldn’t respond because there was an inquest of a judicial type.
That was a quasi-judicial type review according to our Rules, is that completed yet?
If I recall, the question is related to a coroner’s investigation that was happening at the time.
I would have to consult with the Minister of Justice to see where that review is at to respond to the member, or he can direct his question to the Minister of Justice, who is responsible for coroners’ investigations and reviews.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you. Thank you, Minister.
The minister had stated that there was a review being conducted but I wasn’t allowed to ask questions because it was an ongoing RCMP investigation.