EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
But, the regulations and policies, and what you said that you were going to do, I want you to remind them again.
If you have written a letter to them, I wonder if I can get a copy of that letter so those different organizations will get a copy, and this will help us a lot.
Question 059 – 2(3): Crown Corporation Housing Policy (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Energy and Education.
And, Mr. Speaker, maybe it’ll answer my colleague from Cambridge Bay’s question earlier that the Minister of Housing couldn’t.
In a recent letter to me the Minister revealed that the Qulliq Energy Corporation runs its own staff-housing program for its employees.
It appears that the recently announced staff housing policy does not apply to the Qulliq Energy Corporation even though the Government of Nunavut has gone on the public record saying that policies like this should apply to both departments and crown agencies.
I am pretty sure that the Minister of Housing was cc’d on that letter.
My question is this Mr. Speaker. Why does the Minister support one policy for his Qulliq Energy staff but a different policy for the teachers for the Department of Education, which is also his responsibility.
Mr. Speaker, the member raises two very important points; one being the regulatory body that is known as a crown corporation and indeed where crown corporations generate their own revenue stream and have the accountability of an independent board that governs and so on.
They have the opportunity under Canadian corporate law to direct their own policies and so on. In the case of the Government of Nunavut where we actually have employees of the Government of Nunavut under the Public Service Act, then Mr. Speaker, the policies of the government, it would lay and be appropriate that those employees would fall under those rules and regulations.
I guess the minister could say that the crown corporation does have a lot of money to be able to spend its own money on housing and that is why that they are in a big deficit and we are always bailing them out.
Mr. Speaker, my question is this.
Can the minister explain how this housing policy for his staff, the new staff housing policy will help him as the Minister of Education recruit and retain qualified teaching professionals throughout the territory?
I might be mistaken, I believe the question was on the Nunavut Power Corporation staff housing and not in regard to the government’s staff housing policy, which the Member had the opportunity to question the Minister of housing on earlier.
I can say, as with all housing in the Government of Nunavut and with it’s agencies and boards, the power corporation is no different and indeed rents are also increasing within the power corporation’s housing stock.
I do want to clarify Mr. Tootoo’s earlier assumption when he said about the oodles of money or the amount of cash flow being delivered by the power corporation.
As we are all aware that the turn around of over $5 million from the last projections is an astounding turn around, something that the Members of the House and indeed the people of Nunavut should be proud of.
I think the minister is hearing things, but I never said oodles but he talks about this big turn around.
The corporation as far as I can recall is still in a deficit.
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the minister, and my question wasn’t for the Minister of the Power Corporation, I was asking him, as members recall, how you can support one policy for one ministry on and a different policy with his other hat on.
So I guess my question, since we know what the staff housing policy is for the Government of Nunavut, will the minister reveal to this House and the public what the housing benefits the Qulliq Energy Corporation receives in contrast to the new Government of Nunavut Staff Housing Policy?
I think a couple of points need to be brought up. First of all, housing is not a rite of passage, or rite of an employee, indeed, housing is not a negotiable issue because it not part, and does not perform part of the collective agreement.
The housing stock, which is controlled and run under the auspices of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, falls under the guidelines of the Government of Nunavut. As I indicated before, indeed the housing stock that is controlled by the independent corporate body, known as the Power Corporation, runs under the rules and regulations of the Power Corporation. Indeed, in the writing, in the letters that Mr. Tootoo had sent me, I tried to outline those policies and concerns.
I can say for the record Mr. Speaker, that the power corporation rules and regulations in there for staff housing, including allocations, for this fiscal period include rental increases and will continue to include rental increases, similar to what we have seen in other jurisdictions when we look at rental accommodation for staff.
From that response I can take it that the minister is not willing to provide that information to the House.
They want to keep us in the dark.
My next question on that I guess, is if they’re exempt from the staff housing policy, and this government has said that it wants to streamline all of its policies for all the crown agencies, are there any other policies that the Qulliq Energy Corporation is exempt from?
Under the Canadian Corporation Business Act, and other federal regulations and legislation, there may be instances where a crown corporation would be exempt from different types of applicable legislation. Indeed Mr. Speaker, they may be actually indemnified for different types of legislation depending what the legislative act would say.
The quick answer would be Mr. Speaker, that when you look at a corporate body, the legislation, the rules governing that corporate body are a little bit different from what we see in a public government and the rules and regulations that the Government of Nunavut, the ministers of the government, and indeed, the MLAs would have to follow. That is no different Mr. Speaker, than any other jurisdiction in the country, and certainly is no different than any other crown agency, board, or corporate body.
Question 060 – 2(3): Update on Influenza Epidemic (Peterson)
My question is for the Minister of Health. Every year about this time the Department of Health and Social Services organizes flu vaccinations.
There was a news release last month in that respect.
The past year‘s priority was to organize flu shots to help protect the more vulnerable residents of Nunavut, such as elders and children. This year they are offering universal coverage. The flu shot is available to everyone at the public health centre.
My question for the minister; can the minister provide an update on the status of this year’s influenza vaccination program and clarify how effective it will be in the case of a flu epidemic?
The member is correct that every year we launch the flu shot season. The department launched that on October 17 and in the past that program was only made available to vulnerable individuals, as well as our seniors.
This year we’ve opened that option to every citizen in Nunavut.
In terms of the numbers of how effective it will be in the number of people that actually have flu shots, we’ll have a better idea after this year is over and the winter is over.
So I’m hoping that Nunavummiut will take the opportunity to get their flu shots and, once this year is over we’ll have an idea as to how many people actually went and got their flu shots and the number of people that were treated for flu-like symptoms.
I thank the minister for that good answer.
I’m hearing reports from back home that some people who have had their flu shots are in fact coming down with the flu, so it would be interesting to hear what the results are.
Mr. Speaker, my supplementary to the minister.
A number of stories in the news have been raised in respect of a very serious Asian flu that is transmitted through birds to humans. I was watching that on TV last night actually.
Recently, there have been stories of this bird flu reaching Canada. Can the minister update this House on what measures are in place to combat bird flu if it is identified in Nunavut?
The department is aware of the potential the influenza pandemic may cause in Nunavut.
We have been working with partners in other agencies in southern Canada related to the issue.
Nunavut also has purchased and stockpiled antiviral drugs and they are on stock in Nunavut, in partnership, again, with the Federal Government.
In addition, the department has taken several other steps to ensure that Nunavummiut are protected from public health threats, including the pandemic influenza. We’re conducting ongoing disease surveillance to ensure early identification.
We’re also participating on the Nunavut Territorial Emergency Response Committee. We are a part of the committee to ensure that all aspects of planning related to this are included in responding to an issue of this nature, should it be in Nunavut.
And, we are regularly participating in national emergency planning committees, such as the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Committee. So, there is work under way and the department participates regularly with the national groups to respond to this issue.
I thank the minister for her detailed answer.
Mr. Speaker, we know that influenza and the bird flu are only two types of viruses that can infect a population and cause an epidemic.
Can the minister clarify her answer and tell us what kinds of emergency response plans are in place should a community or region in Nunavut be hit by a new pandemic virus.
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department participates, as I mentioned, in a committee that responds to emergency issues; one being something of this nature.
Depending on the seriousness of the issue, or where it’s at, or the number cases found in Nunavut, then the planning would be according to that. Right now, we don’t have the situation, luckily, in Nunavut, but we are a part of a group that would be involved in responding to planning, how to address the issue.
But, on our part as well, we have purchased the... we have stockpiled the antiviral drugs and are part of a working group to try and deal with the situation should it arise.
To respond, exactly what steps are in place to respond to an issue in a community, that I don’t have, but I can reassure the member that we are a part of a group, a team that is involved in the planning related to a situation like this should it arise.
Mr. Speaker, as everybody knows, if a pandemic hit Nunavut, we very likely wouldn’t have the resources, people, or facilities, to deal with the pandemic, so it’s very important that we plan ahead for these things.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut’s Public Health Act; the legislation that grants authority to individuals such as the Chief Medical Health Officer to deal with pandemics, or other such health crises in Nunavut, is extremely outdated.
Can the minister provide an update on what progress has been made to introduce a new Public Health Act?
One of the legislation the department is looking at is updating the Public Health Act for Nunavut. We initiated the process of reviewing that and plans are underway to consult and discuss what improvements or updating the Public Health Act requires for Nunavut.
We expect the consultation to be started some time this year.
We had tried to advertise a position to take the coordinating role for the review of the Public Health Act.
We were not successful in finding a candidate to take on that responsibility and we are going back to the drawing board as trying to get the resource into and lead to coordinate the efforts of reviewing the Public Health Act.
With that, the department also requested an extension on the timeline to complete the review of the Public Health Act by another year.
It’s a very outdated Public Health Act and there’s going to be a lot of work involved in consulting with Nunavummiut on updating that, as well as the members.
So, currently, the process has been initiated and we expect it will be completed within the next year and a half.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): I would like to return to Item 5.
Speaker (interpretation): The member would like to go back to Item 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
There are no nays. Go ahead, Mr. Simailak.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I would like to welcome an individual from Baker Lake, who has been there for many years. He has worked extremely hard and was a representative of Baker Lake, Mr. Glenn McLean.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to the Gallery, Mr. McLean.
I, too, would like to recognize Mr. McLean.
It’s a little known fact that Mr. McLean used to live in Cambridge Bay. He was a former hockey star in Cambridge Bay, him and I represented Cambridge Bay at the Arctic Winter Games trials one year in Yellowknife.
It was a very high-scoring series.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to the Gallery. And for your information, you are only allowed to recognize an individual one time.
Going to the Orders of the Day. Item 7.
Written Question 006 – 2(3): Status of Casual Employment (Peterson)
My written question is for the Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Minister of Human Resources; the status of casual employment.
Expressing the data in the same format as that which was provided in Return to Written Question 002 – 2(2), what is the status of the Government of Nunavut’s casual employment in its departments and Crown agencies as of September 30, 2005?
Tabled Document 024 – 2(3): GN Department of Economic Development and Transportation Ministerial Meetings Report (Kilabuk)
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document. Government of Nunavut, Department of Economic Development and Transportation Ministerial Meetings Report for Northern Development Ministers Forum in The Pas, Manitoba September 14-16, 2005.
Energy Ministers’ Conference in St. Andrews, New Brunswick on September 18-20, 2005. And Council of Ministers responsible for Transportation in Calgary, Alberta September 20, 2005.
Tabled Document 025 – 2(3): Third Annual Report Municipal Training Organization October 2005 (Brown)
I wish to Table the following document. Third Annual Report, Municipal Training Organization, October 2005.
Motion 001 – 2(3): Federal-Territorial Negotiations on Early Learning and Childcare – Notice (Picco)
Mr. Speaker, I give Notice that on Thursday November 24 I will move the following Motion:
Now therefore I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Quttikuq, that this House urges the Federal Minister of Social Development, the Honourable Ken Dryden, to work with the Members of Parliament for Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon to modify the funding formula for the early learning and child care initiative as it applies to the three northern territories so as to provide base funding and per capita funding in order to adequately meet the needs of our children.
And further, I move that this House urges the federal minister to recognize that Inuit are entitled to the same benefits as other aboriginal Canadians throughout Canada and to reconsider his decision to exclude Inuit from the recently announced $100 million federal program for aboriginal Canadians.
Bill 1, Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2006-07, with Mr. Arreak in the Chair.
We will take a break for 30-minutes.
>>House recessed at 15:21 and resumed at 15:59
Chairman (Mr. Arreak)(interpretation): We can resume out meeting.
We are now in Committee of the Whole. During the Committee of the Whole we were dealing with Bill 1. (interpretation ends) Mr. Evyagotailak.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with the Department of Community and Government Services and follow that with the review of capital for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Evyagotailak. Madame Minister would you like to go to the witness table with your officials?
Thank you and welcome Madame Minister and your officials.
For our information, Madame Minister, if you could introduce your officials.
On my left is Tom Rich, my Deputy Minister, and to my right David Akoak, Assistant Deputy Minister.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Madame Minister. Welcome Mr. Rich and Mr. Akoak. We are page J-14 and 15.
Any questions on that page? I have no names on my list.
J-15. (interpretation ends) Tangible Assets.
Kitikmeot Region. Total Kitikmeot.
J-15.
Total Kitikmeot Region. $3,816,000.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): The other page.
Chairman (interpretation): Yes, Kitikmeot is agreed.
J-15. $11,904,000.
It is very important that the storage and distribution to the communities...
Chairman (interpretation): Can you hold on a second please?
We are not on J-16 yet.
We are under Total Tangible Assets. $11,904,000. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): We are J-16.
Community and Government Services. Petroleum Products under J-17.
What I wanted to say was I would like to ask the Minister, in regard to the delivery to the Kivalliq region, I think the fuel contracts are extended already. I would like to ask the Minister or the Deputy Minister when this fuel contract will be tendered once the contract has lapsed.
There are different re-supply ships that come to Qikiqtaaluk bringing fuel supply. There are three of them. The contract for re-supply was renewed for another two years.
(interpretation ends) The renewal was conditional on Woodward’s agreeing to implement equipment safety and environmental procedures based on the information received from Transport Canada.
It was also conditional on scheduling improvements to reduce late seasonal shipment. Woodwards has fully complied with both conditions.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): We understood last year that the contract for re-supply had an option whether to be extended for one year.
But now we understand that it’s a two-year extension.
When was it renewed? And, which region was that re-supply ship?
Is it one, or is it more?
Hon. Levinia Brown: I will have my deputy respond to that question.
The contract renewal was done late last spring and it was renewed for two years.
The basis for the renewal was the fact that it offered significant economic advantage to the territory to do that.
There was a no price increase clause in the renewal, which allowed us to continue with the same price for the contract, even though the fuel operating costs are increasing every year; the costs of operating the ships are increasing every year.
So, we realized a significant savings over the two-year renewal period of the contract.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): One of the questions that I asked, I did not get a response for.
Is it for one region, or is it for the whole Eastern Arctic, Hudson Bay re-supply?
The contract was renewed for the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions.
The contract, I’m sorry, let me try that again, was for the Kivalliq and Baffin region.
The contract for the Kitikmeot region is done as part of the contract arrangements through the Northwest Territories and we join with the Northwest Territories on their contract.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. I appreciate the response. Is this contract a single contract, delivery contract for both regions?
It’s not a separate contract for Kivalliq or Baffin?
Is that what I understood? Thank you.
It’s a single contract for both regions.
The deputy minister indicated to this House that there were significant savings.
Is it also profitable for the company, in view of the fact that you have ensured the Government of Nunavut at least gets significant savings from the joint arrangements?
I can only assume the company feels it’s profitable, that’s why they entered into the contract to provide the service.
With respect to the consultation that was carried out in the region, I believe, my understanding was for dry cargo. Was that also a fuel contract? Was that also involved?
Or, was it just a dry cargo consultation of the interest groups, focus groups, at least the company that does business with the shipping companies.
Maybe the deputy minister can clarify that for us.
We’re on page Petroleum Products Division. Madame Minister.
We have heard from Nunavummiut, and I have heard from Nunavummiut that in regard to contracts for re-supply, and I would like to get my deputy minister to talk about the petroleum products contract and the dry goods contract.
The consultation that was carried out was for the dry goods contract only and not for the fuel contract.
The dry goods contract was not renewed and it will be tendered later this year.
Mr. Curley: I appreciate the clarification; that’s important to this House.
I have a further question with respect to the delivery of the petroleum products.
In view of the energy prices that are increasing lavishly, I believe they have yet to be fully impacted on Nunavut, we likely will next year.
Is there a likelihood that the fuel contract would remain continually separate from the dry cargo historic arrangement that used to be part of the Kivalliq Region?
You indicated that there was significant savings, and if that is the case, that same rate is important for the people of Nunavut. We also see the significant possibility of increased costs next year with the cost of energy; at least it will come up on Nunavummiut when new purchases for fuel are bought some time next year.
So I would like the minister or deputy minister to explain that the department will likely recommend that the fuel contracts remain independent from dry cargo.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Curley. Madame Minister.
Companies seem to prefer separate contracts; cargo and not fuel contracts.
Mr. Curley: I certainly understand; there’s an independent fuel company like Woodwards that fully enjoys that benefit, but historically, that was not the case with the Kivalliq Region.
Mr. Chairman, if you would understand that there was a long-term arrangement before the delivery of dry cargo along with the fuel contract.
So, are we seeing now, in view of the fuel energy costs going up, that we will likely never see...unless there’s some cheap way to come about having a joint contract with dry cargo and fuel in the foreseeable future? Am I correct in that kind of a strategy?
I will ask my deputy minister to answer that.
It’s obviously difficult to speculate too far in the future, but I can say that we have had, over the last year or year and a half, discussions with a number of shipping companies, three in number that I can think of at least, and all have indicated that the particular direction they see is volume shipping, and as a result of volume shipping for both dry cargo and fuel cargo, they see the best economic scale coming from having separate contracts; you are going to use larger ships, which reduces your costs for both dry cargo and fuel cargo.
Interestingly enough, even in the Western Arctic, on the delivery there, which is still combined dry and fuel, this year there was an experiment to try a separate fuel and this went around Alaska by NTCL because, again, looking at the volume in a larger ship that could deliver to the Western Arctic.
So, based on that, I would say it’s fair to say probably, at least in the short to medium-term, a separation of the two.
Mr. Curley: That’s important information for the Assembly.
Obviously, there might be some optional consideration in the long run.
With respect to petroleum delivery to communities, the government still has a significant role I think in purchasing of petroleum products from the markets in southern Canada.
Has there ever been any discussion with the petroleum companies, whether or not they should take responsibility for delivery, itself, rather than the government entering into separate delivery contracts with fuel tankers? Any thought to that kind of a plan?
Hon. Levinia Brown: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, I will have my deputy answer that.
I have the advantage that the minister hasn’t had over the past two years having some discussions with shipping companies on this.
It’s my understanding that most of the major oil companies have got out of the direct shipping business. They are no longer, by and large, interested in that.
They do some on a small measure, but essentially they’ve separated their operations now, so that their primary operation is the refining of fuel and not delivery.
They are not particularly interested in having joint contracts.