EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
As Members of the Legislative Assembly, we are going to have to work together to make sure that these changes are done properly.
That’s just a comment we are going to need to communicate with each other to ensure these regulations are done properly.
Chairperson (interpretation): I will give the Minister of Finance a chance to respond. Mr. Ng.
It wasn’t in response to the question.
I was considering raising a point of order, Mr. Chairman, but I won’t.
What I wanted to do was raise a question on a comment that Mr. Hunter made earlier.
Now I don’t have the Hansards here before me, but from my recollection of what was said, Mr. Chairman, was that he asked the witnesses whether they would consider going over budget in the stabilization fund in order to protect consumers from a potential price increase in gasoline prices.
I would suggest to you Mr. Chairman, if that is what he said, and we will have an opportunity to review that in the Hansard, I would suggest Mr. Chairman, that is an irresponsible statement coming from a member of this House and suggesting that we contravene our own legislation for political purposes.
Now I will have an opportunity, once the Hansards come out to review that but I would like to bring that point up to this House and ask the member himself whether he could clarify those remarks.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Tootoo would you like to respond.
We are running out of time and I will give Mr. Tootoo a chance to speak but there are other members that haven’t had a chance.
In response to Mr. Kelvin’s query, I believe I indicated that what I was getting at is the budgets are set and we set them and in cases like where the Health Boards go over to meet the needs if it wasn’t done in this case, if going over the price stabilization fund meant maintaining a level out there, if that was something that was looked at or not.
As Mr. Kelvin knows that if departments go over they can come forward with a supplementary appropriation after the fact to make up for those over expenditures.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Point of order, Mr. Chairman.
The Honourable Member referred to me as Mr. Kelvin on two occasions.
I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but I will ask that he properly address all members of this House.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. In the House I would like to remind all members that we cannot use the first name of a person, please keep in mind that we address members by their surnames.
Then I too would like to raise a point of order that the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay referred to me by my first name earlier as well.
Chairperson (interpretation): I am sure that everything is okay now since both of you have raised points of order.
At this time we will have Mr. McLean.
Mr. McLean: Ma’na, Mr. Chairman.
I am a rookie Member of the Legislative Assembly and I don’t have the experience and wealth of knowledge that they have on the other side of the table, so I don’t want to get into one of these contests of points of order today, please.
So if I ask a question, it’s because of my ignorance, not because I am trying to be smart.
Getting to POL, which I take a great delight on, you are talking about when, just a little story here for a Friday afternoon, I know we’re all in a hurry.
But I was probably one of the last POL operators in the private sector in the old Northwest Territories, as my colleague, Mr. Mercer was when we sold it out of the back of the Hudson Bay stores in the back of 45 gallon drums.
When we did get into the POL in 1972, I was very happy that I didn’t have to go out there and shovel out drums and wobble pump five pounds of gas to my customers, because it was very expensive then.
But continuing on, my questions are just simple questions that I think should be easy.
When we purchase fuel, do we go to one wholesale supplier for a bulk purchase of fuel from one supplier, or is it bought from two or three suppliers.
We had a three year contract signed with NTCL to buy the bulk fuel for the Government of Nunavut.
So this contract doesn’t expire until October 15, 2001.
So this was the first year of the three year contract, wherein NTCL purchases and transports the fuel into Nunavut.
Do they deliver fuel to every community in Nunavut.
Do they have the contract for every community in Nunavut.
Mr. McLean: If they have a three year contract does that include the purchasing of it.
The contract with NTCL is to purchase and to transport the fuel into the communities for the next three years.
Basically what happens is that we now know what the transportation costs will be for the next two years of this contract.
The price of fuel, when NTCL purchases it, is bought at whatever the racking price is the day that they buy it to transport it, to get it ready to transport it into Nunavut.
Mr. McLean: Ma’na Itsivautaq.
So what you are saying is that whoever tenders the fuel, if we put a tender out for fuel in Nunavut, most of those who bid on it are given the same price from the Iraqi’s, is that correct.
So the difference in the fuel contracts would be on the freight delivery.
That statement is correct.
Chairperson (interpretation): Anything else Mr. McLean.
Mr. McLean: No.
Just ballpark this figure.
What is the average cost per litre for delivery in Nunavut.
I know it is different in Pelly Bay and in Arctic Bay and Arviat, but what is the per litre cost for delivery of fuel into Nunavut.
The cost to deliver fuel into the Keewatin is 13 cents a litre, to bring it into the Kitikmeot is 33 cents a litre and for the Baffin, including Iqaluit, is 11 cents.
But if you include the bulk sales to Iqaluit then the Baffin region would be 16 cents a litre.
Mr. McLean: Thank you Mr. Chairman, Uriash, good thing I looked up again, I was almost…Thirty three cents a litre to deliver fuel into the Kitikmeot communities, is that because it has to go up the Mackenzie River.
Is that why the high cost compared to the 13 cents a litre here in the Keewatin.
Mr. Green: That is a correct statement.
Chairperson (interpretation): Please recognize the chair if you are going to be making comments.
It is very hard to go through the Chairperson but in order to carry out our proceedings, please recognize the chair before you make any comments.
When you talk about 13 cents a litre into the Keewatin, does that include the freight from Winnipeg to Churchill in that price or is it brought around via Montreal.
That includes the route charges as well.
So basically the 13 cents in the Keewatin is from Churchill into the Keewatin region.
I was rudely interrupted by my colleague across the House there and I misunderstood the answer.
So you said that it is 13 cents a litre from Churchill into the Keewatin.
What’s the rail charge from Winnipeg to Churchill, do you know.
The rail freight is 4 cents a litre.
That’s good information.
There’s one other question that I have and I have a few more so I would like to thank my colleagues for letting me ask.
What’s the administration costs, roughly, in the neighbourhood, I don’t need it down to the dollar, for administering POL in Nunavut.
Like what are the head office charges for administration.
The headquarters, finance and administration costs are 2 million dollars.
The headquarters operation, that is for repair and maintenance to the tank farms is 1.5 and there is 2.4 million dollars that each regional office staff is responsible for the resupply, general maintenance, utilities at the tank farms, so on and so forth.
So it’s around close to 5.5 million dollars in headquarters expense.
I would like to inform the members here that we will be recessing here at 2 o’clock and it is now 2 o’clock.
At this time I would like to thank the two officials who have been here and ask the Speaker to return to the chair.
Speaker (interpretation): Going back to the orders of the day. Item 20.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 9 and the Minister’s Statement 51-1(3) and would like to report that Bill 9 is ready for third reading, and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with.
Is there a seconder to the motion.
Bill 9 is ready for third reading.
Item 21. Third reading of Bills.
Item 22. Orders of the Day.
This afternoon at 3 in the afternoon, meeting of the Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health at the hotel boardroom.
Orders of the Day for Monday, February 28th at 1:30.
-Tabled document 24-1(3), 25-1(3), 27-1(3),
The House stands recessed until Monday, February 28 at 1:30.
>>House recessed at 2:03 p.m.
DAY 18
Monday, February 28, 2000
Pages 690 - 747
Opening Prayer 690
Ministers’ Statements 690
Members’ Statements 693
Returns to Oral Questions 700
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 704
Oral Questions 705
Point of Privilege 709
Written questions 722
Replies to Opening Address 723
Tabling of Documents 730
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 731
Report of the Committee of the Whole 746
Orders of the Day 746
Monday, February 28, 2000 690
67 – 1(3): Mining in Nunavut (Kilabuk) 690
68 – 1(3): Justice of the Peace Training (Anawak) 691
69 – 1(3): Science Awards (Arvaluk) 692
70 – 1(3): Staffing Capacity and IEP Update (Ng) 693
147 – 1(3): MLA’s Trip to Repulse Bay (Alakannuark) 693
148 – 1(3): Baffin Leaders Summit in Hall Beach (Irqittuq) 694
149 – 1(3): Kugluktuk Minor Hockey (Havioyak) 695
150 – 1(3): Culture, Language, Elders & Youth Programs (Iqaqrialu) 695
151 – 1(3): Iqaluit Arctic Winter Games Participants (Tootoo) 695
152 – 1(3): Cambridge Bay Arctic Winter Games Participants (Ng) 696
153 – 1(3): Appreciation to Chesterfield Inlet (Picco) 696
154 – 1(3): Cost of Private Housing (Kattuk) 697
155 – 1(3): Inuit Heritage Centre (McLean) 697
156 – 1(3): Visits to Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet (Arvaluk) 698
157 – 1(3): Tribute to Rankin Inlet (Anawak) 698
158 – 1(3): Appreciation to Rankin Inlet Residents (Nutarak) 699
159 – 1(3): Facilities for Youth (Thompson) 699
160 – 1(3): Soapstone Mine Safety (Akesuk) 699
Return to OQ 199 – 1(3): Qikitarjuaq Clam Harvesting (Ng) 700
Return to OQ 201 – 1(3): Federal Airport Capital Assistance Program. (Anawak) 701
Return to OQ 175 – 1(3): Support for Smaller Communities (Kilabuk) 701
Return to OQ 50 – 1(3):Contracting Information (Okalik) 702
237 - 1(3): Changes to Elders Funding Policy (Iqaqrialu) 705
238 - 1(3): Use of Apex Treatment Centre (Tootoo) 706
239 - 1(3): Status of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Alakannuark) 708
240 - 1(3): Inuktitut Writing Systems (Puqiqnak) 709
241 - 1(3): Policies Regarding Housing (Kattuk) 710
242 - 1(3): Tracking of Contracts (O'Brien) 711
243 - 1(3): Tabling of Cultural Information (Irqittuq) 712
244 - 1(3): Assistance for Artists (Akesuk) 714
245 - 1(3): Social Assistance Cost of Living Increases (McLean) 715
246 - 1(3): Pond Inlet Health Centre (Nutarak) 717
247 - 1(3): Task Force Information (Tootoo) 718
248 - 1(3): Insurance for Social Assistance Recipients (Iqaqrialu) 719
249 - 1(3): Payment Process for Social Assistance (Iqaqrialu) 720
06 - 1(3): Culture, Language, Elders & Youth Funding Programs (Iqaqrialu) 722
07 - 1(3): Department of Justice Funding Programs (Iqaqrialu) 722
08 - 1(3): Community Government & Transportation Funding Programs (Iqaqrialu) 722
09 - 1(3): Health & Social Services Funding Programs (Iqaqrialu) 722
10 - 1(3): Sustainable Development Funding Programs (Iqaqrialu) 722
11 - 1(3): Education Funding Programs (Iqaqrialu) 722
33 - 1(3): Inuit Employment Statistics (Okalik) 730
34 - 1(3): Baffin Leaders Summit Resolutions (Irqittuq) 730
35 - 1(3): List of Consultants (Okalik) 730  36 - 1(3): Inuit Employment Plan (Ng) 731
37 - 1(3): Towards a Representative Public Service (Ng) 731
H.  Replies to Opening Address
33 - 1(3): Inuit Employment Statistics (Okalik) 730  34 - 1(3): Baffin Leaders Summit Resolutions (Irqittuq) 730
35 - 1(3): List of Consultants (Okalik) 730
36 - 1(3): Inuit Employment Plan (Ng) 731  37 - 1(3): Towards a Representative Public Service (Ng) 731
Monday, February 28, 2000  Nunavut Hansard
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut  Monday, February 28, 2000
Orders of the day Item 2, Ministers' Statements.
Minister’s Statement 67 – 1(3): Mining in Nunavut
I want to speak today on a topic of great interest to the people of the Kivalliq, but also of interest to many communities in Nunavut.
That topic is the development of resource minerals.
Presently the mining industry in Nunavut consists of two zinc mines, Nanisivik and Polaris, which employ 430 people and generate revenues of 225 million dollars a year.
The Lupine gold mine is expected to reopen in the coming months and employ an additional 325 people.
They may not be all Inuit people but there will be 325 people employed.
Over the past two years 125 million dollars has been invested by the private sector in exploration for minerals in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, a number of developments have resulted in making Nunavut one of the best regions in the world for investment in mineral exploration.
The signing of the 1993 Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the creation of the Nunavut Government has lead to great interest and excitement in the mining world about the potential that exists in Nunavut.
This year we increased funding to the Nunavut prospectors program to invest in the most important source of early information on mineral deposits.
In September in partnership with the Government of Canada we opened the Canada/Nunavut Geo-Science Centre, which will build an information base on which investment decisions will be made in Nunavut.
Next week I will be participating in the Prospectors and Developers Annual Conference in Toronto where Nunavut will have its own trade show booth.
I will be able to meet with the investors.
Some of the mineral projects have been discovered recently and Nunavut showed tremendous potential here in the Kivalliq region.
Here in the Kivalliq region the Meladine and Meadowbank projects show great potential.
The question we now must ask ourselves is, are we ready to take full advantage of these opportunities.
The participation of Nunavummiut in the mining and mining related jobs is presently quite low.
Mr. Speaker, if in the past industry and government were satisfied that the benefits of mineral development would largely pass over local communities, then let me say that we want more for Nunavut and Nunavummiut.
To achieve these goals we need above all to work with industry and Inuit organizations.
Over the course of the next few months we be finalising a discussion paper on Preparing for Mining Development in Nunavut, which I hope will serve as a foundation for a new era in resource development in Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 68 – 1(3): Justice of the Peace Training
Last October I reported that the Department of Justice was about to start a training program for Justices of the Peace.
I am pleased to tell you today that our Justice of the Peace Administrator, Mr. Neil Sharkey, held intensive training sessions for JPs in November and December.
He continues to train on a one on one basis and has organised more sessions for March and April.
It is important to ensure that we have enough JPs in our communities to carry out the work.
Presently we have 53 active JPs throughout the territory.
We also have 17 inactive JPs who are still qualified but who are taking a break from their duties for one reason or another.
There are JPs in 24 communities.
However all 28 communities in Nunavut are served because some JPs travel as required.
There are 10 new applications from individuals wishing to become JPs, and the Chief Judge will be deciding on these soon.
We are doing very well in terms of our numbers, but we must continue to recruit new JPs in the communities to ensure that we have full coverage of all communities.
Our goal between now and 2002 is to have a total of 100 active JPs in Nunavut.
This would allow us to have three in each of the 25 smaller communities and another 25 who would be divided among the three larger centres of Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay and Iqaluit.
It is important to have at least three JPs in the communities for a number of reasons.
First, we need to be sure that there is always a JP available.
Second, so it will be possible to sit together and hear cases.
Supporting each other is important and sometimes two heads are better than one.
Third, having at least three JPs in communities will help to avoid conflicts where a JP might be asked to preside over a case involving a relative as the accused or victim.
Recruitment of new JPs is an important task and Neil Sharkey has made it his priority this year along with training.
For example, he was recently in Rankin Inlet to discuss JP recruitment with the community.
He is working closely with Chief Judge Brown on this.
As new JPs are recruited they are assessed for their training needs and then trained by Mr. Sharkey and others.
In order to assist the process, Mr. Sharkey is producing a new training manual for Nunavut JPs that will ready in March.
Finally, I will say that our priority is to hire Inuktitut speaking JPs.
While we also have some fine JPs who don't speak Inuktitut, it is important for us to reflect the make-up of our communities by ensuring that important positions like Justices of the Peace are filled by people who can communicate well with community members.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell the members that our Justice of the Peace recruitment and training program is making good progress towards its goals.
Minister’s Statement 69 – 1(3): Science Awards
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize students from Manni Ulujuk School who won science awards on February 22.
I had the privilege of awarding students from grades 5 to 8 that were selected as winners for their science projects with Naullaq Arnaquq my ADM. The total number of students were 47 who placed between first and third place some being tied and in pairs or groups.
There were winners in each grade and among these, 2 overall winners were chosen to take their work to the Kivalliq Regional Science Fair in March and 2 others who will be observers.
(interpretation ends) To name a few examples of the projects: Cultural Memory, Test for Fats, Ketchup Waste, Whether or not Weather, Crash.
The two groups that were tied and were chosen for best overall and will go to the Kivalliq Regional Science Fair are: First place, S. Ningeocheak and C. Connelly.
The other first place contestant is Rebecca Berthiaume.
The other two groups that will be observers will be: second place, Kelli McLarty and Kathleen Merritt.
Third place: R. Landry, Shuana Scobie and Victoria Ittinuar.
Mr. Speaker, our students deserve recognition.
I would like to extend a round of applause to all the winners and their teachers for their interest and work in science.
Congratulations to the students and the teachers.
Ministers' Statements. Mr. Ng.
Minister’s Statement 70 – 1(3): Staffing Capacity and IEP Update
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, I raise today to update members of the Legislative Assembly with the third quarter staffing capacity and Inuit employment statistics within the Nunavut Government.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this House that to date our government has filled 1 thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven positions, or 75 percent of the positions in all Nunavut Government departments and boards and agencies.
Overall Mr. Speaker, our Inuit employment rate is 44 percent.
Since I last updated this House in October, our overall capacity has increased by 2 percent.
In the Nunavut Government departments staffing capacity has increased to fifty-nine percent with an Inuit employment rate of forty-two percent.
Based on the data we received capacity in the boards and agencies decreased slightly to eighty-seven percent with an Inuit employment rate of forty-six percent.
Mr. Speaker, our staffing has been aggressive in initiating ninety-eight competitions during this quarter representing an increase over the previous two quarters.
Mr. Speaker, I am confident that as graduates from the Nunavut Senior Assignment Program join our public service in April, and we continue to staff up our civil service during the next fiscal year, our capacity and Inuit employment statistics will increase as our government implements the Inuit Employment Plan strategies.
Our Inuit Employment Plan is designed to specifically target training programs to prepare Inuit for Nunavut Government jobs.
Later on today Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling these statistics and our government's Inuit Employment Plan in the House so that all members may review it.
In closing Mr. Speaker, I believe that if we all work together on a common goal, we can have a government that is representative of the people it serves.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Ministers' Statements.
Going back to the order of the day.
Member’s Statement 147 – 1(3): MLA’s Trip to Repulse Bay
Today I rise to report to you that we went to Repulse Bay with my colleagues and I'm glad some of the members of the Legislative Assembly could make it to Repulse Bay.
I'm very happy they came along with me and I would like to thank Premier Okalik and Minister Jack Anawak for coming to our community.
Later I started thinking when we got close to Repulse Bay that all of us were Inuit members and I was so proud and happy about that.
There was not even one Qallunaaq although I'm not against Qallunaaq.
I would like to apologise to our Minister of Health and Social Services because there was no room for him on the plane.
I'm very sorry about that and perhaps some time in the future I would like to go to Repulse and Pelly Bay with the minister.
Also the hospitality was great in Repulse Bay and once we landed there we went to the hotel and then to the school gymnasium.
They had a feast waiting for us. Everything was well prepared for us well ahead of time and the people were happy to see us.
You could really see it in their faces that they were happy to see us.
After that in the evening we went to the community hall and all the members came along and the hospitality was great.
The Hamlet Council was incredible and I would like to thank all the Inuit people of Repulse Bay.
Member’s Statement 148 – 1(3): Baffin Leaders Summit in Hall Beach
I rise today to tell you of the Baffin Island Leaders meeting held December 6 to 9, 1999.
My home community of Hall Beach was very pleased to be the host of the Baffin Leaders Summit.
I would like to thank the Baffin leaders for choosing Hall Beach for its meeting, and thank the community and the Hamlet for welcoming the leaders.
Also, I would like to thank the cabinet ministers who attended the meeting including Premier Paul Okalik and Minister Ed Picco, Minister James Arvaluk and Minister Donald Havioyak.
I would like to extend my thank you, although some of you only stayed for half the day.
Mr. Speaker, we had a very good meeting and later today I will be tabling twenty-three resolutions passed at the leaders summit.
They cover a broad range of subjects from transportation to health care.
I would like to mention motion number eleven about ongoing support for the Baffin Leader Summit.
The motion points out that it is not clear who is responsible for providing ongoing support of the Baffin Leaders Summit.
We have to get this co-ordinated and find out who will be providing support.
Motion number eleven makes that statement.
Previously the Department of Community Government has helped organise and provide follow-up for the leaders' summit.
In motion eleven the Baffin Leaders Summit recommended that funding be provided for the Baffin Leaders Summit.
They made a motion that the next meeting would be held in May.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr Irqittuq.
Member’s Statement 149 – 1(3): Kugluktuk Minor Hockey
Hon. Donald Havioyak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about a minor hockey tournament held in Kugluktuk.
I would like to recognize the hockey players from Kugluktuk.
There were sixty-seven participants from seven years old to seventeen years of age.
There were also five people that I would like to mention by name, who participated very well.
In particular I would like to mention Best Goalie Gordon Junior Ilenik, Best Defence player Chris Kiatchak, Best Young Player Gordon Junior Ilenik and Most Sportsman-like player Darcy Havioyak and MVP Lena Adjun.