EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I don't want to be left out so I would like to say thank you to the people of Rankin Inlet.
Especially Joani Ungalak who invited us for meals very frequently and also Raymond Ningeocheak.
I would like to thank them and also my sister who I've been billeting with.
I want to thank her very much for supporting me and I haven't seen her for a very long time.
Also my wife who has been ill for some time and also my father for being very patient while I'm still here.
I love them all and also my children.
Mr. Speaker it gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Assembly some of the people we talked about earlier today.
From the Rankin Inlet Birthing Centre, here in Rankin Inlet: midwife Rachel Monday, maternity worker Diane Tiktak and Sue Leiffer, Director of Patient Services at the Keewatin Health and Social Services Board.
It is my understanding that Sue is one of those people who has had their baby here at the birthing centre.
So, welcome to you all.
There are so many people that I would like to recognize, please bear with me and I will keep it as brief as possible.
First of all I would like to recognize my adopted son and my grandchild Manitok, the father is Herman Bruce who is wearing a red coat over there.
Also, I would like to recognize the people who came in from Whale Cove by charter.
I wanted to show them how the House sits.
We have the people from Whale Cove up there.
I asked them to bring their kamiks and their amautiqs for show and there they are up there.
Barry Nangmalik, Doreen Kritedlik, Rene Putulik, Alana Copeland, Mukpah Kritedlik, Greg Myers, Rachel Misheralak, Maxine Angoo, Terryrose Teenar, Russel Mullands, Delores Muktaak, Pamela Arualak, Johnathan Angoo, Rodney Sabarine and their escort David Beaver, Principal of Inublak School.
So that’s the students, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you, I'm not very good with names, I recognize people over there but I would like to recognise a person who is originally from Rankin Inlet Mike Courtney.
I thank him for his hard work.
I would like to recognize our pages Silu Ittinuar, Charlotte Kusugak, Tamara Nahadlulik, Sam Pilikapsie and William Tiktak and also our sergeant at arms Mr. Manernaluk.
It is exceptionally nice when we have pages and Sergeant at arms who work very hard and are familiar with the proceedings of the House.
Mr. Akesuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker I would like to recognise our interpreters for being very supportive.
They start work in the morning and they work constantly until everything is done.
I would like to recognize all those people in the gallery that have not been formally recognized.
Speaker: Item 6. Oral Questions. Mr. McLean.
Question 250 - 1(3): Location of Nunavut Power Corporation Headquarters
Mr. McLean: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, this will be the last time I will rise in Rankin Inlet.
The Minister responsible for our very own Nunavut Power Corporation.
For the record can the Minister advise the House today where the headquarters for the new Nunavut Power Corporation will be located.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that I will be hearing many more questions from Mr. McLean over the coming months and years and I for one am looking forward to that.
Mr. Speaker, I can confirm the assumption that we are working under is Baker Lake will be the headquarters for the new Nunavut Power Corporation.
Indeed I believe the Premier has written a letter to officially say that to the mayor of Baker Lake.
Mr. McLean: We will be dancing in the streets in Baker Lake tonight.
Can the Minister answer the next question.
What are the Minister's best estimates for how many headquarters positions will be located in Baker Lake.
Mr. Speaker that is an excellent question.
Right now we are working under the assumption that through the Ikuma report, which we discussed in the House last week, that it will depend on the level of outsourcing that we will do through the request for expressions of interest with the three short listed corporations.
To see what level of capacity that we will build over the next couple of years.
That will determine Mr. Speaker, how many jobs will be moved to Baker Lake.
Is the minister able to explain to me if the Power Corporation is going to have any type of training program now.
Or will it be implementing one shortly, because my understanding is that the head office function will be set up by March 2001.
Mr. Speaker in the Ikuma Report we briefly touch on the training aspect for the Nunavut Power Corporation.
I think one of the exciting things that we see in the new Nunavut Power Corporation is the opportunity for the Nunavut Government with our own crown corporation to look at training aspects and training needs for people on the ground.
Once we get our CEO in place, which will probably over the next four to six weeks and our board up and running, then we will be looking at what opportunities there are, in regards to the outsourcing that we talked about earlier.
To see what type of training programs we can put on the ground and in place for the people of Baker Lake to get some of those jobs.
They can include on the job training.
Speaker: Thank you Mr Picco.
Question 251 - 1(3): Government Subsidies
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister responsible for Finance and Administration.
Mr. Speaker last June, I asked the Minister if his department would be looking at what we are paying in subsidies and where they are going and is that the best use of our subsidies.
In light of what we heard yesterday that our government is subsidising the federal government for fuel, I would like to ask the minister if he has made any progress or is there a progress report on the different subsidies provided by this government.
Minister responsible for Finance and Administration.
Mr. Speaker, I regret to say that no we haven't.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, it's nice getting those types of answers, Mr. Speaker.
I'm wondering if the Minister can take a look at doing some type of review, because looking at the petroleum products division where we find we are subsidising the federal government to the tune of nearly a quarter of a million dollars, it is scary.
Are there more subsidies that are like that, that we don't know about.
I would like to ask the minister if he would commit to doing a review of the subsidies that are out there and put a time frame to it.
Mr. Speaker, yes I can commit to doing a review to see exactly what subsidies that we have across all departments.
Mr. Speaker I appreciate that response from the Minister of Finance.
I would like to ask if he could commit to a time frame as to when we could possibly look at seeing this type of report.
I would think the budget session is coming up already in three weeks.
It is not likely that something like this would come into effect in this fiscal year, but if we look at it now then maybe we can implement and plan for some possible changes that we may find in the next budget session.
Mr. Speaker if I could get an idea of a time frame on that.
Mr. Speaker it might be appropriate during the budget review of some department if they ask questions on what they would have.
In respect to compiling government wide what subsidies are out there I would say realistically with the budget session planned to last until the Easter weekend which is the latter part of April.
Realistically, we are probable looking at June, July possibly the fall before this kind of information would be compiled. I don't want to give too early a date, given that it takes a bit of work on behalf of all departments and the government as a whole.
Mr Speaker, maybe I could ask the minister as we saw yesterday there are subsidies that are going to non-government agencies and companies.
Also our subsidies in the report that we saw yesterday from the committee of the whole, it shows that we subsidise a number of our own government departments and corporations.
I'm wondering if those too will be looked at.
If there is a better way of providing that subsidy.
Mr. Speaker, in trying to put together the information we would try to be as comprehensive as possible and try to cover all aspects of where the subsidies are going.
Whether it is to a crown corporation or a non-governmental organization or other levels of governments.
We will try to be as comprehensive as we can in trying to put together that information.
Question 252 - 1(3): Level of Eye Care
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, residents of Taloyoak have recently expressed concern about the level of eye care that they are currently receiving.
At present eye doctors only come to the community for a few days at a time.
This is not enough time to allow for appointments of all those who need them.
People are going without the necessary care they need.
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister.
Why do eye doctors spend so little time in communities like Taloyoak.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker that is an excellent question and it has come up to me as the minister of health over the last two months, not only from the member's community but from other communities.
From my understanding Mr. Speaker we signed off an agreement with the NIHB, which are the non-insured health benefits on April of 1999.
At that time we were only allowed to offer a fixed number of days of service based on the population.
That is why the number of days being spent right now giving eye services in Taloyoak, for example Mr. Speaker, a smaller community like Taloyoak would get two visits a year for about three days at a time.
A larger community like Cambridge Bay would get three visits a year.
So, I hope that helps to answer the question.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for the quick response.
When we talk about three days, yes I know they could stay in our community for three days.
But what is the department doing to improve the level of eye care to the residents of smaller communities.
So that it can be better co-ordinated.
Minister for Health and Social Services, Mr. Picco.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, again a good question from the member.
Right now the contract that we signed with the NIHB tells us how many days we can serve a community and so on.
That is set by the federal government, and that is the uninsured health benefits.
That contract or agreement is up 2001 and we will be working to increase those days for our smaller communities, and indeed for all our communities in Nunavut.
So we can have more days allowed for eye care and eye care exams.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Picco. Oral questions.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, when can the residents of Taloyoak expect to see an eye doctor.
I see you will be looking into it next year for the smaller communities.
I know the smaller communities will be looking to see the eye doctors stay in the communities for a longer time.
When can the residents of Taloyoak expect to see an eye doctor in their community on a more regular basis.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr. Speaker, according to the information provided to me right now at the present time, Taloyoak gets two visits a year for a minimum of three days of the eye team.
Now I would expect Speaker, that the eye team would have already been in Taloyoak and I would believe another visit would be coming up.
I can confirm that with our Kitikmeot Board office in Cambridge Bay to see when the next visit for the eye team is expected.
Again through the contract of NIHB, the Federal Government that pays for these services tells us how many days we can get and it's based on the population.
So for a smaller community, like I said, it's for at least two visits a year of three days each.
We are going to try, when that agreement comes up, to bring that total up so that the smaller communities and even the larger communities can get more service under that contract.
Question 253 - 1(3): Climate Change
I would like to direct this question to the Minister of Sustainable Development in regards to the climate change.
First of all, I would like to say that I grew up as a hunter and having to stay outside all the time.
I too can notice the change from the past to the present.
The weather did not just start changing.
It started warming up quite a long time ago and it kind of cooled down in the mid years as I was growing up.
In your statements you have stated that scientists have done research on the climate and I could tell you that the elders know the environment very well because they have lived it.
Why have you not involved the elders in the climate change study.
That way you could use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to study how the weather pattern is from the past to date utilising the elders.
Yes I would like to further explain my Minister's Statement, as I have stated that I have seen them for the first time that's why I tabled them in my Minister's Statement.
The scientists have done studies for quite a number of years.
They've been keeping close watch on the climate and weather and they now understand that the weather is getting warmer.
I just tabled the Federal Government scientists' reports so that was part of my Minister's Statement.
To date, we have not made any plans about whether we should use the elders on global warming.
Question 254 - 1(3): Pension Payments
I was going to direct this question to the Premier, but perhaps I should direct it to the Deputy Premier.
Mr. Speaker, the elders are not receiving their elders pension for quite a long time and today we have no other means to survive except by getting some money.
I know that these elders don't have jobs.
They receive their pensions too late.
I know that this is the Federal Government's responsibility and it's in their jurisdiction.
So therefore, I would like to ask the Deputy Premier if the Nunavut Government could take the responsibility over the old age pension cheques.
Deputy Premier Mr. Ng.
Mr. Speaker the member is correct, it is a Federal program and because of that they have responsibilities for the payments but that is a very specific problems on timing issues.
Certainly it is an issue that we could raise on behalf of all our constituents so if it is a universal problem then we could try to deal with it.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): In regards to my question, when we met with the elders they mentioned this problem and their concern and I would also like you to find out from the Federal Government if they can issue the cheques at an earlier time because the elders would like to see this problem resolved.
Question 255 - 1(3): Federal Budget
Mr. Speaker, my question is again for the Minister responsible for Finance and Administration.
Mr. Speaker, I'd heard that the Minister of Finance was interviewed on the radio regarding the Federal Budget address.
I would like to ask the minister if he would take the opportunity to formally advise the House as to any preliminary reaction from yesterday's budget.
Minster of Finance, Mr. Ng.
Mr. Speaker I think in the radio interview I did this morning I generally said that in respect of Nunavut residents that the changes that have been proposed and the announcements made about the reinvestments are generally very positive for Nunavut as a whole.
Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the Minister's answer.
I was just wondering if there was going to be a more, you know if he's planning on making a more detailed reply or statement in regards to how this affects Nunavut and if there's anything that we as regular members could help him push for our cause here in Nunavut to address to his Federal colleagues.
There will be an analysis from our Department of Finance and Administration on the Federal budget's announcements yesterday.
Right now I'm in the process of having it translated and it's almost complete.
I was going to provide a copy of that to all the members of this House.
It summarises the initiatives in respect of tax reduction and some of the investment initiatives announced in the Federal budget.
Mr. Speaker, does, I know I just asked the Minister if he plans on responding to his colleagues at the Federal level.
Is that something that's normally done if they're happy with it or not.
If so, I noticed there's something I know that we've all said is a priority for this government and that's housing and I didn't hear anything and I don't believe there is anything in regards to housing, new housing dollars or initiatives pointed out in the Federal budget.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that historically, obviously Finance Ministers and Premiers are generally asked for comments by media after the Federal Budget as was the case this morning when I did the interview with CBC North in Iqaluit.
I think in respect of the Premier, right now the Premier is on a conference call with his colleagues across the country again on the issue of the budget released yesterday and some of the initiatives.
I think there will be a response coming forward this afternoon as a result of that Premier's conference.
But historically, no, finance ministers themselves don't normally, without having a scheduled meeting with the Federal Finance Minister, bring up these things in person.
But I would say that I know that one of the initiatives in respect to infrastructure reinvestment or a joint shared infrastructure program, there is a commitment by the Federal Finance Minister to have some program criteria in place prior to the end of the 2000 year and I would expect in that particular area there would be some ongoing discussions whether its at the officials level or at the political level to hash out and finalise stuff on that criteria, Mr. Speaker.
Question 256 - 1(3): Hunters’ Compensation Budget
My question today is to the Minister of Sustainable Development.
Can the Minister confirm to me that the Hunter's compensation budget for all of Nunavut is 15 thousand dollars.
I can confirm here that the 15 thousand dollars is directed towards that.
Mr. McLean: Mr. Speaker, 15 thousand dollars is not a lot to help out the hunters in Nunavut if they have any kind of acts of god or any problems.
Is the Minister looking at reprioritising some funding in his department and increasing that funding because 15 thousand dollars in my opinion would only take care of one person in Nunavut.
I can assure the MLA that even though it's only at 15 thousand dollars, the procedures and the rules that we have to follow for the people who usually get the harvesters support program, this is only for disaster purposes and for the people who have serious conditions, in order to have their harvesters support program, this has to be reviewed again.
It will be reviewed, we're reviewing it at the moment and at the next Legislative Assembly we will be discussing this once everything has been reviewed.
Mr. McLean: Thank you Mr. Speaker .
He answered my question.
So we can expect to see a new policy in place that will reflect the change in needs in Nunavut.
That this policy will be put forward in the next sitting of the House.
Return to WQ 3 – 1(3): Gjoa Haven Water Contamination
Mr. Speaker I have a return to a written question asked by the Honourable Member from Gjoa Haven.
The first five questions were asked by Mr. Puqiqnak and the rest are by the department of Health and Social Services as additional information on this very serious issue.
What is a blood worm?
The larvae that are in the Gjoa Haven water supply are not what we would call a blood worm in English.
They are the larvae of the common midge fly.
2.What size are Niviagait larvae?
The larvae are approximately Mr. Speaker, a half inch long.
Where do the Niviagait larvae live?
They live in lakes, ponds and water reservoirs throughout the world.
What do the Niviagait larvae eat?
The larvae feed on water plants and water animals.
How often do the Niviagait reproduce?
Answer, they do not reproduce, Mr. Speaker, the larvae transform into Niviagait and the Niviagait mate and the female lays eggs in the water.
The eggs hatch into the water and the larvae can grow over winter in the bottom of lakes, ponds and water reservoirs.
Are they resistant to chlorine?
Chlorine does kill the Niviagait larvae.
We're not sure how long it takes to kill them.
It might depend on the temperature of the water.
The Niviagait larvae are not harmful to human health.
They are flies similar to mosquitoes.
They are common everywhere.
They are found near lakes and ponds and water reservoirs and they can be observed in great swarms during the warmer ice free months.
They differ Mr. Speaker, from mosquitoes in that they do not bite.
What are the consequences to human health of having them in your domestic water supply?
They don't pose any risk to human health.
Why is this problem happening in Gjoa Haven?
All water reservoirs in Nunavut contain these larvae.
At least two communities have reported finding them in their domestic water supply in recent years.
This problem often arises when a community is outgrowing the water reservoir.
When the water is pumped out of the reservoir some bottom sediment is taken up at the same time.
Since that is where the Niviagait larvae live, they get taken up with the rest of the sediment.
What is the role of Health and Social Services in this issue?
It is the role of health protection personnel to identify the causes of such problems and determine the effect on human health.
While the larvae have no effect on health, they do present an unpleasant appearance and actions that reduce the intake of the bottom sediment into the domestic water supply will eliminate the problem, Mr. Speaker.
The root cause of the problem lies within the mandate of another department of government.
It is passed out to that department's action.
Interdepartmental action is necessary to identify potential problems and work together for the benefit of all the people in the communities.
Now let me say Mr. Speaker, at the same time for the record, that this is a very serious issue and I appreciate the work of the member Mr. Puqiqnak for bringing this forth to our Department of Health and Mr. Anawak's Department of Community Government and Transportation.
It's beginning now to come to a conclusion.
I would also like to thank the Mayor of Gjoa Haven.
I spoke with him last Friday about this issue.
And again, Mr. Speaker, we are trying to do what we can.
Mr. Anawak's department has been working very hard.
The problem as I understand has almost been rectified, as I understand.
That screen is coming in.
I'm pleased to reply to the Commissioner's Address.
This has been a very busy year for me getting to know what an MLA is all about.
The first thing I learned is that being an MLA means never having enough time at home.
Right after being elected we started work.
In the past year, I've only been home a few weeks before I had to get back on the road for committee work and travel.
(interpretation ends) I have also found out how much work that committees of the Assembly must do including reading a great deal of material and I have lots of committee work to keep busy.
I was given the privilege of being chair of the Government Operations Committee.
I'm also a member of the Ajauqtiit Committee and the Management Services Board.
I wish to thank my colleagues for entrusting me as one of the co-chairs of full caucus and recently to be asked to be chair of regular caucus members.
I'd also like to thank my constituents for being so understanding about why my work load means I don't have as much time to be in my constituency as I would like.
Sometimes they are surprised to see me in town for more than a few days at a time.
Mr. Speaker, my family too are getting used to me being away although it is hard on my two little girls it is also hard for me to be away from them.
(interpretation) There are always requests from constituents, but I am pleased that I have good access to ministers, they have helped me and they are often available if I need to talk to them.
(interpretation ends) I would like to take this opportunity to officially invite Mr. Kilabuk to Cape Dorset this summer so he could see for himself how important the soapstone source is in Kangusuqjuaq.
Over 100 miles from Cape Dorset, this important asset of soapstone is important to people from both Kimmirut and Cape Dorset.