EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I’m just wondering if they have that number.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): We don’t have a figure at this time regarding the member’s question, Mr. Chairman.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $2,626,000.
Page F-6.
The contribution for the Division of Culture and Heritage has decreased by $80,000. Why is there a decrease in that area?
The main estimates were revamped and this led to a decrease of $80,000 for the 2007-08 fiscal year.
The reasons are as follows:
a decrease in contributions for Culture and Heritage by $25,000;
the heritage contribution has increased for museums and seniors’ homes by $20,000;
a decrease from Inuit Societal Values project by $100,000; and
an increase in the program for heritage and archaeology, especially for students in the archaeological field by $25,000.
Those are the four main reasons for the amendment and that’s why it seems to have decreased by $80,000, Mr. Chairman.
What is the status of your department’s fund-raising efforts for the Nunavut Heritage Centre?
Can you tell us a bit more about this capital campaign and how much this will cost the Government of Nunavut?
The working group includes members from NTI, GN, and Heritage.
We have already contracted out fund-raisers for the heritage centre.
KCI, an Ottawa-based company, is working with Uqsiq Communications to raise funds and their target is to fund-raise up to $10 million.
To date, they have met once with our government officials and they have been discussing how they would be fund-raising, Mr. Chairman.
To date, what is the status of staffing for the Division of Toponymy?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): We are currently trying to fill the toponymy position. It is still vacant but we are trying to fill it, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) What is the status of the Historical Resources Act?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I’ll have Dave Kolot respond to that question.
The Government of Nunavut is committed to ensuring that its historical resources are properly managed.
The existing Historical Resources Act was created in the former GNWT and it’s out of date - it doesn’t reflect the needs of Nunavummiut and it does not represent the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
To that end, progress on revisions to the Act have been delayed due to staff vacancies, but the Director of Culture and Heritage has met with the Legislative Council to review the issues with respect to this Act and will be proceeding in terms of revamping the Historical Resources Act.
I really miss Evaluarjuk when we are asking questions in regard to historical issues.
I just wanted to comment in remembrance. (interpretation ends) What is the status of the proposed field school in Hall Beach that your department is working on in conjunction with Inuit Heritage Trust?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I think they were supposed to start working on that last year but it has been delayed to this year.
The reason for the delay was that the Inuit Heritage Trust was too late due to various reasons to start their work last year, so it has been deferred until this year.
At this time, the people in charge of the archaeology work will be working with the young students. They will start working on the field school in Hall Beach this spring, Mr. Chairman.
My last question is: (interpretation ends) what is the status of the Human Remains Repatriation Program?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There was a meeting last year or the year before in Rankin Inlet, I believe it was last year, on how to deal with the repatriation of human remains that are outside of Canada.
At this time, we’re now working on the policy to repatriate human remains.
There is not much progress to date but we’re working on the policy according to the meeting that had occurred in Rankin Inlet, Mr. Chairman.
I have a question in regard to the heritage centre.
Can the minister elaborate to this House further in regard to the fund-raising of $10 million?
How big would the building be? How far along is the planning?
Are you working on that? Is it progressing or are you waiting for funds prior to initiating the project?
I wonder if you can elaborate on that. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
We’ve had to consider this for quite some time because what they envisioned was to conduct a feasibility study to see how much the heritage centre would cost. They said it would cost $55 million but we can now say that it will cost approximately $62 million.
That’s our estimate and that’s how much it would cost based on the 2007-08 main estimates.
Due to these reasons, we are reviewing how we can establish the heritage centre.
At this time, we have already written the discussion paper and it’s twofold. In Phase I, they will have to build a storage facility to house the artefacts.
There are a lot of artefacts in Yellowknife but due to their own lack of storage space, they would like to move them to Nunavut. However, we don’t have any facility to store the artefacts, so that’s why it’s an urgent case.
We are looking at two phases because of those factors. The first phase is to build the storage facility and the second phase is to construct the museum. It’s obviously cheaper if we build it in two phases and that seems to be the best case scenario.
Right now, we’re reviewing the matter, Mr. Chairman, as to how we can get a museum in Iqaluit in an expedient manner.
It’s still under discussion and in the planning stages, Mr. Chairman.
I guess we don’t have much of a choice other than to take that alternative.
It would be easier to do it in two phases and if need be, we could expand it later. If there’s a design and planning phase, has it been contracted out or do you need to access the money first? Are you still waiting?
It’s hard to see the project management issues related to this project.
Can the minister respond to that, please?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): We currently don’t have anybody on contract with regards to the planning and design of the facility, but we have contracted the fund-raisers who will be looking for the future centre’s finances, Mr. Chairman.
I have another question. Our people’s expectations are on the rise but so are the costs of construction materials.
Could you give us a brief outline of what your timeline is going to be like? Should you reach your target amount of dollars at the fund-raising stage, when is the planning phase, the design phase, the construction phase; when would everything start?
If we could even get an estimate, it would be much appreciated. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
It’s something that I’m sure everybody is interested in hearing.
We don’t have anything in writing for the planning and the timelines, however, we are looking at all avenues.
We are also looking at the Building Canada Fund, which has provisions related for possible access to funds to build cultural and heritage centres. The Department of CLEY is going to try and apply through the Building Canada Fund and other pots of money.
I can’t really respond to the member because we don’t have any timelines outlined at this time with respect to the heritage centre, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you. If I wanted to build a complex or a building, I don’t think I would hire his department for mortgage negotiations...
... because they haven’t even come up with the timelines.
What I would like to ask you and what we have been asking the government about is setting up a P3 Policy. I think your project would move forward if you utilized the P3 concept – public-private partnership. For example, the Legislative Assembly was built using private money, there were shareholders, and it was built by private contractors.
It’s quite difficult if you’re trying to ask for charitable donations because it’s highly unlikely you will receive huge amounts of money. We will never see anyone submit $50 million to this initiative. You won’t get $10 million at once.
Even if we did, I don’t think it would go very far.
You should urge your ministerial colleagues to provide some assistance in setting up a P3 Policy because I think that would help move the project forward. Have you considered using the P3 concept in raising funds for this facility?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): We can review this matter and yes, we will have to go that route and utilize them if we want to get anything going. We’re working with the Inuit Heritage Trust and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
We can talk about this recommendation and encourage that they review this idea because this is becoming an urgent matter.
If this project should get off the ground and if we’re going to try to get money from outside government, then we will have to look at companies to invest in this project because it would speed things up a bit.
If we’re looking at projects, for example, this House was $15 million. The lease was negotiated with the federal government and we delivered the money through the lease negotiations, same with all the other offices that you see throughout Nunavut.
There should be a presentation on the P3 Policy in this House and I think that you would get support from the members. The NWT Legislative Assembly was built using that policy.
Is it possible for you to ask your ministerial colleagues if they would consider using the P3 Policy?
If you put out an RFP, you would find out if the project would be able to move forward or if it would come in over budget.
I would like to know what your thoughts are on that. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I welcome that suggestion.
We would have to look at setting up a policy on the P3s. I agree with the member wholeheartedly and possibly, the working group could look into this issue.
I agree with the member, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) I would like to tell the minister that if he wants to start looking for sources of funds, I don’t think the contractors are knowledgeable about that sort of stuff, so I wouldn’t use them but rather the ones with experience in this area.
The ministers might not approve of your suggestion, so you will have to come up with a strong argument that will convince them to go through that route.
I think you might get approval if you’re prepared before you bring that suggestion to the table.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, we could look at all those in order to leverage some money. In the meantime, we can work on drafting up a policy.
The contractors from Ottawa, KCI, have been working with Uqsiq Communications and they’re very experienced.
Looking at their background, they have a lot of experience in that field and they have raised a lot of funds. They have a contract with Uqsiq Communications and I’m sure we could get more support from them.
With respect to his question, we can look into his suggestion and we’re open to any other suggestions out there.
I just have a few questions. I know the minister indicated earlier that the Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions program had decreased by $25,000.
My question is: was that program fully accessed in previous years and that’s why the department figured it didn’t need the funding there?
It’s a program that’s targeting all of the communities across Nunavut, so I’m just wondering if it was fully accessed in the previous year.
If it wasn’t fully accessed, is that why they decided to cut the funding there?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I’ll get Mr. Kolot to respond to that.
The decrease in Culture and Heritage contributions was a result of less demand in that area and it was one of the areas that we could use to fund the Archaeology and Palaeontological grant program.
The only other area to see a hit is again the Heritage, Elders and Youth Centre contributions. Was that something that was fully drawn upon in previous years, and if it wasn’t, was that why they took $80,000 out of that?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk: I’ll get Mr. Kolot to respond to that.
Mr. Kolot: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That was an area where we had identified surpluses in the past and we used that to basically fund increases in other grants and contributions.
It’s in here and again it seems like an odd place for Library Services to be under but it’s in this division.
The funding for that hasn’t changed in quite some time.
I know that there were issues here with the library being closed down because of lack of staff and I understand that the previous individual who was working there had given the department plenty of notice that they were leaving and they still couldn’t open because they didn’t hire someone to take their place.
Given the increased costs and everything, is there a good explanation as to why Library Services hasn’t seen an increase in funding recently?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk: I’ll get Mr. Kolot to respond to that again.
Yes, the department realizes that funding for libraries has not increased. This November, our department hosted a conference with representation from all libraries throughout Nunavut to work at developing a strategy for libraries in Nunavut.
The Director of Culture and Heritage is working on that strategy and it’s our hope, through that process, that we will be able identify what some of the future funding needs will be and look at introducing that in future years.
Can I get the rationale as to why they haven’t given the libraries any increase in funding?
I know here, for example, that’s the only place where someone, who doesn’t have access to the internet at home, can go and get on the internet for free.
Some of the programs that are offered at the library here; it always seems like it’s just a struggle to keep the doors open.
They took $80,000 out of Heritage, Elders and Youth Centre contributions that wasn’t being spent, so why didn’t they put any into the Community Library Support Division that only gets $352,000?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk: I’ll get David Kolot to respond.
The department allocates a total of $352,000, I believe, for community libraries throughout Nunavut. In the 2006-07 fiscal year, the actual expenditures for community libraries throughout Nunavut amounted to $319,000.
Some of the libraries within Nunavut did not access their funding and as I had mentioned earlier, one of the things people were looking at addressing at the Libraries Conference was how we could make better use of the existing funding that we have.
I know here they had to cut back on services because they didn’t have the money to keep it open. If there were excess funds there in the past, how come those couldn’t have been reallocated to somewhere it was needed instead of just shutting down the service?
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Mr. Kolot.
Yes, there was a period this summer where the library was closed for a short period of time. The department realized that there was a real need for those services in the communities and acted as quickly as it could to fill positions for the Iqaluit Centennial Library.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just on the $352,000 that’s there for Community Libraries, how many libraries get funding out of that $352,000?
I believe there are 11 community libraries that receive funding under that grant program.
That’s 11 libraries for $352,000.
It sure doesn’t go very far if you look at the cost of these initial... hopefully, that’s something that the department seriously looks at when they have this strategy for libraries in a direction. To me, for what we’re getting for $352,000 is a heck of a lot more than you’re giving. You’re getting a lot more bang for your buck out of that $352,000 than you’re getting from a lot of other government programs out there.
So I think they should look at increasing funding in that area so that those libraries in the communities... I know the other communities that I lived in, those were the focal points for kids’ programs and things like that. There always seems to be no place to hold programs that are in demand, literacy programs and things like that, Internet programs.
It says in the previous item that the library services, the central services is looking at working with the Gates Foundation and I think, when we look at putting the computers in the libraries, you know that’s free Internet and free access to computers that a lot of people don’t have the privilege of getting at home.
I think it’s important that the department takes a stronger interest in that area.
I would just like to ask the minister: given that they’re doing this review, could I get an indication of when it will be done and would the minister be willing to have the department, and I don’t know if we’ll still be here when that’s done, ensuring that there is a commitment on the record that that get tabled in the House?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, we will review it and I’ll instruct our staff to see what they can come up with and see what else they can do, Mr. Chairman.
Just a couple of other questions I have following up on my colleague’s questions earlier. He had indicated that this planned field school in Hall Beach that was going to be going on last year, and I think I’ll quote the words in the business plan, is “postponed to 2008 due to unforeseen logistical issues.”
Can I just get an idea of what those issues are and how we’re going to make sure we don’t run into those issues again?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I will have to find out what the problems were.
I know it was supposed to start last year but I’ll have to look into that to see what problems they encountered. So I will have to get back to the member on that, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister for committing to finding that information.
One of the other questions my colleague asked earlier was in regard to negotiations for the transfer of human remains back to Nunavut and the minister indicated that they’re working on the policy.
Can he give us an indication of when they expect to have that policy completed?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): As it is right now, Nunavut Tunngavik, Inuit Heritage Trust, and the Government of Nunavut are reviewing this matter.
I’m hoping that perhaps in the fall, just to give you a very broad estimate, it might not be completed. The policy can possibly be developed in the fall and that is my visioning, so I can agree to that idea of having a policy by this fall.
One of this division’s priorities in the business plan is to strengthen the operations of the Nunavut Public Library Services.
Does the department have any other plans other than this workshop or whatever it was, and I think it was a workshop, that they’re looking at holding to develop an action plan or a strategic plan dealing with that? Does the department have anything else in the works other than that?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I’ll get my deputy to respond to that, Mr. Chairman.
To date, the plans in regard to the Library Services are the only ones that we have completed. There is nothing else that is written.
It’s just to recognize what the problems are in Nunavut and what should be prioritized and what plans we are required to complete.
These are just the start up activities for Library Services.
I think, in their earlier response, they said that they’re looking at doing that this year. Is there a specific time when they’re looking at getting that done?
Is that something that they’re going to do this spring, next fall, or next winter, or over the summer? I don’t know if it’s been determined yet when they’re going to have that Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We haven’t made any definite plans of when it will be completed, Mr. Chairman.
I heard them say that they haven’t made any plans as to when it will be completed, but do they have any plans on when they plan on holding that workshop?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): We have been told that they will probably be holding a workshop in October and in November, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) I would like to ask some questions in regard to the field school in Hall Beach before I get into something else.
It’s my understanding that they research archaeological sites. If that goes smoothly, will the department consider establishing field schools in other communities?
We tell our younger people to be proud of whom they are but they have never actually been from Repulse Bay to Hall Beach.
There are a lot of archaeological sites and all kinds of Inuksuit.
They’re all over; all the way from Pond Inlet to Arctic Bay. There are all kinds of archaeological sites. So if this Hall Beach project succeeds, are you looking at doing that in the other communities?
It has already been done in the other communities, like in Repulse Bay, in Igloolik, and now it’s in Hall Beach. I believe it was held in Resolute Bay as well.
The Inuit Heritage Trust, CLEY, the government, and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated have been working on this for quite some time.
If there are going to be archaeological digs or something, then different communities are given an opportunity if they are interested in sending people.
It was going to be in Hall Beach last year and before that, it was in another community. This will be an ongoing project where it will be done in other close communities, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Yes, this would be a very good project.
Why does one community in Nunavut get selected for these types of projects?
Can’t you select any more communities, whether it’s through the schools in the communities or Arctic College, and receive funding through those entities?
Some of the archaeological sites that are on the land are obviously visited and some of them are being emptied of their artefacts either by mining exploration companies or other development companies, or even tourists who are coming up during the summer to explore.
Can’t you include other communities so that it’s not just one community receiving these projects?
We could increase the number if we were allocated more funding and resources. Archaeologists that come into the communities would work on these sites, but there are not many of them around as they have other opportunities elsewhere, so we have to also include their availability when looking at this issue.
We could also look into that suggestion further to include other communities.
Our main obstacle is funding or lack thereof. We only have $429,000 for one year for this initiative, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The time is sometimes very slow and very fast.
Why can’t these professionals get together and proceed at the same pace when they are working on these types of projects?
They should be evenly paced, not jerkily paced as it is right now.
I want to know if I understood him properly. Did you go and ask those people, when they are preparing their financial and budget issues, in line with what Mr. Tagak Curley’s stated, “Have you gone to Heritage Canada?”
This is in regard to preparing for the funding of heritage centre that you were talking about.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): We spoke with the previous minister for Heritage Canada when the Conservative Party was elected. At that time, Bev Oda was the Minister responsible for Heritage Canada and we met with her while she retained that portfolio.
However, since they shuffled the Cabinet, we have not with that minister since.
In regard to the facility, she told us that, under the NLCA, especially concerning Article 33, there is a need for a heritage centre in Nunavut. Due to the fact that this is in the land claims, she went to the Minister of Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in regard to Article 23.
I hope that with the new minister for Heritage Canada that we can meet with them because we need give them an update. We will have to meet with them in the near future to discuss our option in regards to this facility, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Arvaluk: This is my very last one, Mr. Chairman, I promise.
(interpretation) If the minister changed from Bev Oda, they would probably have completed the project.
I know for those that are trying to get the implementation of the land claims, they lack funding. NTI has now taken them to court over the lack of implementation.