EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We have Ross Mrazek who is the Deputy Minister and Sheldon Nimchuk, Manager of project support.
Mr. Chairman, over the next five years, the Department of Public Works and Services has budgeted 27.6 million dollars for various capital projects.
The majority of these projects are directed towards the Petroleum Products Division.
The remainder of our budget will go towards projects which improve our infrastructure and the health and safety of our employees.
That will be for the remainder of our budget and for the year 2002-2003 we will have an assigned target of 6.32 million dollars. With this funding we are proposing a line item budget for replacement of vehicles and the expansion of bulk fuel storage facilities.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Public Works and Services is continuing to address the other increasing demands on our infrastructure in a manner that is equitable for all Nunavummiut.
To meet this objective, we will continue to consult with community representatives and our departmental officials to identify the needs and prioritize the projects that we can undertake.
In closing I would like to thank you and the members of committee and we'll be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding our 2002-2003 Capital Estimates or the Five Year Capital Plan.
Chairperson (interpretation): I apologize, I don't have a copy of your opening comments in front of me.
Madam Minister, we don't have a copy of your opening comments.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): The copies are in both English and Inuktitut.
We just did it in the same system that was here, I'm not quite sure where exactly your copies are but they were given to you for distribution.
Chairperson (interpretation): Our staff do not have a copy of the opening comments.
We'll take a 5 minute Break.
>>Committee recessed at 4.33 p.m. and resumed at 4.43 p.m.
Chairperson (interpretation): Order.
We have a copy of the Minister's Opening Comments.
If you want to complete your opening comments, I think you were about done.
I completed my opening comments.
I completed them.
Do you want me to go over them again.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Madam Minister if you were done you could take your seat.
Sergeant-At-Arms could you escort the witnesses in.
If you could introduce your witnesses and their positions.
To my right is somebody the members should know well, Ross Mrazek, Deputy Minister of Public Works and on my left is the Manager of Project Support, Sheldon Nimchuk.
Do you have opening comments.
As Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development, I am pleased to provide opening comments as we begin the review of the 2002-2003 Capital Estimates for Public Works and Services.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee had an opportunity in June to meet with the Minister Responsible for Public Works and Services to review the draft 2002-2003 Capital estimates.
The Committee notes that the money earmarked for environmental remediation projects has been moved from Capital to the O&M budget as required by the Office of the Auditor General.
We encourage the department to ensure that the necessary projects will still occur.
Concern exists because the public accounts indicate that progress has been slow in identifying costs in this area.
Mr. Chairman as members are all aware the availability of fuel in communities is a real concern this year.
Several communities including Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak and Kugaaruk and Arctic Bay ran out of either aviation fuel or gasoline.
Not only is the cost to fly fuel into communities an issue, but it is also unsettling for people to live in uncertainty.
Will there be enough fuel for the year or will they have to wait without vital cargo being delivered as Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak and Kugaaruk had to earlier this year.
We commend the efforts of Public Works to expand the capacity of tank farms in all communities in Nunavut.
That concludes my opening comments.
I am sure that other members would like to ask questions on a individual basis.
Before we proceed to questions.
Do members have general comments.
Please keep in mind you have 10 minutes.
My general comments will be very brief.
The only comment that I wish to make today is in regards to Public Works and Services tank farms and keeping up with capacity seems to be sort of an ever growing concern in our communities.
I know the department is proceeding with a very aggressive tank farm upgrade in most communities.
I am hoping that there are long term plans because the communities are growing faster and faster.
There are more houses, more water trucks, sewage trucks, arenas, community halls, private homes, and public housing units.
Most buildings are energy efficient.
There seems to be an ever increasing group of snowmobiles and Hondas and things like that.
My opening comments to the minister are that I hope that her department is looking at a very aggressive campaign to upgrade all tank farms in Nunavut so we don't have to run out of fuel and have to fly it in at a huge cost.
Which gets to my first question when I am allowed to ask a question.
That is my opening comment.
If you have a question the floor is open.
My first question is in regards to tank farm expansions and upgrades.
The government has a 5 year Capital plan that we debate every year in the House.
Like I said earlier the communities are growing at a fast pace.
More of everything. More houses, more snowmobile, more Hondas, more you name it, buses, community halls, arenas.
Is her department, and there was talk about it before, looking at a sort of a twenty year plan for tank farms in Nunavut.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and I’d like to thank the member for that comment on our flying fuel all over the country.
That was my concern too.
And we do have a plan in place to make sure that we increase capacity in our communities.
Yes, we are urgently looking at that and doing everything we can to make sure that what we have done in the past doesn’t happen in the future.
We are aware of that and staff are working hard to make sure we have capacity in those communities by increasing the size of the tanks.
Is the minister looking at more than the five year capital plan when she’s expanding the tank farms.
There should be more serious planning on tank farms.
Like I said earlier the cost of buying fuel in certain communities you multiply that over five to ten years it looks like we could probably build a few more tank farms.
So it’s a question again.
I’m hoping the minister will commit to doing a long term plan on tank farms then maybe like I say a twenty year plan, because they know the consumption in the communities, and would the minister commit to doing a long term strategic plan for tank farms in Nunavut.
That’s my final question, Mr. Chairman.
We are currently undertaking a twenty year needs assessment so we are doing that.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Madam Thompson.
Please keep in mind you have ten minutes.
I have two areas I need to bring up.
Firstly on tank farms.
There are twenty six communities in Nunavut.
In the communities staff from petroleum products usually travel to communities to deal with petroleum products.
And in Coral Harbour we built a bridge, it was built by the community of Coral Harbour and I feel it is extremely hard to build a bridge.
The river is about ninety feet deep and the bridge was built by the community.
I would ask the minister and her staff to look at the tank farm.
I wonder if they could train people from Nunavut to travel to communities to look at building tanks at the tank farms.
This is something I’d like the minister to look at when we deal with our budget and the estimates annually.
I think it's important that we look into this and under O & M I would like the minister to be prepared to answer some questions regarding contracts.
I'm not going to bring it up now because I don't think it's under Capital Estimates.
Just so the minister is prepared to respond to those questions.
So Mr. Chairman.
I'd like to raise some questions if you will give me the chance.
Chairperson (interpretation): You could start with your questions.
The floor is open for questions.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): When we go to that page or prior to going to that page I would like to ask if you have any plans in co-ordination with Arctic College, so that we can have tank farm builders that are trained.
Do you have any plans to have individuals from Nunavut to be trained to build tank farms.
Yes his comment is very interesting to hear. Yes, I'm sure that we all look at ways and want our Inuit people to learn more so they could take on these jobs at the community level but I could say to you now that our staff do go to the career days at high schools and they also take part in the career days. The Department of Public Works and Services is involved do elaborate on what their roles and responsibilities are.
But to date, we haven't worked on that but I could tell you that we could start working on a plan to train Inuit people.
I could work with the Department of Education.
I would like to thank you for asking that question.
First of all I will make my general comments because I don’t have too many problems with the Capital Estimates for Public Works and Services but I would like to make my comments.
Just last year, during the summer, we ran out of gasoline prior to the fuel ships arriving and we ran into a bit of a problem in that it hindered the hunters and I do not wish to see that happen again in the future.
When we know that not enough fuel was disbursed to communities and therefore I would like to see fuel disbursed to the communities adequately. As we have said before, last year in the community, we expected our fuel to run out prior to the fuel ship arriving and it happened.
The Department should take the communities suggestions and advice seriously because we know our local issues.
The fuel had to be shipped in or transported by air and I think it was more than a week that we had to wait. The hunters had to wait for more than a week and they could not go hunting because there was no fuel for them to use.
So I would like this to be known, I don’t have any questions in regards to that but I encourage your department, when you know that there's not going to be enough at the community level, you should take it seriously and rectify it.
I don't think there was a question.
But his general comment is well taken because we had that experience in my community.
Although this was a general comment, would the minister like to respond.
I apologize if that happened to the community and we don't want to see that happen again.
And I agree with the member's comments.
Also we are increasing the fuel that is being distributed to the communities so that it won't happen again.
We will be making sure that it doesn't happen again and we do have a 20 year plan according to the population growth.
We are doing that study at this time and we are assessing it.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Madam Minister and thank you Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation:) Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make my general comments Mr. Chairman.
In some communities we have had fuel shortages.
It happened in my community and I don't want to see that happen in our communities.
I know it is in the past now but I would like to bring it up again.
Twice we ran into a fuel shortage.
Last winter.
For a couple of winters now we have had a fuel shortage.
The first time it happened the construction workers had to stop working due to lack of fuel.
So for example the tank farms in Kugaaruk, the capacity of the tank farms is not sufficient to last a year.
I will be asking questions in regards to that and I'll have a short question afterwards after my general comments.
I'll conclude with that.
You can make your response to the general comment.
Mr. Alakannuark you can ask your question.
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation:) Yes, thank you.
I will be asking my question in regards to the tank farms.
I am sure the Minister is aware of it already.
The fuel ship is not a Coast Guard ship and we had to get aviation fuel.
So in the future how could you make sure that this aviation fuel or gasoline is shipped in to our community via ship.
How we can prevent the fuel being flown in.
For Kugaaruk we understand your situation and we are dealing with it.
We are now assessing it because the water is so shallow and sometimes the ships can't make it there.
So we are aware of that and we will enlarge the tank farm in that community.
It is in the planning stages at this time.
The design is being worked on for expansion.
If there are no more general comments, are we in agreement that we can begin to review the Capital estimates starting on page 6-6.
If there are no more general comments, would you like to go page by page now.
Public Works and Services. Branch Summary.
Technical services, total capital expenditures, 580 thousand.
Going on to 6-7.
Public Works and Services. Branch Summary. Technical services.
Total Kivalliq region, 475 thousand.
Equipment Acquisitions.
Total Qikiqtaaluk region, 35 thousand.
Going to 6-8.
Public Works and Services. Branch Summary. Technical Services.
Total Kivalliq region, 35 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Total Kitikmeot region, total 35 thousand.
Are you agreed.  Some Members: Agreed.
Chairperson (interpretation): Total equipment acquisition, 105 thousand.
Total Capital expenditures, 580 thousand.
On page 6-9, Public Works and Services. Branch summary. Petroleum Products Division.
Total Capital expenditures, 5 million 740.
Public Works and Services. Branch Summary. Petroleum Products Division.
Buildings and works. Total Qikiqtaaluk region, 4 million 300 thousand.
Total Kivalliq region, 440 thousand.
Moving on to 6-11 Public Works and Services. Branch summary. Petroleum Products Division.
Total Kitikmeot region, 855 thousand. Questions.
Total Buildings and Works, 5 million 595 thousand.
Going on to page 6-12.
Public Works and Services.
Equipment Acquisition.
Total Headquarter Region, 145 thousand.
Total Equipment Acquisition, 145 thousand.
Questions. Questions. Agreed.
Chairperson (interpretation): Carried. Total Capital Expenditures, 5 million 740 thousand. Are there any questions.
Agreed. Nays.
Going back to page 6-5.
Program Summary.
Total Capital Expenditures, 6 million 320 thousand.
We set this in 2001-2002 at 6 million 210 thousand and then it was amended to 9 million 380 this current year.
This 6 million 70 that you just indicated is that, like for example if we made an additional 3 million dollars for that, do you know if this requires additional funding.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Arvaluk, thank you.
Our finance person has stated that this is adequate funding.
I’m just being used as an interpreter.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, madam minister.
I’m so pleased to see you’re free to say your comments.
Mr. Arvaluk .
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m very glad to hear that 6 million 70 is adequate and that we don’t need to increase that figure.
In the Hansard they’re being written down and for the upcoming year 2002-2003, does Public Works know that there’s not going to be an increase.
Is that what she’s saying that there’s not going to be an increase within this fiscal year.
Perhaps it was not too clear Mr. Arvaluk please repeat.
Mr. Arvaluk: I’m not really asking if there will be a fiscal requirement from your detailed expenditure plans here.
My question is that you don’t see an unexpected requirement to add to the capital, especially to come in the form of supplementaries for 2002-2003 above and beyond the 6 million 70 dollars.
Mr. Nimchuk.
Mr. Nimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to the member.
No. We will not require additional funding for the 2002-2003 fiscal year.
Mr. Arvaluk do you have another question.
Mr. Arvaluk: How does the department know that there will be no requirement to have a supplementary for the purpose of additional expenditure requirements, or the switching of other program and service dollars into something for a major expenditure requirement let's say half a million dollars.
It is very difficult to guess what is going to happen with respect to fuel availability in the future.
As to what is going to happen in the communities with the respect to this issue.
Our financial advisor said this is fairly close to the amount that would have to be used.
It is a very close estimate.
This is what the financial advisor has stated.
I am asking if there is a possibility of course there is a possibility.
But what I am saying is do you know of anything right now that may require supplementaries for 2002-2003 or anything that you may require to trade with other programs or other departments to cover that supplementary.
That may not require new expenditures but re-profiling from other Capital plans to cover yourself.
You cannot see anything to date that will require that.
Mr. Nimchuk: The numbers that were shown in our Capital requirements are those that we require.
We are not projecting a need for supplementary funding.
Nor do we at this point in time foresee any project that we would be initiating other than that shown in the Capital estimates.
Members we are under 6-5.
I understand your question, 6 million 320 thousand dollars.
Do you have any more questions in respect to this issue. 6-5. 6-5.
Capital expenditures.
Total Capital expenditures, 6 million 320 thousand dollars.
Chairperson (interpretation): Opposed.. Carried. Thank you.
We are done with the page that we were dealing with minister.
I would like to thank you and your witnesses for answering the questions that were raised by the members.
Minister do you have an closing comment.
I would like to thank the members for agreeing to all our endeavours.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): I think Education is the next department.
We are done with this page that we were dealing with. I would like to thank you for answering the questions from the members.
Minister of Education would you like to proceed with your opening comments.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Mr. Chairperson thank you.
I am very pleased to be here today to discuss the 2002/03 budget proposal of the Department of Education for Capital Projects.
As stated in the Bathurst Mandate, Education is an overriding priority of our government.
Mr. Speaker, the continued education of Nunavut students of all ages, as they travel on a journey of life long learning, is one of the major keys to success for Nunavut.
The Department of Education’s capital budget proposal for 2002/2003 is a strong budget with proposed total expenditures of 19.5 million.
This budget will allow the Department to take on a total of 18 projects, which includes seven new projects at the planning and design stage.
Over the past two years, my department has developed and refined a comprehensive database on our schools' facilities.
This database allows my department to set the priority for each project based on rankings of the current facilities’ condition, amount of use and program requirements.
We are also in the process of developing a similar database for all of the Nunavut Arctic College Community Learning Centres.
My department has consulted with a number of Hamlets, District Education Authorities, school operations staff and staff within the Department of Public Works as a key part of developing and refining our current information and corresponding capital plan.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, we are moving forwarded with this proposed Capital Plan which includes new schools, Nunavut Arctic College facilities and a territorial library facility.
This plan will ensure the residents of Nunavut have the best available educational facilities that this government is able to provide while remaining fiscally responsible.
The capital budget of the department has expanded significantly in the past two years.
During the 2002/2003 fiscal year, construction will begin, continue or be completed in the communities of Clyde River, Grise Fiord, Hall Beach, Iqaluit, Pond Inlet, Resolute Bay, Cambridge Bay, Kugaaruk, Kugluktuk and Baker Lake.
We are proposing continued planning and design work for future projects in several other communities including Cape Dorset, Sanikiluaq, Cambridge Bay, Arviat, Baker Lake and Whale Cove.
Mr. Chairman, as strong as our capital budget is, the demands and challenges that face education in Nunavut are immense.
We are all aware of the limited capital construction occurring prior to the creation of Nunavut.
Our challenge has been to address to current needs as well as incorporating deferred and delayed projects from the past.
This government has been supportive and aggressive in this challenge and task.
My departmental capital plan both within base and supplementary budget planning for the next 5 years will make a great difference in our educational infrastructure across Nunavut.
I also want to emphasize, before ending my remarks, that the delivery of the capital program is focused on completing projects as planned and designed.
We deliver projects.
By this I emphasize that my department, as with all Nunavut departments, manages the capital program to best utilize the total capital budget.
Budget estimates are never exact and we would never expect a community to cover a deficit.
Project management requires transferring funds between projects.
In this manner, Mr. Chairman we are able to provide efficient, timely and effective service to all communities.
With limitations on funding, it is critical that we all understand this fundamental management approach that best delivers the most projects to the most communities in the most expedient manner.
(interpretation) Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be available today to discuss the Department of Education's proposed capital budget for 2002-2003.
I commit to making every dollar go as far as it can and adding additional educational facilities that will contribute to this government's investment in the educational process.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I this time I would like to report progress, before we go to the committee's opening comments.
Chairperson (interpretation): The member would like to report progress, it's not debateable.
We will report progress at this time, we can then have Mr. Speaker come into the House.
Your committee has been considering Bill 12 and would like to report that Bill 12 is still under consideration and would like to report progress and further Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
All those in favour. Opposed. The motion is carried.
A reminder of a meeting of the Management Services Board at 6.45 p.m. in the Tuktu Boardroom.
Orders of the day for Thursday, November 22.
A reminder to the members that tomorrow at 10.00 in the chamber your security photos will be taken.
So we will see you at 10 sharp.
The House will adjourn until November 22, 2001 at 1.30.
>>House adjourned at 5.36 p.m.
Thursday November 22, 2001
1880 - 1932
Thursday November 22, 2001 4
106 - 1(5): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grants & Librarian Training (Kilabuk) 4
107 - 1(5): Minister Develops New Homeowner Program (Thompson) 4
108 - 1(5): Earth Summit Meeting in Iqaluit (Akesuk) 4
299 - 1(5): Kugluktuk Residents Desire Local Group Home (Havioyak) 4
300 - 1(5):Fishery Project for Gjoa Haven (Puqiqnak) 4
301 - 1(5): Elders' Dream - Masters in Our Own Land (Alakannuark) 4
302 - 1(5): St. Theresa's Home Contract Expiry (Arvaluk) 4
303 - 1(5): Recognition of Nunavut Volunteers (Anawak) 4
304 - 1(5): Selection of Jordan Tootoo to the NHL (Thompson) 4
305 - 1(5): Transportation Crisis in the High Arctic & North Baffin (Williams) 4
306 - 1(5): Need for Infrastructure Upgrades in Nunavut (Nutarak) 4
307 - 1(5): Community Letter of Support for St. Theresa Home (Iqaqrialu) 4
308 - 1(5): Sanikiluaq Publication on the Environment (Kattuk) 4
309 - 1(5): Heating Fuel Donated by Uqsuq to the Homeless Shelter (Picco) 4
310 - 1(5): Jonah Amitnaaq High School Graduation (McLean) 4
306 - 1(5): RFP for Provision of Home for Disabled (Arvaluk) 4
307 - 1(5): Youth Programs Available through Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (Alakannuark) 4
308 - 1(5): Gjoa Haven Fish Plant (Puqiqnak) 4
309 - 1(5): Pond Inlet Arena (Nutarak) 4