EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The department is also working closely with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, NAMA, and municipalities to establish daily procedures to assist communities in complying with their water licence requirements.
A water monitoring working group has been established to ensure water samples are being taken regularly and water logs are being filed daily.
In 2011, all 24 communities participating in the water monitoring committee submitted an annual report with the Nunavut Water Board.
In the Petroleum Products Division, we continue to try and modernize storage facilities to meet new and evolving regulations.
Further, the demand for petroleum products in our communities has increased due to community and economic growth, requiring additional storage capacity. We are currently working to meet these demands within the resources available from the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, the department is committed to supporting our communities and ensuring infrastructure needs are addressed for all Nunavummiut. We recognize that we will be facing many challenges over the next five years, including the need to address the aging infrastructure in our municipalities.
We understand that the timeline for repairs, renovations, retrofits, and replacements requested by the communities sometimes exceeds what can be accomplished in our individual yearly budgets, but through our continued efforts in identifying infrastructure priorities, building better and more efficient facilities, and supporting our communities, we will continue to strive to meet the needs of all Nunavummiut to the best of our ability.
I greatly appreciate the opportunity to appear before you here today and I look forward to any questions that you may have.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Yes, if it’s possible, (interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Do members agree to bring in the witnesses?
Thank you. Minister Kusugak, for the record, please introduce your witnesses. Minister Kusugak.
On my left is Roy Green, my Interim Deputy Minister, and on my right is Bu Lam, Director of Community Infrastructure.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Welcome, Mr. Green and Mr. Lam.
Chairman (interpretation): Please proceed, Mr. Rumbolt.
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development as the Committee of the Whole begins its consideration of the proposed 2013-14 Capital Estimates of the Department of Community and Government Services.
Members note that the department is proposing to spend $40,873,000 for the 2013-14 fiscal year.
The department’s capital budget was $31,270,000 for the 2012-13 fiscal year and $34,022,000 for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, this department’s operations have a significant impact on the success of the Government of Nunavut’s overall capital planning process.
On May 30, 2012, the Minister of Finance appeared before the Committee of the Whole on the occasion of its consideration of Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013.
In his opening comments, the minister indicated that $102,386,000 would be allocated for departmental 2011-12 capital carryovers to 2012-13.
Approximately 143 capital projects were carried over.
Members continue to have concerns regarding the volume of capital carryovers.
Last month, members were provided a copy of the Government of Nunavut’s new Capital Planning Process Handbook.
It indicates that there are three primary criteria for ranking or rating projects, the first being Health and Safety at 40 percent, the second being Mandated Programs and Services at 35 percent, and the third being Sustainability, Economic and Benefits at 25 percent.
Mr. Chairman, during the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, he indicated in his opening comments that his department, and I quote, “ensures community input into the decision-making process through the Nunavut Community Infrastructure Advisory Committee” and that “the Nunavut Community Infrastructure Advisory Committee is also tasked with the development and implementation of long term Integrated Community Sustainability Plans for each community in Nunavut.
These plans were completed and approved by all communities in the spring of 2012.
The Nunavut Community Infrastructure Advisory Committee has also hired a sustainability coordinator that will work closely with Hamlets to update their Integrated Community Sustainability Plans on a regular basis and ensure these plans are reflective of their community’s needs and include the community’s environmental, cultural, social and economic goals.”
The standing committee looks forward to ongoing updates on the department’s efforts concerning these important initiatives regarding capital planning for communities throughout the territory.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee notes that additional funding has not been allocated in the department’s proposed 2013-14 capital estimates towards planning for a new arena in Rankin Inlet.
To date, the Legislative Assembly has approved $700,000 towards this project.
Members note that information provided by the department for this project indicates that, and I quote, “the project is in the planning and design phase.
It is not practical to determine the cost estimates until the feasibility study is completed and the scope of work is known.”
Mr. Chairman, members note that the department’s proposed 2013-14 capital estimates include $2.5 million for a Kitikmeot granular project.
This project is a continuation of the previously funded quarry development project, which was to be in Kugluktuk and Gjoa Haven.
However, the information provided by the department indicates that this project will only be located in the community of Kugluktuk.
Members look forward to receiving an update on the status of this pilot project and, if it’s successful, strongly encourage the department to expand the initiative to other regions.
Members also encourage the government to look into increasing its funding for granular projects.
Members note that the department’s proposed 2013-14 capital estimates include funding for two water-related projects; $1.25 million for the Cambridge Bay Water Treatment System and $2.25 million for the Resolute Bay Water System.
The standing committee notes that the Canada-Wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent was endorsed by a number of jurisdictions in 2009.
However, Nunavut and other northern jurisdictions were granted an opportunity to conduct research to determine which factors affect the performance of wastewater facilities in northern conditions.
During the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, the minister indicated that the department, and I quote, “hired Dalhousie University to conduct long-term studies to better understand the capability of Nunavut’s wastewater facilities and how these systems can be better designed or managed to enhance their treatment effectiveness.
The university started this research in 2010 and it will continue for a total of five years, studying five to seven representative systems in Nunavut.”
Members urge the department to continue lobbying the federal government for funding to upgrade Nunavut’s wastewater facilities to meet the new federal regulations and look forward to ongoing updates on this important issue.
Mr. Chairman, during the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, he also indicated that his department is, and I quote, “working closely with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators and municipalities to establish daily procedures to assist communities in complying with their water licence requirements.
In 2011, all twenty-four communities participating in the water monitoring committee submitted an annual report with the Nunavut Water Board.”
Members were pleased to note that progress is being made concerning municipal compliance with the water licensing and look forward to receiving updates on this issue.
On September 23, 2010, the Government of Nunavut issued a news release which indicated that the Department of Environment and the Department of Community and Government Services are, and I quote, “working together to examine Nunavut’s solid waste management practices as a whole.
The Department of Community and Government Services will take the lead on establishing a Nunavut-Wide Solid Waste Strategy which will involve a comprehensive review of the current state of solid waste management in the territory.
Mr. Chairman, during the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, the minister indicated in his opening comments that his department “had completed a solid waste management study which explored best practices for managing solid waste in the territory.
Based on recommendations from the study, modified landfills have been identified as the best practice for the majority of Nunavut communities.
These facilities will be fenced and include lined-cells for hazardous waste, bulky metals, land farms and domestic garbage.”
The Minister of Community and Government Services also indicated that his department is “working on management and training plans for communities, which will provide training to encourage segregation of waste streams, controlled access and better management of solid waste facilities.”
The standing committee was pleased to note that the government is working on addressing the proper management of solid waste in the territory and look forward to ongoing updates on this important issue.
This is an issue that I also note in my opening comments on the 2013-14 Capital Estimates for the Department of Environment.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s proposed 2013-14 capital estimates include $3.4 million in funding for the City of Iqaluit Contribution Agreement.
The information provided to members indicates that the current Government of Nunavut block funding contribution agreement with the City of Iqaluit expired on March 31 of this year and that the city requested approximately $17 million to complete core infrastructure projects, such as water, sewer, sanitation, quarries, paving, and general operations.
The department’s five-year capital plan indicates that approximately $3.4 million will be allocated in each fiscal year, starting in the 2013-14 year and ending in the 2017-18 fiscal year.
Members note that the department’s proposed 2013-14 capital estimates include $5 million in funding for small capital projects, which includes such items as mobile equipment repairs, community planning studies, block funding, future granular sources, and spill response equipment.
Mr. Chairman, members also note that the department’s proposed 2013-14 capital estimates include $800,000 in funding under its small capital projects budget for snow fencing.
During the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, members were advised that this proposed funding will be used for the design and construction of snow fencing in the communities of Chesterfield Inlet and Repulse Bay.
The standing committee looks forward to receiving updates on the completion of these projects.
The department’s proposed 2013-14 capital estimates include approximately $19 million in funding for several bulk fuel storage capacity increase projects.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2013-14 Capital Estimates of the Department of Community and Government Services.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt, Chair of the Standing Committee.
First of all, in your opening remarks, all the things that you talked about are expected by the people of Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to first ask this question before I make my comment.
In the minister’s opening comments, there are no dollar amounts whatsoever, even though the chair of the committee said that there would be about $40 million that the minister is requesting, but in the minister’s opening remarks, we’re not sure whether the department’s budget is $40 million.
Is it true that $40 million is requested by your department?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Yes, it’s true, (interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) There is $40,843,000. When we go through the items and costs that are identified, we will find out that that is true.
I thank the minister for the information provided to us.
I wasn’t really sure exactly what the dollar amount was for the five-year capital plan for the department because it wasn’t written in the minister’s opening remarks.
When we had a standing committee meeting, I think it was some time in September, there was nothing mentioned about what we discussed.
Here in Nunavut, many residents are becoming more concerned about construction projects, as people feel that employment opportunities should open to the locals since there are many locally unemployed people.
If I were to ask the minister, he should respond. So I asked the question about the unemployment rate in Nunavut and what the rate was.
If there were employment opportunities under the minister, I believe that the minister wouldn’t have that information and I think that applies to the whole executive.
However, the number of unemployed people in our communities is too high.
I believe that this issue has to be reiterated from time to time. We tend to follow the national average when it mentions crime rates, and that Nunavut suffers 100 times the national average.
However, we don’t do that for unemployed people, both male and female. The numbers are way too high.
Additionally, where can you go to find employment opportunities? Who can we call to find jobs? We don’t even have that type of resource anymore and most people have no idea where to go.
I think the Government of Nunavut should try to provide information on the employment that is going to be provided because a lot more people should be employed by the government. It just seems like we forget about them. NNI is forgotten about.
Besides that, we could talk about how there are a lot of people who are unemployed out there.
There should be a telephone whereby Nunavut should have their own unemployment telephone line or a department that they go to and try and look for employment. There doesn’t seem to be one here in Nunavut. It’s probably based in Newfoundland because they seem to be bringing people from Newfoundland to work here in Nunavut.
I think there should be an office set up where people can phone and say, “I would like to also work.”
If you’re going to be using over $40 million, I’m sure there could be jobs for the people of Nunavut too.
I think we should have a telephone number or department. These are one of the things that I would like to put in the committee report.
Just to remind you, I’m giving members the opportunity to make general comments at this time. When we go page by page, you will have ample opportunity to ask questions.
I agree with my colleague, Mr. Curley.
In the minister’s opening remarks on such things like health and safety, something to do with incineration, gasification, and such things as landfills and (interpretation ends) hazardous waste. (interpretation) There are a lot of things that can be done with garbage.
We know that today.
I think we have to think about the people in the communities that are starting to get sick from cancer.
I think we have to start thinking that we have to deal with our garbage properly and we’re now being assisted by the government properly on those types of things to do with waste. Even though the communities are trying to look after their garbage, there’s not enough money given to the hamlets. There are not enough infrastructures as well to deal with the hazardous waste.
The minister said that these are being looked into at the present time.
I would also like to thank the minister that Repulse Bay and Chesterfield Inlet are being looked at and I would also like to get the support from Mr. Ningeongan because for the next election, the communities will be involved as the planning is being done.
I know that it’s going to cost a lot of money. It states here in English, (interpretation ends) these systems, systems meaning incineration, gasification, landfills, waste, metal waste, bulk waste, and so on, these systems come at a considerable capital cost. (interpretation) It’s going to be expensive, I’m sure.
He said that the federal government will be able to assist in those types of facilities and that they will have various federal funding programs. Also, public-private partnerships, that’s good.
I hope this process goes through.
Mr. Chairman, if I can ask a question, I would like to ask a question in this process that I’m talking about. If not, I can wait until later on.
You will have the opportunity to ask questions when we go page by page. We are now on opening comments right now. I will allow you to ask questions at the appropriate time.
The incineration, gasification, and the hazardous waste is there nothing at this present time that we could deal with garbage, such as hazardous waste, because we don’t want the public to get sick from a lot of garbage in their communities.
Is there anything like that at the present time?
Minister Kusugak, if you wish to respond to that question, I will give you the opportunity.
I thank Mr. Curley and Mr. Ningark for asking those questions.
At the present time, we don’t have those incinerators in the communities.
I would like to recognize Mr. Elliott at this time for general comments.
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to provide some general comments as we begin our consideration of the 2013-14 Capital Estimates of the Department of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Community and Government Services takes on a huge responsibility in assisting all government departments in developing a wide range of infrastructure for the benefit of all Nunavummiut.
The Department of Community and Government Services is also responsible for assessing and helps to secure funding for the annual capital needs for all of our communities. This is a huge undertaking.
Mr. Chairman, with an increase in capital expenditures for the 2013-14 fiscal year of 60 percent, I’m a little concerned about the department’s ability to keep up with the demand put on it to deliver programs.
In June of 2011, the Legislative Assembly approved Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2011-2012.
The bill included approximately $77 million in capital carryovers. Approximately 120 projects were carried forward.
In June of 2012, the Legislative Assembly approved Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013. This bill included approximately $102 million in capital carryovers and approximately 143 projects were carried forward.
In order to reduce capital carryovers, the government needs to be conservative with upcoming capital plans, thus allowing for the backlog of projects to be completed.” That was what was said at the time, Mr. Chairman.
Again, Mr. Chairman, with an increase of 60 percent in capital spending for the 2013-14 fiscal year, I don’t see this as our government being conservative in its spending.
We have been told over the years that the government is working towards exercising prudent judgment in how it spends its money.
I’m not sure annual increases in the capital budget, coupled with increases in capital carryover, are prudent choices.
Mr. Chairman, each year since 2010, there has been an increase.
I would like to make it clear that this is not a concern on the ability of the departments and the good work that they do.
It is a comment on over-commitment, of which we are all too familiar with.
We have seen this happen with the Nunavut Housing Trust; an over-commitment which cost this government $150 million.
Mr. Chairman, during the page-by-page consideration of the capital estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services, I will be asking questions regarding the departmental capital planning process and ongoing construction of projects in Quttiktuq.
In conclusion, the communities which I represent, Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay, are very pleased with the amount of Government of Nunavut funding and federal government funding that has been committed.
Of course, we will always push for more, but that is human nature.
The Building Canada Fund and the gas tax provided from the federal government has aided in much needed infrastructure in the High Arctic.
In the past four years, we have seen a large investment at both levels of government to provide the needed infrastructure. We have seen the completion and the commissioning of Nunavut’s first airport in Arctic Bay. I wish to thank the Premier, Minister Taptuna and his officials for taking the time to come and participate in the opening ceremonies.
Minister Kusugak, his staff, and officials from the federal government have travelled to Resolute Bay and Arctic Bay to open a new arena, announce the construction of a new utilidor project, and open a community hall.
This summer, the Hamlet of Arctic Bay commissioned a new sewage lagoon. Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay both have been working with the Department of Community and Government Services to deal with water, sewage, and solid waste issues. This year saw the groundbreaking for the new hamlet complex in Grise Fiord and Arctic Bay anticipates the construction of its replacement health centre in the coming years.
Mr. Chairman, all of my constituents look forward to the completion of these projects over the next few years, and I would like to thank the department and the federal government for their financial commitments to the High Arctic.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott. There is one more member on my list for general comments. Mr. Enook.
If you will allow me, if you think it’s not appropriate at this time, you can tell me.
Under the minister’s speaking notes, it states that I think in Inuktitut, it’s got something to do with the term “project management.” I would like to ask about that project management.
Mr. Chairman, if you will give me the opportunity, I would like to ask a question.
Chairman (interpretation): On the first page of the capital planning book, you can ask that question when we get to H-3.
At this time we are under general comments, but I will give you the opportunity to ask questions when we go page by page.
I don’t have any other names. Maybe the ministers would like to ask some questions.
We’re on H-3. Capital Planning. Mr. Enook, please proceed.
Just for clarification regarding the planning process and I believe that I’m in the right direction, there are capital planning and capital projects.
I believe there’s a similarity in there, one is planning and the other one is the planning process.
For clarity, I would like to… . It says here that they are responsible for the planning process.
They are solely responsible for dealing with the capital projects.
Could I have some clarification before I ask my question?
I can say and there can be a supplement by the deputy, we help the departments when they ask for assistance.
This is just an example. If there’s a school required, a hospital, or a nursing station, our department assists the other government departments when it’s required. My deputy can supplement my comments, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Green, if you would like to make a supplement.
During the capital planning process, CGS, the Technical Services Division, part of our technical support is to provide facility planning to departments when they want to introduce new capital planning infrastructure into the capital planning.
If the Department of Education requires a new school, then the facility planners would work with the Department of Education’s capital planning staff to develop those plans to bring forward for consideration in the five-year capital planning process.
For further clarity, Pond Inlet is one of the regional centres in Nunavut.
In Pond Inlet, we have CGS staff based there and they are responsible for dealing with infrastructure issues. Usually what happens is that even though the staff in Pond Inlet is responsible for those projects, the employees based here in Iqaluit end up doing it.