EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I guess can answer the question this way that the study was in fact, or has been completed, but my department has been in the process of getting the documents translated and as I updated the house earlier, I will be releasing the documents very shortly.
I am confident that this will give the members and the public, as well as the air carriers a better understanding of what the finding were in this study.
Thank you, minister. (interpretation end) I should ask again.
Is that in the upcoming session or during this session in Rankin Inlet or in Iqaluit?
I'm sorry Baker Lake.
It will not be here in Baker Lake because of the documents that needed to be translated and finalized.
So, I’ve committed to releasing this, today’s June right?
Sometime before then end of this month.
Maybe in a week or so, I will be releasing the documents.
Question 567 – 1(6): Medivac Services – More Than One Airline
My colleague from the Nanulik riding in his statement mentioned medivac and the problem with medivac system right now.
It’s very important that the medivacs are efficient and to have more than one air carrier.
Are there going to be more than one medivac planes.
Not just one company but different companies because if you use one company it becomes a problem.
Mr. Speaker, the government had completed the RFP.
It took us over a year to do it with KPMG and we did an RFP in medivac and emergency medical travel, medivac being scheduled travel and medivac being the emergency medivac of patients, when you actually send a plane in and take an individual out.
Mr. Speaker, in the case of the Kivalliq the RFP was completed and we have been in discussions with Skyward over the last couple of days.
Mr. Best, had discussions and there has been an issue raise where a southern based company was subcontracted as one of the members mentioned which we investigated and we are trying to put in place under the contract and we have a right to do this to make sure that any contract or subcontract or the contract itself meets our conditions and our specifications.
And I would suggest to you Mr. Speaker, that over the next couple of days we’ll be able to confirm this and make sure that at the end of the day that the very best services are available to the residents of the Kivalliq.
Mr. Speaker, I'm not interested in explanations about the lead up to the finalization of the discussions.
My question was is the minister prepared to divide the medivac contract in the Keewatin region in order to better serve the people of the Keewatin.
Mr. Speaker, we’re not in the business of being subjective.
It’s not for me to evaluate and say what is the very best for the people.
What we’ve done under the RFP, selected based on the ability of the plane, the number of equipments on the ground, the medical staff to have to go in a medivac plane and the cost, Mr. Arvaluk talked about $20 million dollars.
I think last year our cost of total medivac was $37 million dollars.
So, price of course has to play into it too.
And we heard from the members.
The members said if there is a flight over an hour for example, there has to be a bathroom on the plane.
And we’ve done that on the scheduled travel.
And the emergency medivac travel, a contract based on price and all the other contingencies have been put in place and I went to Kivalliq Air.
However, there is an opportunity here for Skyward or any other airline that’s on the ground based in Nunavut that can provide services to us when that need is there.
So, for example, if Kivalliq Air didn’t have a plane available, then it would go right next to the Skyward if they had a plane on the ground and so on.
That’s usually what happens.
Bringing in a southern based firm that we have just heard about falls outside the scope of the work and the good intention that was put in place by the RFP and that’s why we said that will not be permitted.
And that way, Mr. Speaker, we are providing the best service for all the residents of Nunavut, but particularly here in the Kivalliq.
The Minister is making it sound so simple.
You could just say if there’s another plane, we’ll get another plane from the Kivalliq region.
That has not happened in some times in the past.
We just heard about a medivac that had to be done outside of Baker Lake where, as my colleague from Nanulik said, the nurse demanded that a plane based in Rankin Inlet come and get a patient.
That nurse was reprimanded for going outside of the agreed upon airline.
If it doesn’t cost anymore, or maybe even less to contract out or divide up the contract because they don’t need to necessarily, the second contractor or the two airlines don’t need to necessarily bring up airplanes from way down in Winnipeg for a medivac here, it should be a simple enough decision to just say we’ll divide up the contract in order to best serve the people so that we don’t get into a situation where planes are six hours behind when a plane could have been gotten from a community an hour away.
All we’re asking is that in order to better serve the people of the Keewatin Region in their medivac contract, will the Minister agree that the contract should be divided.
Mr. Speaker, we’re endeavouring to provide the best service possible.
What I have just said is that Kivalliq Air has won the RFP and if you want me to just cut that contract up and divide it amongst two or three companies, then you’re causing other logistic and administrative and financial problems.
So, what I said is if the airline of choice is Kivalliq Air, and they aren’t able to use a plane, then they should go to Skyward, as Mr. Anawak has pointed out.
Why should they go to Winnipeg or Thompson and bring in a plane if there’s a plane on the ground.
That in it self will expedite and be expeditious in providing the service to the patients.
And so what Mr. Anawak is asking for, he will be receiving and we did not know, me as Minister did not know that an outside firm had come in and that’s why you have these opportunities for debate, to bring these types of issues forward, like some of the members have done in written form.
Mr. Anawak: Mr. Speaker, then the Minister should have known that those things were happening within his department.
It is inexcusable to not find out, to not know what your department is doing in terms of having a preferential airline over another because the airline doesn’t happen to have the contract.
All we’re saying is in the interest of the patients and the people of the Kivalliq Region, and because of events that have occurred in the past because of utilizing one airline for the sole purpose of medivac, will the Minister agree to consider dividing up the contract.
Because, even if it’s too late now, he did not go around asking me, asking the people of the Kivalliq Region, who better know the region than anyone else.
He did not do that nor, did his officials and decided on one airline.
So, will the Minister agree that he should have asked us and secondly to take a second look because this was done without the participation of the people around this table?
Hon. Ed Picco: Mr. Speaker, I brought the RFP to cabinet several months ago.
Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, I can’t be on the ground in every community in Nunavut.
That is why you have managers, that is why you have staff and if something outside the scope of the contract something is occurring, that is why you have, that is why a contract is audited, Mr. Speaker.
So, in this case, we are aware of this, we are working on it and I have said, Mr. Speaker, I do not know how more plain I could make it, but Mr. Speaker, if there is another opportunity for a second carrier and Skyward or any other if it is Calm Air.
And if they had a plane to go out, then that by all means use it at the same price that we have negotiated under the contract.
That is the way the contract runs.
This is not something new that has happened yesterday.
There is precedence here.
So, Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, we will have those airlines and the concern that Mr. Anawak and the other Members have raised have been addressed and they are being addressed.
Question 568 - 1(6): Renewable Resources
Mr. Speaker, I hope my question will be clear and I hope that I do not frustrate anyone.
As I was making my Members’ Statement in regards to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, that Department has been here since 1945 in the arctic when they first started working in our oceans.
Perhaps they wanted to service us and provide some assistance, but I do not see any assistance coming today, but I would like to ask the Minister for the Sustainable Development, as the Minister, do you have any jurisdiction for the renewable resources or marine areas?
For renewable resources, we do have jurisdiction on renewable resources, but as I have stated earlier on, that I meet with the various entities and the Federal Government has the jurisdiction for the marine areas.
Our Department at times negotiate with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and also we work cooperatively with Nunavut Wildlife Management Board in regards to marine areas.
Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is in regards to the marine wildlife because most of Nunavut communities have shrimp, turbot, and other fish and there are economic opportunities with these grown fish and it can have an impact Nunavut-wide.
In regards to economic opportunities, I would like to ask the Minister with the Federal Government and Department of Fisheries and Oceans and your Department, can you commit to me in order to protect the economic opportunities of Nunavut?
Yes, I will work with those Departments and entities and also we will continue to work through correspondence and we also work with Baffin Fisheries Coalition and we have worked together in order to make future plans.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask a supplementary question.
According to the way you have been working cooperatively with these Departments and entities, would you be willing to update us regularly on these?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, as I have stated before, yes, as the Minister for that Department, yes, I will be providing briefing and information to the public in regards to this.
Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Sustainable Development Department perhaps can update my constituencies in order to proceed with this in an expeditious manner.
Yes, we try to provide all the information that is required through press releases.
Yes, we will work diligently to serve the people of Nunavut and to inform them so that they can have the information that they require.
Question 569 – 1(6): Training Strategy
Mr. Speaker, my question is going to be self explanatory.
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, earlier in my member’s statement, I said I was very pleased to hear there will be mine related training courses for people in Kitikmeot.
Mr. Speaker, the minister is aware that my colleague, the MLA for Kugluktuk has also had concerns and questions regarding training to prepare our constituents for work in the mining sector.
Mr. Speaker, my question is how will the Department of Education determine where these mine courses will be offered?
When these training programs start where will these training courses offered?
Speaker: Minister for Education. Minister Thompson.
Yes, it’s becoming evident that there is going to be a mining company opening up.
I know that there have been mine exploration in Nunavut for diamonds and also we are aware that mining is developing in Kitikmeot region.
And also in Keewatin region, they now have found gold deposits in Keewatin.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, we still haven’t made a decision yet where these mine courses will be offered.
But we understand the Kitikmeot, Qikiqtaaluk, and Kivalliq regions will need to get employees from these three regions and we need to prepare the training program for the mining sector.
Mr. Speaker, we still haven’t made a decision on where the mine courses will be offered because there are various courses in the mining sectors.
I only heard you call my name Mr. Speaker.
I apologize and I would like to thank the minister of Education for her response.
Mr. Speaker, will the department assist students with the cost of transportation for the mining related courses and I know that the mining and accommodation should the courses be offered outside of Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak and Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, will the department assist students?
What kinds of assistance will you provide for the students taking the courses?
Will the course be made available in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun.
Mr. Speaker, we still haven’t found out as the which individuals will be attending the mining related course and Mr. Speaker, for the accommodation and the transportation we still have no idea how much it would cost.
To date, we still don’t know where the students will be coming from.
But, Mr. Speaker, I can say that we can provide assistance services to the students anyway we can with the assistance of the Department of Sustainable Development.
Mr. Speaker, perhaps through the cooperation of Inuit Associations or regional Inuit associations and look a how best we can do these.
If there is going to be information required, they have to be translated into Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun and likewise, this would be the case.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut Department has been assisting Nunavummiut in training programs but my constituency on behalf of Netsilik, Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak, Mr. Speaker, yes, I understand.
Please be patient with me Mr. Speaker because I want to explain this before I get frustrated.
Mr. Speaker, in the Kitikmeot there had been some training programs.
In the Kitikmeot east, the constituents had requested that I ask that question.
There had been some training programs in the western side of the Kitikmeot around the Netsilik area.
This training program would take place.
They’re wondering if that training program could take place in the eastern side of the Kitikmeot.
I would like to ask the Minster if you can find out what kinds of services and see of they can do the training in that are.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to respond by saying that I understand at times that the Netsilik area is quite far from Cambridge Bay.
Due to the distance, Gjoa Haven and Kugaaruk residents find it very difficult to their training programs outside of their community so we will see if we can work with private companies to do the training.
We can also look for funding especially from the federal government because they can provide some form of assistance financially.
The communities within Nunavut, we would like to provide them with what they want.
We will have to look at what kinds of services the communities have and what kind of heavy equipment they have that could be used for training.
Mr. Speaker, in the Kitikmeot Region, I will ask those questions and get the input from the Kitikmeot Region.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister has stated that she would do a study and I would like to thank her for that.
The mining company employees, the companies now are briefing the Netsilimiut communities.
I’m not just thinking about the other areas and I know that there are old DEW lines too in the Nattilik area.
They also could be used as the training program because they need to be cleaned up.
Perhaps if the minister could tell me when this will take place, whether this could place this summer.
Are they within your plans or this coming fall?
In the Keewatin Region, yes, this process has been happening very fast because their applications have already been planned.
I don’t know when but once I find out when it will be, I will announce it to the member.
Question 570 – 1(6): Awarding of Contracts
I’m going to direct my question to the Minister of Public Works about the contracts.
Do you prioritize the community contractors or do you prioritize the contractors from outside the community in regards to contracts.
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you colleague.
For the contractors, we tend to look at the communities first.
I’m asking do you give, if there’s going to be contract being made, if community contracts are given priority first.
We don’t ask who wants to do the contract.
We tender them out in the smaller communities .
In the communities, for instance, because they are the community based contractor wants to help their own people; I would like to ask the Minister, will he be tendering them out to the communities.
The government in accordance with our policies, we have to be careful with this issue to the contractors.
In reference to his question we look at what would benefit the community.
Question 571 – 1(6): Use of more Airlines for Medical in the Kivalliq Region
(interpretation end): My question is for the Minister of Health.
When the Nunavut Power Corporation requested a 10 percent fuel increase for a fuel rider, URRC recommended 7 cents per kilowatt hour the minister stated yesterday or two days ago there will be no increase.
He was listening to people by forfeiting $15 million dollars that the Power Corporation would have got.
That’s asking people, because it’s going to cost the business people, especially in Iqaluit, if the increase was awarded.
Mr. Speaker, my question is, on the patients in Nunavut especially in Kivalliq less important because it doesn’t deal with money, it deals with lives.
Can the minister tell me if he can reconsider before awarding that more than one airline will be used for medical evacuation and medical travel?
Speaker: The minister responsible for Health and Social Services.
There is more than one airline being used across Nunavut.
In the Kivalliq region in particular as an on need basis there will be more than one airline used as need arises.
Would the minister issue conditions criteria’s to the proponents and say here its what it is going to cost, here is the fixed price that the government determines how much they will pay.
Not more, no less, invite the airlines in Kivalliq that if you want medical services for us for medical emergency here is the price.
Whoever is available can be called by the front line workers.
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you again, Mr. Speaker.
That was a part of the RFP that was put out, was the conditional price as well as the criteria and so on.
They all form part of the RFP as well as the award.
Mr. Arvaluk: So I just want a clarification that he said yes that there will be invitation to the airlines that whoever is in the Kivalliq that’s running the airline will be given that opportunity by the order of the department.
Can I have that clarification?
Mr. Speaker, the RFP has been awarded and on the secondary basis on the RFP if another airline is needed then that will be facilitated.
So, I can confirm that for the member, as well as having the criteria the standards and so on in place which forms part of the RFP contract.
If they are not being followed and the contractor has been found in void of that then that can be, that will be dealt with.
I will be asking written questions tomorrow on that.
So, thereby I will not only have four questions.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister already mentioned this, $37 million dollars last year for medical travel.
Yes, there will be airlines needed as he mentioned.
Not if, there is airline needed will he give equal opportunity to all the airlines in Kivalliq for medical travel and medical evacuations.
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, after the primary carrier, if the primary carrier is not available, there are feasibility issues.
Mr. Speaker, we’ve had discussions with Skyward the gentleman sitting behind you.
He has sent me many letters.
He has contacted mayors and so on so forth.
We have Canadian North, they’ve done the same thing, First Air and so on.
This is not something new on the airline basis.
Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, you want to make sure that we have the best service available for the patients and we want to make sure that we have the best place available for the patients and we want to make sure that we have the best price available for the Government of Nunavut to pay and those things should come together.
That’s the conversations on the work that went forward on the RFP.
They have been over the last couple of weeks Mr. Speaker, according to the member.
So that’s the answer.
Speaker: Member’s will note that by the clerk’s clock, question period is now over.
Written Question 014 – 1(6): Status of the Proposed Manitoba Kivalliq Road Link
Mr. Speaker, I got two Kivalliq issues here that we don’t seem to be getting any clarification or information on.
Written question 1, is to the Honourable Ed Picco, Minister of Energy.
As of June 1, 2003, orders of status of the proposed Manitoba/Kivalliq Hydroelectric Transmission Project.
Can we have those documents picked up.
Written Question 015 – 1(6): Manitoba/Kivalliq Road Link
My next question, and like I say, the residents, the long suffering residents of the Kivalliq Region, I’d like to get an answer on as it goes to the Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Minister of Community Government & Transportation.
As of June 1, 2003, what is the status of the proposed Manitoba/Kivalliq road link?
Are there any further Written Questions.
Written Question 016 – 1(6): Priority Hiring Policy
Today, my question is going to be to the Human Resources Minister.
From June 1, what is the status of what the government wants, and number 2, when do you want to priorize when they are doing the hiring and June 3, how many beneficiaries of Nunavut Land Claims Agreement were hired in indeterminate terms and contract positions in Government of Nunavut’s departments, boards, agencies and Crown Corporations.
Number 3, on January 1, 2003, to June 1, 2003, how many non-beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement were hired for indeterminate terms, contract positions in the Government of Nunavut’s departments, boards, agencies and Crown Corporations.
Committee Report 005 – 1(6): Report on the Review of the 2001-2002 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut
Report of the review of the 2001/2002 annual report of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I move the report of the standing committee be received and adopted by the house pursuant to rule 91 (3) (a) and that it be entered into the records as read.
Speaker: Do members agree that the report of the standing committee be received and adopted by the house pursuant to rule 91 (3) (a) to be entered into records as read.
Item 13: Tabled Document
Tabled Document 124 – 1(6): Nunavut Heritage Centre - Feasibility Study - Final Report
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (FLOOR): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am happy to present to my Colleagues the Feasibility Study Report on the Nunavut Heritage 2002 from the Department of Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Motion 023 – 1(6): Extension – Bill 20 an Act to amend The Access to Information and Protection to Privacy Act and related statutes, 33 Tobacco Control Act, 35 Wildlife Act
Mr. Speaker, I move Seconded by the honourable Member of Kugluktuk that not withstanding rule 68(1), the Reports of Standing Committee Ajauqtiit, Government Operations and Services and Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development on the reviews of Bill 20, an Act to amend The Access to Information and Protection to Privacy Act and related statutes, Bill 33, Tobacco Control Act and Bill 35, Wildlife Act be extended until such time as the Committees have concluded their reviews.
The motion is in order to the motion, to the motion.
The question has been called, all those in favour.
Motion 025 – 1(6): Appointments to Standing Committees
The motion 25-1(6), appointments to the Standing and Special Committees.
Whereas Section 38 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides that the Legislative Assembly may establish Standing and Special Committees and whereas Rule 89 (2) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly provides for the striking Committee to recommend Members to serve on the Standing Committee and whereas the Legislative Assembly has chosen to make revisions to the membership of the Standing Committees.