EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We will only break up the family if there are safety issues.
Question 440 – 2(4): Application Process for Outpost Camps (Mapsalak)
Mr. Speaker, I think I brought this issue up before in the House and he had mentioned it a while back; it’s in regards to the smaller communities and giving more support for utilizing outpost camps for inmates. There are probably some communities that are interested in setting up outpost camps for inmates.
Where can they access the information in order to get started?
We are very happy when a community wants to start an outpost camp. They can go through our department because we would like to see more outpost camps set up.
Our staff is available to train the people who are going to operate the outpost camps. We do give financial assistance for operations and maintenance. Our office is readily available if you want to start an outpost camp.
When I was having a meeting with the individuals, they also stated that because, of course, this individual was easily accessible to the people who wanted help.
How many outpost camps for inmates do you have in Nunavut?
That was your first supplementary.
We have seen more and more outpost camps being established.
We have approximately nine, which is not many, but they’re a great help to the inmates.
That’s very interesting information.
Mr. Speaker, what kind of advertisements or information do you have available for the people of Nunavut who are interested in establishing these types of outpost camps?
Our staff is always available whenever they’re required.
We did go through the media last year welcoming anyone who was interested in setting up outpost camps.
I will direct my staff to make sure that there is more information available out there.
Could the minister direct his staff to provide that information to the Members of the Legislative Assembly before we return to our communities?
Certainly, we will provide that information to you as we are very interested in seeing more outpost camps set up.
I will make all of that information readily available to anyone out there.
Question 441 – 2(4): Update on Nakasuk School Repairs (Tootoo)
I am delighted today to rise and ask a question to the Minister of Ed-ucation.
If I heard him correctly this morning, he admitted to having a split personality. Hopefully, we get the right personality answering the question.
Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday I asked the minister some questions in relation to asbestos issues that may have arisen during the remediation of Nakasuk School and the minister replied that he hadn’t been aware where asbestos was an issue with the school closing and so on, and then I went on to say that I never said that asbestos was the cause of the closure.
I’m just wondering if the minister can confirm for the House and the public here if asbestos issues arose during the remediation work that’s being done at Nakasuk School.
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to thank the member for raising the issue.
There were no issues with the clean-up of Nakasuk School. From my understanding, there was some asbestos there that was removed according to code and plan; it didn’t cause any kind of ramification.
The minister just indicated that there was some asbestos removed from the school.
Can he indicate why it had to be removed?
In carrying out work, when organizations, companies, schools, and businesses come across asbestos because of the substance itself, then it is removed.
That was the case in Nakashuk School. It was deemed that when it was uncovered, it was removed from the school.
Can the minister confirm if all the asbestos from the building was removed, or is there still some asbestos left in that building?
Asbestos, as members know, was a commonly used fire retardant in many houses and other substances in buildings and so on in the early 1970s.
It was found to be a carcinogenic, meaning it could cause cancer, and therefore, and thus, it was banned by the federal government.
However, it still remains in some homes and buildings, and when renovations or work on houses and homes, buildings occur and it is found to have asbestos, then it is removed.
It is my understanding in this case at Nakashuk School that’s what occurred while doing the clean-up for mould and some of the other work that had to go on in Nakashuk School, asbestos was found and was removed. That was my understanding.
I would just like to ask the minister, when I asked him on Tuesday, if there was any asbestos issues related in their remediation process at the school, why he didn’t then indicate in fact that there was some that has been found and removed.
Because the member didn’t ask me: was asbestos on site or in the school? That wasn’t the question the member asked me.
I did answer to the member’s question and he just referred to the Hansard and read out my response.
I want to make it very clear so that people aren’t worried and so on; the Nakasuk School is a healthier environment. WCB will go back in there. There will be air quality tests and so on.
It’s a safe environment to work in and the issue with the asbestos has been resolved. If it wasn’t and if there was an issue, then the school would not open. So that provides that check and balance.
So I don’t think we need to cause any fear mongering or anything like that.
Question 442 – 2(4): Strategies for Clean Up of Metal Waste Dumps (Peterson)
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week in my Member’s Statement, I raised a concern from Cambridge Bay about the metal waste dump. I indicated in my Members’ Statement that there was a huge mess and possible environmental hazards. Later today I’m going to table some photos from that dump.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House if his department has developed individual community assessments and clean-up strategies for metal waste dumps in Cambridge Bay and other Nunavut communities, and if not, why not?
We’re working with the Department of Community and Government Services, along with the Municipal Boundaries Commission. We have done an evaluation of all the areas within the municipal boundaries to see if there is contamination.
I don’t have that information with that right at hand. I will be providing that information to the member and if there are any areas that need to be cleaned, we’ll analyze and evaluate them to see how they will be worked on in the future.
Yes, I would like to receive that information. I’m sure all members would love that information as well for their respective communities.
Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s Statement, I also raised a concern that if this metal waste dump in particular in Cambridge Bay was to catch fire, it could potentially be a hazard because there are toxic chemicals in the dump, possible PCBs, waste oils, and other products; there are tires.
The prevailing winds in Cambridge Bay shift sometimes and then the smoke could blow over the community, and some elders have raised that concern with me as well.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House if his department has emergency response plans in place to respond to metal waste dump fires that may contain hazardous wastes, such as oils and PCBs, and if not, why not?
Our officials are always available to evaluate or check if there is any possible contamination. We also train our officials on how to deal with contamination.
It should run smoothly and we do not like to see any contamination in the future, but we must always be prepared. So to this date, our officials are always available to do any work.
I hope officials in his department are listening and they take this quite seriously. There is a situation developing, I think, in my community and I’m sure there are a few other communities.
Mr. Speaker, most communities need help and it’s no secret that they’re stretched to their financial and staff limits.
They’re doing all of the responsibilities within the hamlets; water and sewer, the road maintenance, such things as that, and they do need help.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House what initiatives his department is developing with his other colleagues to help communities contain and clean up the metal waste dumps in Nunavut?
When there has been contamination in some communities, it has been cleaned up.
I think it was by the end of the year that a review was done, but we will do a review to see if there is any contamination within the municipal boundaries within the Keewatin and Kitikmeot. After that, we will be able to table the results of our findings from that review.
Mr. Speaker, as a former Mayor of Cambridge Bay, I received a letter from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada threatening me with a $100,000 fine or a year in jail if we didn’t clean up the metal waste dump.
So I would have loved to see if they could have done it but mayors are volunteers for the most part and they don’t have all of this expertise and knowledge on all of these environmental issues in Nunavut within municipal boundaries. So to receive letters like that is quite serious.
I think most mayors and councils do want to see the metal waste dumps and other dumps cleaned up within their boundaries.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this session, we heard an announcement about funding from the Building Canada Fund. My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House if one of the department’s initiatives includes the procurement and stationing of a metal waste shredder and compactor in Cambridge Bay or the Kitikmeot using funds from the Building Canada Fund? This machine could be used to compact some of the vehicles that are in metal waste dumps.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you. I’m sure our officials are listening to the questions and I’m sure that we will have to work with the government departments to find out if that could be our priority.
We have stated that we’re now working on sending metal waste down south for recycling.
We will have to work with ED&T to see how we would send metal waste out from Nunavut.
At this time, I don’t know if this will go ahead or not, but we will also look into that issue.
Question 443 – 2(4): Status of the Appointment of the President of the Nunavut Development Corporation (Curley)
My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, who is responsible for the Nunavut Development Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I have been asking questions for some time now about the status of the appointment of a new President of the Nunavut Development Corporation. This position is appointed by the Commissioner of Nunavut on the recommendation of the Cabinet.
As of today, can the minister advise the House whether this important appointment has been made for this important position?
Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, and responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Minister Netser.
Just last week, we interviewed a couple of people for the position of President of NDC. I still haven’t been told who they have selected.
Now that I hear that there were two people who have been interviewed, we also want to know where they come from as I’m sure this employment opportunity was advertised across Canada.
This position has been vacant or occupied on an acting basis for some time now.
Can the minister indicate to the House, since there are two potential individuals to be selected for this position, what is going to happen now?
My department has not told me who they will be selecting but they’re working with the NDC Board and they have been looking for a new president.
They have not made that recommendation to me but once they have, it will have to go through the Cabinet process and it will have to be approved through that process.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): As the minister is well aware, our recent hearings on the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation disaster revealed that one of the problems with that Crown corporation has been the lack of clarity with respect to reporting relationships.
The Nunavut Development Corporation Act is very clear: subsection 7(4) provides that, (interpretation ends) and I quote, “the president is the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall supervise, manage and direct the business of the Corporation in accordance with the direction of the Board.”
(interpretation) For that reason, I would like to ask the minister: will the minister assure this House today that there will be no political interference whatsoever from his office or that of his deputy minister with respect to the relationship between the new President of the Development Corporation and his Board of Directors?
Minister of Economic Development, Minister Netser.
I believe in the integrity of the board that we have and that there should be very little, if any, political interference at all with these boards.
I can assure the member that we will keep our hands off.
Mr. Curley: I appreciate the response; it’s quite clear and the Act is very clear that it needs to be at arms length that there is to be no political interference.
There have been some very confusing reporting relationships that have been demonstrated, and I would like to ask the minister again: while he is the Minister of Economic Development, there will be an arms length relationship with NDC and that he will abide by the recommendations from the Board of NDC with respect to hiring a CEO. Is that correct?
They haven’t come forward with a recommendation yet, but we will work with the NDC Board, and ultimately, it will be the Cabinet’s decision to appoint the president.
Question 444 – 2(4): Payment for Justice of the Peace (Kattuk)
This was already asked by Mr. Alagalak.
My question is for the Minister of Justice concerning his Minister’s Statement, that his department will be available anytime they need to support a community.
Will the JPs be earning wages at the community level?
Minister of Justice, Premier Okalik.
I was listening to the member during his Member’s Statement.
If I was him, I would have kept the radio collar and board an aircraft because people would think it’s a very fast seal.
Super Nattiq; it can go anywhere.
Mr. Speaker, the JPs in charge in Iqaluit will be available at any time for assistance if there is a need from the community.
The staff will be overseeing the legislation and the policies within the office of Iqaluit, and they will be available within the Office of the JP. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Do I understand that there will be no JPs at the community level but there will be a JP in Iqaluit at headquarters?
There are Justice Committees in the communities but the JP’s office will be open 24 hours a day in Iqaluit.
They will be able to help at the community level if they need support, or if there’s an emergency anywhere in Nunavut.
They will be able to inform and make some clarifications if there is going to be an emergency, if there is a situation for the families to be divided, or if there is abuse happening.
So they will be available 24 hours a day at the Iqaluit office for assistance.
Will the employees in the community have an office at the community level for the JP positions?
The JPs will have the similar mandate but they will be available every hour.
We will have employees and staff that will assist all the communities with the situation within families.
They are going to be available and they will have somebody at the community level, and the RCMP will be assisting them.
My question was: will the JPs be earning salaries within the community, or are they going to be volunteers in the community? Because they are volunteers, will they have a salary within the community level?
They earn wages and that will not change with the JPs in the community.
Question 445 – 2(4): Government Support for a Nunavut Ombudsman (Arreak)
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, I rose to address the need for a Nunavut Ombudsman.
This position would be an independent office to assist Nunavummiut in resolving problems and complaints with government programs and services.
As I indicated in my Member’s Statement that almost all provinces have an independent ombudsman, as does the Yukon territory, I believe that at some point, the government may even have considered the idea of introducing legislation during the next Assembly to create such an office.
Can the Premier tell me what the government has planned in regard to the issue of an ombudsman?
Premier of Nunavut.
This was mentioned in Members’ Statements as you had stated earlier. I applauded just as loud as other members since I was really happy to hear it brought up and that we are thinking of the same matter.
We have been looking at this position and directed our staff to see if we could have an independent ombudsman in Nunavut.
I agree with his statement; we have different organizations today and they hold some degrees of responsibilities, while others are not really hampered by responsibilities.
So we could review this to see what could be done on this front.
The Cabinet has held discussions on this and it would create a better structure for an ombudsman in Nunavut. We would have to agree on the mandate as this would benefit Nunavut as a whole.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s Statement, I recognized that there are many different models that we could look at in setting up an ombudsman’s office.
I imagine that the Premier has discussed this issue with government leaders over the years.
Can he indicate what models have been looked at by our government?
I understand the Premier touched base on my first question.
We are reviewing the matter, especially as to which organizations presently hold some of these responsibilities, and to look at amalgamating them and put it under one organization which would assist both the government and our constituents.
We are reviewing it. As I said before, this might not happen in the term of this government but we can certainly set it up for the next government.
Mr. Arreak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Premier.
My colleague from Cambridge Bay has often spoken about the need to establish a Children’s Advocate for Nunavut.
In some provinces, the ombudsman’s role can also include advocating on behalf of children and youth.
Does the government support the idea that Nunavut’s children and youth deserve some type of independent advocate?
Absolutely, I agree that this position will be able to advocate on behalf of the children.
We can add as much responsibility as we desire. We can work on this idea and I want to also discuss this with the other Members of the House as to how we could put the idea together to establish an ombudsman for Nunavut.
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Premier.
I thank him for his response and I think we need some more ideas from the other members in regard to this matter.
Mr. Speaker, when the discussions are being held on the Nunavut Ombudsman position, could it also play a role in advocating for elders?
Would the Premier be willing to consider this idea since I believe it should be included?
I do not want to leave anyone out of this process.
We will have to work on it together to establish it either way, especially after some discussions on the mandate, particularly with Sapummijiit and also our staff.
There will have to be an organization established for appeals because the government’s operations must be monitored and gathered. There is no doubt that tasks can be narrowed down, and perhaps, consolidate them into one organization. That organization would have to report to all of us, not just to the government but to all elected members as well.
We have been examining this and will continue to look at it closely.
Question 446 – 2(4): Contingency Fund Included in Main Estimates (Tootoo)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Finance and it’s just dealing with some numbers that the minister had indicated in his Budget Address that I’m not quite totally clear on and I would just like to get some clarification.
Mr. Speaker, in his Budget Address, the minister stated that they’re looking at a $4.5 million surplus for the coming year and also that there is an $89.1 million contingency, and that they’re looking at spending $970.3 million in their main estimates here.
My question to the Minister of Finance is: the $89.1 million contingency that he mentioned, is that included in the $970.3 million that we’re looking at in the main estimates?
The budget we would like to implement for 2008-09, we are estimating revenues from the Building Canada Fund and Gas Tax Credit and block grants from the federal government total a little over $1 billion, if we were to look at all of the funds accruable to the government.
The $89 million contingency fund is basically an insurance fund out of the total estimated revenue and if it is not required, then it would be a budget surplus.
That is where this fund actually comes from, Mr. Speaker.
I guess then that that $89 million isn’t included in the main estimates from my interpretation of the minister’s response.
I’m just wondering if there’s a draw down on any of that contingency of that $89 million, will that affect the bottom line of the $4.5 million surplus or not?
The 2008-09 main estimates that we introduced, $89.1 million is a contingency fund and it’s included in there.
The contingency fund that I mentioned is divided up and it states how each will be used.
I cannot mention all of the details here due to time constraints.
However, what I can say is that we have to try and strengthen the accounting for the funding that we receive from Indian and Northern Affairs. Keeping in mind the $25 million that will be given to us annually for seven years, including the $8 million that has been given to us for capital estimates, these are the funds we receive.
So the $89.1 million is for the contingency fund and we have details on what that funding will be used for within the departments.
I thank the minister for that response and the clarification.
I’m looking through the main estimates and it doesn’t say in any of the departments’ budgets, or it doesn’t outline a contingency at all.
I know the minister committed earlier this sitting to provide us with a detailed listing of what the contingency fund was for but could he also provide us with a list of exactly where it is because, looking at the main estimates, you can’t determine where those contingencies are.
Yes, we have identified what some of the funds are used for.
At this time, the government and the union are in the process of negotiating the compensation for our staff just in case we have to use more money for our employees’ compensation amounts and we do identify that amount but I can’t say exactly how much.
For energy, we have identified $19 million, $6.7 million for strengthening financial management, $121 million is identified for the Building Canada Fund, and we have to contribute $1.1 million to that pot.
It will not all just be funds from the federal government; this government also has to put $8 million in the fund and we have identified $7 million in case of unexpected emergencies.
For example, if there is a fire, or if there is another emergency just like Rankin Inlet, then we must set aside $7 million for emergency funds.
I can certainly understand the predicament that the minister is in and not wanting to identify any contingency amount they might have set aside as a result of negotiations, and I can appreciate that.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is that these numbers that the minister mentioned and did provide us, in my review of the main estimates, to me, they don’t show up as identified as contingencies anywhere in there.
And, that’s where I was asking if we could get an idea from his department exactly where those amounts show up in the main estimates.
I don’t have the figures right in front of me but I will be more than happy to provide that information when we are dealing with the Main Estimates for the Department of Finance and I will provide the details then when we have more time to itemize the funds.
Question 447 – 2(4): Wildlife Officers’ Powers to Search (Kattuk)