EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So, obviously, those have to be safe. We have had staff in those buildings immediately to check the buildings and make sure that there are no immediate risks to fire safety or to people in the building. Then I would anticipate in a week or so time, we will have a report back from our regional office that will give us an update on exactly what the fire chief had done when, what communications he had with our regional office and what follow up the hamlet had done on this particular case.
Could Mr. Rich or the minister commit to keeping me informed and give me a copy of that report when it’s available?
Hon. Levinia Brown: We will definitely do that.
Thank you, Mr. Peterson for your questions.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to ask further question on page J-13…no, I believe it’s part of J-12, in regard to the community search and rescue organizations, we tried to increase the amount for that line item and there’s quite a lot of money that seems it will be used for workshops and so on and for training.
There are communities out there, there has to be some training involved to teach the volunteers how to do proper searches, is this money going to be used for just training or workshops, or how is it going to be used?
I touched on this issue this morning. We set up that $500,000 and 75 percent of it has been used already for equipment and for workshops. It was approximately $300,000 for equipment and $100,000 for workshops.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Thank you. I just started talking and now my minutes are just flying away.
What about the previous minister, there has to be some funds for youth that were going to be taken out on the land by veterans to get them prepared on what to do in case they get lost out on the land.
If we are talking about those types of programs, where do they get the money?
We respond quickly to your concerns at times. Minister Brown.
It is something that is very important and it is something that we would want to add our support to. But I believe that it’s the responsibility of the other government departments. If it’s for the youth it could either be the Department of Education or the Department of CLEY.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): I think I only have seven minutes now.
I don’t think you understood my question.
We are talking about the tracking system that’s…(interpretation ends)…in Nunavut we are referring to which the previous minister pursued very strongly to see if they would be available for Nunavummiut for search and rescue to monitor and look after and assign these equipments to younger people and whoever might have problems with their snow machine or they might get lost in the land.
So those are the ones I am referring to, have you thought of obtaining some of those since they are readily available for purchase and it just needs to be activated for the monitor to monitor them on a regular computer screen.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Alagalak. Minister Brown.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I apologize for my misunderstanding.
In September 2004, the Department of Community and Government Services looked into the issue of the tracking systems under a test pilot system and it would be used by the search and rescue parties.
We are talking about different tracking. The search and rescue organizations were going to be using the system in locating the individuals who are lost out on the land.
The Community and Government Services looked into the system and the testing done in the fall by Community and Government Services identified some performance issues for the technology in the north, which were communicated to the manufacturer and further testing commenced in January 2005 with improved performance.
The department is currently proceeding with the testing of alternative technology called NW-Tracker while continuing with the testing of the Sentinel product.
A complete analysis of both the products is expected in the spring of 2006.
Chairman: Thank you, minister. Mr. Alagalak.
We know that, especially for those of us who go hunting, we usually purchase something that is not fully adequate, could the minister tell me, or at least I think a complete unit costs about $1,500.
(interpretation ends) To purchase complete units of those tracking equipment are worth about, to buy them, about $1,500, not much more.
I am wondering if the minister could, on government expense, to purchase some of those and have some of these available in a community just to prove that they would work.
Like I said in my previous statement a couple weeks ago, that if we had this equipment, we would not have lost two people in Arviat.
This is a truth because these being the people being asked in our community if these equipments are available we had to answer them no, because we have nobody to make them available in our community.
I wonder if the minister could tell me if she would take a risk of trying out a few of those, of the ones available to date to place them in a couple of communities in Nunavut.
Yes, we have purchased five of those units, Sentinel, I guess that’s what they are called, and they cost around $2,000 each plus $20 a month airtime fee.
Also looking at that cheaper alternative, the location device only, but the device is used by the searchers.
We have five, but I can’t tell you where they are, I apologize, but I couldn’t say where they are.
But I’m interested in looking at that program.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister. Mr. Alagalak.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Thank you very much for being able to help. (interpretation ends) I wonder if the minister could provide me with...it seems to me in the past hearings that I had with the government’s intent, there seems to be more than one equipment that are available in Nunavut.
I wonder if the minister could provide me, later or while I’m here in Iqaluit, a copy of those brochures that indicate of this equipment. (interpretation) Thank you.
That was my last question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Yes, most definitely I could do that, I could provide that and my staff are here, in person, who are listening and they would be able to assist you. I will make sure that the member receives what he wants.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister and Mr. Alagalak.
We are going to Mr. Barnabas.
I need clarification on page J-13 in regard to the inspectors, especially with the public inspectors such as electrical inspectors and the cost of inspectors and the report. We rarely see the report and I think they only make their report available to the municipalities. How do you use the inspectors with infrastructure aging in the smaller communities’ public places?
The inspectors, they have a fund for $100 million and I will ask Mr. Tom Rich to respond to the question.
The electrical, mechanical, boiler and gas inspectors report to the Director of Protection Services; their work is coordinated both from the regional aspect because some of the staff is placed at the regional office level and some at the Iqaluit level.
The member is certainly right that the demand on inspection services is increasing over the years as we get more infrastructures and also as the infrastructure ages.
So they are very busy individuals. They don’t do sort of an overall report because their inspection is done primarily of buildings under construction and as a result, they put in individual reports on the particular buildings that they do, the public buildings in particular, they do inspect and also private buildings that are used for commercial purposes; for public purposes.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just seeking clarification, Mr. Chairman.
How many times in a year do inspectors arrive to our communities because some people who are constructing a unit have to wait for the inspector to come in to get their building inspected; how often do you send these inspectors out to the communities?
As I stated this morning, it varies with inspectors.
The inspectors try to go to the communities twice a year.
I would like to thank your department for providing a new fire extinguisher.
Even though we have good fire prevention protection, the firefighters’ uniforms are aging and deteriorating. The oxygen tanks for going into the burning house are deteriorating due to being old.
There has been an increase from 2004-05 by approximately $4,000 for this line item.
Could the municipalities apply for funding through this program?
I know that this $54,000 equipment line item is insufficient for 23 communities.
I would like to get clarification on how you’re going to distribute these funds to the communities.
The communities are now developing their applications for fire equipment and the majority of their equipment is being renewed and they’re using $700,000 for firefighter’s equipment.
From this $700,000, they will be able to get some funding from this for their equipment.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister. You just made the member very happy. Mr. Barnabas.
In regard to the $500,000, Community Search and Rescue Organization Program, line item, I would like to thank your department for providing these funds to search and rescue because they got more equipment after they had their workshop, especially our search and rescue team from Arctic Bay.
But some of the global satellite telephones can’t be used in the High Arctic. For example Global Star you can hardly use them because you have to be standing up or pointing at a certain area.
The other one is useful, but the one that my colleague talked about is very useful with the tracking system. We had seen the tracking system here in the Legislative Assembly, and with that tracking system you are able to find anybody who is lost out there.
Looking at the testing of the tracking system, they can tell where the individual had gone to.
I know that this tracking system will not break right away in the north. They’ve done some testing in the north.
This tracking system can be used for accidents. If the hunters could use or bring the tracking system... has your department considered including the tracking system for search and rescue teams.
Just for clarification, you didn’t say what that specific item was. Are you referring to tracking system our colleague was talking about earlier?
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Yes, the one my colleague Mr. Alagalak alluded to. That’s what I’m talking about.
Yes, I agree with my colleague because we have to try anything up here. So if we do not try anything we will not know if they are effective or not.
I will ask Mr. Rich to do a supplementary response.
We seem to be having a lot of planes fly over us. We’ll just give it a minute to quiet down a little bit.
If I could, I would like to clarify something about the locators a little bit because I think there may be some misunderstanding on the locators that are being tested and what their primary purpose is.
As the minister has said, and as members have said, this is an extremely important subject and one that is crucial to lives.
We are talking about saving lives and rescuing people and trying to do things that are better.
The two types of equipment that the minister has been asked about that we are testing are in fact not used by individuals who are out on their own on the land. They are used by the searcher. What they do is they allow a search team to link back to a computer that plots the search grid that those individuals use.
They are very expensive pieces of equipment as the minister mentioned the price range is from $1,500 to $2,000 a piece and there is a $20/month fee to keep them going. So, they do have some use when you are doing searches and trying to coordinate searches.
There is another type of technology, which is also used, which are emergency locators. The emergency locators are a smaller piece of technology that normally is not activated. You carry it with you and when there is an emergency and you need assistance, you trigger it and then it sends a locating signal up to the satellite, which comes back.
Those devices are much less expensive and some communities have those now, for instance in the community of Iqaluit, the Fire Department has them. If you are going out on the land, you can go to the community Fire Department here in Iqaluit and you can borrow one of those to take with you out on the land.
There is no subscription fee because they do not have the same sort of issue associated with them. Frankly, one of the difficulties we have is that a number of the individuals who have become lost on the land, not only do they not have that sort of device with them, they do not have a satellite radio with them or a VHS radio with them. So, they do not have anything.
If there was a way to convince individuals to carry those locators with them, then you are quite right, there is a real potential for saving lives. We certainly would be anxious to work out some deals, even some purchase deals to purchase those emergency locators if people would use them in communities.
One of the things that our report will deal with that the minister mentioned coming out in the spring is those alternatives, not only the tracking systems, but also the emergency locators and then suggest some ways that they might be purchased. I hope that clarifies what might be some confusion about the two different types of devices.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Rich. Mr. Barnabas.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Rich for clarifying that.
I am wondering if the minister can work with the Minister of Environment so that the search and rescues will have access to those because the Inuit can usually purchase through hunter support programs.
Even radios and if they are able to put a bit of money down through the Department of Environment, I am sure those can be covered and if the government assisted they would be cheaper because I am pretty sure that the hunters would be very interested about those radios.
When they get the radios in the communities there are never enough and I think they would come out cheaper if the government assisted.
I wonder if the minister can commit to working with the Minister of Environment to see if the locators can be purchased through the government.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is very interesting to hear what my colleague is saying.
The Minister of Environment is nodding his head so we will definitely check into this because that’s what we like to see; ministers working together.
The locator, it’s called Siarnaq, named after my mother, that’s what I’m referring to.
I just wanted to point that out. I don’t have any further questions.
Chairman: Mr. Barnabas, no wonder you like this product.
I just have hopefully one question. It has to deal with the talked about different inspectors; the electrical inspector and all the other inspectors that are out there.
I’m just wondering if there is a mechanism in place if a contractor or someone that is working on a building doesn’t agree with the inspector and there is an order to stop, or to change something, is there a mechanism to appeal that.
Is there an appeal process, or are they just stuck with doing whatever that inspector dictates to them?
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Minister Brown.
I thank the member for raising that.
They can request a review by the Department of Community and Government Services, and come to some conclusion.
I know the Act of the past left a lot of authority in the hands of inspectors and I just wanted to find out if there was a mechanism in there if a contractor felt that they weren’t being treated fairly by one of these contractors.
If a contractor had a concern with the report, what would be the process that they would follow in order to request the department to undertake to review an order made by one of the inspectors?
Yes, that is possible, and there could be a review done by our Director of Protective Services.
Who would the contractor have to get in touch with in order to ask for that review to take place?
Would they just directly contact the Director of Protection Services?
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, the member is correct. That would be the protocol.
Chairman: We are on Community and Government Services.
Branch Summary. Protection Services. J-12, and J-13.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $5,433,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Total Operations and Maintenance. $21,293,000. (interpretation) Are there any questions?
On page J-14, J-31 of the business plan, there is a priority for 2006-07 to develop a long term office space plan; assist Nunavut clients, departments, boards, and agencies with capital program planning and coordinating needs analysis.
Can the minister or her officials update the House on the progress of that long-term office plan, space plan that they are working on?
The Iqaluit draft plan is done and also, we are still working on the Cambridge Bay one.
Sorry about that, Mr. Peterson.
I don’t know if we interrupted you too much.
Did you get that response yourself?
I think I got the gist of the answer there. The Hamlet of Cambridge Bay is aware that the old health centre is vacant now after the transfer of the health centre staff and services over to the new health facility.
They have expressed an interest in acquiring that building for their wellness centre there to deliver their programs and services.
They have asked me to ask the minister about the availability of that facility for them at some point. I was aware that you were conducting office space planning in Cambridge Bay, but I’m not 100 percent sure that you would want to use that building for your staff. The building probably needs a lot of upgrading.
So I’m wondering if the minister could explain, to me, the process that the government undertakes to surplus buildings to make them available to hamlets for their use at some point.
I experienced exactly the same situation that the member is speaking about a few years ago with Rankin Inlet and the old health centre there being vacant and the community wanted to change it into a hamlet in those days, but the Health Department wanted to still use the old building because there was still a lot of use to it for many years.
So we did have some discussion with that with the Minister of Health and Social Services. I do understand that the community of Cambridge Bay would like to use it for some other purposes.
We review the needs of the GN departments first and also look at the needs expressed by the community, which is your community expressing it, and normally, the process is to take the proposal to the Cabinet.
So you are aware that the hamlet is interested in that facility and you will keep them in mind at some point. That’s good to know. I’m not sure if this is the section to ask this question, but I will ask it anyway.
Last May, we brought up an issue of leases, the government leases, and there was some concern at that time that the long-term leases were expiring and put into over hold position and the Government of Nunavut hadn’t undertaken analysis of the leases two to four years in advance of them expiring.
I think the concern then was that the government was forced into a position where they had to renegotiate or renew leases when they expired. And part of the concern there, again, was that the department, the division that was responsible for leasing was understaffed and couldn’t stay on top of all the leases that the government has under their direction.
I wonder if the minister could comment on what the government is doing with respect to increasing the staff in the leasing division and monitoring all the leases that they have and that are expiring.
Is the new process being put in place to ensure that leases that are expiring within two to four years, that they’re being reviewed so that perhaps other contractors in the communities can have an opportunity to build and supply commercial space to the government?
In regard to leasing in Nunavut, it has its pros and cons.
If we’re going to give up the lease, then sometimes we’re short of office space and whatnot, but we are constantly reviewing leases on a regular basis. The good news is that we added 10 more staff including one to track leases.
I think there has been a big improvement in this area.
Can the minister tell us, if she has that information available in front of her, how many leases are currently in an over hold position across Nunavut?
I believe it’s here, but while he’s looking, I think we’ll be able to find how many leases there are and it would be very interesting to hear.
I’ll let Mr. Rich respond to that.
So we will make another attempt, Mr. Peterson, bear with us. Mr. Rich.
No, I don’t have that up to date information with me. Also, one should be aware that over hold can mean a month because we’re still negotiating a lease which is an annual renewal, and over hold could be something much longer.
We can certainly get that information.
I’m sorry I don’t have it with me today.
Can the minister commit to providing the House with that information, say by Monday?
Hon. Levinia Brown: Yes, we can honour that request by Monday.
Chairman: Fast moving department.
A couple of weeks ago Mr. Chairman, I was enquiring about the Kitikmeot Lena Pederson Boarding Home, as far as the Kitikmeot, is based in Yellowknife, and their lease expires in two years.
I get a lot of concerns from my constituents about that facility that it is 20 years old, and it’s not modern and up to date. Some of my constituents actually have accidents in the building, and some of the elders have difficulty manoeuvring in the building.
I guess they compare it to the Larga Home in Edmonton, and a lot of them have been there and it’s a very modern facility. My question to the minister; is the minister’s department currently in a position where they’re looking at what to do once that lease expires?
I’m thinking in terms of, is the department looking at renewing the lease, or looking at buying another facility?
Is that the kind of analyses that would be going on right now?
Hon. Levinia Brown: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The member is correct. Yes, we would do that and we will work with the Department of Health and Social Services since it’s under their mandate as well.
Thank you, Mr. Peterson. (interpretation) There are no more names on my list.
(interpretation ends) Community and Government Services.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $21,293,000.
To go along with Mr. Peterson’s request of the leases that are in over hold right now, could the minister also provide a list of leases that they are reviewing right now like the boarding home that they indicated and where they are at with those leases that are going to be expiring soon?
I will have Mr. Rich answer this question.
I assume, to clarify the question, I assume you are talking about leases that are within one or two years of their normal termination and what sort of review we are doing. And we can certainly give a status report of where we are on leases like the leases that are currently being reviewed.
I do want to caution one thing.
Leases are commercial transactions where we have an agreement with tenants and we would not want to give any information out that might prejudice our negotiations with tenants, and I’m sure the member will understand that.
So there’s a certain caution, but a general update, absolutely.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Rich and Mr. Tootoo.
Back to J-14.
Community and Government Services. Branch Summary. Capital Planning and Technical Services.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $21,293,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Pages J-15, J-16, and J-17 (interpretation ends) are just information items, (interpretation) but if there are any questions on those pages, then members are free to ask.
I have just asked if there are any questions on J-13, I’m sorry, J-15, J-16, and J-17.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): I must apologize, I have a narrow throat.
Under the Petroleum Products Division, under the other O&M, it states $14,887,000. Are we on that page, Mr. Chairman?
They had borrowed some money to do their job under the $14 million under O&M, $14,887,000, what was that used for?
It’s stated every year under that division. What is it used for exactly?
Hon. Levinia Brown: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What the member is asking about, I will try and answer that.