EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
During our negotiations there’s a considerable amount of discussions that go on and yes, we look at all options, including that.
I can’t get into details of the discussions, but we’re looking to find ways to ease the transfer of personnel into the Nunavut government and that’s one of the discussions we’re having throughout our negotiations.
One of the issues that we talk a lot about in the House is the importance of increasing the number of Inuit employees in the territorial public service.
Can the Premier indicate what impact the proposed transfer of federal positions is projected to have on our Inuit employment numbers?
Mr. Speaker, I want to make it absolutely clear that we haven’t gotten back to the negotiating table with the new federal government.
We have made efforts to get back to the negotiating table.
Just recently there was a discussion with the tables there on setting up priorities and the scheduling for negotiations.
In December we will have a fairly good idea of what the negotiations are going to be, but of course there is going to be impact on the transfer of personnel into the Nunavut government.
Just like anything else, we want to try to maintain our level of beneficiaries within this government and we will ensure that there are going to be quite a few discussions pertaining to that.
Mr. Speaker, we don’t know exactly what may happen or how many positions are going to be transferred over, but we do have an idea and we want to ensure that beneficiaries are given this opportunity for these positions.
Again, with my colleagues here, we fully understand that there is going to be an impact and of course that’s why I look to working very closely with the Nunavut Inuit training corporation, Makigiaqta, to ensure that we are able to put beneficiaries into these positions.
Question 528 – 4(3): Suicide Prevention Conference (Okalik)
I would first like to thank him for being very helpful when we had the suicide prevention workshop.
I was able to participate at the conference after the sitting here. It was very hard to participate, but we do come up with new ideas when it comes to suicide prevention.
It was very interesting and they had some very good ideas.
I would first like to ask the minister if he would be able to table a copy of the proceedings some time soon.
I would like to thank the member for again continuing to bring awareness to this conference that just occurred.
It’s too often when we have conferences or meetings of this nature that there’s a lot of energy that is drawn and used up during the conference.
Invariably sometimes some of the momentum gets lost after, so I applaud the member for keeping the focus on some of the results from the conference that occurred with the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention.
With regard to a report or a summary of information, we don’t have that right now.
The conference did just end this past weekend.
I know staff within the Quality of Life are going over a lot of the information and digesting it, and likely will produce an internal report that will be used. A lot of the information will be used to help us formulate our long-term suicide prevention strategy.
As far as tabling a report, until it’s substantiated, researched, and worked into a strategy on how we can bring action to it, I’m not sure if it would bring the appropriate value to this legislature on something that’s still in the works and needs implementation and action behind it.
Maybe I’m a little unclear on what exactly the member is looking for, but I hope that my response can give him an indication on what type of material we’re looking at producing.
There were quite a lot of topics that were discussed when we broke up into groups and I wasn’t able to participate in them all.
There are some issues that were covered that can be very useful.
Our government provided the money to hold that conference.
What I would like to see is a copy of the proceedings tabled in the House so that we can take action.
It’s going to be a benefit for us.
Again, like the member that’s asking the question, I attended as many workshops and panels as I could outside of our sitting schedule and I spent quite a bit of time there.
I very freely acknowledge that I didn’t nearly attend as many as I would have liked, so I do understand where the member is coming from.
Although Quality of Life had a number of staff that were attending different workshops and different parts of the conferences, there are a number of factors I guess I have a little bit of an issue with. There were over 80 presentations made.
It’s going to be a challenge to correlate all that information.
There are going to be issues with privacy. Some of the workshops were very emotional. Some of the stories that were shared and some of the experiences that were shared are very emotional.
There may be some issues with privacy with some of the participants.
They participated on the understanding that their privacy would be honoured.
I do realize the minister is not asking me to go into naming names with this analysis report.
At this time what I can commit to doing is, when I do see the final product that comes out to me, I can evaluate it and see at that time whether the information in there would be relevant in sharing immediately or best left to assist with the design of the long-term suicide prevention strategy that we’re working on right now.
I am very well aware that some of the information is confidential, but there’s other information that can be made available as a report to outline what was covered and what more we can do to prevent suicide.
It’s not only Nunavummiut, but there are others who are also struggling outside of Nunavut.
We would like to see if the minister could table that report so that it will be made public to the people of Nunavut.
I would like to see that final product tabled in the House.
I thank the member for his persistence on this.
I guess it will depend on how that report is structured and on the value that it would bring.
There were a number of different workshops and training sessions that were provided.
As an example, school councillors were brought in from across the territory to further enhance their training.
There are some components that may be very beneficial to share immediately.
Until I see how the report is going to be structured and the level of detail in it, I can’t commit to tabling it, but it’s something that I’ll definitely consider.
Question 529 – 4(3): Streaming Students (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Speaker, by the time a student gets to the higher grades in high school, which are grades 10, 11, and 12, it becomes quite evident whether they are academically inclined or not.
It is important that our education system is able to provide the appropriate studies and guidance to make sure that all students are working towards appropriate goals.
Can the minister provide an update on what measures are in place to ensure that students are directed into the appropriate stream, whether it be the academic stream or the mechanical stream or other types of studies by the time they reach high school? How is it structured?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for brining this issue up because education is very important.
If you can recall, I covered some of this issue when I made my Minister’s Statement. I indicated that the students and their parents usually have a meeting with their teacher to decide whether the student will be in the academic stream or another type of study.
As I indicated earlier, they can decide on which stream they would like to take.
We have streams available for academic or other types of studies.
In our schools there’s one called career and technology studies, which is more for hands-on learning, and that would include carpentry, pipefitting, electronic or small engine repair.
We make those streams available in the high schools for career purposes.
In the new school in Naujaat they also have a classroom for small engine repair like snowmobiles and outboard motors, and so on.
Those are going to be made available to the students.
There are different types of streams available and specialized classrooms for the academically inclined students.
We also provide those types of studies using the Alberta curriculum and if they want to take academic courses, there’s also distance learning available if they wanted to take on additional studies.
They can choose which courses they would like to take from grade 10 onward.
They have the student, parent, and teacher involved to decide which stream they would like to take on in the upcoming year.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, in order for a student to move into a post-secondary program that will lead them to their chosen career, they need to have completed the right courses.
Can the minister clearly describe what guidance counselling is provided to Nunavut students to ensure that they take the right kind of courses, academic or otherwise, that will enable them to qualify for the post-secondary program of their choice?
In our schools we have a variety of different counsellors.
For example, there are career counsellors available should a student desire to see one. Most schools also have counsellors who provide the kind of assistance that the member is asking about for students considering post-secondary education.
There are tutors and support programs in different schools.
As I stated before, for students that require more help, we have this program called inclusive education. We have literacy coaches in all the schools. As I stated before about planning to enter universities, we have that program too in our schools.
The DEAs are very interested in hearing from the parents on what they would like to see their child take on as post-secondary education. The DEAs are there so they can provide help to the people in the community.
Some students are not inclined towards the academic stream.
They need alternative types of courses.
Can the minister clearly describe what kinds of courses are offered to those students who may have strengths that are not academic but who still need to prepare for careers after they graduate from high school?
That’s why we have student and parental engagement. We meet with the parents and students to plan their education plan for the year.
We make individual plans for some students and they plan with the principal, parents, and teacher. The students are evaluated on their strengths to help the students make their learning plan for the year with the help of their teachers. The students can also choose to work with the school principal in the planning.
This way the principal will know exactly what grade a student is going into and what skills the student will acquire.
If a student was interested in taking an academic stream, they can take their parents and speak with the teachers so that the teacher can be aware of what they need to educate the child and what the child’s strengths are.
Yes, we do planning for our children for their education. I thank the students and parents for working together.
Hon. Member for (interpretation) Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Tom Sammurtok.
Committee Report 016 – 4(3): Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Travel and Tourism Act (Sammurtok, T)
I wish to report that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Travel and Tourism Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and that the bill, as amended and reprinted, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Bill 16 will appear on the Orders of the Day for Friday.
Tabled Document 206 – 4(3): Responses to the 2016-2017 Letters of Expectation (Peterson)
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the responses to the 2016-17 Letters of Expectation.
Tabled Document 207 – 4(3): Kenojuak Ashevak Heritage Minute (Joanasie)
I am very pleased today to table information concerning the new Kenojuak Ashevak Heritage Minute, which was recently premiered on national television.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, the late Kenojuak Ashevak was a recipient of both the Order of Canada and the Order of Nunavut for her numerous contributions to the art world.
Mr. Speaker, this wonderful Heritage Minute was filmed in Cape Dorset and was produced in Inuktitut, English, and French.
The performers include a number of the late Kenojuak’s family.
I encourage all members and all Canadians to take a minute to learn about a truly remarkable individual.
Tabled Document 208 – 4(3): Printout of Signatories to Online Petition Concerning Smoking Ban in Multiunit Dwellings (Angnakak)
I wish to table a printout of names of over 400 individuals, most of whom live in Iqaluit, who have signed an online petition calling on the Government of Nunavut to ban smoking in multi-unit dwellings.
Although this document does not strictly conform to a formal petition under Rule 43, it does illustrate the concern that surrounds this issue.
I also wish to note for the record that I am proud to have also signed this petition which was organized by one of my own family members.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage all members to review the item with care.
I, too, have two documents to table.
Tabled Document 209 – 4(3): Report of Members’ Absences from Sittings of the House and Meetings of Committees and Caucuses for the Period April 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 210 – 4(3): Report of Members’ Absences from Sittings of the House and Meetings of Committees and Caucuses for the Period July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016 (Speaker)
(interpretation ends) The first document is the Report of Members’ Absences from Sittings of the House and Meetings of Committees and Caucuses for the period April 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016.
The second document is the same report for the period July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016. (interpretation) Thank you.
Bills 14, 20, 22, 23, and 24 with Mr. Enook in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 16:15 and Committee resumed at 16:37
In Committee of the Whole today, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 14, 20, 22, 23, and 24.
We wish to continue our review of Bill 24 and the Nunavut Housing Corporation and if we can complete that, we will proceed with the review of Bills 20, 22, and 23.
Bill 24 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2017-2018 – Nunavut Housing Corporation –Consideration in Committee
Last week when we were dealing with the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s proposed capital estimates, we deferred it and I’m happy that we can get back to it.
Go back to page L-3.
The opening comments of the minister and the chair of the standing committee were already made.
We will just proceed with that page. We are on the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Total Capital Expenditures. $39,965,000.
Mr. Chairman, I want to start by… .
My mistake. (interpretation) I apologize.
Before you ask a question, Minister Kuksuk, let me first ask if you would like your officials at the witness table.
Minister Kuksuk would like to have his officials with him at the witness table.
Good afternoon, my colleagues and Nunavummiut watching and listening to the proceedings.
With me this afternoon starting to my left is Gershom Moyo, whom we call the Chief Financial Officer, and to my right is Terry Audla, President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Welcome to the House, Mr. Moyo and Mr. Audla.
Let me again proceed and the first name on my list is Mr. Rumbolt.
I wanted to start with thanking the minister and his officials for the announcement that the minister made in the House today concerning the residency requirement for homeownership programs. The committee really appreciates the change that they made.
I want to start by talking about the public housing design for a minute.
A while ago I brought up issues where the housing corporation changed their design in public housing units and they went from having two doors in a unit down to one.
I’m wondering if the new construction will have the design changed again to incorporate two doors into units.
To answer the question briefly, we will just carry on with one entrance door.
Many years ago and over the years the residents of Sanikiluaq have brought to my attention the issue of only having one door in a unit.
I think it was in, I want to say, 2002 that the Nunavut Housing Corporation recognized that and they started incorporating two doors in a unit, and then all of a sudden now they have changed their mind and gone down to one-door units.
That’s a bit of a concern to the community.
When I was reading the blueprint for action, in there it states that the housing corporation would do community consultation and try to listen to the community and their concerns.
Can the minister explain in detail why they will not go back to two doors in a unit?
NHC works with the local housing organizations on issues related to planning houses to be built in a community.
We have heard from a lot of people concerning public housing we’re putting into the communities and this is part of the comments.
The original purpose for only one entrance, which I must explain, does not violate the safety code and thus we’re able to save on the costs of construction. We save $5,000 to $10,000. We save up to $10,000 because of that.
That’s how much money we save. Once it accumulates, we can use it on other units.
That’s why we’re just carrying it on. I recently had discussions with local housing organizations, so we’re just carrying on with the practice for saving up money.
The money we’re saving is slated towards other programs.
I realize that only one door in a unit is up to code, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make.
The point I’m trying to make is over the years the residents, not only in Sanikiluaq but a lot of communities in Nunavut, expressed a lot of concern about only having one door in a unit.
The community was quite pleased back in 2002 when the housing corporation listened to that request and started putting two doors in a unit, only to have it taken away 12 or 14 years later.
I think, as you go and consult with the communities in the future, it’s going to be high on their list. It’s something that’s going to be brought up time and time again.
I would recommend that you consider rethinking that issue and come up with a design where you can have two doors.
It’s hard to believe that by taking a door out, you’re saving $10,000 or $20,000. I can’t see the extra door costing that much money.
I would advise you to reconsider that in the future, and it will come up again.
Out of curiosity and other members asked me to ask about it too, what is the present cost to build a five-plex in a community?
When we build multiplexes here, it costs between $450,000 and $500,000.
Is that for the whole five-plex or per unit?
Perhaps you can elaborate on that, Minister Kuksuk.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): I apologize. We’re looking at that cost per unit. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kuksuk. (interpretation ends) Approximately $500,000 per unit.
I asked about a five-plex, so I would assume then that’s about $2.5 million for a five-plex and I’m getting a nod saying, “Yes, it is.”
Considering it’s between $450,000 and $500,000 per unit, just in the news the other day in Rankin Inlet a four-plex building burned down which was a housing unit, not a public housing unit built for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, but nonetheless it was a four-plex unit. They said that it totally burned to the ground; nothing left.
In the news it reported that it was only $1 million worth of damage.
Why is it in Rankin Inlet this company has a four-plex that’s worth $1 million, yet if the Nunavut Housing Corporation had the same thing, it would be about $2 million?
I can’t respond directly to that, but we have to follow codes for housing units that are built for the housing corporation. I know the codes are stricter than the buildings that we don’t own that are constructed.
In some communities and more for Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit, and maybe even Cambridge Bay, you have private developers building units in these communities and then renting them out to people.
Has the housing corporation ever done a cost comparison to what it costs private companies to build houses compared to what it is costing our government to build houses?
Even if I don’t respond directly to the question, when we make requests for proposals to construct buildings, we base the construction costs on the companies’ or contractors’ bids that they submit to us.
I understand how the RFP process works when it comes to contracting, but my question is: has the housing corporation ever done a comparison? You do an RFP and your building comes in at X number of dollars. Have you ever done a comparison to a different company, let’s say, in Iqaluit that builds houses if their costs per square foot or cost per unit is coming in the same as your RFPs?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The answer is no, (interpretation) we haven’t made direct comparisons with other owners of buildings. I don’t have that information.
I’m wondering if the housing corporation wouldn’t take it upon themselves to do that just for curiosity’s sake to see if the private sector is building homes a lot cheaper than what the government is getting units built for, and just so we can have some comparison as to the private industry compared to what the government is paying to get houses built.
That’s a good question and we will put it under consideration and look at it again.
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Minister and staff, good afternoon.
On October 26 of 2015 you tabled a document in the Legislative Assembly which outlined the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s plans for public and staff housing construction during the 2016-17 fiscal year.
This document indicated that a total of 40 new public housing units would be constructed in six communities. They were Arctic Bay, Gjoa Haven, Igloolik, and Kugaaruk with one five-plex each and Pond Inlet and Naujaat with two five-plexes.
As of today, has construction work in any of these communities fallen behind schedule?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) No, they’re on schedule. (interpretation) That’s all I can respond with. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Did the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s tenders for the 40 new public housing units specify the same construction completion date of October 1, 2017?
What is the timeline for occupancy for the new public housing units? When will you turn them over to the housing association so they can get them occupied?
The member is asking when the units that are currently under construction will be turned over and when they will be occupied.
Mr. Chairman, every time the units are completed by contractors and turned over to us, they are fully inspected. Once the inspections are successfully completed, we then work with the LHOs to finalize their readiness for occupation, which the LHOs are responsible for.
I know the local housing organizations try to do it in good time.
In March 2016 the federal budget announced that $76.7 million in new housing funding would be provided to Nunavut.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s own budget for construction of public housing units in the 2017-18 fiscal year is $15 million.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation plans to construct 90 new public housing units in the 2017-18 fiscal year and 95 new public housing units in the 2018-19 fiscal year.
Will all the additional federal funding go towards the construction of new public housing units?
Yes, the money that he identified will be for new construction.
With that, can you tell the viewing public how many buildings go to each community?
How is it allocated to each community?
I can go through which communities they will go to in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Mr. Chairman, what he stated is correct.
In 2017 there are 90 public housing units and to break that down, there will be 15 for Hall Beach, 15 for Kugaaruk, 20 for Gjoa Haven, 15 for Sanikiluaq, 10 for Cambridge Bay, 5 for Chesterfield Inlet, 5 for Taloyoak, and 5 for Cape Dorset.
Those are set for 2017-18 public housing construction.