EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
But the point I’m getting to is this little far away community that we really don’t talk about a lot and it’s in southern Nunavut called Sanikiluaq. For the last four years I’ve heard the Member of Legislative Assembly that represents Sanikiluaq say that the arena is open for only four to five weeks a year. It only has ice for four to five weeks a year because of the climate.
This is an unusual circumstance.
It’s a real unusual circumstance and I’m sure the opportunities for the young people down there are very limited.
The government went and built a nice recreational facility down there that they can only use for five weeks.
And hockey is a way of life in Canada, like it is up in Nunavut and down south.
And I bought this up in Standing Committee a few years ago that I wished the department would work with Sanikiluaq and I know they just received 70 thousand dollars to work on getting their artificial ice.
But it’s not enough for little communities; smaller communities have a tough time generating revenues to pay for stuff.
And I know Kugluktuk is working on their artificial ice and so is Rankin Inlet.
I don’t know what point they’re at, at this time but I’m urging the Minister, urging the Minister to make sure that Sanikiluaq gets a shot at artificial ice so they can have artificial ice for at least four to five months a year.
It doesn’t have to be a multimillion dollar ice package, it can be a, you know 3 or 400 thousand dollar artificial ice pack and so they can have ice from October till April and I’m sure the community would really appreciate the Government of Nunavut doing that for them.
Because like I say, they’re in a jurisdiction, they’re in an area where they don’t have mining companies donating, they don’t have big corporate customers donating anything, you know, it’s a small community that’s probably struggling with its finances.
But if we could put an artificial ice plant in a place like Sanikiluaq, they would probably use it and they would probably be very appreciative of it.
So, would the minister commit to working with Sanikiluaq in the coming year to put a small artificial plant, out of the 300 thousand for Sanikiluaq?
Hon. Manitok Thompson: I think we have already started working with the community of Sanikiluaq on the artificial ice plant.
I was down there visiting the council and met with the council on that issue.
We’re trying to make that happen for that community.
So, Community Government and Transportation.
Total headquarters region, 400 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): And in Qikiqtaaluk, 7-6, go on to the next page.
The department has received correspondence, even though the minister stated and identified how they’re trying to work on the community halls and community centres.
Maybe she can tell me as to Arctic Bay’s written requests to the minister.
The deputies both have been at the school gym.
What do I have to do in order to put a request in from Arctic Bay?
The plans go through the hamlet council.
They are prioritized by the hamlets and we try and fit them in, but we have to go through the health and safety issues first.
Even though those are the requirements, it’s impossible sometimes to put them in.
A lot of times we have to take funding from one community to another.
That’s why I’m trying to look for funding for community halls because the mayors asked me to do this.
And in Arctic Bay, there are some communities who didn’t have any community halls or their community halls were ready to fall apart.
With those things in mind, we’re trying to work with them, but when we go through the list of their priorities, we always fall back on health and safety issues.
That’s when we have to put those, also priorities, for Arctic Bay.
We realize that they need a bigger place, but I don’t know where the funding would come from.
So, as you said it’s just not written there.
What will they have to do in order for it to appear on paper Minister Thompson?  Chairperson: Minister.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): If it’s a top priority of the hamlet, because we work with the hamlet when they prioritize their requests, if they say that they don’t want a fire truck or an airport terminal building and a community hall instead, they’ll have to make shifts. That’s how it would appear.
Aside from this, they have said that health and safety issues and this is a request from the communities, there is a fire hall in Arctic Bay, and it’s very small.
If you have seen Arctic Bay, it’s sort of on a slope and when you get out of the fire hall, the fire truck has to make a 45 degree or a 90 degree turn.
I wonder if this has been checked into or thought about.
When I was in Arctic Bay I went to see the fire hall.
It’s on a little hill.
The request Arctic Bay has made is for their airport terminal building to be closer to the community. I met with the hamlet and we try and prioritize their requests because it’s impossible to get all the things that they are requesting.
I will be pushing for things like the community hall.
Maybe it would be better if they were just referred to as healing centres and I will be looking for funds for those because those are being requested by the communities.
Are we on Qikiqtaaluk?
On page 7-6.
Pond Inlet, grader.
I appreciate that it’s being funded.
We’ve been waiting for 20 years.
It’s going to be replaced after 20 years.
I hope this won’t be shifted to somewhere or to some other community.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): If this is agreed to it will stay there.
In my opening comments I said I wanted a rigid accountability of the Iqaluit city block funding and this year they are budgeted for 7 million, 200 thousand dollars and then 2003 they are given 3 million, 977 thousand dollars; in 2004 to 2008 there is over 12 million dollars budgeted.
I think we take it for granted that Iqaluit can take care of itself when it’s managing its capital projects but the municipality has done a really good job in the last year or two. But now I hear they are losing their city manager, plus their city engineer and there are projects coming down and sometimes the government forgets about Iqaluit and thinks that they can look after themselves.
As a minister, will you make sure to this House that they’re given all the help and assistance they need when we’ve given this large amount of capital to them.
To make sure because if you build a new school in Iqaluit it’s managed by Public Works and the Department of Education and things happen well.
Like you have never heard of any problems with the schools here that were built.
They were built and maintained properly.
When it comes to ownership of Sewage Treatment Plants, and facilities like that, when the City is involved, they got burnt badly by an unscrupulous contractor.
Would you commit to this House that the capital projects that Iqaluit is doing on their own, that you lend them a hand to make sure that this money is not wasted?
We have already made a commitment to that when we were talking to the City on this.
I have already told my staff about the direction from the Standing Committee.
We will be on hand to help them out and assist them where they need.
The Arctic Bay grader, as the government has said that they are working closely with Nanisivik, they have a committee formed and a representative from Community Government and Transportation.
The graders, there were a lot of them, and they were in good condition, and dump trucks.
They were owned by Nanisivik Mines.
We know that they were put underground, buried.
I wonder if the department has thought of maybe they could have bought them because they would have been cheaper.
I wonder if they have ever thought about this.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Actually the existing community grader was donated to the community from Nanisivik Mines.
There is different equipment that you use for different types of things.
This existing grader that was given from the Nanisivik Airport several years ago has exceeded its useful life and we need to put a new one in Arctic Bay.
My question was that they used a lot of equipment in Nanisivik and when Nanisivik was closing very good equipment was put inside the mountain that they were working in.
They were destroyed in there.
There would have been, I don’t know how many a lot, of sand trucks, whatever you call them.
A grader is a grader; there were a lot of them there.
I was asking whether Community Government and Transportation or the Hamlet were able to get some of that equipment, maybe a little bit cheaper than 220 thousand dollars.
I am talking about Arctic Bay and not so much the airport. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Mr. Chairman, what we can do is we can take 220 thousand off Arctic Bay and put it somewhere else and investigate buying or getting the used equipment from the mine.
We are already talking about that with the mine.
So I don’t have any problem with removing that 220 thousand and putting it somewhere else.
I don’t know if I am speaking in Inuktitut or English.
I know that English is my problem, but I will try again.
I am asking the Minister if they have tried to buy equipment from the Nanisivik Mines.
I am not asking the Minister to do anything else with that 220 thousand dollars.
My officials have been talking to the mine about buying used equipment.
That is what we have been doing for not only Arctic Bay but for other communities and I know Public Works and Services is also interested in the assets of that mine.
I wonder if that equipment can be retrieved if they are already underground?
Qikiqtaaluk, we’re on page 7-6. 7-7 is part of it.
Total Qikiqtaaluk region, 8 million 473 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): 7-7 Kivalliq.
For Chesterfield Inlet, line item under appendix C. C-14 appendix C-14, Chesterfield line item, they have planned for a community wharf, 2004/2005 up to 2007, hundred fourteen and hundred sixty and twenty.
What does wharf mean?
Is it going to be floating on top of the ocean?
Will it be from the bottom of the ocean?
It has not been designed yet; we have to work with the hamlet council.. But we’ve made a budget for it for the community wharf and the design has not been done yet.
I understand these are just for planning stages, fourteen hundred, hundred sixty and twenty by using for community consultation for design, is that what it means?
Mr. Chairperson, the funding could be used; part of it could be used to construct the community wharf.
In my general comments I stated that Chesterfield Inlet goes fishing and use this for economic development. If they could obtain hundred thousand dollars, the community wharf is very precarious and when the gravel at the bottom recedes then big boulders get loose, so annually we have to expend forty thousand dollars for repairs.
Since during the NWT days and annually we’ve been, it’s been costing us 40 thousand dollars and we’ve been expending that for about ten years, for about that much. Perhaps the department can consider if they can complete this wharf earlier.
If we stop expending 40 thousand dollars annually perhaps that could save you some money.
Whether you can advance it to the next fiscal year, I’m sure your department can save money, would it be more cost effective for your department?
We do get funding, 500 thousand to be used for the whole of Nunavut. For planning purposes and for consultation purposes perhaps we can consider and look at the alternatives. I can work with my officials and look at the options how we can best deal with requests by the community.
Every time I go to Chesterfield Inlet, especially in the summertime, I check over that old dock, reloading dock.
I don’t know how they unload, I mean it’s a scary business every time you go on the top of that wharf or dock when the big boulders move and there is an accident waiting to happen there because that’s the only place they unload the barge. I think it’s rather urgent that some kind of unloading facility or wharf be built as soon as possible and flatten the thing that you have there before a big accident happens.
I mean that’s very important.
My next question on this new fencing; we save thousands and thousands of dollars on snow removal including wages, repairs, and fuel etc., by having a snow fence.
Snow fences are very cheap miracle money savers, we have one already on the left side of the community in Chesterfield Inlet, and it has been a tremendous help to the community including the safety, as far as safety is concerned.
We still need a fence on the right hand side of the community there are two sides to that community. The right side is urgently needed and I’m told by my colleagues from Qamanittuaq that the life span of these fences are a long time, 40 or 50 years and they’re very good investments.
I was wondering, because the snow fencing capital plan is slated for 2007/2008 also on the appendix C-14, 420 thousand dollars, considering that you will be spending more than 120 thousand dollars.
I guess I should rephrase my point here.
The Hamlet of Chesterfield Inlet will spend over 120 thousand dollars a year up to 2007/2008 just removing the snow between the houses and the roads.
I know you will be giving the hamlet an O&M budget to remove that snow.
You could save a lot more if you could put snow fencing there now rather than later.
I understand the concern of the member.
If the hamlet has surpluses in their budget they may be able to do something but we have too many priorities in the communities across Nunavut and this was the best that we could do in this area.
I understand the urgency of a snow fence because of O&M dollars being required for that, but at this time we’re not able to do that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I guess what I’m saying is, in March in the March session you’ll be presenting to us the O&M for all the communities; snow removal, etc.
From last year’s experience, from last year’s expenditures, without actually realizing that you would be giving the Hamlet of Chesterfield Inlet 120 thousand dollars for next year’s snow removal and continuing for snow removal for seven years. But you can save 120 thousand dollar times seven or five, pardon me, you can save on removal a half a million dollars.
If you could get that now, that’s big.
Am I making sense Mr. Chairman? Thank you.
Maybe we can go back to the community and see what their priorities are.
Mr. Arvaluk: I’m not sure if this is a, my comment this time Mr. Chairman, is not about just the buildings in Coral Harbour, but overall concerns that I have for communities that don’t have docking facilities or breakwater type facilities in all of Nunavut.
We seem to have removed ourselves from that responsibility and we try to beg the federal government.
I’m very happy that you were successful for Chesterfield and accessing the road to the gravel site and the airport in Coral Harbour, but the docking facilities throughout Nunavut have become very important.
Boating has become an economic issue for hunting livelihood, recreation, tourism, etcetera, etcetera.
I think we will have to think this seriously because we cannot ask the federal government all of the time.
We are going to have to take our own responsibilities and start considering breakwaters for loading docks and loading docks are part of the community priorities which was the area of concern.
My question to the Minister is, are we removing ourselves from the responsibility for docking and breakwater facilities in Nunavut?
We cannot remove ourselves from any type of transportation in our communities because we have a transportation strategy in place already for the government. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In response to the docking facilities, it’s quite important to the communities because the communities have been losing their boats and it’s costing the hunters quite a bit of money so we have to be quite sensitive to this.
Because everything costs money whether you’re just a regular Inuk person you have to survive by using money.
I think that’s about it.
I never raised my hand, thank you.
Chairperson (interpretation): Page 7-7 Kitikmeot.
I’m sorry, Kivalliq Region.
Going to page 7-8 Kivalliq Region. 2 million, 431 thousand.
Total Kitikmeot Region. 248 thousand dollars.
Chairperson (interpretation): Total Grants and Contributions, 11 million, 552 thousand dollars.
I hope we are going away from burning garbage in our communities.
Are there any long term plans to build incinerators, some kind of more environmentally friendly system to get rid the burnable stuff in the next 10 years?
We have already looked into the incinerators. (interpretation) They visited Greenland while Jack Anawak was holding the portfolio and they have started researching that area.
Mr. Arvaluk: Do you have plans to replace garbage burning or incineration in the next 10 years?
We have looked at the machinery for garbage incinerators but we don’t have a concrete plan unless there are capital dollars there. But it’s something that we probably need to look at for a long-term plan for the communities.
You still have questions?
Total grants and contributions.
Page 7-8. 11 million, 552 thousand dollars.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, before we start the new part on this page, this is going to be the new section and it’s 6 o’clock.
I would like to report progress while we’re on the new section.
Chairperson (interpretation): While we’re on the new section, there is a motion to report progress.
You can ascertain if the Speaker is prepared to return to the chamber.
Ms. Thompson we’ll see you tomorrow and thank you for being at the witness table.
Speaker: Returning to the Orders of the Day, Item 20.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 18 and would like to report progress and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of Whole be concurred with.
The motion is in order. All those in favour?
Orders of the Day for Friday, November 29, 2002,
Just before we adjourn for the day, I’d like to introduce a page from my home community who is here now while her folks are going to school, Stacy Kadlutsiaq who was also here on April 1999 as a page.
This House stands adjourned until Friday, November 29, 2002 at 10 a.m.
Friday November 29, 2002
Pages 2056 - 2103
Ministers’ Statements 2056
Members’ Statements 2058
Returns to Oral Questions 2063
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2064
Oral Questions 2064
Reports of Standing and Special Committees 2081
Second Reading of Bills 2082
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2084
Report of Committee of the Whole 2101
Orders of the Day 2101
Friday November 29, 2002 2056
103 – 1(6): Portable Ultrasound Scanner Means Travel Savings (Picco) 2056
104 – 1(6): School Presentation (Kattuk) 2057
105 – 1(6): World AIDS Day (Picco) 2057
314 – 1(6): Search and Rescue Still Going on in Kugluktuk (Havioyak) 2058
315 – 1(6): Polar Bears Near Communities (Iqaqrialu) 2058
316 – 1(6): IQ Beneficial in Nunavut (Alakannuark) 2059
317 – 1(6): Zebedee Nungaq Commentary (Arvaluk) 2059
318 – 1(6): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit – AIDS/HIV (Irqittuq) 2060
319 – 1(6): Services Cut or Decreased in Nunavut Schools (Tootoo) 2061
320 – 1(6): Tour with Roy Romanow in Pangnirtung (Kilabuk) 2062
321 – 1(6): Official Opening of School in Pond Inlet (Nutarak) 2062
322 – 1(6): Funding from the Federal Government for Aboriginal Issues (Thompson) 2063
293 – 1(6): Statistics on Inmate in Outpost Camps (Okalik) 2063
320 – 1(6): Ultrasound Services for Kitikmeot (Havioyak) 2064
321 – 1(6): Corrections on Inuit Oral Legends (Arvaluk) 2067
322 – 1(6): Recognition of Canadian and Federal Legislation in the Territories (Irqittuk) 2068
323 – 1(6): Clarification of Question 315-1(6) Plans to Build an Arena (Nutarak) 2071
324 – 1(6): Equipment for Inmate Outpost Camps (Iqaqrialu) 2071
325 – 1(6): Plans for Economic Opportunities and Employment (Williams) 2073
326 – 1(6): Special Program Funding for Libraries (Tootoo) 2075
327 – 1(6): Traditional Jobs for Income Support Clients (Alakannuark) 2077
328 – 1(6): Funding for Construction of Daycare (McLean) 2078
329 – 1(6): Build a New Government Office (Williams) 2079
330 – 1(6): Translation of Tabled Documents into Inuinnaqtun (Havioyak) 2080
002 – 1(6): Update on Progress on the Review of Bill 1 (Nutarak) 2081
Bill 23 – An Act to Amend the Cities, Towns, and Villages Act – Second Reading 2082
Bill 24 – An Act to Amend the Hamlets Act – Second Reading 2083
Speaker: I will say the prayer this morning.
Minister’s Statement 103 – 1(6): Portable Ultrasound Scanner Means Travel Savings
I am very pleased to tell you today that over the last few months my department has provided portable ultrasound services to Rankin Inlet, and to many of the communities in Baffin Region.
Since the service began, a fully qualified ultrasound technologist has seen over 200 patients.
This has translated to approximately 168 thousand 430 dollars in savings Mr, Speaker to our medical travel and to our boarding home budget.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to cost savings the service has allowed us to improve patient care because Nunavummiut are able to remain in their communities with their families,
Mr. Speaker, instead of having to travel to Iqaluit for these routine ultrasounds.
Consequently we have been able to provide this added service at community health centres. Mr. Speaker, at the same time, by decreasing the workload at the radiology department at the Regional Baffin Hospital, we open more space for patients that need to be seen there.
Mr. Speaker, a final benefit is that while our ultrasound technologist travels to communities, she is also able to provide assistance with X-Rays and in-service training for staff in the health centres.
Looking at the fiscal situation Mr. Speaker, this is indeed good news for the Department of Health & Social Services and our government.
Minister’s Statement 104 – 1(6): School Presentation
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that my Department has created a presentation for Nunavut high school students.
The presentation, available in Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, English and French, introduces students to the Department of Public Works & Services.
It highlights the departmental divisions and the educational requirements to pursue such careers.
As a government, Mr. Speaker, we are continually working to increase our staffing numbers.
This presentation aimed at recruiting youth is another step in building a future workforce for Nunavut.
Delivering this presentation will not create any additional costs for the government, Mr. Speaker.
Departmental representatives will contact principals in communities where duty travel is scheduled to coordinate the presentation to interested schools.
In the Bathurst Mandate we are continually learning.
I believe reaching out to our youth and communicating the opportunities that await them in the Government of Nunavut will help students make informed decisions about their future.
Minister’s Statement 105 – 1(6): World AIDS Day
Hon. Ed. Picco: Nakurmiik, Uqaqti.
Uqaqti, this Sunday, December 1st, is World AIDS Day.
Throughout the world more than 40 million people live with HIV, AIDS.
Even though more than half this number lives in sub-Saharan Africa, that does not mean that we can relax here in Nunavut.
In Canada, close to 55 thousand people live with HIV/AIDS. Since 1987, 12 HIV cases have been reported in Nunavut.
While that may seem like a relatively low number Mr. Speaker, it does not mean that there is no risk for Nunavummiut.
We have a higher rate of sexually transmitted diseases, such as Chlamydia which demonstrates that we’re also at higher risk for HIV.
My department supports ongoing education initiatives throughout the year, for example, activity such as the Nunavut Aids Fair, for youth to educate each other as well as their communities.
As well Mr. Speaker we have participated in the Lifesavers Condom Campaign initiated by Pauktuutit, the Inuit Women’s Association.
Finally Mr. Speaker, our staff has organized Aids walks throughout Nunavut in late September.
Uqaqti, by educating our population about how condoms and other forms of safer sex can help prevent HIV and aids and other transmitted diseases, we look forward to a time when no more lives are affected by this largely preventable disease.
Member’s Statement 314 – 1(6): Search and Rescue Still Going on in Kugluktuk