EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We have to go through a process when we’re going to the Building Canada Fund. It’s not just our department that accesses those funds. There is a committee within the government departments that have to look at what projects are in most need and sometimes our airports just don’t make it that far until it has become a safety issue.
Mr. Tom Sammurtok: Thank you.
I really don’t have a question at this point; however, a comment. The airport terminal building in Chesterfield Inlet is a serious safety issue.
I think the department should immediately start looking into that issue as well. I understand, from my colleague from Repulse Bay-Coral Harbour, he’s got the same situation. I also know that there’s another one in the Kivalliq; I think it is Whale Cove.
It’s not just a desire to get a new airport terminal building. When you live in these communities and you use those facilities as often as we do, we know for a fact that there are safety issues with these buildings.
By the way, I will likely table a document before this session is over of pictures that I took of the building in Chesterfield Inlet that will show how bad it is with that building.
My question at this point is: can your department commit to maybe looking at these facilities more urgently than the next 20 years?
My department has committed to looking at several airports in Nunavut that are in need of either replacement or repair. These include Repulse Bay, built in 1981; Chesterfield Inlet in 1984; Whale Cove in 1986; Taloyoak in 1980; and Kimmirut in 1976.
These are being looked at for replacement and we realize they all have ongoing maintenance problems.
We are working to try to do solutions for all these airports.
Transportation. K-3. Total Capital Expenditures. $65,325,000.
K-5. Mr. A. Sammurtok.
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) My question is: on your department’s five-year capital plan that was contained in the 2015-16 capital estimates, it indicated that it plans to spend a total of approximately $7.45 million on a new Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre.
However, your department’s new five-year capital plan indicates that it plans to spend a total of approximately $5.95 million on the new Kivalliq visitor centre.
What accounts for the decrease in this project’s budget?
It’s the new estimates.
Mr. A. Sammurtok.
Mr. A. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) When will you table detailed information concerning the design of the new Kivalliq regional centre in the Legislative Assembly?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): I apologize, I didn’t quite understand that.
Mr. Sammurtok, please repeat your question.
Mr. Sammurtok: When will you table detailed information concerning the design of the new Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre in the Legislative Assembly?
We don’t normally table those items, but if that’s what the members wish, then we can look into that.
Mr. Sammurtok: In June of 2015, the Legislative Assembly approved a $285,000 capital carryover for this project.
I’ll ask Ms. Winmill to answer that question.
The capital carryover would be to pay for the whole cost of the project, which is $5.95 million in total.
Mr. Sammurtok: Your department’s 2015-16 capital estimates included $101,000 in funding for upgrades to visitor centres.
Which visitor centres are receiving upgrades during the current 2015-16 fiscal year?
That would be Iqaluit.
Mr. Sammurtok: Your department’s proposed 2016-17 capital estimates included $100,000 in funding for upgrades to visitor centres.
Which visitor centres will receive upgrades during the upcoming 2016-17 fiscal year?
That would be both the two visitor centres here in Iqaluit and in Cambridge Bay.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) We are on Economic Development and Transportation. Branch Summary. Economic Development.
K-5. Total Capital Expenditures. $3 million.
Economic Development and Transportation. Mission. K-2.
Total Capital Expenditures. $68,325,000.
Are you agreed that the Department of ED&T is concluded?
I would now like to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation for closing comments.
Thank you to my colleagues for your questions during the review of the Economic Development and Transportation’s capital estimates for 2016-17.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my staff, Deputy Minister Paul Suvega and Director of Finance and Administration Tanya Winmill, and Art Stewart for helping me answer your questions.
I would also like to take this opportunity to clarify a few matters that were raised yesterday.
Members may notice that our opening comments did not mention the $100,000 small capital for studies.
While we don’t know at this time exactly what studies will be conducted, these will be related to general capital planning requirements, including studies related to the pursuit of improved instrument procedures at various airports.
As my colleagues pointed out yesterday and as the director of finance and administration indicated, there are two errors in the substantiation sheet.
Firstly, the cost estimates for the Taloyoak airport terminal building are class “D” estimates rather than class “X,” and the Iqaluit International Airport Improvement Project estimates are class “A” estimates rather than class “C.”
Lastly, I would like to address my colleagues’ concerns about the privacy and the Motor Vehicle Information System.
I recognize that the disclosure of personal information through entities outside of the department must be consistent. With the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, at the same time, the MVIS project does not entail the sharing of new information; rather it will be doing the same thing as it has currently been doing and it will be doing it more efficiently and more reliably.
However, I can commit to my colleagues that the department will conduct a private impact assessment for all our motor vehicle operations in tandem with the MVIS project.
Depending on the results of that assessment, we may decide to consult with Information and Privacy Commissioner on specific issues identified.
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation is concluded.
My colleagues, if you can stay seated so that we can carry on. We will be preparing for the Nunavut Housing Corporation. We will move on to the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Bill 03 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2016-2017 – Nunavut Housing Corporation – Consideration in Committee
We will be reviewing the (interpretation ends) Nunavut Housing Corporation.
I would now like to ask the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation if he has officials that he would like to appear before the committee.
Chairman: Does the committee agree to let minister’s staff go to the witness table?
(interpretation ends) For the record, Minister Kuksuk, please introduce your officials.
First of all, to my left is Stephen Hooey, who is our chief operating officer for the housing corporation, and to my right is Lori Kimball, the president of the housing corporation. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The corporation’s capital plan for 2016-17 consists of $38,060,000 from the Government of Nunavut, additional funding of $5,745,000 from CMHC, comprising of $4,290,000 under the Social Housing Agreement and $1,455,000 through the Investment in Affordable Housing Program.
These funding sources bring the total NHC capital budget for 2016-17 to $43,805,000.
Overall Capital Budget
NHC capital funding remains at approximately the same level as last year for modernization, or M&I, for NHC owned public housing and staff housing units, the Mobile Equipment Fund, homeownership programs, including the Heating Oil Tank Replacement Program and the Seniors and Disabled Persons Preventative Maintenance Program.
Fire Damage Replacement Fund
NHC’s funding for the Fire Damage and Replacement Fund will increase by $782,000 to $3,382,000 in 2016-17.
This funding includes $1 million in base funding for unknown repairs, $582,000 to address excess repairs from the prior year, and $1.8 million for unit replacement.
Warehousing
Warehouse facilities in some of the 25 Nunavut communities date back to the early ‘70s with the average age being between 21 and 23 years old.
In addition, there has been substantial growth in the number of housing units to be maintained and the sheer size of warehousing facilities cannot accommodate current demands.
To address this growth and attend to structural and safety concerns, NHC will be dedicating $4.7 million annually to replace the warehouses in Nunavut starting with Baker Lake.
New Construction – 2016-17
NHC is anticipating being able to build 83 new units in 2016-17.
NHC is planning on tendering the construction of 40 new public housing units in 2016-17 with combined funding from $12.5 million GN capital funding, the $1,455,000 in investment in affordable housing federal funding, the $600,000 from fire damage replacement funding, and the $5 million remaining funds from the 2014-15 unspent due to land availability issues in Iqaluit.
NHC is anticipating the tender of 43 new staff housing units with combined funding from $20 million from the January 2015 supplementary appropriation, the $5 million from the 2016-17 GN capital funding for staff housing construction, $2.8 million for health centre housing in Arctic Bay, and $2.2 million carried over from 2015-16 for staff housing unspent due to land unavailability in Hall Beach and Resolute Bay.
After careful analysis of the staff housing situation in every community, NHC has determined a shortlist of 10 communities for new staff housing construction. These are Arctic Bay, Coral Harbour, Gjoa Haven, Hall Beach, Igloolik, Kugaaruk, Kugluktuk, Naujaat, Resolute Bay, and Sanikiluaq.
The detailed list will be tabled in the session.
Several factors were considered when allocating new staff housing construction, including student-teacher ratios, the number of forced shared units, the overall increase in positions across the GN, and GN staff vacancies.
In the end, priority for new staff housing construction has been given to non-decentralized communities that have the greatest need for priority category 1 and 2 positions, as per the GN Staff Housing Policy.
Mr. Chairman, as a result of the steady application of NHC’s allocation methodology for new construction, there has been noticeable reduction in the gap between communities in terms of their ranking of relative need.
This means that today, NHC can group communities according to four major categories:
Communities where the need is greater than 40 percent;
Communities where the need is between 35 percent and 40 percent;
Communities where the need is between 30 percent and 35 percent; and
Communities where the need is less than 30 percent.
These categories were useful in determining where to group public housing and staff housing construction tenders for 2016-17, as it made it possible to combine communities selected for new staff housing construction with communities with more than 35 percent need for new public housing.
Combining construction projects by community has been shown to help reduce the costs of construction. As such, we will build public housing in Arctic Bay, Gjoa Haven, Igloolik, Kugaaruk, Pond Inlet, and Naujaat.
Land issue in Iqaluit
In order to provide further clarification regarding land availability issues in Iqaluit, allow me to state that the fundamental problem is a lack of developed land available for lease in the capital.
Until more land is developed or existing buildings are demolished to create new land, the Nunavut Housing Corporation cannot construct any new housing in the city.
Another issue is that zoning restrictions in Iqaluit prohibit NHC from constructing a multiplex on lots that it owns.
NHC’s plan for these lots is to develop a supportive housing solution to meet the needs of elders or people with disabilities.
NHC is also looking at other lots that may be available in Iqaluit through the federal surplus program. However, this process is not expected to be completed in time for the 2016-17 construction season.
NHC is currently working closely with the City of Iqaluit to explore opportunities for developed land to be made available, but until this can be accomplished, NHC must withhold allocation of any new public or staff housing construction.
Changes to Homeownership Programs
Mr. Chairman, I would like to demonstrate to my colleagues that their concerns regarding the Tenant-to-Owner (TOP) Program have been heard, and the program has been revised and reactivated.
The Tenant-to-Owner Program allows public housing tenants to purchase their unit and become homeowners. The program aims to support self-reliance in tenants by eliminating their dependence on public housing.
Further, in support of NHC’s Sivumut Abluqta Mandate to meet the housing needs of the growing elder population, NHC has also revised and reactivated the Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Home Options Program (SDHOP).
The program helps elders and homeowners with disabilities to transfer their homes to a relative in public housing.
This program is meant to address overcrowding while supporting aging in place.
Mr. Speaker and committee members, thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today.
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development concerning its review of the proposed 2016-17 capital estimates of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s proposed capital budget for 2016-17 is $38,060,000.
The corporation’s capital budget was $30,072,000 for the 2015-16 fiscal year and $30,230,000 for the 2014-15 fiscal year.
Members note that the corporation is proposing a budget of $4,616,000 for its various homeownership programs in its 2016-17 capital estimates.
Mr. Chairman, as you will recall, members have previously raised concerns regarding the extent to which the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s homeownership programs are benefiting long-term residents of the territory and residents of smaller communities.
In July of 2012, the Nunavut Housing Corporation announced changes to the Nunavut Downpayment Assistance Program.
It indicated that “These changes aim to support the development of private real estate markets in Nunavut” and that the Nunavut Housing Corporation will be able to “assist a greater number of Nunavummiut in becoming homeowners, and ensure fair access to assistance.”
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2013-14 annual report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on November 6, 2014.
However, the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s annual reports have not clearly detailed the extent to which homeownership programs are being accessed in large, medium, and small communities.
The standing committee looks forward to the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s future annual reports providing significantly greater levels of detail concerning the administration of its homeownership programs, which will help enable all Members of the Legislative Assembly and the public to better evaluate the extent to which the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s homeownership programs are being accessed in small, medium, and large communities.
Mr. Chairman, as you will recall, two specific issues that were raised by the standing committee during its consideration of the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2015-16 capital estimates concerned the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s income thresholds for its homeownership programs and the availability of certified contractors and tradespersons in smaller communities.
When the minister appeared before the Committee of the Whole on October 28 of 2014, he stated that the Nunavut Housing Corporation is “introducing new community-specific, index-able, and realistic income eligibility limits that better reflect the realities of life in Nunavut.”
He also stated that the Nunavut Housing Corporation has “made changes to improve the delivery of its home repair and maintenance programs.
In communities where there is no access to local skilled labour to do repairs, travel costs to bring in a contractor…will now be considered over and above the program contribution.”
The standing committee looks forward to future annual reports of the Nunavut Housing Corporation describing in detail the impact that these changes have had on the administration of its homeownership programs.
The standing committee continues to encourage the Nunavut Housing Corporation to review the feasibility of providing support for low-income seniors who are homeowners to purchase home insurance.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee continues to recommend that the Nunavut Housing Corporation review its current residency requirements for its homeownership programs so as to achieve greater consistency with other territorial programs and entitlements.
For example, individuals are required by law to have been residents of Nunavut for at least 12 months prior to being eligible to vote in a territorial general election.
It is not unreasonable to expect individuals to have lived in Nunavut for at least one year in order to qualify for the significant financial assistance that is available under the government’s homeownership programs.
The standing committee is also supportive of efforts on the part of the Nunavut Housing Corporation to review its homeownership programs with the goal of encouraging the construction of new units, thereby increasing the total housing stock in the territory.
During the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, members expressed concern regarding the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s plan to consolidate its $4.0 million in funding for its primary suite of homeownership programs into a “one-line item for all of Nunavut” as opposed to its longstanding practice of allocating this budget by region.
The standing committee continues to encourage the NHC to publicly clarify the long-term future of this program.
In March of 2010, the Nunavut Housing Corporation announced a new Heating Oil Tank Replacement Program.
The corporation’s proposed 2016-17 budget for this program is $500,000.
The standing committee supports the renewal of this important program.
The standing committee also continues to encourage the Nunavut Housing Corporation to work closely with municipalities and the Department of Community and Government Services concerning the issue of safe and environmentally responsible disposal of used oil tanks.
On May 13, 2013, the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation tabled the Government of Nunavut’s Long-term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s current business plan indicates that it “issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for facilitation and reporting services for the interdepartmental consultation process and the preparation of the Blueprint for Action” in relation to its Long-term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy.
The business plan also indicates that “The RFP is expected to be awarded in January 2015, with the consultation process wrapping up in the fall of 2015, and the delivery of the final Blueprint for Action delivered by the end of fiscal 2015/16.”
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s proposed capital estimates for 2016-17 include $12.5 million in funding for new public housing units.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s current five-year capital plan indicates that this amount is projected to increase on an annual basis in coming years, reaching a total of $22.5 million in the 2020-21 fiscal year.
The standing committee supports increased investments in new public housing.
On October 29 of 2014, the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation tabled information in the Legislative Assembly which outlined the corporation’s plans for public housing construction, land acquisition and development in the 2015-16 fiscal year.
This document indicated that the communities of Arviat, Pond Inlet, and Kugaaruk would each receive three new five-plexes during the 2015-16 fiscal year.
It also indicated that the communities of Kimmirut, Hall Beach, Resolute Bay, Coral Harbour, and Whale Cove would receive new staff housing units.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation released a detailed background document concerning its new public housing allocation system on September 9 of 2013.
This document contained important information concerning current waitlists and housing stock across Nunavut.
The standing committee encourages the minister to table an updated edition of this document in the Legislative Assembly, as it would serve to publicly substantiate the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s decisions regarding its 2016-17 public housing construction plans.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s proposed capital estimates for 2016-17 include $5.0 million in funding for new staff housing units.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s current business plan indicates that one of its priorities for the 2014-15 fiscal year was to “Research alternative approaches for the delivery of staff housing in emerging market communities.”
It also indicates that it has “prepared an outline for a comprehensive staff housing policy and program review.
This review is being overseen by the Building Capacity Committee.
The development of options to address employees’ housing needs will also be included in the Blueprint for Action.”
In March of 2015, the Legislative Assembly approved Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015. This included $20.0 million in funding for the construction of new staff housing units.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s backgrounder for this expenditure indicated in part that “This $20.0 million will be combined with the 2016-2017 capital budget of $5.0 million, and will be allocated strategically.”
It is important that the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s plans for the construction of new public housing units and staff housing units be presented to the Legislative Assembly prior to the corporation’s capital estimates being considered.
It is also important that the results of the government’s review of longstanding vacant positions be tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s current five-year capital plan indicates that the Nunavut Housing Corporation will spend $4.7 million in the 2016-17 fiscal year on a new warehousing facility in the community of Baker Lake.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation has indicated that it plans to “replace one warehouse each [year], beginning in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, on a prioritized basis.”
During the minister’s recent appearance before the standing committee, concerns were expressed that the warehousing project for the 2016-17 fiscal year remains at the class “X” stage of development.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s proposed 2016-17 capital estimates include $1,020,000 for the purpose of providing an annual contribution to local housing organizations for the creation of a vehicle reserve fund.
The standing committee continues to recommend that the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s annual reports include a detailed listing of vehicle acquisitions undertaken by LHOs.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2016-17 Capital Estimates of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Rumbolt. (interpretation ends) Do members have any opening comments?
We will now proceed to the review of the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s estimates on page L-3.
I just have not so much of a question but a clarification on the minister’s opening comments on page 4. In the second paragraph, it’s says,
“Combining construction projects by community has been shown to help reduce the costs of construction.” I would just like an explanation first on that.
Please provide an explanation, Mr. Kuksuk.
It’s a methodology to try to build more houses for the least amount of money, whether it’s staff or public housing, through the housing associations.
We know that they look at the community with the most need of staff housing and public housing.