EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Minister, I wonder if you could introduce your officials.
Hon. Jack Anawak: This is, everybody knows Mike Ferris and Mike Rafter, from Community Government & Transportation.
Just before we begin, I would like to make two comments.
Under the main estimates, page 7-10, there is a mistake in Inuktitut.
They're talking about lubricants but we're talking about, it's just the Inuktitut translation is wrong.
It's supposed to be a diesel fuel stabilization rider.
There's also a mistake, a huge mistake under 7-12, the Inuktitut translation for Municipal Operating Assistance Program under contributions, in the Inuktitut translation, the translation states the Inuit games.
It's a mistake of the Inuktitut translation.
We're not going to be giving 20 million dollars to Inuit Games, so the 20 million dollars is for the Municipal Operating Assistance Program.
This is for the transfer payments to assist hamlets in meeting their operational costs.
The Inuktitut translation is wrong.
It says that it's for Inuit games.
Just to let the members know.
The members can turn to page 7-6, directorate.
Under page 7-6.
We're on page 7-6.
Any comments or concerns from the members.
If there are none, if there are no questions on 7-6.
The details on the next page of the 9 million dollars on the following page.
If that's what it is I'll ask a bit later.
I think it's for later.
Just to let the members know we are on the Main Estimates 2001-2002.
Turning to page 7-6, Community Government & Transportation, branch summary.
Total operations and maintenance, 9 million 78 thousand.
Total expenditures, 9 million 78 thousand.
Any questions on that page.
There is also an information item on 7-7.
Directorate, grants and contributions.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, under 7-10, the minister said that there was a mistake in the translation.
Also on 7-12, there is also a mistake in the translation of that page.
I wonder if the minister is going to correct those pages, just before we ask questions.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Perhaps while we are working on these main estimates today we will have those corrected before they are approved.
We will give you the correct translations before we approve them.
Chairperson (interpretation): Is that okay Mr. Nutarak.
Are we on page 7-6.
Chairperson (interpretation): Yes, we are on page 7-6 and the information for it is on page 7-7.
Are there any comments or concerns from the members.
Members have ten minutes for opening comments.
I would like to make general comments.
Since we have had the Nunavut Government and up to date, when we look at the government’s budget, every year there is a supplementary appropriation.
Now we have another supplementary appropriation that we have to deal with.
There is also some money that has to be spent for contract services under 7-6.
If we are going to pay more to the contractors for construction we may have a problem in the future, because once contractors start the projects they always tend to feel that they need more money.
Whenever we have a budget session and we see an additional amount of money allotted for construction it seems like the amount has increased for construction projects and it is getting more expensive every year.
We might run into problems if this continues.
Like the 12 million dollar deficit, we are in a deficit situation right now so if the construction companies keep on asking for more money, then we will keep on running into a deficit.
So that way we may encounter some problems as a government.
I just wanted to make a comment on that.
I am not saying that I disagree with what is going on, I am just cautioning that we don’t have much money and don’t want to go into a deficit again.
I just wanted to mention that we shouldn’t be increasing the money to be used for construction.
Mr. Anawak did you want to comment on that.
There was no question just a comment.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): I just wanted to get some clarification, whether it is a point of order or if it is a question.
Perhaps if we could get some clarification from you Mr. Chairman.
I am not really sure what situation he is talking about.
We have our main estimates and we have to approve them plus the capital.
There are going to be differences in the figures but what we do, is the government estimates how much they are going to be using for a year and they do their best to try to put the figures down every year.
I just wanted to know what Mr. Iqaqrialu is talking about, what he means by we are going to be in a dangerous situation.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Iqaqrialu I wonder if you can explain what you were just saying.
We are supposed to be dealing with page 7-6.
I wonder if you could clarify your comments.
It seems like I am a minister and some of these people are asking me questions.
I was just making a comment that we might be in a dangerous situation.
After looking at Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, what I was trying to say is that we approve the main estimates and the figures keep changing every year.
Say for instance, James probably understood what I said about the figures changing in the main estimates.
I just wondered whether we would be in a dangerous situation.
Chairperson (interpretation): It was just a comment.
We will go back to item 7-6.
Or questions from the members on page 7-7.
I am wondering the percentage, if this is going to be 100% staffing under this directorate, compensation and benefits.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I will have Mr. Ferris answer.
The intent is to reach 100% staffing in all of our headquarters positions.
We recently were provided through Public Works, additional floor space in the Brown Building.
We are hoping to get on with staffing some of the vacant positions.
That’s why there is an increase in the compensation and benefits package.
Some of the pages here, it could be rude if I am wrong here, the question I am going to ask him.
I know there is some staffing in Kugluktuk and I am sure it is not 100 percent yet, as far as I know.
I could be wrong on this one.
I am just trying to get some information on this.
Is it on this page or is it other pages that we are doing some hiring for the staff in Kugluktuk.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Rafter, am I mistaken.
Mr. Rafter: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The staff in Kugluktuk are under Community Planning and Lands which appears under Community Government.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are on page 7-6 and it continues on to 7-7.
The 45 thousand that is for fire training to provide funding to municipalities for community based fire fighting instruction.
So is it is used for communities.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, it is for all of Nunavut but presently the training is made available for trainers.
Instructors would go to the communities.
It is for all of Nunavut but it costs less money when the instructors go to the communities and train fire fighters in the communities.
The 45 thousand if it is towards all of Nunavut will it only be for staff travel.
The 45 thousand is it just to send staff to the communities.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): It is used for communities.
When we send staff to the communities we pay for the travel and the money is to be used to train fire fighters in the community, for example on how to drive the fire truck, we pay for the travel.
So would this money be provided to communities that ask for the program to be in their communities.
Do you have to apply for the programs.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): We are continuing to work with the communities and the communities can talk to our staff and I am sorry wait a minute.
Mr. Chairman the money would be used by the hamlets and it would be spent to train fire fighters.
There is money for training.
This money would be spent for the administration work and the Nunavut Government would pay for their staff.
I think if we were to spend this on administration, I think 45 thousand is not very much.
It would be used for just one community.
If a community has to apply for that training, it must not be very expensive to provide training.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): This is not for staff or money divided to communities.
The fire departments are assisted by the hamlets so this money would be, the instructors would be paid by our department and this money would be spent for administration work.
Is it just to assist the hamlets.
Do the hamlets already have money to provide that service.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Anawak
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): The hamlets provide fire safety and the hamlet staff sometimes have to do the administration or paperwork so that the fire department can receive that training.
The fire department has equipment in their communities and this is not to provide equipment to the communities.
Chairperson (interpretation): Are you done Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I don't have any more on my list.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): The 45 thousand that was just discussed.
Perhaps I didn't understand his response.
Is it divided amongst the communities in Nunavut.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I'm sorry, just to explain myself better.
With the 45 thousand we are training the communities.
The 45 thousand would be provided to communities that apply for that money.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I know that this question was raised but would it be only provided to communities that asked for the money.
For instance if one community was to apply for the money, is it a one-time thing.
My question is, when one community applies for the money, can the community re-apply if they decided that they needed more training.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): The training, fire training, will continue, and each community needs different training so the fire training would continue and some communities, to get back to his question if a community wishes to apply for more money for fire fighting and if the fire department wanted to use the assistance of the SAO at the Hamlet Office, this money would be used towards that.
But our department provides money to train fire fighters in the communities.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do you want to continue Mr. Nutarak.
We're on page 7-6. 7-7.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): I'd like to ask another question, Mr. Chairman.
The money hasn't changed since last year.
Is it consistent, is that how much money they usually need for the whole year.
The 45 thousand Mr. Anawak is not a whole lot of money.
Maybe you could clarify that because we just keep going back to it.
Maybe you could clarify it better.
Mr. Ferris will respond.
Mr. Ferris: Mr. Chairman, if the members would look at page 7-6 you will see there under directorate that the Division of Emergency Management is included in those figures that total 9 million 78.
There is considerable money in there for the operation of the Office of the Fire Marshall and Assistant Fire Marshals that are located out in Nunavut, that are travelling and constantly doing training.
There are training dollars under fees and payments, there are some training dollars under contract services.
So there's a very extensive fire training program.
The 45 thousand dollars is under the contributions, this is where a community would apply either through the Assistant Fire Marshall or through my office because they want to do perhaps first aid training, they want to do a course on CPR.
This would allow them to hire a local instructor or to bring in an instructor.
In the past we have not exceeded requests more than the 45 thousand because it's a small portion but it's designed to allow a council or a community to ask for something additional beyond the training we are normally providing as part of our mandate on an annual basis.
We also get in the neighbourhood of 151 thousand dollars through an MOU with the Federal Government for Emergency Preparedness and our budget for training in that area is close to 398 when we take that 150 plus money from Nunavut.
So there is considerable dollars within the Community Government under directorate for fire training and for safety type training.
This is a simply a contribution to communities.
It's the same on the bottom of page 7-7, there's 54 thousand.
That's simply again to provide an opportunity for the communities to ask for small items for their fire trucks or their firefighters.
In the capital budget is where we would budget for new fire vehicles or major equipment.
This again is simply a contribution amount.
Both of those haven’t changed over the last few years and we haven't exceeded those amounts in requests at the present time.
I wonder if the communities do not take of advantage of these. The money that is provided for training, I wonder if the communities do not take advantage of this money that is provided for training.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): The training is continuous.
We continually provide training for fire safety.
Mr. Ferris said that if the community wants to provide training for first aid or other training, that money is available.
But there is also money available for fire training.
I know that I am not going to change that amount.
I am just asking questions.
Because this money is provided for all of Nunavut, it does not seem to be enough.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): It is provided to the communities that need extra money.
If a community is requesting to have first aid training provided, this is to assist them to have that training in their communities.
For example, fire training is available to the communities, but this is to assist them in taking additional training.
So there is already money put aside for fire training in that area.
Chairperson (interpretation): I think that is clear enough now.
Are there any other questions under 7-6 and 7-7.
Chairperson (interpretation): Turn the page.
Total operations and maintenance, 43 million and 6 thousand, under Community Government.
We are on page 7-8.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I would like to skip 7-8 and move on to 7-9 instead.
Chairperson (interpretation): 7-9, 7-10, 7-11 and 7-12, 7-13 are information.
Mr. Nutarak, do you have any questions for 7-9.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I have a question regarding the senior citizen extraordinary grants totalling 100 thousand.
How is this subsidy provided to the senior citizens.
Do the seniors have to apply for this or is it given out to the communities automatically and the number is depending on the population of the elders.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, there are application forms available.
Maybe I should have said this earlier when we were on the fire equipment.
We send out pamphlets to the communities so that the information will be regularly available to the seniors.
This line item can be applied for but we will keep the communities informed about the program.
We will send out pamphlets to the communities and let them know what this subsidy is about and where they can access the application forms.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): This property tax subsidy in Inuktitut.
Could you give us more information.
Is it like property for your own home or your land.
What is it used for.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I don’t know how many elders have their own homes but you have to pay property taxes for the land.
The subsidy is for that.
The subsidy is for the property taxes that have to be paid annually to the hamlets.
So it is a subsidy for the land.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): So are you a senior when you are 60 or 65.
When are you considered an elder.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Maybe you are almost there.
It is 60.
At 60 years of age you qualify for the subsidy.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I am sure that the people out there are going to be informed about this subsidy, as you mentioned that there are going to be application forms available and pamphlets are going to be sent out.
Is this a new program or has this been available before.
Has it always been 100 thousand dollars.
Is it always the same every year.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, it is.
But the ageing population is increasing and in the future if we have to increase this amount we would have to ask the cabinet and see if we can increase it.
When you are 60 years of age and have your own home and you don’t have a job, it would be a hardship.
So we are just putting it at 100 thousand and if there is an increase required we would change it.
This would be for elders who don’t have a job and own property.
Mr. Nutarak, last question.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I am sure the pamphlets describe where you can get the application forms.
Where would those forms be available.
Would you ask the minister for these forms or where can you get them.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): The application forms will be sent out to the hamlets and the pamphlet that I was talking about will also be going out to the communities so the people will be well informed about this subsidy program.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Alakannuark.
I'll read it first of all.
Fuel price adjustment.
To provide a grant to Nunavut municipalities, to offset incremental operating costs associated with fuel price increases and it's 695 thousand.
I just have a question with the Inuktitut Taqarutiit.
I apologise, I don't understand it either.
But it should mean that 695 thousand is going out to the communities to make an adjustment for the increase in fuel prices.
The hamlets provide the services, they do the gravel, they do the snow clearing and they have equipment and so on.
Because of the increase in fuel prices, this is to adjust for that increase in fuel prices.
I apologise, I don’t understand the Inuktitut but that's what it should mean.
It's a fuel price adjustment.
And also, the monies are given to the communities after we review three years of their gas prices and their usage.
Taqarutiit I think is a Sanikiluaq word.
The hamlets are given this money and the 695 thousand is it currently being used or is it for 2001-2002.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): The 695 thousand will be used for the coming year.
Last year, we had 200 thousand that was billed out to the communities and with the increase in oil prices, there was 308 thousand that was given out to the communities.
With the increase of 13.9 cents, we adjusted the rate and put it to 695 thousand for this upcoming year.
I have a question on each line item here so I would like to be precise and to the point.
The 695 thousand will be divvied up to the communities.
Do the communities have to make a proposal or do they get it automatically.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): The 695 thousand is divvied up and then given to the communities.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you very much for your response.
Nunavut Association of Municipalities, to provide a grant to Nunavut Municipalities to offset some operating costs of the association, and to acknowledge departmental support.
Who is this Nunavut Association of Municipalities and why do they get support.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): They are the mayors of all the Nunavut communities.
They have an association and that’s them.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): I think when I ask very to the point questions, I get very to the point answers.
I was going to ask a question on the senior citizens’ grants.
The elders that are 60 years old do not know how to fill out forms.
You said that you have to make an application to access this subsidy and to me in communities in my riding the elders did not grow up filling out forms and they do not know to fill them.
Is there some other way that we can do this so that it will be easier for the elders to access this subsidy.
I think you should look at other options.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): This money is only for people who are homeowners.
It is to help them pay for property taxes on their lot lease and the application will make it as simple as possible and it will go through the hamlet and these subsidies will only be available to the senior citizens who qualify.
For elders who do not use applications forms, there are a lot of elders who have their own homes.
If I use my mother as an example she will not know how to fill out those forms without assistance from somebody else because she did not grow up that way.
That is an example that I am using.
Those application forms would be another challenge for the elders if they wanted to access these subsidies.
I think that it should be accessible to the elders.
Even myself.
I could use myself as an example.
Looking at the Inuktitut here.
You have to use other papers, additional papers or if you fill it out wrong you have to do it again and then they give up trying because the papers keep coming back because they keep making mistakes and then they consider it a hopeless case and drop it all together.
So I would like these application forms to be simple or use alternative methods.
I think that they should be able to access these funds not necessarily through an application form but through other means that would be easier on the elders.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Just thinking about it.
They can be helped by the hamlets if they are homeowners or they can get help from the Housing Corporation or the Housing Authority because of course if they want to rent a home they have to fill out an application form in order to access public housing.
With the help of the hamlet council and our department we are going to put out the information and have it available to the elders.
Like I said we would be sending out pamphlets to the communities and we will make it as clear as possible.
We can inform the elders how they can apply for it and where they can get the required documents.
Can the MLAs also get copies of these pamphlets, because of course we can help the elders too.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Of course.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): As you stated this 308 thousand and 200 thousand dollars come to 508 thousand.
But the 695 thousand, I would like to get clarification on that.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I was able to obtain this funding for the municipalities.
In this fiscal year we have already allotted funding to the municipalities and the 695 thousand is for the upcoming fiscal year to assist the municipalities to offset the incremental operating costs.
When we have this funding approved we will divvy it up for the communities.
We had a problem with the 508 thousand so we increased it to 695 thousand for the upcoming fiscal year.
This 695 means that it is to offset the operating costs associated with all fuel increases, whether it is diesel…sorry.
Does it include the 13.9 cent increase on fuel.
Did you do it for the operations of municipalities due to the fuel price increases.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): If I am clear on what you said, when we divvy up these funds to the communities, we look at how much fuel they have used in the last three years.
For example, even in the smaller communities, some of them may use more fuel than the larger communities.
Especially when the airport is quite far from the community in Whale Cove or Coral Harbour for example.
They use more fuel.
It is not the bulk of it, it is for use within the communities.
Yes, I understand perfectly, but this is over half a million dollars and various departments I am sure would have to be treated the same, for example Public Works.
We still don’t know exactly what the municipalities’ operating costs are for fuel use for a whole year.
Or three years divided by the average, this 695 thousand total, is to help them offset the costs that they had the year before.
For example, this 13.9 cents a litre increase, they are going to have a shortfall by this much, and this 695 thousand dollars you divide it amongst all the communities, 27 communities using the increase of 13.9 cents and 5 cents a litre.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, it is to offset the incremental operating costs.
Under page 7-10, although it says qinaktuq, it's diesel fuel but the translation says oil.
It's 127 thousand dollars, is it still the same as the other one.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Before we start, perhaps if I can hand this out.
They have been translated already.
Diesel fuel stabilization rider, it's set aside for power.
When you read it over here it sounds like we are talking about heating fuel.