EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I can only assume that the material, as it was coming into the marshalling yards, was clearly marked because our contractor, the Sealift Info, was able to track all of the materials coming in and be able to track the materials going out.
How some of the stuff got mislabeled and sent to other communities, I can only venture to guess that the capabilities and the capacity of the marshalling yard down there. Just as an example, I used the same marshalling company for my own personal sealift for this year and it ended up in Salluit, Northern Quebec, and I ended up with a crate of motor oil in my drive way, which was destined for Salluit.
So that kind of gives you an idea of how Pond Inlet material ended up in Igloolik and we have three roofing packages for two buildings in Kimmirut.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. That explains some of the possibilities of the major materials that were slated for, for instance, the Kivalliq or a completely one.
Who makes the determination or the decision to the supplier that particular materials purchased should go to that distribution centre instead of, for instance, the Kivalliq when most of the material is lot closer through the Manitoba location?
I’m sorry; there was no bid coming in from Manitoba. So therefore, we started working with the marshalling company in Montreal, as there was no bid from Manitoba, for the distribution and marshalling of the materials for the housing units slated for the Kivalliq region.
So that’s why they started working from that location.
Mr. Chairman, the reason I’m asking that question is because I’m not 100 percent sure that you don’t direct the supplier, from a certain point, to ship through Manitoba, for instance, where a number of materials are also going through because there are a number of marshalling companies and also freight forwarders there; quite experienced people; that you would actually be saving anything.
So my question to you also is that: when you say to this Assembly or to this committee that you are now encouraged to manage cost savings, how do you verify that cost savings that you say that you have made in the amount of $6 million?
Is that an estimate, or is that verified? How do we get to read that audited or estimate in any document?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The money we expended for 2006-07, we will use that for 2007-08 estimates, and that’s what we had used for the previous fiscal year’s figures.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Curley. Minister Akesuk. (interpretation) I apologize. (interpretation ends) Mr. Curley, go ahead.
I think the committee needs more information than… your proposal has stated that you’re having a substantial savings and that you’re going to be building a lot more houses from the cost savings that you made.  Can the minister explain to us: exactly what method are you going to use to verify cost savings?
Is that going to be done by some audited statements?
Is that going to be done by just a comment from you, or how is it going to be a verifiable statement for the members to consider?
The staff of the Nunavut Housing Corporation will make sure that they provide accurate figures. I do believe that we have a very capable staff and they have to make sure that they have accurate figures.
Our staff from the Nunavut Housing Corporation Finance Division, I’m sure, will provide the accurate figures and give us the cost savings amount.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. I appreciate the minister.
I trust that this report will be professionally done and that we will have an opportunity to fairly evaluate the performance of the Housing Corporation.
I think it’s really important that there will be an independent performance review of the Housing Corporation as well. Would the minister be agreeable to an independent review of the performance be made with respect to transportation, distribution, as well as all of the others, in order to prevent that kind of thing from happening again?
We are getting audited by the OAG.
Mr. Curley: My next question is this: will the minister commit to keeping the Members of the Assembly, particularly those MLAs that are impacted by the delay and material matter arriving at a particular location, will the minister ensure that transparency is carried out and that he will write to each MLA as to why there have been such delays?
Will he also keep the MLAs informed by way of progress reports and letters to MLAs that have not received that particular commitment that the Assembly has approved? Could he explain to us exactly when he expect the material and the houses to be completed in those particular communities?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Curley.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) We will make sure that we do that.
Once all the documents are completed, we will provide you with the details, and once the letters are received, if you have any questions or concerns, we will be more than receptive.
Also, I would like the minister to state to the House whether or not he would be willing to consider using the Manitoba distribution centre for all of the housing material, instead of through Montreal, because there was no reason whatsoever to have Kivalliq housing materials going through Montreal, and therefore, prevent a community like Arviat from seeing at least 15 units being built this summer?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If we get the responses from the western part of Canada, we’ll make sure that they are considered.
Mr. Curley: Mr. Chairman, I believe that the distribution and freight forwarding companies in Manitoba and Churchill have experience. You don’t need this RFP to tell you that it is not possible to ship through the Manitoba Railroad with the material that is designated for the Kivalliq.
The reason I’m saying that, Mr. Chairman, is that I think it’s very important the minister gets to build the houses and deliver the material and provide housing to Nunavummiut.
My suggestion will do that. So, minister, why not direct the Housing Corporation officials to ensure that all the housing needs of Kivalliq go through Churchill, Manitoba, and if not, why not?
We try to make sure that we get the best suppliers and we do a review of the proposed costs. We also try to make sure that there’s cost savings involved.
That has been the process to date as we want to be able to build more houses for the same price.
If there’s an able agency or company in Manitoba, we’ll make sure that we follow our rules and procedures and do a review of their proposal.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, I know exactly where you are coming from. You were supposed to be building houses in Arviat.
If they had gone through Manitoba, these houses that were supposed to be built in Arviat would have been completed by now because it’s November already.
If you want to make sure that you build the houses that you said you were going to build, make sure that you go through Manitoba because they’re extremely capable. It doesn’t make any sense to have them shipped out from Montreal when you’re sending them over to the Keewatin area.
Would you be able to accommodate that as there wouldn’t have been any delays in any of the housing projects in the Keewatin if they had gone through Manitoba?
If you don’t want to do that, then I can tell you that the contractors will do exactly the same if you’re going to be using Montreal as a departing point.
We do want to build the houses that are required in Nunavut.  Again, I would like to state that we don’t want to see another incident like this.
We’re looking at more money to build more houses to meet the needs of Nunavummiut. We’ll make sure that everything goes more smoothly, and to date, we will be looking at the savings that the Housing Corporation has made.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I know exactly where you’re coming from. You’re looking at cost savings, you’re saying that, but I would like to tell you that those houses that were slated to go to Arviat came from Manitoba and that’s exactly the opposite of cost savings.
Everything that’s going to the Keewatin should go through Manitoba because it makes the most sense and costs less.
Would the minister be able to make sure that he looks into the idea of shipping from Manitoba? They have trains that run year round and there are also marshallers or expediters who work out of Churchill all year round. We would have been able to utilize that company.
I would like to tell you, Mr. Minister, if it worked out well for the Kivalliq region and Churchill, it would probably work out better for the Baffin region.
Would you be able to look into that?
Minister Akesuk.  Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you.
I’ll look into it.  Chairman: Thank you, Minister.
On here there’s half a million dollars slated for staff housing.
I’m just wondering if the minister can give an indication on L-6, where that staff housing is going to go, or if it’s just retrofit for staff housing, outline that and also where the Staff Housing New Supply, $6.8 million, is going.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is for Arviat and Gjoa Haven.
These are for retrofitting the staff housing for those two communities that are currently occupied.
Are those GN owned staff housing units, or are they leased units?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, they are owned by the Government of Nunavut.
The other part of my question under their Staff Housing New Supply, $6,835,000, can the minister indicate where those units are going?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you. That’s for the staff houses that are going to Igloolik, Gjoa Haven, and Rankin Inlet.
I assume that the ones for Igloolik and Gjoa Haven are going along with their continuing care centres that are going on there.
I’m not sure if the ones in Rankin Inlet are for any specific department as well.
It’s for the trades school.
I’m just wondering if their department has looked at building any staff housing units in Arctic Bay.
I know that earlier on, the Member for High Arctic pointed out that there was a couple of teachers that left because they didn’t have staff housing.
I’m just wondering if you’re looking at situations like that that are being looked at to be addressed.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are currently making a list of the communities that don’t have adequate staff housing, and once we do a total review, we’ll then decide on the allocation of staff houses and when.
We currently don’t have Arctic Bay on our list.
Can the minister give an indication of when that review will be complete?
It is hard to tell at this point exactly when it will be.
We are currently starting the review but once it’s completed, then we will be able to know exactly when we will send more housing to other communities.
Mr. Tootoo: My question was not when they will re-assign stuff to other communities but just when they anticipate having that report completed.
We will include that report with the Staff Housing Policy review.
I’ll just ask the minister when they will expect to have that done.
I’m not sure exactly when it would be. (interpretation ends) Mr. Scott would have a better idea of where we are with that report. Mr. Scott.
I’m just wondering if work on it has been started yet.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Mr. Scott will respond to that as to exactly where they are at right now.
We are in the process of refreshing the Staff Housing Supply Strategy that has been an ongoing updated report.
The next snapshots of that report, of that strategy, should be ready within the next couple of weeks.
Thank you, Mr. Scott, for that response.
As he said that the next snapshots will be in the next couple of weeks, is that something that can be shared with members, or is it something that has to go to Cabinet or whatever?
I’m just wondering if that information can be shared with the members to see where we are at.
Yes, after it goes through the Executive Council, then if there is a request for them to be tabled or put in public, I would be able to do so.
I don’t want to just ask the minister to wait for a request to table it here.
If he could just provide that information to the members once it’s available, if the minister could commit to doing that.
Yes, I will definitely try my best.
In that snapshot of the review that they’re looking at, do they take a look at places where all of the staff housing units are in every community? Do they look at and determine how many units they have and how many vacancies there are per community, for example; is that information included in there as well?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you. Yes, those are recorded. We also have the communities where they have shortage of housing, or if there are vacant units.
Yes, we do keep track of the records because we will be using that to strategize on where we should build more staff housing.
He indicated staff housing shortages in some places. I’m just wondering if the minister is aware if there are any positions out there in any of the communities that haven’t been able to be filled because they don’t have staff housing for them.
Mr. Scott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m not aware of any specific positions that are not being staffed as a result of lack of staff housing.
As everyone is aware, there are shortages particularly in some of the smaller non-decentralized communities, where teachers and other positions of GN have to share facilities and share staff housing units. Those are certainly the communities where we have identified as high priorities for delivery of additional staff housing units.
There certainly are vacant positions in a number of different communities and we want to make sure that there’s adequate housing that’s provided for the critical staff, which is nurses, medical staff, teachers, and social workers.
I would like to thank Mr. Scott for that response.
The other question I wanted to ask, and I know it was something I mentioned in my opening comments, and I believe it’s through the Nunavut Housing Trust Delivery Program for social housing throughout the territory.  Here in Iqaluit, I’m just wondering if I could get an update from the minister or his officials on the status of that project that was to be delivered under the trust fund for social housing here in Iqaluit.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Mr. Scott.
Just as a bit of a briefing on the project here in Iqaluit, there are 20 units that are scheduled to be built as part of the 2007-08 allocation to Iqaluit. There is a 10-plex that is starting this fall here and there are two three-bedroom five-plexes where the material, I believe, has been delivered to Iqaluit.
That project started off as a tendered project under supply, ship and erect, and the prices on particularly the 10-plex were higher than I was prepared to award the contract on. There were no bidders on the two five-plexes.
So as a result, we took over the general contracting responsibilities for that and turned that over to the Iqaluit Housing Authority. They’re going to be managing the project for us.
They currently, I believe, have six apprentices on staff that they’re prepared to put on site to work with the journeymen so that they can continue their training towards their selected trade.
As of last Friday, we were looking for the beams that were supposed to come off the ship; the steel beams and the piles are in the ground; it’s kind of hard building a house unless you’ve got the steel beams. I did drive by the site on Sunday, there were beams on site but I hadn’t followed up since Sunday to see if the construction was actually started with the beams on site.
I’m glad the beams didn’t miss the boat. Just on those ones for here, was that material all handled through the marshaller on the contract that was awarded?
I know that you mentioned earlier that these we’re done on a supply, ship and erect approach. I would assume that that was done differently. Could I get some clarification there?
It was done differently when we went directly to the supplier for this project.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and the minister.
I’m just wondering if, when you look at the differences between the two approaches that the corporation has looked at again: this is what it cost us for these 20 units and these two five-plexes by doing it this way versus the similar amount of stuff it would have cost to do it the other way. Is that something that they’ve looked at and they are now in the process of trying to find ways to reduce costs?
Maybe Mr. Scott will respond to that question.
Part of the process is that we did do an analysis of the bids we did receive under the supply, ship and erect, which meant the materials were included in the whole contract.
What we did in the comparison with what our price was by actually going directly to the same supplier that the contractor was utilizing and we estimated that our price of materials for the 20 units in Iqaluit was half a million dollars less than what the contractor had put in his original contract.
I’m just wondering, I’m pretty sure that it’s been out there already and I just want to ask it for the record, is it so that you’re looking at, in Iqaluit here, another 30 units over the next year; the two five-plexes and the 20 units? Does that include the two five-plexes, or is that a part of it, or are those 20 units? I’m just wondering if I could get the total number of units that are going to be constructed here.
I’m just wondering if the local housing authority, and the same in every community, is going to be able to get the O&M costs required to operate those units as well.
We will be constructing 20 units this year and at the end of the second year, we would have completed 30 units.
So when they complete those 20 units, I believe we’ll have to construct about 26 more units.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister for clarifying those numbers.
The other part of that question was: will the housing authority be getting the O&M dollars to offset… I know that when they look at the housing costs, they say that for every dollar in capital is about $9 or $11 in O&M costs required to operate those units.
With the increasing cost of utilities and everything out there, I know that it could put a strain on housing organizations throughout the territory, but will they get the additional O&M cost required to maintain those units?
Yes, with respect to the increasing size of communities, we will give them more funding.
That’s all the questions I have for now.
I guess it’s time to recognize the clock and report progress.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Are you making a motion to report progress?
Chairman: We have a motion on the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable. All those in favour of the motion.
Speaker (interpretation): Going back to the Orders of the Day. Item 20. Report of the Committee of the Whole.
A meeting tomorrow morning of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Housing and Economic Development nine o’clock in the morning in the Nanuq Boardroom.  Orders of the Day for October 31:
This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, October 31, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 17:54
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Pages 2137 – 2186
Opening Prayer 2137
Ministers’ Statements 2137
Members’ Statements 2139
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2144
Oral Questions 2144
Tabling of Documents 2164
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2164
Point of Order 2166
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2185
Orders of the Day 2185
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2137
101 – 2(4): Minister Netser Absent from the House (Picco) 2137
102 – 2(4): 1st Art!
Invitational Student Art Competition (Picco) 2137
103 – 2(4): Report on Infrastructure Improvements, Iqaluit International Airport (Simailak) 2138
221 – 2(4): Search & Rescue in June 2007 at Igloolik (Tapardjuk) 2139
222 – 2(4): Building a Bridge for Change Workshop (Peterson) 2140
223 – 2(4): Gratitude to Constituents & Happy Anniversary (Brown) 2141
224 – 2(4): Illegal Drug Trade (Curley) 2142
225 – 2(4): Inuit Employment Percentage Low in Decentralized Communities (Arvaluk) 2142
226 – 2(4): 2007 Annual Elders’ Conference in Iqaluit (Picco) 2143
285 – 2(4): Update on Inuit Employment Rates (Arvaluk) 2144
286 – 2(4): Update on Concerns with KBDC (Tootoo) 2146
287 – 2(4): Continue to Lobby Federal Government: Northern Deductions (Peterson) 2148
288 – 2(4): Status of Arctic Bay Health Centre (Barnabas) 2150
289 – 2(4): Not Raise Power Rates (Curley) 2151
290 – 2(4): Update on Implementing “Junk Food” Tax (Tootoo) 2153
291 – 2(4): Lead Minister on Suicide Prevention Strategy (Peterson) 2155
292 – 2(4): Streetlights in Pond Inlet on April to August (Arvaluk) 2157
293 – 2(4): Update on Medical Travel Co-ordination (Barnabas) 2159
294 – 2(4): Option on Contractors Not Paying Payroll Tax (Tootoo) 2162
135 – 2(4): Correspondence to Minister of Community and Government Services Concerning Pond Inlet Community Hall & Arena (Arvaluk) 2164
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Nunavut Housing Corporation 2165
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Justice 2183
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Honourable David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (Hon. James Arreak)(interpretation): Good afternoon. I would like to ask Mr. Evyagotailak to say the opening prayer.
Good afternoon, Mr. Premier, Ministers, and my colleagues.
Going to the Orders of the Day. Item 2. Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 101 – 2(4): Minister Netser Absent from the House (Picco)
I would like to take this opportunity to inform the House that Minister Netser will not be in the House today.
Minister’s Statement 102 – 2(4): 1st Art!
Invitational Student Art Competition (Picco)
Good afternoon and Happy Halloween to you and all the ghouls in the listening audience.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that Alie Kippomee, a student in the Jewellery Program at Nunavut Arctic College, was the Nunavut winner of the 2007 invitational art competition sponsored by the Bank of Montreal Organization Financial Group. Alie, as many of the members know, is from Mittimatalik. He submitted a woodcut print on paper entitled “In the World of Spirits.”
It shows a man holding a wooden mask with a demonic face that dates from the Dorset Era.  Mr. Speaker, Alie’s print joins the prints of previous Nunavut Arctic College winners in the Bank of Montreal’s collection.
Serpio Ittusardjuat from Igloolik with “Raven Snow Dance”
Pootoogook Qiatsuk for “Our Dream” from Kinngait  Pootoogook Noah for “Walrus” from here in Iqaluit
Sarah Novalinga from Sanikiluaq with “Sanikiluaq Way of Hunting”
Mr. Speaker, Alie was invited to attend the reception in Toronto where his work is being shown at the exhibition in the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art.
Mr. Speaker, this is another excellent example of the creativity of Nunavut’s artists an the richness of Inuit art. Please join me in congratulating Alie Kippomee, as well as all Nunavut Arctic College winners in the Bank of Montreal’s collection.
Member for Baker Lake, Honourable David Simailak.
Minister’s Statement 103 – 2(4): Report on Infrastructure Improvements, Iqaluit International Airport (Simailak)
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to announce that in the next few weeks the rehabilitation of apron one and the re-opening of taxiway alpha at the Iqaluit International Airport will be complete.
The Government of Nunavut has committed $1,193,732 towards this project and the Government of Canada, under the Airports Capital Assistance Program, has committed $10,743,585.
Mr. Speaker, these safety enhancements at Iqaluit International Airport will help us meet the growing passenger and cargo needs of the territory.