EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
For those homeowners, they would have collateral if they want to start a business.
Yes, we would like to see that.
Yes, we can definitely check into this to see if we can make any improvements, and if not, we won’t be able to but if we can, it would benefit the whole of Nunavut.
Question 010 – 2(4): Government of Nunavut’s Recommendations to the Federal Minister of Finance (Peterson)
My question is for the Minister of Finance and it’s concerning the budget address today.
Mr. Speaker, on page 4 of the budget address, the minister mentioned that as of today, the Government of Canada has not announced its plans to act on the recommendations put forth by either the Council of Federation’s Advisory Panel, or the Government of Canada’s own Expert Panel.
We been hearing in the last year that we’ve been getting support from these organizations and panels, and I believe that it’s critically important that the Government of Canada act on those recommendations and to hear that announcement today was disappointing.
I’m wondering if the minister can give the House some indication of, in his talks with the Minister of Finance. When will the Minister of Finance and the Government of Canada announce that they’re going to act on those recommendations?
I expect that the federal Minister of Finance will be addressing this in the federal budget on March 19 for the next year, because he will be giving his budget address, and I expect at that time that he may cover this.
Let me play the devil’s advocate for a moment here. The minister used words like hopeful, optimistic, encouraged, in his speech. If the federal Minister of Finance does not make that announcement or address that issue in the upcoming budget, then what does that mean for the Government of Nunavut?
I don’t know what will happen in the future but, will it stay on, on March 19?
We don’t know if it will stay on or if it will be taken off. We don’t know. I can’t, at this time, say exactly what will happen because I don’t know what is going to happen.
Your second supplementary. Mr. Peterson.
I can appreciate what he is saying - he can’t predict the future. If we could, we would probably predict a very happy future for ourselves.
He mentioned in his speech as well that the federal minister has assured finance ministers in his December meeting that a return to a principle based TFF arrangement will be announced in the federal budget on March 19.
Can the minister clarify what exactly that means for the Government of Nunavut and for Nunavut as a whole?
The federal government Minister of Finance, I can’t say on behalf of him what he will say but he will probably mention this in his budget address on March 19.
I guess I’m seeking clarification. We have an agreement now, and we’re looking for a different agreement with the recommendations put forward by these panels.
The minister mentions a return to a principle based TFF arrangement.
I am curious: what exactly does that mean for Nunavut?
The Premier tells me we now have 12 days before March 19, just like the 12 days before Christmas.
Mr. Speaker, the federal government wrote a letter dated January 16 that the new TFF agreement for the 2006-07 won’t be less that $851 million, and he stated at our December meeting that the TFF transfer program that we get from Ottawa, that he would make more improvements.
The Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, the funding we get is not as sufficient and he was going to make improvements.
Question 011 – 2(4): Nursing Program Funding (Arvaluk)
I would like to ask the Minister of Finance a question in regard to his budget address.
He stated that the money that is set aside for training through Arctic College or any other institution or the school in Rankin Inlet, if we have more qualified people in Nunavut, then we would have more money.
Then on page 5, he stated that the graduates of the nursing program would be employed at the Qikiqtani General Hospital.
After he said that, I would like to ask the minister: can the minister elaborate more.
Is he trying to say that Akitsiraq Law School was funded so well because it was a one-time program? Are they going to do the same thing with the nursing program and the NTEP Program?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the nursing program they will be employed at the Qikiqtani General Hospital and they will go through a mentorship program at the Qikiqtani General Hospital.
Once they have completed their program at the Arctic College, they will go through a mentorship program at the Qikiqtani General Hospital so that they will go for their certification.
Again, here, there will be other programs that are not indicated here in the budget address.
We just used the nursing program as an example that they will be employed at the hospital and then go through a mentorship program.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The minister is well aware that when we started, the Premier set up the Akitsiraq Law School and it was a very well-run program, it was well-funded, and a lot of the students completed that program.
With the nursing program, a lot of students didn’t complete the program because the students found it very hard to live with the meager allowances that they were getting from the government.
So with this indication, does that mean that the nursing program students are going to be getting a higher allowance so that they can complete the program without financial hardship?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): If we’re going to be talking about the law school or other programs, I didn’t get into talking about that.
I just focused on the nursing program and where they’re going to be employed once they have completed their program.
The monies were approved last year and after they have completed their employment at QC, then they would be hired at the community level to work in the smaller communities.
I have made no other indication of other programs that the government will be initiating.
The Minister of Finance is well aware that the monies are limited; we have limited financial resources.
He has indicated that in every single page of the budget address.
We have to be very resourceful in order to stretch the dollars; the $865 million, I believe, that he was talking about, somewhere at that range. We have to be resourceful, we have to be very careful about our spending, and we have to make sure that they go to Nunavut.
Again, if we are going to be talking about Nunavummiut, if we’re talking about the teachers and the nurses, and once they have programs that are set for them, and if we have adequate allowances, housing, and proper support, then they will go right to the end and complete their program.
Are you going to consider giving them adequate support so that they will be able to complete their program and be hired at the community level?
I agree completely with the member; we have to be very resourceful with our limited finances and they have to benefit the people of Nunavut.
With the government departmental budgets, they indicated what they’re going to be used for and they’re approved by the House.
Starting April 1, we will be using new dollars up to March 31.
We will be deliberating the financial budget; every department will be making an appearance in the House for their approval.
We are going to be deliberating that this week, and if it’s possible, the budget will be approved in this House.
We are a consensus government.
I would like to ask the minister if he would consider, and it’s along the same lines...for example, in Baker Lake; there was a retreat by the full caucus, making plans on what goals the government would have. That was in 1999.
It’s now 2007.
Is it not possible for the minister to consider having another retreat and to give direction as to what the government should be focusing on for the people of Nunavut?
In regard to the possibility of a Full Caucus meeting; I can’t make that decision on my own, and I can’t say that we will do that.
I can’t respond any other way to that question.
Question 012 – 2(4): Development Partnership Agreements and Inuit Impact Benefit Agreements (Peterson)
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance.
Again on his Budget Speech. In the minister’s Budget Speech he said that 80 or 90 percent of revenue for the Government of Nunavut comes from the federal government.
We have to grow our economy.
He mentioned on page 5 that a Development Partnership Agreement was signed with Cumberland Resources.
I am aware from my work over the years with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association that a major resource developer is required to negotiate Inuit Impact Benefit Agreements with the Regional Inuit Associations.
In those Inuit Impact Benefit Agreements there are provisions for employment, training, scholarships, social benefits, and many other benefits to Inuit, and they will probably make good use of the wealth.
My question to the minister; can the minister clarify for me how a Development Partnership Agreement differs from an Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Minister of Finance, Mr. Simailak.
In regard to the Development Partnership Agreement with Cumberland Resources, or other entities, there will be an Off-Road Fuel Tax Rebate Program, and the agreements would be signed by this government.
They have the option of not signing that agreement.
As a government we have to look at working together on how we can make benefits available to the people of Nunavut by way of creating, or opening up opportunities.
That would be a partnership between those development organizations and this government.
Those agreements are very, very helpful but these organizations have the option of either signing the agreement or not.
I guess I’m a little bit confused because the mining companies that are going to be in Nunavut are already negotiating IIBA’s with the KIA, for example, in the Kitikmeot, so the benefits are already coming.
The Government of Nunavut comes along and offers them a Development Partnership Agreement and some funding for off-road.
The costs to the Government of Nunavut are probably going to be a fairly large amount of money through the Fuel Tax Rebate, as the minister alluded to in his presentation.
Since they’ve had time to negotiate one with Cumberland Resources, I am wondering if the minister could give an indication as to if they’ve calculated the benefit to the government; to Nunavut from signing a Development Partnership Agreement with the mining companies that operate in Nunavut.
I’m sure that’s going to be benefiting the people of Nunavut.
We will see that through education and training.
We, as a government, will have to look at what types of training opportunities we should be putting out there, and we’re going to be seeing more and more road construction.
There’s going to be a lot of spin-offs through the mining sector, and so on.
It is something that the government and the entities are more than pleased to work on.
I haven’t seen a copy of the development partnership agreement, so I’m not exactly sure what provisions or conditions are in there that will obligate mining companies to deliver on whatever they’re going to promise to deliver to Nunavummiut.
My question for the minister: how will the Government of Nunavut monitor all of the partnership agreements to ensure that mining companies adhere to the terms and conditions of the agreement that they signed with the Government of Nunavut?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Minister Simailak.
For example, if we use the Cumberland Resources, we had a recent signing of a development partnership agreement, I think not too long ago, and it’s something that we were very pleased with.
This is going to be monitored by our staff to make sure that these agreements are adhered to by both parties. It’s going to benefit the government, it’s going to benefit the people, and it’s going to benefit the regions overall.
I know that both parties are going to adhere to the agreements that they signed.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for the answer.
I’m hopeful that he’s as confident in the DPAs as he sounds.
I know agreements, like contracts, you can’t force people to live up to contracts; you can sue them for breach of contract but you can’t force them; just because you sign a contract that you have to adhere to it.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House what penalties are available to the Government of Nunavut if a mining company failed to live up to the development partnership agreement terms and conditions that they signed with the Government of Nunavut?
I’m sure the mining companies are going to adhere to what they signed to because they want to make the money here; they want to develop the resources over here. I’m sure that they will adhere to the agreements.
It’s as beneficial for them as it is for Nunavut.
So with the penalties: if one of the parties breach the contract, then this contract could be broken or terminated.
Question 013 – 2(4): Plans for Funding Three Regional Health Centres (Mapsalak)
While the minister was delivering his budget address, he said that they would monitor the funding and they expect not to see any new funding.
For that reason, I would like to ask the minister responsible in regard to the three new regional hospitals. I know that the Minister of Health is responsible for Health and Social Services but I would like to ask the minister in regard to the funding.
When they are going to be using large sums of funding for the three regional hospitals, have you made a decision to at least provide adequate funding for the three regional hospitals?
Perhaps, if you can redirect your question to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to the funding made available for the three regional hospitals.
Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Ms. Aglukkaq.
The planning for the three facilities operations and maintenance project is still going on, but not as quickly as we had anticipated.
Some of the challenges around trying to build and recruit for three facilities is the situation with housing, as an example, and we have advanced in some of those initiatives in Rankin Inlet, as well as here, and in Cambridge Bay.
We’re hoping that by this year we will able to move in that area. Also finishing off the boarding home in Cambridge Bay and starting with the process of the boarding home in Rankin Inlet, and looking at expanding the one here through a request for proposal process.
So parallel to that is building the capacity of our operations slowly as we build those other pieces that are necessary to operate the facility.
So, although there are some enhancements to some salaried positions in each region, we’re still not at 24/7 capacity to deliver health care in those three regions.
All the other pieces have to tie into that. It is quite complex in how we’re trying to move forward.
So, that is what we’re looking at internally as we move forward to expand the services in the north.
Is the Minister of Health and Social Services saying that the three facilities for this coming winter will not be complete or available for use? Do I understand that correctly?
Trying to move forward in building the 24/7 facilities in the three regions is quite complex in that it’s not going to just be resolved by putting salary money.
We need housing, we need boarding homes, and we need the other pieces that are required to deliver the services at the facilities.
So, as we move forward in addressing the housing file, the boarding home situation, as those advance we will then start to piece the operations and maintenance pieces to operate the facility.
We can’t recruit without housing.
So, we have moved forward in those areas in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay.
At the same time, we also need boarding homes to deliver 24/7 or alternate arrangements, and building of our own staff housing.
So, we’re moving down that path. The hospital here, as an example, will be opening in June.
The other two pieces, the services are advancing, but not as quickly as we had anticipated because of other pieces we need to deliver 24/7 care in the north.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Your second supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak.
Does the minister know how long the planning will take? Can the minister tell me how long the planning will take?
I would think for the next two years.
It won’t happen overnight. We will continue to work on it until we’re at the level that we’re satisfied.
I don’t have an exact timeline when we expect to have everything in place, but internally we are trying to move forward on different fronts in expanding the services in the North.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Madame Minister. Oral Questions.
Question 014 – 2(4): Government of Nunavut’s Response to Motion Concerning Airline Service (Barnabas)
As you will recall the Legislative Assembly passed a formal motion at our last sitting on November 24, 2006 concerning the urgent need for the Government of Nunavut to work with the Northern Air Transportation Association to bring forward an action plan to improve the availability of affordable and reliable air service to our smaller communities.
I understand that in the Finance Minister’s speech he mentioned that there are mines that will be opening in Nunavut.
When there are mines that are opening in Nunavut the surrounding communities have better service, but the rest of the communities are still in the same situation.
I was pleased, too, that my colleague from Kugluktuk seconded my motion and I was pleased that the motion was approved without opposition.
My question for the minister is: what steps has he taken to act on the motion that was passed by the Legislative Assembly?
At this time I cannot tell you what my officials have done to that motion that was passed. So I cannot tell you what has been done on that motion because I have not discussed this issue with my officials.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure that the minister will be able to provide a response during this session.
(interpretation ends) The minister’s department has been working to update the 2001 Nunavut Transportation Strategy. When will the new strategy be completed and made public?
The review has been completed.
The report has been given to our departmental officials from the Department of Transportation.
I am now reviewing the Strategy, whether it needs additional improvements.
So once the officials from the Department of Transportation review this then they’ll make a report.
If it needs to be amended; yes, it will be amended.
I cannot tell when this strategy will be completed and made public, but the first review has been completed already.
My constituents in Grise Fiord continue to have concerns about airline services.
Will the Government of Nunavut’s new Transportation Strategy take the needs of the smallest communities into account?
I have not seen the strategy yet, so therefore I can’t tell you what we can do.
My officials are now reviewing the Nunavut Transportation Strategy and I have seen that strategy personally myself. So I have no idea what they will do with the smaller communities.
The Nunavut Government has a new Fuel Tax Rebate Program, which the Minister of Finance alluded to in his budget address.
(interpretation ends) The GN has a new Fuel Tax Rebate Program to encourage mining companies to explore in Nunavut.
Will the minister commit to looking at similar ways to encourage the airlines to improve their services to our smaller communities?
The Fuel Tax Rebate Program is for the mining sectors, hunters, fishers, trappers, and outfitters.
The Nunavut Transportation Strategy; your question is going to be included in that strategy.
I’m sure that they will review it to improve all of the services for all of the communities.
As I stated earlier on, I have not seen the strategy myself, and my officials are now reviewing the strategy.
I’m sure that we’ll know what it will contain.
I would like to remind you that we are now done with Oral Questions.
We will go back to Oral Questions tomorrow.
Item 10. (interpretation ends) Replies to Opening Address.
Petitions. (interpretation) Item 13. Reports of Standing and Special Committees.
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. (interpretation ends) Item 15.
Tabled Document 012 – 2(4): Beauty and the Beast: A Musical at Inuksuk High School February 11 and 12, 2007 - Program (Tootoo)
As I alluded to in my Member’s Statement, I would like to table a copy of the program for the musical performed at the Inuksuk High School, Beauty and the Beast, and in there, it has all of the names of the people involved in making that a great success.
So instead of reading all of the names, I’ll table the program that has all of the names in there for all the members to read.
Please bring the tabled document to the table.
Item 15. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents.
Hon. David Simailak: I’m sorry, Mr. Speaker, I’m ahead of you on the agenda; my mistake.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Item 16.
There seems to be none.
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Notice
I give notice that on Friday, March 9, 2007 that Bill 1, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2007-08, be read for the first time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Item 17.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 1, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2007-08.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Simailak. The minister is requesting consent to waive the two day notice requirement for the first reading of Bill 1.
Minister, you can proceed with your motion.
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – First Reading
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues. (interpretation ends) I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Rankin Inlet South/ Whale Cove that Bill 1, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2007-08, be read for the first time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. The motion is in order. Question has been called.
Bill 1 has had its first reading.
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nattilik that Bill 1, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2007-08, be read for the second time.
This bill authorizes the Government of Nunavut to make operations and maintenance expenditures for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Bill 1 has had its second reading and is now ready for Committee of the Whole.
Motion 001 – 2(4): Adjournment for the Day (Peterson)
Pursuant to Rule 46, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit West, that this House adjourn for the day.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Peterson, can I please get you to identify the seconder for that motion.
The Honourable Member for Iqaluit West seconded the motion.
We’ll go on to Item 24.
A reminder of meetings for tomorrow morning: at 9:30 a meeting of the regular caucus in the Tuktu Boardroom, and at 11:00 a meeting of the full caucus in the Nanuq Boardroom.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Clerk and colleagues.
This House is adjourned until Thursday, March 8, at 1:30.
>>House adjourned at 16:16
Striking Committee  Nunavut Canada
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Pages 68 – 103
Opening Prayer 68
Ministers’ Statements 68
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 81
Oral Questions 82
Tabling of Documents 99
Orders of the Day 102
Thursday, March 8, 2007 68
004 – 2(4): International Women’s Day and Wise Woman Awards (Aglukkaq) 68
005 – 2(4): Lobby Effort Against USFWS Proposed Listing of Polar Bears (Netser) 69
006 – 2(4): Canada Winter Games Update (Tapardjuk) 70
007 – 2(4): Strengthening Financial Management – Consolidation of Positions (Simailak) 70
008 – 2 (4): CGS Trainee Update (Brown) 71
011 – 2(4): International Women’s Day (Mapsalak) 72
012 – 2(4): Canada Winter Games Culture Performance Group (Alagalak) 73
013 – 2(4): Qulliq Energy Corporation Scholarship Recipient (Evyagotailak) 73