EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Good morning, people of Pangnirtung and Nunavut.
I’ll be talking about hockey too.
However, in Pangnirtung, the hockey moms raised $30,000 for minor hockey so that the youth can go to the Toonik Tyme hockey competitions in Iqaluit.
Some of the teams got gold, silver, and bronze.
The senior hockey team in Pangnirtung won some competitions here too.
I would like to really thank the hockey moms who handle the minor hockey for making the minor hockey continue well. We had boys and girls involved.
The Toonik Tyme hockey competitions have been running for a very long time. We thank the people in Iqaluit who organize the hockey competitions because at Toonik Tyme, when there are so many activities going on, the hockey organizers do a lot of work.
I would like to acknowledge the hockey moms in Pangnirtung and other places today.
Monica Ell.
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to recognize my deputy minister, Rosemary Keenainak, first of all, for Health.
Also, I would like to recognize the staff of the tobacco reduction team of the Department of Health: Frankie Best, Tobacco Reduction Specialist; Nadine Purdy, Media Campaign Coordinator; Haley Anawak, Inuit Learning and Development Project Participant, Health Promotion Intern, Tobacco Reduction; Jessica Inookie, Junior Program Officer; and Timothy Fawehinmi, Program Advisor.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister, Mr. Peterson.
Good morning, Nunavummiut and everybody in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity while I have the chance, it only comes by once a year, to recognize the interpreters and translators from Cambridge Bay.
Today, I want to ask you guys to join me in wishing James Paneak, Interpreter, a very happy birthday today. It’s his birthday today. He has been an interpreter/translator for the Legislative Assembly for many years.
When he isn’t busy over here, he’s very busy in Cambridge Bay. Maybe he’s even busier.
He does interpreting/translating back there plus he’s the chairman of the hunters and trappers organization. I think he’s the chairman of the regional hunters and trappers association.
Happy birthday, James, and I hope you get some cake today.
Welcome, everyone. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Question 077 – 4(2): Reviewing Social Assistance Rates for Nunavummiut (Sammurtok)
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the minister for her response to my question on March 19, 2014 regarding the difficulties of low-income families facing meeting the high cost of living in Nunavut.
While I appreciate that the territorial government cannot oblige the federal government to adjust its national subsidy program because of the higher cost faced by the northern residents, I do not believe that this important aspect of life in the north should be taken into account for all programs of financial support.
Can the minister provide an update on what steps her department has taken to evaluate and assess the amount of benefits and subsidies available to low-income families in Nunavut compared to those amounts and what is available to low-income families in other parts of Canada?
I thank the member for Rankin Inlet South for asking about the national subsidy program.
The Department of Family Services is conducting a study on the price of food.
We will learn the results of the study in June and we will use that study to find out the different prices of food in the communities.
Once we know the results of the study that will be done in 2015, we will find out what kinds of subsidy will be given to the people of Nunavut.
Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I thank the minister for her response. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that in some Canadian jurisdictions, the amount of social assistance available to low-income family individuals is more than twice the amount that Nunavut residents are eligible for.
Can the minister clearly explain why this is the case?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that question.
We all know and realize that the food prices in Nunavut are very high, but we also know that we have a high cost of energy.
What we pay for energy is subsidized, especially in social housing.
We are a little bit different from the rest of Canada.
What they do in the south is pay the full amount of energy, but we get assistance from the government, which makes it a little bit different here in the north.
We are all aware that the cost of living in Nunavut is much higher than anywhere else in Canada.
However, federal subsidies available to low-income families in the north do not account for this.
Under the current programs, low-income Nunavut residents can buy less than any other Canadians, even though their costs are significantly higher.
Will the minister commit to addressing this issue during her department’s upcoming review of income assistance programs?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation) The Hon. Minister of Family Services, Ms. Ugyuk.
Yes, the study with respect to income assistance programs will be completed in 2015.
What they are doing is gathering the prices of food in the north.
From there, we will find out what options we have and what we are going to do with income assistance for the people in the north.
Question 078 – 4(2): Baker Lake Gas Pump (Mikkungwak)
Several motions have been made by the Hamlet of Baker Lake regarding the island gas pump that was installed and constructed a number of years ago.
It has not been operational to this day.
Can the minister describe how the Department of Community and Government Services is going to make sure this pump is operational?
The member’s question is true. The island gas pump has not been operational ever since its installation. (interpretation ends) However, Mr. Speaker, we are looking at other alternatives to correct that situation. (interpretation) Thank you.
When it is payday such as today, in the springtime, many people go out hunting for food. Today, there is no doubt that people are going to be lining up to buy gasoline.
I was wondering whether this island gas pump could be put into operation as soon as possible.
I understand what the member is talking about because I have been in Baker Lake and tried to get some gasoline and there is a long line-up at the pump.
We are dealing with this so that the people in Baker Lake can have two gasoline pumps and there would be four all together. We are trying to fix it at present.
I wonder if training can be given to the contractors because they have difficulty with computerized installations. Can they be given training to make sure that they know what they are doing?
We will make sure that the people who are using that island gas pump are given training so they know what they are doing.
Question 079 – 4(2): Wildlife Deterrent Programs (Savikataaq)
I would like to ask the Minister of Environment questions.
Mr. Speaker, we hear from all the MLAs that everything costs more in the north and in Nunavut. I would like to question the minister on one of his programs under the Wildlife Damage Prevention Program. Under that program, you can buy bear deterrent supplies, reinforce existing structures, and buy stuff to keep animals way from damaging your building.
Under one of those programs, you can buy up to $500 worth and get reimbursed for existing structure reinforcement. That money can be used for stuff like three-quarter inch plywood, nails, Plexiglas to cover your windows, and hardware. Up in Nunavut, $500 doesn’t buy you much.
I would like to ask the minister if he can up the amount to a higher amount because $500 is the limit.
Yesterday, I gave information that we are looking into the Wildlife Damage Prevention Program. I understand what the member is talking about. The money that we provide is being looked at to see if we can increase it.
Almost every question that we regular MLAs ask now, the response is the same from every minister, that programs are being reviewed and studied.
I know that the government’s mandate is to study all of the programs, but can we get a timeframe from the minister when they will be done reviewing their programs?
That’s in the line of every minister for awhile now, that their programs are being reviewed.
That is the only response that I can provide the member at this time.
We are reviewing it and we want to make sure that we review it properly to make sure that we provide better assistance to the people of Nunavut.
In Sivumut Abluqta, we all agreed as Members of this House that we would be reviewing some of the programs that we do, which is what we are doing, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for his response, but he can he give the House a rough guideline? Will these be done this fall?
Will they be done next year? Will they be done this term? Can he please give us a rough guideline?
The assistance that we provide and make available to hunters is going change over the coming years.
We would like to provide that review that is to be completed in the fall and make plans accordingly.
NTI’s hunters’ assistance program has been suspended by NTI, apparently, into the fall.
With respect to the hunters’ assistance programs from the Government of Nunavut and NTI, there was co-management work that it would be better for NTI to carry out an assistance program for hunters instead of the Government of Nunavut to allow us more options.
The suspension of NTI’s hunters’ assistance program is having an impact, even though it was quite clear what they were used for.
Should there be a major change from the way things NTI used to run, we’re not informed about it and NTI probably will not be forthcoming on this issue. That is why I feel there is a need to properly plan so that HSP achieves the goals of assisting hunters.
That is all I can say right now until the fall, Mr. Speaker.
Question 080 – 4(2): Closure of Group Homes (Enook)
Good morning to the people of Pond Inlet, especially to my daughter. Happy birthday, Nancy.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, those of us sitting on this side as regular MLAs and Nunavummiut, as well as those sitting across from us who are also ordinary MLAs have probably stated in the past that if all services were located in Nunavut, it would be far better.
The kinds of assistance available, especially to those in the greatest need, would be far better if they were all located in Nunavut to families and Nunavummiut.
In terms of how we can improve these assistance programs, I have stated in the past that I believe that our government should always be looking at how to improve the assistance programs for the residents of Nunavut.
I would like to ask the Minister of Family Services: how can the closing of children’s group homes and moving children south be better?
I thank the member for that question about the improvement to child support services and whether sending children south is better than keeping them in the north.
We have been utilizing best practices and the way we explain it is how the child who does not have parents is not great.
We do know that children like that would be better served by staying in an institution.
When they grow and become teenagers, it is better that they are looked after properly in group homes.
This is the way we have understood it.
We are trying to use best practices so that the children can grow into proper adults having been able to stay in a better home.
Let me try to elicit more explanation about the term “best practices.” If I understand properly, this is the way it’s understood in the world.
Sometimes I cannot understand that as Nunavummiut, we always say that the situation is different here.
It’s not similar to what’s happening in the rest of the world.
My question is this: how is sending a child south better than living with his or her parents?
How can it be said to be better?
I thank the Member for Tununiq for that question. In terms of which is better, in terms of sending a child south or… .
In parts of our lives, there are waves. I can tell him that.
There are daily troubles in waves that happen to us.
We all know about how life can be.
We are recognizing the welfare of the child when we do these things.
The home in Iqaluit, for example, is a group home for any kind of child.
Anyone who has ever gone there can say that it was like a real home setting. I have been there and the other Iqaluit MLAs may have also been there. I could say that it is an excellent group home for children.
The hon. member stated that because it is an institution, it is good.
However, if you have gone there, you wouldn’t say that it is an excellent institution.
Mr. Speaker, are you saying that for the past 20 years as a government that it was a mistake to set up the group home in the north?
I thank the Member for Tununiq.
Yes, as a minister, I have visited that institution and he’s talking about the years it has been in operation.
I have visited that institution and ever since I became minister, I have visited that place three times.
The children are still being looked after. It will now be directed for youth. It will be used for that purpose now.
Situations are always changing in terms of support services driven by social services. We’re always trying to use the best practices.
What we have instituted is not entirely new. It has been used elsewhere and that is the way I could answer that.
Question 081 – 4(2): Interdepartmental Cooperation for Municipal Training (Rumbolt)
I will direct my questions to the Minister of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister is aware, the Municipal Training Organization was established as a joint initiative between his department and the Nunavut Association of Municipalities.
The Municipal Training Organization collaborates with many partners to train and license municipal employees.
Earlier this month, the organization provided a Class 3A vehicle operations course to six Sanikiluaq residents. However, the organization had insufficient support to schedule an examiner to come to the community.
My constituents may have to wait until July to take this test.
Mr. Speaker, people who take this test for mechanical licences have a higher probability of success when they are tested right after the study of the material.
Can the minister describe what actions his department is taking to work with the Municipal Training Organization to improve scheduling of courses and testing?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok: Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I thank the member for that question and we are well aware of that issue.
We will be addressing that immediately so that the frequency of access could be increased.
In this case, the Municipal Training Organization and the Department of Economic Development and Transportation were responsible for providing the training courses and the testing representatively.
Can the minister describe how his department intends to improve interdepartmental coordination to provide successful municipal training programs?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation ends): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At present, the courses are given through Nunavut Arctic College, including other training programs elsewhere within government for which we can provide assistance and w are able to discuss this with them.
Annual reports allow the government to analyze departmental initiatives, measure success, and identify program needs.
An annual report by the Municipal Training Organization has not been tabled in the Legislative Assembly since 2005.
Will the minister commit to resuming the practice of tabling the Municipal Training Organization’s annual reports?
I will be happy to provide that report and we will provide it soon.
Question 082 – 4(2): Collective Agreements (Hickes)
Mr. Speaker, a new collective agreement between the Government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Teachers Association was signed here in Iqaluit yesterday. I strongly applaud both parties for reaching an agreement, as I believe that we need to recognize the critical work of our teachers.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister indicate how much the government has set aside in its budget framework to account for the new collective agreement with the Nunavut Teachers Association?
I noticed earlier this morning when I was reading Nunatsiaq News, there was a good news story. Teachers were happy. Ninety-five percent of the teachers supported it, but of course, the media was concerned about the fact that we did not actually report the dollar amount.
Mr. Speaker, I assure my colleagues that the amount that was approved is within our approved fiscal framework.
The government’s collective agreement with the Nunavut Employees Union expires exactly four months from today.
Can the minister update the House on the status of collective bargaining with NEU?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation) The Hon. Minister of Finance, Mr. Peterson.
The Government of Nunavut is currently putting together a collective bargaining team and at some point, they will be receiving a bargaining mandate to meet with NEU.
The new collective agreement with the Nunavut Teachers Association includes a number of wage increases over the life of the agreement. Will this serve as the basis for the new collective agreement with the Nunavut Employees Union?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I can’t speak to that.
Mr. Speaker, I do know that we’re hoping to be fair with all of our employees. As I said in my budget speech the other day, I appreciate all the hard work and dedication from all of our employees. I know a lot of them have some difficult jobs and challenges.
We will try to be fair, and I would hope that when both parties do meet, they will come to a collective agreement in a fairly short order. I am very positive about this.
In meeting with the President of NTA, Terry Young, and in talking to teachers across Nunavut, they were very happy with their settlement. As I said, 95 percent of them voted in favour of the collective agreement.
Question 083 – 4(2): Public Service Act (Angnakak)
My questions are for the Minister of Finance. It is crystal ball time again.
Mr. Speaker, a new Public Service Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly in 2013.
Part 6 of the new Public Service Act concerns the disclosure of wrongdoing.
Part 8 of the new Public Service Act concerns the appointment of an ethics officer, my favourite topic.
Part 6 of the Act comes into force on the earlier of April 1, 2015 or a day to be fixed by the order of the Commissioner.
Can the minister update the House today on what progress the government has made in recruiting and appointing the new ethics officer?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Ms. Angnakak for the question.
Mr. Speaker, as I recall an earlier answer in the winter session, our department is working on the regulations to provide the ethics officer with parameters to do their work.
We do hope to have those ready this year. Of course, we do know that April 1, 2015 is a statutory date to have that position in place.
In the meantime, if there are individuals in the Government of Nunavut and territorial corporations who see some wrongdoing, they should talk to supervisors or talk to their deputy ministers.
Of course, it seems like everybody in Nunavut has my email address, so if they want to talk to me too, send me an email.
Thank you to the minister for that answer. That’s great to hear.
You’re going to get a flood of emails, maybe.
Can the minister indicate if the government will be publicly inviting applications for this position?
I can’t say at this time, but I would hope that we would have a strong interest in that position. We do need a very strong, knowledgeable, and competent individual who can handle that position and ensure that employees have someone they can talk to.
I believe the legislation says that it is an independent ethics officer, so we would want a person who is not bias and in favour of the government, someone who can work with employees and work with the government to resolve issues.
Thanks once again for that answer.
Can the minister describe what kinds of work his department is undertaking to prepare for the coming into force of Part 6 of the new Public Service Act?
I don’t have that level of detail, but my officials are very well aware of the work that the government will want the position to undertake. I believe they will probably be doing cross-jurisdictional reviews to see what is done in other jurisdictions.
Of course, we will have to look internally at our own government to see what some of the departments are doing in terms of helping their employees.
It will be very comprehensive and when the regulations are ready, I will be taking them to cabinet for their review and approval.
Question 084 – 4(2): Ministerial Visits to Communities (Mapsalak)
It’s evident when the ministers visit the communities. For example, all the members went to Kugluktuk, and previously all the members went to Kugaaruk.
There are many communities where their MLAs are not ministers. The communities really welcome any minister coming to visit their community.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Premier. In the smaller communities, our constituents are always excited and happy to see a minister visit their community. After the spring session, can you urge the cabinet members to make sure that they visit the communities more often?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Premier of Nunavut, Premier Taptuna.
Mr. Speaker, in the past, I have always tried to encourage my colleagues to visit some of the smaller communities other than the regional centres, such as Rankin Inlet.
Of course, we do visit these communities on occasions.
Mr. Speaker, having spent the last six years here, it’s very difficult, even as a minister, to visit some of the smaller communities.
I understand some of my colleagues are arranging for regional tours, and I encourage that with my colleagues and minister because we do represent all the communities of Nunavut.
We intend to visit and have our ministers talk to the employees at the smaller community level. I would encourage that with my ministerial colleagues.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for giving that response.
The smaller communities do really want to get a visit from the ministers.
As the Premier has stated, he encourages his cabinet. When can some of the ministers start visiting the communities?
Again, at times, my ministerial colleagues are very busy. They do deal with their colleagues from other jurisdictions and, of course, Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, it’s quite pleasant to get invitations from the smaller communities.
When invitations are delivered to my colleagues, including myself, we will do our best to make arrangements and try and schedule-in visits to the smaller communities.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to thank the Premier for his answer.
Can the Premier let us know during our spring sitting when the cabinet members can start visiting the communities after the spring session is over?
I did indicate that one of my ministerial colleagues is arranging and soliciting names for a Kivalliq tour right after this session. We hope to continue on doing that.
It’s very difficult at times. Like I say, our calendars fill up very quickly as ministers, but we do try and take the time to visit each community throughout our term.
Question 085 – 4(2): Boating/Harbour Safety (Joanasie)
Good morning to my colleagues and to the people of Nunavut who are listening to the proceedings today.
First of all, if he can provide clarification at this time what kind of programs and services they provide along the beach or tidal area to make sure that boaters have safe boating programs and services.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to the people of Nunavut. I would like to thank the member for his good question.
Mr. Speaker, there are various programs, for example, small craft harbours that are under our responsibility.