EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I understand from speaking to the president about it, that should be reviewed to ensure, at the end of the day, that the students participating in this type of program are protected and have that type of security.
I want to make a suggestion to the minister.
If the student has a valid hunting licence and the other expensive federal program, the FAC certificate, would he consider the students bringing their own rifles?
Again, I think that’s a good suggestion by the member.
It will have to be looked at in the contingencies of the camp, itself, and the way the camp has been situated.
For example, the formal letter that we received indicated that the tents were actually quite some distance apart, where the head instructors might be as much as a kilometer or half a kilometer away from the other camping area.
So, that is an area of concern because if that is the case, if there were a bear that wandered into the camp, the reaction time would be too slow.
So, that is something that we are looking at.
I don’t know if it has been raised in the past.
The member has raised it in the House and we are looking at it seriously.
The president is looking at it with the instructor to see what the issues around it are.
The suggestion that the member has just made is a suggestion that has been made to the president and to the instructor of the program.
That is something that they are looking at.
They will be going out in a few days and I would like to see this issue resolved before they go out on the land, as polar bears are starting to walk, now, out of their dens with their cubs.
We would like to see something done before they go out on the land.
Again, from the e-mail this morning that I received from the president of the college, they are working on the response right now.
Once I receive that response I will share it with the member.
Hopefully, that will rectify the situation in time for the camp.
I think that is the date that the college and the instructor are working towards.
The Member for Arviat, Mr. Alagalak.
Question 307 – 2(2): Status of Draft Regulations on the Wildlife Act
In my member’s statement, I raised the issue of the development of regulations under the Wildlife Act.
My question for the minister is, as of today, what is the status of the new draft regulations?
We are currently working on getting it translated.
The draft will be sent to the HTOs and the RWOs.
We will also give a copy to the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit.
We have been hearing about this issue from the hunters and trappers and we keep getting told by the government that the drafts will be reviewed.
When are you going to do the community consultations?
Once the drafts have been completed and translated, we will be going to the communities.
We would like to have it in both Inuktitut and English prior to visiting the communities.
Once the translations are completed, we’ll do the visits, and that is very likely going to be this month.
Just recently, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated raised concerns about some of the new regulations.
Have the Government of Nunavut and NTI resolved their disagreement and if not, why not?
Just recently, as of March 15, we have not come to an agreement yet on the issue of regulations.
We agree in principle to most regulations, enough that we are able to work on the Inuktitut translations.
I’m still concerned about the regulations.
Once they’re translated into Inuktitut, are you going to provide a copy of the draft prior to visiting the communities?
Usually what happens is the officials arrive in the communities and start handing out the drafts, and that doesn’t give an opportunity to the people to review it prior to their arrival.
How are you going to handle that?
We will take that into consideration and we will make sure that copies are sent out so that they will be reviewed prior to their arrival.
We would like to go to the communities around April or May and we’ll take your suggestion seriously.
Question 308 – 2(2): Post Secondary Student Funding
(interpretation ends) I’m sure the minister will agree with me that supporting post-secondary education is important for the future of Nunavut.
Can the minister tell this House why the financial assistance program for Nunavut students imposes a time limit on the length of time a post-graduate student can receive funding?
Under the FANS program, there are different components to it.
There are basic grants and supplementary grants and so on, and there is also the opportunity for students to receive bursaries and so on.
I’m just going to get the exact number. I believe, if you had a basic grant, you are entitled to $26,000 in forgivable loans and if you did not have the basic grant, then you are eligible for $36,000 in forgivable loans.
This means, as the member said in his member’s statement, that when people come back to Nunavut to work, they don’t have to pay back that money.
It’s a forgivable loan and it’s one of the best, actually, in the country of Canada.
At the same time, Mr. Speaker, living allowances are available also.
If the student has a loan, the length of time of post graduate student studies are included in that forgivable amount.
So, it’s actually covered.
I think the issue that the member is talking about is on the basic grant and the supplementary grant if they’re in post graduate studies, and that’s where they would go on to a doctoral thesis.
Can the minister confirm for this House whether he supports the concept of Nunavutmiut training and qualifying to be professionals such as doctors and engineers?
Absolutely, Mr. Speaker.
I know of one instance right now where there is a former Nunavut student who is just going to the Ottawa Civic Hospital, and she is probably going to be the first person who graduated from Inukshuk High School, raised from K-6 in Kimmirut.
She is doing her doctoral studies to be a family doctor in the Ottawa Civic Hospital, so that she can actually come back here on a work term.
Mr. Speaker, there are quite a few students as the member has indicated.
So, yes, we support that.
There seems to be an issue on the post-graduate studies, and that’s something the department is looking into.
At the same time, the rates that are paid to our students in the South are well compensated, especially on the supplementary and the living allowances because we are actually based on northern numbers, and that helps a lot of our students.
Will the minister commit to reviewing the policy under the FANS program, to allow students pursuing higher qualifications such as post-graduate degrees to be able to get assistance for an adequate period of time to complete their studies?
Again, when you have an opportunity to have up to $36,000 in loans in a basic grant, and on top of that, when you look at the issues around tuition and books that are reciprocated under the FANS program, that’s an excellent boost to our students.
The member has raised a point on the PhD, which is a post-graduate, a post-doctoral amount.
The government, in the budget, actually announced that we have targeted funds for any Inuk from Nunavut who moves forward to get their medical doctor degree and we would be able to move forward on that.
Mr. Speaker, again, the member has raised an issue on the post-graduates, and that’s something we can look into. But again, I want to say that the student loans and the FANS program itself is a pretty good program.
There was a review done on it in 2002 and I would suggest that it’s probably time to do another review.
Could the minister tell us the number of applicants that were approved, that were not approved, and could he table those numbers in the House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Can the member clarify what exactly he would like to have tabled in the House or what information he’s requesting? Is he asking for the number of applicants of FANS for 2004-05 and 2005-06? Is he asking for the successful applicants, because some people do apply and then withdraw.
So, if the member could clarify that, then we can look at what the answer may be.
Speaker (interpretation): Please clarify your question, Mr. Barnabas.
We want to know exactly how the money is being used; we have to be accountable.
The people who are doing their doctorate down South or who have to further their education… . I would like to know how many applicants there were and how many dollars were given to the students.
The member has the information on the dollar values because that was in the main estimates in the budget.
On the applicants, I will just do 2003-04, but I can also read out 2002 for him.
So I will read it into the record.
Mr. Speaker, in the fall term of 2003-04, there were 628 applicants for FANS: 346 were Inuit, 78 were non-Inuit, for a total of 424 enrollments out of 628 applicants.
In the winter term, there were 445 applicants: 336 were Inuit, 80 were non-Inuit, and 416 enrollments.
For 2004-05, in the fall term, we had 585 applications with 376 enrollments: 296 Inuit, 94 non-Inuit.
So, I hope that helps answer and clarify the member’s question.
Question 309 – 2(2): Marketing of Other Seal Products
It seems like the market for sealskin pelts is going down, especially in Canada and Nunavut.
If the market for sealskin pelts goes down, would the minister consider selling other by-products of the seal, other than the sealskin?
Quite a few years ago, there was some selling of by-products by QIA.
We will look into the results and whether we can sell by-products.
We have to keep in mind that by-products would have to go through the Canadian food inspection though.
So, we’d have to deal with these types of barriers.
I, myself, will work harder when the sealskin market goes down to make sure that we can sell seal by-products.
The Nunavut Sivuniksavut students in Ottawa helped to make sure that the protesters know about us.
They helped us get the international community to understand how we use the sealskins.
And in regard to your question on seal oil capsules, whether we can market them or not, yes, we’ll consider that.
I would like to thank the minister and thank the Sivuniksavut students for assisting us down in Ottawa.
Although the price for seals is not going down yet, perhaps your department should have a backup plan to make sure that we have something to fall back on.
Yes, at the Department of Environment we are now drafting a sealing strategy.
By this fall we will be able to publish the sealing strategy.
We’re drafting it at this stage and I will table it in the House once it’s completed.
Question 310 – 2(2): Assistance and Support for Marine Service Fees
I would like to direct my question to the Minister Responsible for Transportation.
Because we live in the far North, we don’t have railways or highways and it’s very expensive to ship goods and supplies to the North. It’s very expensive to order capital items, and so maintaining buildings is very expensive.
The Canadian Coastguard, through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ regulations back in 1997, were authorized to charge tariffs and fees. That is why by sea it is very expensive to ship goods to the North.
Perhaps the minister could tell us… . Since the federal Indian affairs minister is coming up, we need assistance and support.
Will you be able to do that?
Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Transportation, Minister Simailak.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Yes, I will be meeting with the INAC minister tomorrow morning. Yes, this is going to be part of my agenda, to discuss this with my counterpart, and I will ask for his assistance and support with the federal minister for transportation; I will also work with him.
Yesterday, I made a mistake when I stated that I had written some correspondence to the federal minister of transportation: it was for the coast guard, so I just wanted to clarify that.
The Minister of INAC will be supporting us, and I’m sure I will be seeking support from him.
Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Curley.
Will you be able to relay all the information to the minister, because this is quite a huge task, the coast guard marine service fee. I’m sure they will say, “We can’t do that, we can’t make amendments.”
Even if he states that, you could respond to him by saying the high latitudes are exempted. Even though they are above north of 60, would you be able to include these and state that the North is part of the Canadian sovereignty?
If you could relay these messages and implement them as soon as possible.
Yes, that is part of our goal, to make sure that they amend that. We are in support of the amendment.
We will do our best to remove the marine service fee.
Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Oral questions. Member for Tasiujarjuaq, Mr. Kattuk.
Question 311 – 2(2): Support for Filing of Income Tax Returns
Mr. Kattuk: My question is to the minister of finance.
Two years ago, on March 19, 2003, the former minister made a statement about how the Department of Finance was working with the federal government on community volunteers for income tax forms. (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, my question is, how does this program work in smaller communities such as Sanikiluaq?
Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Finance, Ms. Aglukkaq.
The minister’s statement that the member was referring to talked about the community volunteer income tax program initiative that the Department of Finance was involved in 2002.
From what I understand, there are federal employees from the Canadian revenue agency that traveled through the communities to try and train individuals to volunteer in completing income taxes in various communities.
At that time, there were over 50 volunteers in a number of communities, but mainly those were in the bigger centres like Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet and here.
The Department of Finance staff themselves had also volunteered their time to complete income taxes, but that’s the extent of the initiative that I’m aware of.
Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Kattuk.
Would the minister commit to working with her colleagues in Community and Government Services and Human Resources, to be flexible to allow Government of Nunavut staff to take time off to volunteer in communities to help people with these forms?
I am certainly in support of staff volunteering their time to do that initiative, but I’d have to look into that a bit further.
I know in the past, Department of Finance employees or employees from any department volunteered their time, which meant that it was after working hours.
So, I will look into that.
Will the minister raise this issue to her federal counterparts and try to get Inuktitut services for unilingual people?
The issue that the member has raised is very real to us in the North.
We know that there’s a lack of services from the federal government on federal programs to Inuktitut-speaking unilingual individuals.
It’s not only around the issue of income taxes, it’s around the issue of child tax credits or application for old-age pension, a number of things, UIC initiatives.
So, the issue around the federal government providing Inuktitut services in Nunavut has been a concern that we have brought forward on many occasions around language services.
We have raised that in the past, and I will continue to raise that issue with the federal government.
It’s unfortunate that we have to continually lobby the federal government to provide those services to Nunavutmiut in this day and age, but we will continue to lobby.
Question 312 – 2(2): Tabling of Five-Year Capital Plan
My follow-up question has to go back to the minister responsible for energy, the Qulliq Energy Corporation, and the power corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I am confused; it seems to me that it would look like either the minister is being liberal with the facts or either is a stranger to them or he’s being kept in the dark on him.
On February 28, he said there was a five-year capital plan and he would table it.
On March 1, he indicated that the board of directors met the week before and approved it.
On March 9, he again said there was a capital plan that was approved, and he said there, earlier, that there’s also an interim capital plan that had been approved by the board.
Back then, he said that he had to check with the board.
This time, today, when I asked him about it earlier, he said he had to check with the board.
And on March 9 he said he would be able to table that information, and on March 9, he indicated that he would have to go to cabinet to find out whether he could table it or not.
So, I would like to ask the minister again: when will he table it and does he even know about it?
I didn’t have an opportunity to go through some of the Hansards.
Just for the record, I think it’s important: sometimes when you’re answering questions and questions are being asked, and you are referring back to what I said on February 28, you are trying to keep everything together.
I think the member is making a good point. I have committed to tabling the capital plan of the power corporation, and that’s what I will do.
The member is quoting literally from Hansard, so maybe I would have an opportunity, too, to liberally quote from Hansard.
I’ll quote: on Monday, February 28, the member asked me about the capital plan.
The member says, verbatim, “Will you table the five- year capital plan or any capital plan?” , and my response was, “Yes, I will try to meet the member’s request,” that I would table a five- year capital plan or a capital plan.
Subsequent to that, the member asked me another question on the capital plan, and I responded that the capital plan was in the URRC report and was found in Appendix D, I think it is, in the report.
So, actually it was tabled.
The member came back and asked me another question on the capital plan of the corporation and I said at that time, Mr. Speaker, that the 2005-06 capital plan, because that’s the next budget cycle, the board of directors had to look at it. And subsequent to that, because the URRC came forward they said the capital stabilization rider was there, so they had to review their budget.
They never got their revenue requirement that they needed, so they actually looked at reviewing the capital plan and it had been approved in principle.
Before capital plans are tabled, the process has been in the past, as I said in the House, that they usually go before the cabinet or the Financial Management Board to be approved, like the other departments and so on. So, that’s why I said that.
So, I hope that clarifies it for the member.
In answer to the member’s question, I will be able to table the 2005-06 capital plan.
It’s my understanding that they’re looking at the budget.
If that’s what is requested by the member, then we will try to meet that time frame.
I hope that helps clarify some of the things that have been said.
If the information I gave to the member caused some confusion, then I would apologize for that.
I appreciate the minister’s response and commend him on the speed-reading ability that he seems to have for reviewing the Hansard, very quickly, since my last question.
Mr. Speaker, on the March 9 response from the minister, he had indicated that there was a capital plan that was approved and there was also an interim capital plan that had been approved by the board.
Maybe he can check it out, it’s on page 13, Mr. Minister, on March 9.
Again, he said he had no problem with complying with my request for a five-year capital plan or any other capital plan.
He said he’d have no problem complying with that.
So, is he indicating today that the corporation does not have a five-year capital plan?
Again, the member is liberally quoting from the Hansard, so let me try again. The member is correct, I’m at a bit of a disadvantage, I’m only able to read 300 words a minute.
Mr. Speaker, just let me say, here’s what the member said, “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m just wondering if and when the minister will be tabling the detailed five-year capital plan or any capital plan that the Qulliq Energy Corporation has so that all nineteen members of this Assembly can review it...”
Mr. Speaker, what does the minister, Mr. Picco, respond? He says, “Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I have no problem in complying with the member’s request…,” the five-year capital plan or any capital plan. Mr. Speaker, the member is quoting now from 2005/03/09; thank you very much to the staff upstairs.
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College.
We all know, based on the executive summary of the report…” is the question that the member is referring to. That’s his question.
Mr. Speaker, the member keeps questioning, on supplementary, on Arctic College and charters and contracts and finally he asks me, “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When he’s looking into it, if he can look…”, this is Mr. Tootoo.
“When he’s looking into it, if he can look into those particular cases, and I think the carrier was Kivalliq Air, and ensure that the proper policies and procedures were followed and report that back to the House.”
It’s the Honorable Ed Picco speaking: “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will commit to the member and to the House to follow up on those two specific issues…” and, final supplementary… .
By the way, Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, we’ve found out that the charter that the member talked about was not the Department of Health, not the Department of Education, or Nunavut Arctic College: it was another department.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, so I committed to that.
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I know the minister has made commitments for things in the past like tabling the power corporation’s capital plan, and that was supposed to be in the next 48 hours, and I think that was over 48 hours ago. So, I’m going to ask him: does he have a specific time in which he will get back to the members of this House with that information?”
So, is it the Nunavut Arctic College charter that he is asking about? And now he has gone to the power corporation in his question.
It is very easy for any minister to be confused.
The Minister Picco responds and says, “Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There is the capital plan that was approved, on top of that, as I said earlier, there is an interim capital plan that had been approved by the board...,” in principle, before they had the numbers for the rates and so on.
Now, this week the interim approval board, as I said in my answer to the member’s question… .
My understanding is they’re approving that today and that is the 2005-06 capital plan that I have committed to tabling.
So, I hope with this 300 words a minute speed-reading ability, that we were able to ascertain some of the suggestions that had been made by the member.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, thank you, audience.
It certainly feels like a Friday today.
I know that the minister had indicated that it is very easy for some ministers to get confused and I can certainly acknowledge that fact as he himself admitted.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out I was using that as an example, that I didn’t want to have to be waiting and waiting and waiting for an answer.
Despite that fine speed-reading ability of the minister, he still never answered my last question.
Does the corporation have a five-year capital plan?
I think I responded to that question.
What I said is that unlike the Government of Nunavut, which has a five-year capital plan and a supplemental plan, the corporation’s plans are based on the usage of the equipment, the generators and so on, is based on the cash flow abilities to actually finance a capital plan.
The quick answer is that the corporation does have a capital plan.
Does it project five years ahead, or does it do it a ten-year projection?
For the record, I will ascertain that information and I am sure the member will ask me about it tomorrow, so, I will have that answer for him tomorrow.
I will still go back to my first question.
I asked him about that then and he said he would.
I am still waiting to find out if they actually do have one.
I know we approve and look at the housing corporation’s capital plan, and our capital plan for the capital projects for Nunavut Arctic College, as the minister is very well aware of.
Why is it that we don’t have the ability to see what the power corporation’s capital plans are?
The corporation is a corporation.