EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
(interpretation ends) When we travelled on the Nunavut vision to talk to the people about why Nunavut was created and every one will know that the picture of the two little girls, and the Nunavut vision, which says in some places, people first, is serving the people of Nunavut, seek direction from the people, encourages excellence and welcomes creativity.
(interpretation) I would like to ask for unanimous consent to continue Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Anawak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I think what we have to be aware of is that in creating a government that we said would be closer to the people, we have to keep a constant pressure on the rest of the civil service to ensure that the spirit and intent of the Nunavut vision is followed by ensuring that people, whether they work within the government or are out there, have access to the government as a whole, whether it’s with the regular MLAs or to the ministers to make sure that the people of Nunavut feel that they are being well served.
I’m afraid that if we are not vigilant in ensuring that people that are there can talk to us as Members of the Legislative Assembly or ministers, if we are not vigilant enough, that some of that, too many layers might be created between the person at the bottom and the minister or the MLA.
So I urge Members of the Legislative Assembly and the ministers to ensure that we carry forward and ensure that the people of Nunavut have access to us at all times as was the spirit and intent of the Nunavut vision.
Member’s Statement 135 – 1(6): Governor General Visits Repulse Bay
I’m glad to be back to the House.
I was at home for a while and also in Repulse Bay.
There was a reason that I went to Repulse Bay and that was because the Governor General was in that community opening a facility and unfortunately I was late getting into that community.
But we had a great time in Repulse Bay that night when there was a feast and other celebrations held.
I would just like to inform you that they welcomed the Governor General and me very warmly and for that I smile at them.
Member’s Statement 136 – 1(6): Rankin Inlet Hospital
I kiss all the people of Repulse Bay as well.
I used to represent them in the past.
Mr. Speaker, in Rankin Inlet they are listening to us right now.
I would just like to inform them that in the summer time, there will be different programs going on and the hospital construction that is planned will be underway and people are working on the foundation of that hospital right now.
I would like to express my gratitude to the staff from the Health Department, along with the Minister responsible for the department, including the Finance Minister and the Department of Public Works and Services Minister for the hard work they did to get this hospital going.
All the people had expectations after the signing ceremony that was held in the community of Rankin Inlet and there will be a lot of activity over the summer; there will be different plans and different things going on.
The dump site issue that has been debated in Rankin Inlet, due to its proximity to the community and the concerns that have been expressed over its proximity by the residents should be resolved soon.
This summer we hope to see the dump site moved from the present site.
Mr. Speaker, on Friday I met a gentleman out in the lobby and he said he is from the second most beautiful jurisdiction in Canada, after Nunavut, British Columbia where I still have a bit of family residing.
But I had a little conversation with him and he said that he had just come out of the British Columbia legislature and had just come out of Ottawa to serve the Ottawa legislature and he said you guys are unique.
You actually look like you are accomplishing things in your legislature.
It was a very good compliment; he said you agree to things and that’s unique and he is very impressed with it.
This gentleman’s name is Byron Tweedie from Suk, Vancouver Island, British Columbia and I would like him to stand up.
While he is in the Territory as a visitor, and a tourist, and this time of year it is unheard of to have visitors this time of year, I would like to welcome him to Nunavut and I would like to make him a little present.
Before you call me out of order Mr. Speaker, I would like to give him this tie that I have only worn twice and it’s manufactured and made at the Jesse Oonarke Centre in Baker Lake.
Speaker: Welcome to the Gallery Mr. Tweedie.
I also had the opportunity to speak with Byron and the comments that Mr. McLean stated were in fact the comments that Mr. Tweedie made about the Assembly and the members.
It’s nice to hear something positive once in a while.
And yes, Mr. McLean you can be excused to get yourself a new tie.
Question 156 – 1(6): Ruled Out of Order
My question is to the Minister of Public Works and Services about the matter of the bad gasoline.
Everyone is concerned about this gasoline issue and with the majority of our constituents owning snowmobiles and depending on them, there are a lot of complaints regarding engine breakdowns from Repulse Bay.
Because of this problem with the gas, the hunters are getting gasoline from Kugaaruk as it is of better quality and it looks like they are not going to give up just yet.
But the snow is melting soon and it will get harder to get gasoline from Kugaaruk.
My question is when will the people of Repulse Bay be able to get good gasoline?
Are they going to be receiving this gasoline replacement soon?
Speaker: Mr. Alakannuark, I’m going to rule your question out of order.
It is at the present time going to be discussed in the Committee of the Whole, tomorrow.
So as per our understanding agreement, that’s a question that is going to take place on this particular issue.
Question 157 – 1(6): Negotiation of Block Funding for Iqaluit
As you know Mr. Speaker, and members of this House know, that the issue that I’ve been raising almost since day one of this legislature, deals with the chronic need for infrastructure here in Iqaluit.
I’d like to ask the minister for an update on the status that she and her department are at in respect to the negotiating of block funding with the City of Iqaluit that is under way right now.
My department has done the proposal for the block funding for the City of Iqaluit.
It’s all done.
It has to go through a process and it hasn’t been finalized yet because it has to go through Financial Management Board.
That’s where it’s at right now.
But it was a very good proposal that my department did with the city.
It just still has to go through the process.
Mr. Speaker, I fully realize that the details of the proposal can’t be discussed because it hasn’t been approved by cabinet yet.
I understand that, but I’d like to ask the minister if the proposal is a proposal that both the City of Iqaluit and her department have mutually agreed upon the details of that proposal.
My department has been in contact with the city quite a few times under the direction of Mike Ferris and now with the capital planning directorate in my department, they have also contacted the city and there seems to be a mutual agreement between the two parties to put this proposal forward.
We’re just waiting for it to go through the process through the Financial Management Board and from there we should be able to sign a block funding agreement with the city.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to ink on the line on this agreement and I’m sure the city council is as well.
Mr. Speaker, I know that the city was pushing to try and get this agreement in place so that they could try and get some of these projects started this year.
I’m just wondering if the minister could indicate if she thinks that it could be approved and put through the process in time so that the city can capitalize on it for this construction and work season.
I had a meeting with the Chairman of Financial Management Board, which happens to be Mr. Ng, last week.
This is one of the issues that I brought up, that there needs to be some capital projects moved forward for this summer for the City of Iqaluit.
My staff is working with the department, and will be working with the city.
I know that they have already started on that process so I would like to see some projects going forward this summer.
We’ll certainly let the MLAs know when we are signing the agreement so they can be there for the signing of the block funding agreement.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to ask the minister, this process that it has to go through; does she have a specific time frame or a rough guess as to when this process will be complete and when it could get signed off and completed?
Ms. Thompson: Mr. Speaker, I know that Mr. Picco is constantly at my office asking for that same time frame and we’re working very hard to get this done.
I don’t have the dates set on this but, I’ve also asked my staff and also talked to the finance minister that we should start working on this quickly because time is short.
Question 158 – 1(6): Award of Kitikmeot Boarding Home Contract
The minister I was going to ask is not here but I would still like to pose this question.
I want to direct my question to the Minister of Health on the contract for the Kitikmeot Boarding home in Yellowknife.
Has that contract been awarded to date?
Just a reminder and a caution to members that it is an understanding that you will not identify a minister when he’s absent from the House.
I thought I was here.
The contract has been awarded.
Who was it awarded to and what is the term of the contract for that company?
Mr. Speaker, the contract has been awarded; I believe it’s been awarded for a one year extension to the current contract owner.
But I’ll have to confirm that with the member.
So that’s my understanding.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Thank you, this contract that has been awarded, as you stated, it’s been extended for another year.
Before the contract was awarded, has the contract been changed as to further extensions or before the contract was awarded, have there been any changes to the numbers, especially after the contract has been awarded?
Mr. Speaker, the contract, we had done around the same time several RFPs for boarding home facilities, Mr. Speaker.
And we had done an evaluation on Lena Pederson Boarding Home which is located in Yellowknife, to see if that facility was still functional, to see if that was meeting the needs of the patients from the Kitikmeot and at the same time Mr. Speaker, to see that if there was opportunity for a newer facility, with expansion.
Mr. Speaker, we continue that review, and under the RFP we had several; we had more than one proposal on the RFP.
We’ve extended the operation for one year so that we can ascertain the best mechanism based on, for example, with the new facility that will be going into Cambridge Bay in the next two to four years, to see exactly what the time frame would be as well as how much space we would need based on maybe the lesser requirements of patients that will be travelling to Yellowknife.
So, all of those things have to be taken into account Mr. Speaker, before the government moves forward on proposal calls.
Thank you, it says here, I’m referring to the advertisement that was on Mr. Speaker.
Will we be able to provide a full range of specialty services for the residents of Kitikmeot communities in operating the Lena Pedersen boarding home located in the City of Yellowknife?
Again, from what the minister was saying is that there were some changes then. After the tender that was put out on September 24, why were these changes after the tender was out?
You added that you’re looking at other things, other examples of Kitikmeot proposals, I guess, a boarding home in Kitikmeot, in Cambridge Bay.
I’m just wondering why there were some changes.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if there’s any difference in what the advertisement is or was and what I just stated.
Originally on the RFP, we had asked for the provision of services to provide a boarding home in Yellowknife.
At that time the proposals came forward and I believe it was TC Enterprises, was the successful proponent.
They came in with the better price and so on.
At that time we gave them a one year contract to operate the facility.
The second time is to evaluate all the conditions that are in place and will be in place based on 2, 3, 4.
We can’t make a decision as a government based on what’s happening today.
We have to look down the road and to the future.
So specifically, that’s what we’re doing. I would hope, Mr. Speaker, to be able to move very, very soon.
Because that analysis is almost complete, to go forward with another RFP for the new facility, specifically.
That would be the ultimate plan at the present time.
Question 159 – 1(6): Arctic Bay Airport Terminal
The question has to do with transportation, Mr. Speaker.
There’s a transportation strategy under review that was started by the minister’s department.
Before the end of this session, I would like the people of Arctic Bay to know what’s happening with the terminal in Arctic Bay this summer and what will be happening over the summer as the Nanisivik Mine is closing.
They would like to know what’s going to happen with the transportation system in that area.
The terminal and the runway in Arctic Bay, even if the Nanisivik mine closes down, the airstrip and the terminal will not be closing.
I would like to assure the member that the airstrip and the terminal will not be closing even though Nanisivik Mine is closed.
We are in the process of working on its future uses.
We will be using it in the mean time, even though the Nanisivik Mine is closing, but I could not tell you when or if it will be closed, only that we will continue to use it.
Yes, that’s good news.
I will now relay the message to the people of Arctic Bay that their airstrip and terminal adjacent to Nanisivik will not be closed immediately and on behalf of the people of Arctic Bay, I would like to say thank you for the minister’s response.
We are in limbo today as we were not really sure exactly what was going to happen in that area, especially if there is not enough traffic to warrant jet aircraft.
Due to this uncertainty, will they be able to do more work on the airstrip that is presently being used to land Twin Otters?
That airstrip sometimes is used by bigger planes, but it would require further upgrading if we were to use it fulltime.
We’re doing some strategic planning on the future airstrip in Arctic Bay but we’ll be using it in the near future for some time even after the mine is closed.
If this plan can be completed, and there happens to be some more funding made available, then the smaller runway could be upgraded.
However, in regards to the bigger planes, if they were to stop going to the Nanisivik runway, we cannot force them to keep coming.
I’m not exactly sure whether they will be coming in Arctic Bay, but the present airstrip that is being used at this time, that will stay in place for a little while we do the strategic planning for the smaller airstrip.
And my second last question Mr. Speaker is, the Boeing 727 will stop coming into Nanisivik and we cannot identify the kinds of planes that will be coming to Arctic Bay so these are the exact kinds of fears held by the residents.
Since the minister assured me that they will be doing some strategic planning on the other airstrip, what is going to be done with the infrastructure or can we at least let them know of the type of plane they can expect in the future, given the requirements of the community?
I’m not exactly sure what kind of plane will be coming into that Arctic Bay airport but if Nanisivik was to close then the jet service will probably cease.
But I know that there still have to be airlines that would be servicing the community.
Again as I stated, we’ll be doing a transportation strategy for all of the communities in Nunavut and we will be looking into all of the concerns and factors related to air transportation such as; what kinds of planes are scheduled to go to communities and so on.
But we’re not saying that Arctic Bay will no longer have planes coming in as it is still a hamlet but I’m not sure exactly what kinds of planes will be coming over there.
So once we initiate our transportation strategy, I will try to get my officials to talk with the community officials of Arctic Bay, to let them know the issues facing them that will have to be resolved.
But we will not be closing down the airstrip right way.
A comment if I may and a partial question to the minister, Mr. Speaker, the airstrip in Nanisivik is on very high ground and there’s a long road connected to the community of Arctic Bay from Nanisivik.
For that reason when the Nanisivik mine closes there would be no more money to upgrade the road.
I know that the minister is well aware of the situation as this matter is being looked into by her departmental staff.
With all those factors included, Mr. Speaker, this is the reason why the people of Arctic Bay want to know whether they have to keep the road open or not because it costs a lot of money to maintain it.
The community has the right to know what is going to happen to the existing infrastructure, whether they are required to maintain this road as it has an effect on their annual budget and if this would be funded.
These are the issues that the community requires answered as they have an effect on the financial resources allocated to the community and because no matter what, the community of Arctic Bay still requires a link to the outside world.
The road that the member is talking about, that starts from the community to the airport.
I have never been on that road to Arctic Bay before but I’ve read about it.
I have landed in Nanisivik once before on my way to Resolute Bay quite some time ago.
Although I would like to be able to go to Arctic Bay to visit in the near future, to see what’s happening over in that community.
I know that the road is very long and I have heard about its dynamics and have seen pictures of the road.
I know that it costs about 200 thousand dollars a year to keep that road open, to keep it clear of snow and so on.
Perhaps it is less than 200 thousand dollars, depending on the annual environmental factors.
Perhaps we will be able to keep the road open in the meantime even after the Nanisivik mine is closed.
We will have the money available to keep the road open and cleared as the budget includes the maintenance funds required to keep that road navigable.
Question 160 – 1(6): Increasing Ceiling on Local Purchase Authority
Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of Public Works and Services about the decentralization evaluation report.
Mr. Speaker, on this question that I am asking, I tabled in the House two years in a row a resolution from the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce regarding the local purchasing authority in every community.
My preamble could be long but I will try to keep it as short as I can.
Purchasing requirements often overlook the realities of operating in a small community.
An employee provided a graphic example of problems.
Any local contracting authority purchase order over one thousand dollars requires three quotes.
One thing there Mr. Speaker, is I have asked the minister twice in this House and tabled resolutions from the Keewatin Chamber of Commerce.
Would the minister consider raising the local purchasing authority in each community to five thousand dollars?
That is a good question from the member.
In regards to contracts and local purchase orders, the allowed limit has not been raised yet, but at the member’s request I will consider the member’s question and look into increasing the local purchase orders limits in the communities to five thousand dollars and to purchasing from local vendors.
It is good to hear the minister reply to that.
We talk about Nunavut and building small business development in our communities, and one thousand dollars per local purchase order, if he can wrap that up pretty quick.
But the problem with that Mr. Speaker, and I have to reiterate to the minister, is that when they have to process five one thousand dollar orders, it takes time and employees can go without having the pens, pencils, notebooks and other things that they need and it is extra paperwork for the bureaucracy and you know for the civil servants at the financial end.
So what I am saying is that I have asked this question twice in the House in the last two years and never got a response.
The minister just told me that he would respond back to me and I know that he will respond fairly.
Can the minister just let me know when he can let me know about this?
Within the next month, two months, three months?
I will look into the matter, but I cannot ascertain when I can give him a response exactly.
But we will do it as soon as we can.
Hopefully it would be shorter rather than longer and if we can do it as soon as possible, then we will.
Question 161 – 1(6): Staff Housing Shortage for Arctic Bay Teachers
My question is directed to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation and staff housing.
My question Mr. Speaker is, last week I asked him a question about the Arctic Bay situation of the shortage of staff housing for teachers.
It is already close to the end of the school year, so I wonder if the minister could update me as to when or if the teachers in Arctic Bay will have their staff housing?
Mr. Speaker, I don’t recall the member saying that the teachers didn’t have staff housing; she did mention the state of the housing.
I believe that they were sharing, there are three teachers sharing one unit apparently, and they didn’t know what was going to happen as a result of the possible turnovers and that.
Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I did have staff go up to Arctic Bay to assess the housing, first of all, that was available in Nanisivik to see whether or not it would be conducive or the feasibility of possibly relocating some of those units to Arctic Bay to address some of those needs.
I have a report based on that that I am reviewing right now.
In addition I have also asked the corporation to find out timelines as far as deliveries for sealift schedules for Arctic Bay to see if there is anything that could be done if we are going to make a decision to try to address that issue this coming sealift year.
That is good to hear that the minister of the department has been working on this issue already and I will await the appropriate responses to the issues.
It is not just the teachers that are sharing accommodations, there is also the Wildlife Officer who is in Nanisivik and who is sharing accommodations as well.
It is good to hear that the minister stated that this matter is being looked after.
It is just more of a comment and not a question.
Question 162 – 1(6): Funding for Arena in Kugluktuk
I want to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Community Government and Transportation.
My question is on the skating rink, we would like to have it finished in the summer time.
Even though we have a shortage of funds out there, I wanted to find out sometime today when this is being done, even with all of these barriers.
Has there already been dialogue between the minister and the community in regards to this issue and where will the funds come from regarding the skating rink in Kugluktuk?
There were cost overruns for the work on the arena in Kugluktuk.
I have talked with the member and I talked with the Mayor of Kugluktuk when I was in Ottawa, Stanley Anablak, and he informed me of the situation.
Stanley Anablak said to me last week that he would like something done for that arena.
So I talked to my officials and I asked my officials to make sure that the arena in Kugluktuk has some renovations done to the pipes.
I will also ask my officials to work with the Hamlet of Kugluktuk in regards to the arena.
If they have not talked to the Hamlet of Kugluktuk already, I will find out from them what the situation is right now.
I will talk to them, if they have not already done so, to make sure that the arena is fixed in the summertime, even though there is not enough money we will find something for them to fix the arena.
Thank you for your positive response.
I would like some more information.
When is it going to be completed?
Is it going to be completed before July or sometime in July?