EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
If the member is aware of a specific incidence of one of his constituents, or his riding that he would like to bring forward to me as minister, and he's afraid to do that, I wouldn't want to discuss it Mr. Speaker, in this House on a specific case, in a public forum.
That would be better handled by a letter to me by the member.
Question 364 - 1(3): Status of Gjoa Haven Water Situation
On February 18, in Rankin Inlet I asked the minister if he had directed his staff to deal with an urgent issue in Gjoa Haven, regarding the Gjoa Haven water contamination.
The residents are still waiting for government staff, to meet with the government.
They want to talk to them about ordering parts for the reservoir system.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke to Gjoa Haven on Friday to the SAO of the Hamlet, I wanted an update on what was being done about the Gjoa Haven water contamination.
Apparently the Hamlet of Gjoa Haven has not been informed as to where this situation is.
The SAO does not know.
So my question to the minister is, can he tell me and the people of Gjoa Haven today, what his department is doing about the water contamination.
Can you give me an update about the Gjoa Haven water situation.
Speaker: Minister Anawak.
The equipment for the water reservoir was brought in and set up, however there was a leak and the employee there is working on it.
I am informed that employee is capable of doing the work in the community.
Besides that there is some more specialized work that needs to be done.
Once the budget is approved, we will be spending that portion for this project.
We will also do an estimate on how much it will cost for a new reservoir.
Once we find out how much it costs we will decide during this fiscal year what to do on a long-term basis.
We know this current reservoir is over twenty years old and we know that there have been many repairs done during its life.
These repairs have been becoming more numerous as it gets older.
Our intention is to build a new reservoir in the near future.
We are working on this problem and I will provide information that is more detailed to the MLA and the Hamlet by letter.
I want to thank the minister for providing that information and the promise to give more details to the community and myself.
However he talked about funding but did not tell us how much money they were going to spend on this problem.
I am concerned that although he said there would be money there is no real commitment on how much or where it will come from.
Where in the main estimates is this project.
I cannot find it in the main estimates, that is my concern.
Could the Minister give us an indication of how much he is willing to set aside out of this fiscal year for our water reservoir in Gjoa Haven and when, how long would it take to find a permanent solution.
Yes, our employee, Kojo Kumi, is the engineer for Community Government & Transportation and he has asked the regional Kitikmeot department to find the financing.
After he has talked to appropriate people and because this is an urgent matter because all communities need adequate and safe drinking water, we could treat this on an urgent basis so we can find money for the water reservoir.
Once we find the price tag we will inform the member, all the members and the people of Gjoa Haven.
Question 365 - 1(3): Criteria for Capital
My question is directed to Mr. Anawak, Minister of Community Government & Transportation.
What are the criteria for capital projects used by his department.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, at this point in time we have not completed this.
However, we are using the criteria that GNWT had used previously.
We will try to find solutions to the problems but we do not have permanent criteria to follow up on now regarding capital projects.
At this point in time we don’t have a permanent criteria that we can follow up.
If we have been using the GNWT criteria for Nunavut projects, I do not quite understand the position the government has especially when it comes to arenas.
Yes, we would like to see what Nunavummiut want when making up criteria’s for Nunavut Government and I also want input from the Members as well as their constituencies.
There are only three communities in Nunavut that do not have an arena yet.
However, the Member’s, one of the communities of the Members constituency has an arena but it is not up to standard so we will have to look into that.
In the coming years we will be reviewing all the communities that have arenas including the constituencies, two constituencies of the Member.
In the Baffin region three communities do not have an arena yet.
So, for the communities that do not have an arena yet we will have to come up with a solution so we can provide them with a facility such as arenas in the community.
Question 366- 1(3): Home Ownership Programs
My question is directed to the Minister of Nunavut Housing Corporation.
During our last session in Rankin Inlet I had raised a question and also made a Member’s statement regarding Home Ownership Programs and people that have their own homes are having difficulty keeping up with their mortgage payments as well as their utilities.
I can recall the Minister making a response to me that they had set up a task force to review these concerns.
Only last week here in Iqaluit she also stated that she was still waiting for the report from the task committee and after reviewing the report, she said she would be in a better position to make a response.
I was waiting for recommendations from the report so I am just wondering if the Minister has the report in place yet.
I can recall the question that was posed by the Member.
I have received that report of the task force on housing, but I do not have it right here with me, it is with my department.
I have not reviewed the whole report as of yet.
However, they were going to give me the final report by March 31, however, we have not reviewed the report as a whole yet and I will be looking at the recommendations.
So, I regret to say that I have not completely read the report as of yet, however, I understand where his concerns are coming from.
Mr. Kattuk, supplementary.
When will the Minister be able to present us with the report of the task force.
How soon will she be able to get back to me on this.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Yes, I have to review all the recommendations that are in the report.
They sent the report to us through e-mail so I will be tabling the report so it will be available to all the Members.
Question 367 - 1(3): Technical Division for the Housing Corporation
Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I was very happy to officially hear today in her Minister’s statement that there will be stand alone Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker some Member’s will know that this is something that I have been pushing for and the Member’s I know within the housing area have been pushing for right from pre-division.
I am glad it has finally come about in my mind it is too bad it has taken so long to do so.
Mr. Speaker, in light of the fact that there is going to be a stand alone Housing Corporation; the tender that I had inquired about last week to the Minister, after reviewing the response in the Hansard, Mr. Speaker, she indicated that it was the Deputy Minister of Public Works that made the arrangements with the NWT Housing Corporation for the contracting of those services.
As far as I am aware Mr. Speaker, technical division or section of the Housing Corporation was moved over to Public Works.
With this stand alone Corporation, Mr. Speaker, are there plans to move the technical division back into the Corporation.
Mr. Tootoo: Another thing that I am very grateful to hear, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Can the Minister indicate as the timeline or timeframe when that’s going to happen and has that information been passed down to the departmental district and local staff.
We have just worked on the stand alone Housing Corporation, we are starting to review other things that have been on going in our division, and we will be informing the district at a later date.
However, we wanted to be prepared for some changes within Housing Corporation.
Mr. Tootoo: Again I am overjoyed to hear of some of these changes. What I’d like to ask the Minister is, in the business plan there is no structure within her department, does the Minister plan on bringing forward that information when the department comes forward in committee of the whole so we can see what the organization looks like and if we have any concerns then.
Because today Mr. Speaker, we are still going based on old structures that has the technical division in Public Works.
I keep calling you Mr. Chairman, my apologies.
We are dealing with this matter now.
However we are almost finalising a structure of Housing Corporation and when we are dealing with Housing Corporation in committee of the whole I will welcome all the questions that will be posed to me.
Speaker: Just before we continue I would like to recognize Timoon Toonoo just recently appointed as the Baffin Regional Superintendent for Community Government & Transportation.
Continuing with oral questions.
Question 368 - 1(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in dealing with Foster Children
My question is directed to my fellow colleague Minister of Health and Social Services.
Further to my question previously, in the response that you made regarding foster children and the fact they are dealt with by social workers in the communities.
They do not have any traditional knowledge in collaboration with social services act.
I just want to ask the Minister if he will integrate traditional knowledge to their criteria.
Mr. Speaker, one of the exciting things that we have in the business plan for health and it comes up over the next week and a half, is money allocated for Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and integration within the Department of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, that includes the total Department of Health and Social Services.
We will be doing that type of review and bringing in expertise from Elders and Inuit in Nunavut.
We would hope Mr. Speaker, after that process to be able to follow up on what Mr. Iqaqrialu has asked and that is to have Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit involved in the total department and in the total delivery of the services by the Department of Health and Social Services.
Perhaps if I can re-phrase my question.
Who will set up the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit committee?
If we are going to be using their traditional knowledge, who in the department will set up such a committee.
Will it be the Department of Health or Department of Social Services?
As the Member knows the Department of Health is integrated with Social Services, so we are the Department of Health and Social Services.
What we would be doing Mr. Speaker is using the allocated resources within the health budget which we will have a chance to discuss when we get to the budget; using those monies to incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within the Department of Health and Social Services and that will include social workers Mr. Speaker.
Many of our social workers are Inuit and use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in their daily jobs Mr. Speaker.
Right now it is not per se in the job description but that may be one of the recommendations that comes out of the working group and the initiatives that we are bringing forward within the budget.
Question 369 - 1(3): Staff Housing Policy
Mr. Speaker, once again, my question is for the Minister responsible for Housing.
Last spring Mr. Speaker and again in February in Rankin I inquired as to the staff housing policy.
I’d like to ask the Minister responsible if she in fact has that policy.
That policy is almost in place this time but I have to double check with my Deputy Minister and we have to present through the House but it is almost at its finishing point right now.
My understanding is a concern that I raised last spring as to how staff units were being allocated.
If they don’t have a completed policy now Mr. Speaker I would like to ask what the department is using in allocating staff housing units right now.
We are using the policy that was in place before the current policy that we are working on.
And that is the policy that will have minor changes and many people are looking forward to that new policy because we did a review on staff housing allocations and we tried to get input from the staff members.
We wanted to see if they preferred to have housing rents deducted from their allowances or we had to look at which best they wanted to pay their rent and so that is how we were trying to set up the policy.
There was always a policy dependent on the number of children and the number of people in the household.
Supplementary, Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker if I may ask the Minister how long has the staff been working on developing the new policy and can we get a firm date as to when that will be completed.
The policy is finished with but I have to discuss it with my Cabinet Members.
That is the only step that we have to go through I have to discuss at our next cabinet meeting and I believe it will be an agenda item very shortly.
Mr. Speaker also I asked the Minister how long the staff has been working on it.
But I’m just wondering Mr. Speaker does she plan on bringing to before Cabinet is that the policy that she committed to in Rankin on February 22 to table.
Or was she planning to table the old policy.
During our Rankin Inlet meeting, I said we wanted to use the old policy and if he wishes to see a copy of the older policy I can make that available.
As for the new policy, once I meet with the Cabinet Members then I will be able to issue that policy.
He was asking me how long my staff members have been working on the policy.
I have numerous staff members and I do not keep track of exactly how many hours a day they are working on specific items and when they are finished their reports. So I do not keep day to day tabs because we have numerous staff working for us.
Question 370 - 1(3): Petroleum Products in Repulse Bay and Pelly Bay
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): I have a question regarding Petroleum Products in Repulse Bay and Pelly Bay.
I understood the response she made but I am wondering what time and when they plan to build the gas tanks in Repulse Bay and Pelly Bay.
That question is directed to the Minister responsible for Petroleum Products.
Speaker: Minister Thompson.
Probably the men understand the jargon that I am using when I refer to the 45 gallon barrels.
I think that is what the member is referring to.
We had those flown into the communities as far as I understand it to Repulse Bay and Pelly Bay.
I know for sure they sent them on an urgent basis to Repulse Bay for use by airplanes.
I have not heard any urgent issues from the airplanes for filling up.
But if he is referring to the big tanks, we do not have those available but they were going to try to provide an alternate source of fuel.
Supplementary, Mr. Alakannuark.
I understand the question and the response but I was concerned about this in particular.
Over in the Keewatin region we do not get airplanes that often and I was wondering if it was because there was a shortage of airplane fuel.
Is that why we do not get airplanes in the Keewatin and Repulse Bay or is this dependent on our airline schedules.
I have been asked by people when we will be able to get airplanes going into Repulse Bay, and that was my question, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
I understand the question but although they have gas, the plane does not go there very often because there are not enough passengers.
That could also be part of the problem.
So for the time being we have provided 45 gallon barrels of gas on an interim basis.
I know that people like to travel from Repulse Bay to Pelly Bay and other communities but I don't know if planes will be travelling more frequently dependent on the big gas tanks.
As long as there are not enough passengers that are willing to travel, it can be part of the reason, even if there are gas supplies readily available.
I understand very clearly and I am grateful.
However, I was thinking in the future because of the number of people increasing all the time and because they travel through Hall Beach and Igloolik, if they have some gasoline available in Pelly Bay they should be going to that community according to the wishes of the people.
So that is why I keep bringing this question up, my people keep asking if there could be a new airplane route in the region.
So I understand very well.
Speaker: I don't hear a question there but Ms. Thompson, if you would care to respond.
I too understand what the member is trying to say in that he is hoping to see a new airline schedule between those three communities.
I am sure it could make everything easier but I am just the person in charge of Petroleum Products and I am not in charge of airplanes.
I have spoken as a minister with other departments that are in charge of re-routing airline schedules, but as the minister responsible for Petroleum Products, I can say that we have made gas and oil and these things available for airplane usage in those areas.
That is what I can say.
Question 371 - 1(3): Support for Businesses
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister responsible for Sustainable Development.
Money towards economic development initiatives for the year 2000/2001 seems to have been decreased.
For the small businesses that want to start up in their business endeavours, how much assistance can they receive today by way of financial assistance for economic initiatives.
I did not understand the question, I am sorry.
Can he repeat it.
I will try to make it very clear.
If I was interested in starting up my own small business, I am aware that there is funding available from the government for my start up costs.
What do I have to do in order to obtain some funding.
Do I have to have a small start up amount already before I can apply to obtain funding.
Last year approximately a year now we have been working on this and we said in the House that we would make it like a one-stop shop so we can provide start up funding for small businesses.
That is almost done completely where people can go and get information at one place.
It is called the Noble House here in Iqaluit.
We have staff available there now but for those that are interested in different things, they can apply through our department.
You have to be aware that a person who is interested in applying for funding assistance can find out whether he is going to be eligible or whether he has to have his own start up money.
It varies, Mr. Speaker.
The criteria that is being developed has not been tabled yet.
Is that right Mr. Speaker.
I think we are having a bit of a misunderstanding.
I thought he was talking about the program initiatives that people can access by way of funding.
We are trying to keep them all in one division.
That division is almost ready to start but I think I misled him when I said the wrong thing in my response.
So I hope this makes it clearer.
Supplementary, Mr. Irqittuq.
I am just wondering, what my question was first of all, if I want to seek funding assistance or if I am seeking a grant, what kind of eligibility must I conform to according to the old criteria.
If I want to get some money do I have to follow certain criteria from somewhere.
Yes, in that division where we are trying to set down the criteria, we are doing them in Inuktitut and English.
We wanted all the application forms and the necessary documents in both languages.
Many people have asked the same questions because they do not know what the application process is.
At this time our staff members are co-ordinating all the application processes because if a person wants to start up a business he can be eligible for different programs with different criteria.
Whether it is for smaller businesses, they can all come to the one office and get assistance for those applications.
Final supplementary, Mr. Irqittuq.
Lastly, for those people that want to start up their own small businesses, how much funding assistance can they be eligible for from the government department.
First, a person who is interested in starting their own small businesses certainly will have to meet some criteria.
For start up programs for smaller businesses you can borrow money, but if you aren't eligible to borrow you can be given 5 thousand dollars for financial assistance as long as the eligibility criteria is met.
Speaker: Thank you Minister Kilabuk.
Oral Question.
Question 372 - 1(3): Access Roads
I would like to direct my question to the Premier.
I will start with a preamble about the streets or roads.
When we were part of the Government of the Northwest Territories there was a problem where most of the money was being used for highways.
So we started using that for access roads in the smaller communities.
Today I find that the present government is proposing to build a road from Manitoba to Nunavut.
I would like an update as to what is happening with the highway that is going to be built and what is happening with the access roads.
I believe there are two questions there.
In regards to the Manitoba highway, we are going to try and have it paid for by the Federal Government because of course in the whole of Canada the highways, or superhighways are paid for by the Federal Government.
We are going to be asking for some funds from the Federal Government to pay for that Manitoba-Nunavut road.
Looking at access roads, we are looking at made for Nunavut transportation roads and access roads.
That is the only way that I can answer your question.
My question was in regards to access roads.
Would that money be used then.
I do know that you are making a proposal to the Federal Government, but if there were not enough money from the Federal Government, would we start using our own funds to pay for the access roads.
I can only say that our minister is going to be making a proposal and I am sure that the appropriate minister will be able to respond to your question once he gets back.
Question 373 - 1(3): Construction Training
I will just go ahead with my question then.
This is supplementary to a question that was brought up in regards to access housing or the HAP program.
There was no training involved with the people who have built those houses.
Some people cannot keep up with the cost of living.
The program helped them in one way but it did not on the other hand.
We will be talking about this next month.
Like I said, we are going to be having a Nunavut-wide conference to find out the needs of the people of Nunavut.
That will be next month and it will be the Minister's Forum on the Economy.
There will be training identified as to what is needed by the people out there and we hope to get some kind of address on these issues.
Speaker: That is the end of Question Period.
We will take a fifteen minute break and when we return we will have Mr. Puqiqnak in the chair.
>>House recessed at 3.17 p.m. and resumed at 3.40 p.m.
Deputy Speaker (Mr. Puqiqnak) (interpretation): Please rise, we will start the meeting.
Return to WQ 7 – 1(3): Justice Funding Programs
Return to WQ 8 – 1(3): CG&T Funding Programs
Clerk (Mr. Quirke): Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise members that returns to written questions 7 – 1(3) and 8 – 1(3) have been filed by the Honourable Jack Anawak.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Clerk.
Tabled Document 57– 1(3): Estimated Departmental Expenditure Variances
Mr. Speaker, as requested by the Members of the Assembly, I am pleased to table the estimated departmental expenditure variances for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 58 – 1(3): Cape Dorset Priority List
This is from the Hamlet of my community of Cape Dorset.
It is a five year priority list from my community of Cape Dorset.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Akesuk.
Mr. Tootoo, Iqaluit Centre.
Tabled Document 59 – 1(3): Letters from Nunavut Employees' Union Members
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to table 15 letters signed by 19 Nunavut Employees' Union members in regards to the tone and direction that the negotiations are taking.