EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the many hours that parents and coaches invest in helping our youth become great athletes and skilled players and teammates.
I would like to take this time to wish all the athletes and the coaches from Iqaluit congratulations on their successes, and I wish everyone all the very best for the next round of tournaments.
Member’s Statement 198 – 4(2): Independent External Review (Joanasie)
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome, my colleagues, Mr. Keyootak, and the listening audience.
Mr. Speaker, it has now been almost four months since the government announced that an external independent review would be held into the circumstances that led to the tragic death of an infant in Cape Dorset in 2012. Mr. Speaker, as you know, this tragedy has been very difficult and painful for the families and the community.
Mr. Speaker, the holding of an independent review into this incident is an important step forward.
The family and the community deserve answers as to how this incident occurred.
This is a first step towards healing and closure.
Mr. Speaker, the review must also work closely with such stakeholders as the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to work towards identifying ways in which to help prevent such incidents from occurring again and to strengthen the delivery of health care in our small, remote communities.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I wrote correspondence to the Minister of Health concerning this situation. Later today at the appropriate time, I will be tabling a copy of my letter for the benefit of all members.
I received a reply from the minister yesterday, for which I thank him.
Mr. Speaker, I have urged the government to undertake this review in as transparent a manner as possible, and I have urged the government to ensure that its findings and recommendations be made public at the earliest opportunity.
That concludes my statement, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Member’s Statement 199 – 4(2): Reflections on First Year as Member of the Legislative Assembly (Sammurtok)
I rise today on our first day of this sitting, which is also somewhat of an anniversary for me, to note that it has been almost exactly one year since I took on my role as the new MLA for Rankin Inlet South.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the people of Rankin Inlet South for putting their trust in me.
Mr. Speaker, this past year has been a busy one. I have raised a number of issues on behalf of my constituents and I acknowledge some of the important successes of my constituents.
Mr. Speaker, I have raised and will continue to raise important health issues, such as the need for a 24-hour elders care facility, improved dental services, increased support for medical travel clients, and bringing back our children’s group home.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue working towards promoting the development of Rankin Inlet’s infrastructure, improving dust control measures, and seeking more options to address our critical housing needs.
I will also do my best to provide support and assistance to my constituents in getting their needs and concerns addressed.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to represent the constituency of Rankin Inlet South and I would like to assure my constituents that I am committed to serving them to the best of my ability throughout my term.
Member’s Statement 200 – 4(2): Pond Inlet State of Emergency (Enook)
Good afternoon to the residents of Pond Inlet and my fellow Nunavummiut, as well as good afternoon wishes to my wife and Irni-son.
Mr. Keyootak, welcome to the House, as this is your first time representing Nunavummiut, and we congratulate you on your success.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the recent state of emergency in Pond Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, as you and other members will be aware, the community of Pond Inlet has been suffering recently under a state of emergency that occured as a consequence of a catastrophic series of events.
These events led to an almost complete shutdown of the community’s water and sewage services.
Over the past two months, the municipality and the local housing organization have been working tremendously hard to deal with this very challenging situation.
I will be making a separate statement during our sitting to pay tribute to the many residents of Pond Inlet who have been working to address this crisis.
Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that many of our municipalities continue to struggle to deliver basic services using ancient and antiquated equipment.
Mr. Speaker, the recent events in the community have focused attention on the need to ensure that adequate and appropriate equipment is available for the provision of essential municipal services.
Mr. Speaker, as the community works hard to restore basic water and sewage services, efforts are underway to address the immense task of cleaning up from this disaster.
(interpretation) I don’t hear any nays. Mr. Enook, please proceed.
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, efforts are underway to address the immense task of cleaning up from this disaster. Dozens of homes have suffered from flooding in recent weeks and the community is very concerned about the sewage that has spilled on the ground.
Mr. Speaker, it is vital that the territorial government provide all requested support and assistance to the community to ensure that it makes it through this situation.
It is also vital that the territorial government work closely with the community to identify longer-term measures to help ensure that this siutation is not repeated.
Mr. Speaker, the situation that has occurred in Pond Inlet could happen to any number of our communities, which is why I believe that it is important for us to carefully examine the government’s response to these events.
My questions on this issue will begin later today at the appropriate time.
Member’s Statement 201 – 4(2): Pangnirtung Turbot Fishery (Mike)
I also thank the viewing audience. I send my love to the residents of Pangnirtung, particularly the family of Abraham and Meeka.
I also want to take this opportunity to welcome our newest member, Pauloosie Keyootak.
I heard your name and I recognized you, so I extend a warm welcome to the Legislative Assembly where you will now partake in the proceedings. I know of your past in the political world during the negotiations of the land claims agreement.
Mr. Speaker, I have alluded to this matter on numerous occasions from the perspective of my constituents in Pangnirtung with respect to turbot fisheries as the season has commenced.
Just recently when I was in Pangnirtung, I noted small changes and I know it to be a result of the season.
My constituency office is situated in the Co-op building where part of the building is rented out by the Nunavut government. My constituency office in Pangnirtung has windows where we see people who have appointments at the government office, either for income support or other types of government benefits.
Whenever the turbot fishery season opens, we see a drop in the numbers. This is a welcome sight, and that is why I continue to try to speak to the myriad of benefits of the turbot fishery.
When the season opens, the fishermen have more disposable income from the turbot fishery and, instead of getting income support or requesting assistance on the local radio, they are able to support themselves.
I will provide more information down the road, and I am quite pleased as tangible benefits accrue to our community.
The turbot fishery was very difficult to initiate, as we have been at it for 30 years with continuous improvement up to this present season.
There are still areas we need to improve and although that may be the case, I believe this is a piece of good news I can share, especially in light of the collapse of the sealskin sales due to animal rights activists. We can replace this source of income with another, and that is why I try to expand on how this type of venture can assist our communities.
Return to Oral Question 294 – 4(2): Review of Harvesters Support Programs (Clerk)
I am tabling the response to [Oral] Question No. 294 that was taken as notice during the October 24 sitting of the legislature.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. (interpretation) Member from Sanikiluaq, Mr. Rumbolt.
Good afternoon to the people of Sanikiluaq and the rest of Nunavut.
*See Appendix for full text of Return to Oral Question 294 – 4(2).
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an individual who had lived in Sanikiluaq for several years. He was the senior administrative officer in Sanikiluaq for the time that he was there.
He has since moved on and is now working with the Fort Nelson’s First Nations in British Columbia.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in welcoming Mr. Muhamud Hassan to the gallery.
I, too, wish to recognize a visitor to the gallery and I rise to acknowledge my constituent, well-known to many Nunavummiut, Ann-Mikijuk Hanson.
As you may be aware, she served as Commissioner of Nunavut in the past and I also worked with her. I extend a warm welcome to her.
I have no more names on my list. (interpretation ends) Item 6. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 322 – 4(2): Liquor Revolving Fund Campaigns (Hickes)
I thought that we wouldn’t be in a real rush to get to oral questions.
I guess I’m more or less ready.
Mr. Speaker, I have a question today for the Minister of Finance.
During sittings in the previous year, I have brought up on a couple of occasions educational campaigns that are eligible to be funded under the Liquor Revolving Fund.
I had the pleasure of speaking to a number of my constituents this past new year. There was a campaign here in Iqaluit and, from what I understand, a couple of other communities around Nunavut providing taxi vouchers for the festive holidays to alleviate drinking and driving in this territory. I understand, from last year, that there was approximately $125,000 allocated from that fund for these types of campaigns.
Can the minister respond today with what other types of campaigns are ongoing for educational purposes on the safe consumption of alcohol in Nunavut?
I thank Mr. Hickes for the opportunity to field the first question of the winter sitting.
Mr. Speaker, yes, it’s very good news, using the revolving funds as part of our social responsibility program, and it’s good to see that it’s working well.
We did, with my colleagues, approve $500,000 to be used out of that program, but with approval, we would take $125,000 for the programs that Mr. Hickes has described, the taxi vouchers. We understand it was successful in a number of communities.
Of course, there are going to be more opportunities, but with social responsibility, it’s important that people be responsible for alcohol. We understand that there are alcohol issues in Nunavut. There’s no question about that, but we hope to address it through ongoing educational programs, such as more taxi vouchers, putting advertising campaigns out there and materials out to the alcohol education committees, where they exist, in the different communities.
I’m not going to stand here and say that we have a defined program. We will test things that work. We are working with, I believe, people from Northern Quebec, who were giving us assistance on what works and what doesn’t work.
I would like to encourage his department to undertake ongoing educational opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, last year, the minister had indicated that they were looking at a number of different educational campaigns like commercials on TV, poster campaigns, and different types of advertising methodologies.
Of that, there was $125,000 budgeted last year. Can the minister respond to how much of that $125,000 was used out of the revolving fund?
I again thank Mr. Hickes for the question, but unfortunately, I don’t have that level of detail. Those are operational matters, but we have been given approval to spend up to $125,000.
I don’t have the specific details, but if Mr. Hickes can be patient, I can provide that information in due course.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to that information from the minister.
As I have stated a couple of times and as the minister has stated, $125,000 was approved to spend in the last fiscal year.
With the budget cycle that’s ongoing for this upcoming fiscal year, what is the amount that is going to be allocated to educational awareness campaigns across the territory for this upcoming fiscal year?
As I indicated earlier, we said that we will use $500,000, but we were given approval by cabinet to use $125,000 of that $500,000 towards educational programs.
If we need more in the future, then I’ll go back to my colleagues and request their approval to use additional funds.
Question 323 – 4(2): Activities of the Qulliq Energy Corporation (Angnakak)
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I ask my question, I would like to first acknowledge someone in the House today.
I would like to welcome our privacy commissioner of Nunavut, Ms. Elaine Keenan Bengts.
Ms. Angnakak: My question today is for the new Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
I’m sure he is really happy to have another binder in front of him.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, the minister announced that he had accepted the resignation of the chairperson of QEC’s board of directors.
Can the minister indicate what process he has undertaken to appoint the next chair of the corporation’s board of directors?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Mr. Peterson.
Yes, it appears that I’ve got a thicker binder with this promotion, much thicker than the finance binder.
I don’t know if that is a good sign or not.
Mr. Speaker, regretfully, I accepted Mr. Omilgoituk’s resignation. He did a very good job in his time as the chair. He is from my community; he’s actually one of my next door neighbours.
I wish him all well in his future work in the Kitikmeot.
I did have an opportunity to meet with the new interim chair, Julie-Anne Miller. She is from Iqaluit. I met with her for a couple of hours on Friday.
I haven’t initiated a new process. I want to give Ms. Miller an opportunity to work with her colleagues on the board to see how things go.
She has been on the board of directors for a little more than a year now, so I think she is looking forward to the opportunity to being the interim chair for a while. If things work out, we will consider her for the chair.
One of the ongoing priorities of QEC has been to reduce our dependency on fossil fuel by identifying ways to move forward with alternate energy projects, including hydroelectric development.
Can the minister provide an update today on the status of QEC’s hydroelectric project near Iqaluit?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Mr. Peterson.
Mr. Speaker, there is no update to provide. The project was put on hold last year.
Until I have an opportunity to speak in more detail with officials about the interim chair and board, it will remain on hold. I think there is some ongoing work being done, but we’re not advancing.
As you can well imagine, it’s a very expensive project in the neighbourhood of $400 million to $500 million. It’s a project that has to be advanced with caution.
I thank the minister for his answer; it kind of leads right into my second question here.
The government’s major Crown agencies and territorial corporations, including QEC, receive annual ministerial letters of expectation which outline priorities and goals for the upcoming fiscal year.
I encourage the minister to table QEC’s new letter of expectation in this House prior to the end of our winter sitting.
Can the minister indicate what new priorities he will be including in QEC’s next letter of expectation which he will be signing as minister?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Mr. Peterson.
I have not written that letter to myself yet.
But you can be well rest assured, Mr. Speaker and Ms. Angnakak, that QEC is a very important utility for Nunavut. As we all know, since 1999, it has had its ups and downs.
I recall, as an MLA, in 2004, in standing committee, I had the minister of the day or the official of the day on the hot seat. It has happened many times. You had the former president on the hot seat back in September.
I’m taking my time to review all the information, the capital plans, and the operating plans.
My officials in the Department of Finance are working very closely with QEC officials. There are a number of issues concerning QEC. I met with the AG’s office last October 31 about QEC and the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Public agencies are very important to our department and our government. I will be taking the time to ensure that whatever I write to myself will be things that will raise the bar in terms of ensuring the ongoing success and improving the public image of QEC and making them more accountable in delivering the capital projects that we desperately need in Nunavut.
In that regard, in my other capacity as the Minister of Finance, I did ask the Minister of Finance Canada for $200 million to help us upgrade power plants in 17 communities. They are aging and reaching their end of life, so it is important to us.
Question 324 – 4(2): Status of Independent External Review (Joanasie)
During the Minister’s Statement, I heard with some interest his announcement of the matter in Cape Dorset.
This was an interesting announcement as to the status of the review currently. Also, he stated the timeframe for the completion of this review.
However, I wanted some clarification on the start date of this review. I heard the name of the lead reviewer; I believe she is a lady named Katherine Peterson initiating this review. Nonetheless, I just wanted clarification on that actual start date of the review as the end date was identified as being November 30 of this year.
When will this review start?
Minister of Health, Mr. Okalik.
I also thank my colleague for pushing for this review.
Ms. Peterson will commence her work in March. I just spoke to her earlier. My officials at the health department are now in the process of collecting and compiling the documents that will need to be reviewed.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the government for initiating this review.
This is an important matter that requires resolution.
However, I have a secondary question on this matter. It is my understanding and expectation that once the independent external review has been completed, a report containing findings and recommendations will be prepared.
I believe that it is important that the findings of the review be made public as soon as possible.
Will the minister commit to ensuring that the report from the independent external review is released to the public as soon as it has been completed?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Health, Mr. Okalik.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we will make the report public when it is completed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the minister may be very much aware, this tragedy has affected the people of my constituency very deeply.
I would like to know what message the government has today for my constituents.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been trying to initiate the review for quite a while now, but I am happy to say that it’s reaching completion.
I will try to make myself available in any way. When I spoke to Ms. Peterson earlier, I told her that if she needs any help or support, I’ll be available for her, as I would like this matter to be settled properly. We will be available to her.
Question 325 – 4(2): Pond Inlet State of Emergency (Enook)
Mr. Enook: (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as I noted in my Member’s Statement, Pond Inlet has been suffering under a state of emergency in recent weeks.
Mr. Speaker, the municipality declared the local state of emergency earlier this month.
Mr. Speaker, my question is: can the minister confirm when his department was first advised of concerns from the community regarding water and sewage services, including the state of local equipment?
The very first time that we heard that there was a problem was on December 24, 2014 about the sewage truck problems. On that same day, CGS went to try and help right away to see about parts like transmissions for the sewage truck or the water truck. We were told about this during the Christmas season.
At that point in time, Mr. Minister, when you received the first notification of problems directed to your department, what assistance was provided to Pond Inlet before the need arose to declare a statement of emergency?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In January, in the new year of 2015, we helped the hamlet bring in the parts for the vehicle.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
As I noted in my Member’s Statement, dozens of homes were flooded during the recent state of emergency and concerns have been expressed regarding sewage spills in the community.
It is essential that the Department of Community and Government Services work closely with the Nunavut Housing Corporation and the Department of Health to support local efforts to clean up from this disaster.
Can the minister confirm what additional financial and human resources are being provided by the Government of Nunavut?
The question the member raised has been the subject of discussion on how we can provide further assistance. I imagine this spring when warmer weather arrives, the clean-up will have to be started. That is obvious.
Additionally, we have begun preparations for that at this time, albeit we will have to work the Department of Environment as well as the Department of Health and the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
These three departments will need to collaborate on this clean-up to ensure that everything is done properly.
Question 326 – 4(2): Marine Infrastructure (Keyootak)
As I noted in my Member’s Statement, there have been a number of important investments made by both the territorial and federal governments to strengthen the fishery sector of the economy in Nunavut.
However, without adequate marine infrastructure, this potential will not be fully realized.
As the minister is aware, the Nunavut Small Craft Harbours Report was released almost a decade ago.
That report recommended the construction of new marine infrastructure in seven communities, including Qikiqtarjuaq and Clyde River.
Can the minister update the House today on the status of her efforts to obtain federal funding for new marine infrastructure in Qikiqtarjuaq and Clyde River?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Ms. Ell.
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to thank the member as his seat is right next to mine.
I believe that he will be directing questions to me in this session and I’m glad to address his first question.
Mr. Speaker, with respect to the member’s question regarding the report produced in [2005], I am aware of that report and of the several communities identified in the small craft harbour report.
There are different types of docking facilities and small craft harbours designed for fishery type industries. Qikiqtarjuaq was included and identified in that report.
As he stated earlier, there are seven communities that have been identified as potential sites.
There are a lot of underlying environmental studies that have to be completed before the docks can be built. In producing the feasibility studies, there are various items that have to be researched, especially in trying to develop a dock.
For example, you have to look at the tidal currents, the type of seabed, whether the area has a lot of rock, the type of ice buildup that occurs, the marine environment, and the financial plans. We will continue to look at identifying funds to study these projects with our federal partners.