EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It revolves around residents requiring the assistance of the RCMP, but who have to call outside their community to Iqaluit.
When they request assistance due to an emergency, they have to phone the call centre either due to an accident or need for assistance. They have to first call the Iqaluit call centre, submit their situation, and await approval. This occurs when RCMP officers are requested.
Can the minister clarify if the Iqaluit call centre has an Inuktitut-speaking member available at all times?
Yes, we require that there be an Inuktitut-speaking person to respond at the call centre here in Iqaluit.
As per previous statements from my constituents, they complained that at the time of their call, a person able to speak Inuktitut was never available or was not the primary contact person.
As we all know, many of our people don’t even have conversational English, particularly the older generations who call when assistance is required.
They have no idea how the phone answering system works.
Even when a bilingual person is asked to call, they have a difficult time with the call centre procedures.
We are penalizing our unilingual Inuit, as they have no idea how to deal with the current system and which phone number to call.
I was just informed recently that when they have called for assistance, nobody who speaks Inuktitut ever answers or is asked to take the call.
Can the minister conduct a review to ensure that an Inuktitut-speaking person is on call at all times for emergency calls from the communities?
Speaker (interpretation): Your final supplementary… . I’m sorry.
Question 205 – 4(3): Status of Kivalliq-Manitoba Winter Road (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Alexander Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) My question is to the Minister of Community and Government Services.
One of the ongoing initiatives of the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Roundtable is the establishment of a road link between Manitoba and the Kivalliq.
This project has the potential of significantly reducing the cost of transportation of goods to the Kivalliq region, therefore reducing the high cost of living for Kivalliq residents.
Can the minister indicate who currently sits on the Winter Road Working Group that has been established by the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Roundtable?
I was at the Hudson Bay roundtable with the MLA.
I’m just going to go by memory, but I believe who sits on the working group there… . I can’t remember offhand, but I believe it’s the Mayor for Arviat, Bob Leonard, and the Mayor for Churchill, Mike Spence. Off the top of my head, I can’t remember who is all on the working group.
The working group did put a recommendation forward and a resolution was passed that they do want to take the winter road to the next phase, which is to seek federal funding to do a proper feasibility study.
They would come out with like a class “A” estimate as to exactly how this winter road would operate, the cost to operate, the cost to maintain it, and the cost to make it.
The minister answered some of the questions I was going to ask, (interpretation ends) but for the record, I’ll go ahead anyway.
One of the formal resolutions that were passed at last month’s meeting of the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Roundtable directed the Winter Road Working Group to examine four specific issues, including the identification of “funding sources for required studies.”
Can the minister clarify what studies need to be undertaken?
There would have to be a number of studies and I guess we would start at the bottom that would be a very important one that would have to be an environmental impact study because this project will impact the environment and studies of who would use it, who could use it, who would own it, who would be allowed to go on it, and whether it would be a public road.
I can’t remember offhand exactly all the studies there, but the project management, the funding source, and a confirmation of road alignment, that means the exact corridor of where the road would go, and who would do the studies.
The main one would be to get the cost nailed down much better so that we know exactly what the road would cost. Environmental impacts will be a big one because it will impact many things.
Can the minister clarify whether or not the governments of Nunavut and Manitoba will provide the funding for these studies?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services Mr. Savikataaq.
The funding sources have not been laid out specifically by the working group.
I believe the working group would be seeking the majority of the funds from the federal government.
This project is one of the four pillars that this government supports.
I would support that our government put some funding in towards this feasibility study, but it’s not a sole decision.
I’m just a co-chair of the Manitoba roundtable, but I myself would support putting in some funds.
I believe that the majority of the funds that would be requested would be requested from the federal government.
Question 206 – 4(3): Administration of Justice (Enook)
Good afternoon to the people of Pond Inlet. I would like to say that I am thinking of the families who have lost a family member today. We send our sympathies.
As the minister will recall, I asked him questions during our sitting of November 5, 2015 concerning the need to address problems facing our justice system, including the need to “reduce the growing backlog of cases involving citizens held in remand and to improve case processing times.”
Earlier this year, at least one trial was cancelled in a Nunavut community due to what was described as “insufficient judicial resources.”
As of yesterday, information that is publicly available from the federal Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs indicates that the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Nunavut still lacks representation from the Government of Nunavut and the RCMP.
Can the minister provide this House with a clear update on when these positions will be filled?
We have tried to fill this position more than once. The previous government did not accept that and wanted to choose their own preference, so it seemed useless to fill the position. That’s why we just put it on hold.
With this new government, we have recommended a name to fill the position. We still haven’t received a reply up to last month.
We have kept trying to fill the position in the meantime.
Last fall, I asked the minister for an update on the work of the Nunavut Justice Efficiency Committee, which has the mandate to, and I quote, “examine systemic issues with a view to realizing efficiencies, maximizing value for dollars and ensuring the experience is the best possible for Nunavummiut navigating court processes.”
At that time, he stated that he could not respond to my questions.
Can the minister inform us today what specific initiatives the Nunavut Justice Efficiency Committee is currently working on?
One of the members in that committee wasn’t appointed by us but is still a member of the committee. They remarked that they collect names of potential judiciary appointees, review their background, and prepare recommendations to the federal Minister of Justice as to which person should be appointed.
That is how they try to plan for these appointments and that is part of the mandate of this committee.
An ongoing issue of concern has been the amount of federal funding that provinces and territories receive for legal aid services.
Has the minister raised the issue of legal aid funding with his new federal counterpart and, if so, what response did he receive?
With respect to the legal aid issue, it is not a new item.
In conjunction with my justice ministerial colleagues from the provinces and territories, we urged the federal government to start this process, but we have yet to receive an answer. This will be ongoing as we are not the only jurisdiction in Canada, as most jurisdictions have concerns as well on this matter.
Question 207 – 4(3): Swimming Pools in Nunavut (Mapsalak)
Mr. Speaker, our communities deal with capital priorities as the hamlet governments, which their citizens want to see, and these priorities are passed onto the government through this process called the (interpretation ends) community infrastructure sustainability plans. (interpretation) Within this process, the community of Naujaat prioritized a swimming pool. This was echoed by the community of Coral Harbour.
As I have asked about this issue in the past, this is now the third minister I have questioned responsible for the department that deals with capital purchases and review of prioritized capital projects, such as community centres and other facilities, including swimming pools.
Previously, I received a response that swimming pools are not part of this government’s priorities as these facilities are not part of the capital plans, even when a community identifies it as their first priority.
Nonetheless, I have been directed by my constituency communities to reiterate the priorities that they would like to see move forward.
With that being the case, my belief is that it is a critically important issue to train our people how to swim, primarily due to the fact that many Inuit go through dangerous conditions. Further, if this training had been available in the past, it is obvious that many of the late people I knew may have been able to live longer. I also have relatives who went through the ice and drowned fairly close to shore.
This result was only because of their inability to swim.
With that reality, can the minister clarify to me, when communities identify swimming pools as their utmost priority and with no facilities available, whether his department could identify facilities that could house a swimming pool?
If I understand the member correctly, he’s asking if there are any buildings.
Sorry, if he can rephrase his question, please. I don’t know if he’s asking if CGS would provide a building or whether we can identify if there is a building in Coral Harbour, which I believe is the community that wants it.
I’m not sure what he wants. If there is a building available and if the hamlet owns it, they can do what they want with their building.
If he’s asking if we will provide a building, then it would just go along with the funding requests for everything else.
CGS provides up to $10,000 a year to communities to help fund any aquatic centres. Some communities do run aquatic centres out of lakes and there’s funding for that. I know it’s not practical if it’s very cold.
If he can just rephrase his question, but my answer is if there is a building that is owned by the municipality, then it’s their choice on how they want to use that building.
If he’s asking if we can provide a building for them, then it would just go under the infrastructure needs and it would be looked at with any other infrastructure needs that are required or requested.
That is exactly what I was trying to ask.
For any type of swimming pool, even if it is only going to be used seasonally, we all know that operating it is rather expensive.
I want to ask the minister if a facility owned by the hamlet can be used seasonally, perhaps to use skating rinks as an example.
They sit idle in the summer and I wonder if these buildings could be utilized to house these swimming pools seasonally.
The question about whether a hamlet can use their arena in the summer when it’s not being used is… .
I don’t know if I can say no, but I would not recommend it unless they have the proper ventilation system set up because a swimming pool emits a lot of humidity and there could be problems and issues with mould.
I’m pretty sure that no community would want their arena shut down either for extended periods of time or permanently due to mould issues.
That would have to be looked at very carefully.
Ventilation would have to be put in properly. Standards would have to be met. We can look at it case by case, but right now, I believe that it’s not practical because most arenas are used a lot longer than a swimming pool would be and I don’t think any community would want to lose their arena for a year or more due to mould issues or corrosion or any other issues that might come up due to humidity.
Ice rinks are the only facilities not in use, at least in our smaller communities.
There are no other facilities available for use. In the past, old garages were used to house the pools, at least in Naujaat. However, it became problematic due to the lack of available clean water.
I do understand the response provided. However, the (interpretation ends) arenas (interpretation) aren’t heated, at least in our case.
In the community I represent, none of the rinks are heated, although they have good ventilation to vent the used air.
With that being the situation, although you mentioned that fund of $10,000, it seems obvious that the materials would overrun that amount, especially for seasonal pools.
With respect to the other fund he also mentioned, a further $10,000 fund, is there any funding that could be used towards the projects they want?
Yes, there is more funding that could be available.
There’s funding there right now that could be used. The municipalities get recreational block funding that they can use for what they feel. If they want to make a soccer field or an indoor playground, they do get block funding for recreational use that can be used.
They can apply to CG&S for extra funding.
In terms of turning an arena into a swimming pool, that would have to be looked at very carefully because the amount of funding to turn it into a swimming pool may not be that high.
I’m not sure because I’m not up to par on the regulations, but I can tell you that the amount to fix it back, if there are any mould issues, would be horrendous.
I can come up with an example. In Arviat, the old community hall was used as a swimming pool and it ran very well for many summers, but now the building is beyond repair.
It’s just not worth spending any money on it any more to fix it to be usable due to mould.
I would caution any municipality that would want to turn their arena in the off season into a swimming pool due to mould issues.
Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Allan Rumbolt.
Question 208 – 4(3): Status of Environmental Protection Compliance Orders (Rumbolt)
My questions are for the Minister of Community and Government Services, whose department is responsible for the Petroleum Products Division.
During our recent fall sitting, the government’s most recent set of public accounts were tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, buried deep within this document in very small print is a section that caused me some concern.
I will read it into the record. “The Government’s Petroleum Products Division and [the] Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC) received Environmental Protection Compliance Orders (EPCOs) from Environment Canada related to contraventions of regulations for Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products at selected facilities in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove and Sanikiluaq. (…) The work to comply with the regulations at these facilities was commenced in 2014-15 and is to be completed during the 2015-16 fiscal year.”
Mr. Speaker, there are only 29 days left in the 2015-16 fiscal year.
Can the minister update the House today on the status of the government’s work to ensure that the facilities in Sanikiluaq, Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Whale Cove are in compliance with federal regulations?
I remember reading about the environmental compliance orders.
There was work being done in the communities, but offhand right now, I can’t tell the member whether or not they’re completed.
If they’re not completed, then most have to do with pipelines and stuff and we physically can’t work on that when it’s freezing cold outside. The work would have to be done in the summer and I can get back to the member on exactly the status of each project.
This section of the public accounts also states that, and I’ll quote it clearly, “Compliance with the regulations at the Government’s remaining storage tank farm facilities is expected to be completed over the years 2016 to 2021.
Environment Canada has agreed to postpone further enforcement action pending satisfactory completion of the work as scheduled.” Can the minister describe how many communities in Nunavut are a part of this work?
The compliance orders on some of these will be done when tank farm upgrades are done. It’s a cost-effective way and the federal government has agreed to give us a little bit of leeway on that in terms of when the work is done, it will be done.
A lot of these compliance issues have to do with new regulations that were put on and we have to comply with them. We don’t have any choice but to comply with them. We are lucky they have agreed that when we do any tank farm upgrades, we can deal with the non-compliance issues.
As for exactly how many communities are non-compliant right now, I have to get back to the member on that because I don’t have that kind of information in front of me.
I look forward to that information as well.
Mr. Speaker, it is not clear whether this work will cost our government $10 or $10 million.
Can the minister clarify what the cost of this work is estimated to be?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Community and Government and Services, Mr. Savikataaq.
No, I can’t nail down a figure for the member.
It won’t be cheap, though; it will be costly because, in some cases, there is clean-up that has to be done too.
We’re lucky that we will combine this work with tank farm upgrades to mitigate the costs.
It’s cheaper to do it as a whole scope of work while they’re doing other upgrades as opposed to doing it as a standalone project, but I can’t give the member any figures at all right now.
Question 209 – 4(3): Legal Services Board (Akoak)
As the minister will recall, I asked questions during our sitting of November 5, 2015 concerning the Legal Services Board, which is headquartered in Gjoa Haven.
At that time, I was pleased that the minister shared my concern that the position of the board’s chief executive officer was located in Rankin Inlet and the position of the board’s comptroller was located in Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that the board has some independence from the government, but we pay its bills.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister indicate what actions have been taken to put these positions back where they belong in the Legal Services Board’s headquarters in Gjoa Haven?
Minister of Justice, Mr. Okalik
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I thank my colleague once again for raising this matter.
From what I understand, since our last session, the board met in Gjoa Haven and also met with my colleague. I understand that it was a good exchange of information.
The board has been trying to hire an office manager and to date, they have been unsuccessful. From what I understand, they’re also training a Nunavut resident to be their financial officer. They’re going to use some funds to train at least a Nunavut resident to manage their finances.
Some steps are being taken, but I share my colleague’s concern that those spaces are still too empty in Gjoa Haven. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The most recent annual report for the Legal Services Board, which the minister tabled in the Legislative Assembly in November of 2015, indicated that only two positions were filled at the board’s headquarters in Gjoa Haven.
How many positions are currently filled?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Unfortunately, they could not get a local candidate for the office manager, so there are still two positions.
I have also expressed my request for staff housing with the housing minister. Hopefully that work will commence so that we can provide housing for other positions in the community.
I am glad to hear that one of the incumbents who were looking for housing was accommodated by the housing corporation.
There is some progress that is happening, but it is slow. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We learned last week from the Minister of Finance that the government’s Public Agencies Council has been dissolved.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Justice describe what tools the government has at its disposal in order to ensure that the Legal Services Board fulfills its responsibilities related to filling its decentralized positions in Gjoa Haven?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The board is an independent entity of our government.
The majority of the board of directors is appointed by the regional legal services boards. I also appoint one member. It’s a largely independent board and I work with the board and encourage them.
We are making slow progress, but I look forward to more progress in the coming months ahead. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Simeon Mikkungwak.
Motion 020 – 4(3): Extension of Question Period (Mikkungwak)
Pursuant to Rule 39(7), I move, seconded by the Member for Hudson Bay, that the time allotted for oral questions be extended.
Question 210 – 4(3): Support for Medical Travel Clients (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Speaker, during my recent travels before our session, I met a number of medical clients from Nunavut who were stranded in Winnipeg due to a lack of proper identification.
As the minister is aware, it is not possible to travel without some form of government-issued identification.
Can the minister clarify what kind of assistance is available to Nunavut medical clients who find themselves stranded in a southern jurisdiction without adequate identification?
Those who need to travel are given papers with phone numbers that they can call any time. If they get stranded, they are given phone numbers from our office.
When my staff is notified, they deal with it right away.
That is how our policy is complied with for those issues.
I am quite sure that from time to time, medical travel clients require assistance with certain matters that are not necessarily medical in nature.
For example, they may face a financial issue, a crisis at home, or the loss of important documents such as their personal identification.
Can the minister identify what kinds of support services are available to Nunavut residents who are away from home for medical travel and require non-medical assistance?
As per my previous statement, whenever a patient is required to undergo medical travel, they are provided with documentation that lists the phone number in case their flight has sudden plans that they have to call. It directs them to call that number.
Once the patient has called to convey their circumstances, assistance is immediately provided.
That is our policy that we follow daily.
If any patient is stuck due to airline issues, they are to call that number which is a toll-free number. This has been the practice and will continue to be so in case patients get stuck. The only onus on the patient is to call that phone number because assistance will commence upon their call.
I also thank the minister for that clear response, but there is a “but.”
Mr. Speaker, it can be a frightening and disorienting experience to be away from home in an unfamiliar place where people may not even speak the same language as you.
Will the minister describe what support systems are in place to ensure that medical travel clients have all the help they need to get home safely after their medical appointments or treatments are completed?
To put this into perspective, perhaps if we looked at the annual figures, last year, there were 28,000 travel itineraries for patients on medical travel from Nunavut.
If any one of the patients on medical travel runs into difficulties or gets stuck, they have to call by region.
For the Kivalliq region, they can call the toll-free number, 1-844-886-8020. For medical patients from the Baffin, it is 1-866-371-3305. For medical patients from the Kitikmeot, it is 1-844-886-8010.
These are the regional numbers provided to the patients listed on the papers they receive for their medical travel. They are informed that if any issues crop up, they can call at any time if they get stuck so that they can be helped.