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My question to the hon. minister, Mr. Speaker: can the minister describe what efforts are being made to ensure that adequate housing is available for teachers across Nunavut’s communities?
I also thank the member for his question.
I would first of all like to make a clarification. With respect to teachers’ housing in the communities, the Nunavut Housing Corporation is responsible for providing the units.
The Department of Education is not mandated to provide housing for teachers.
We do know, however, that there are difficulties being faced due to shortage of housing for teachers.
We are now deliberating on meeting that need with the Nunavut Housing Corporation. We have sent correspondence to the housing minister outlining our concerns for some of the other communities as some communities suffer more than others.
My only response available to that question is that the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation is responsible for that matter and we are trying to mitigate this challenge in cooperation with them.
My first supplementary question: can the minister tell the House that staff housing will be available for future teaching positions?
Mind you, I am happy that more teaching positions will be created.
Will they be able to provide housing for these new positions?
If there is no housing available, then we can’t implement the new Act in its entirety.
We made the assumption that the newly-trained teachers hired by the Department of Education, just like adult education teachers, school counsellors, and secretaries, will already live in the community. We try to fill these positions at the local level since it involves fewer challenges in hiring qualified local residents.
The priority hiring is geared towards local residents and we try to fill these positions from within, such as an elder.
We usually don’t have to look elsewhere when trying to hire an elder as a teacher in the school. We usually hire from the community and our presumption is that these new hires already have housing.
I will check into the matter the member raised in his question, as to whether this is indeed an obstacle or whether it may pose a serious problem when we try to implement the student-teacher ratio by hiring more teachers in the communities.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation is responsible for providing housing, but we share that concern since we want to ensure that we have the suitable number of teachers for each community, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the Hon. Louis Tapardjuk for his response that they are indeed considering the lack of housing as an issue.
I would like to ask the minister if the department is already facing problems with lack of housing available for the teachers and if he is aware of that.
Yes, we are well aware of some communities experiencing a shortage of housing units for teachers.
As I stated earlier, every community faces unique challenges.
Some communities face bigger challenges more than others.
With regard to housing for teachers, we have written about this matter and we will continue to deliberate on how best to resolve that challenge. However, the Housing Corporation is responsible for providing housing for public servants.
That is all I can respond with at this time, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the hon. minister for his response.
He may already have been briefed on this matter, but I could be wrong. Has the minister been briefed about the severe lack of housing for teachers who are working in Kugaaruk?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, I am very well aware that they are facing a severe shortage of teacher staff housing in Kugaaruk. There is housing available, perhaps even the housing unit that belongs to the local co-op, which we could rent.
We are mulling over the challenges they face in trying to alleviate the problem, particularly in Kugaaruk, where they face the problem of lack of housing for teachers.
We are dealing with the issue, Mr. Speaker.
Question 210 – 3(2): Electrical Inspector for Kivalliq Region (Ningeongan)
I would like to direct my question to Minister Lorne Kusugak of CGS.
In the Kivalliq region, the communities are building houses and carrying out other projects by way of contracting companies.
What I would like to hear from the minister, Mr. Speaker, is about the electrical inspector and if one is now dedicated to the Kivalliq region.
I think the minister is aware of inspectors and the problem we have in most Nunavut communities due to the lack of them.
What I would like to hear from the minister is if there is going to be an electrical inspector dedicated to the Kivalliq region and when that would come about.
I would like to thank the member for posing that question. It is an ongoing problem for construction companies and for individuals who are building their homes.
We are well aware of the issue with electrical inspectors.
Once the electrical wiring is completed in a house, it is usually required for an electrical inspector to ensure they’re up to code.
At this time, we don’t have an electrical inspector just for the Kivalliq. We usually send an individual out from the Baffin to the Kivalliq region.
In the meantime, for example, we have to come up with a completion schedule so that inspection dates can be set up.
We have done this to speed up the approval process and reduce waiting times. We have been talking to private construction companies to make sure that inspection dates are established and therefore, speed up the approval process.
As this is an ongoing problem in Kivalliq, when are we going to have an electrical inspector that is dedicated to the Kivalliq region?
We did plan to target an electrical inspector, but we don’t have one at this time.
We are trying to fill that position and it is one of the priorities of our department to make sure that there is one dedicated for the Kivalliq.
I would like to ask the minister: is your department currently looking for an electrical inspector who will be solely dedicated to the Kivalliq?
We thought we found one this summer, but from what I understand, yes, we are currently looking for an electrical inspector.
If any changes are made, I will make sure that the member is updated.
I can tell you that it is one of the priorities in our department.
Thank you, Mr. Ningeongan. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions.
Question 211 – 3(2): New Corporate Office Building for the Qulliq Energy Corporation (Okalik)
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to follow up with a question for the Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
As I noted in my earlier questions, the Qulliq Energy Corporation has recently issued a tender to construct a brand new corporate office building in Iqaluit.
As the minister should be aware, the QEC’s headquarters is in Baker Lake and its facilities are very new.
Why does the QEC need a brand new corporate office and how much is it going to cost Nunavummiut, who will have to bear the costs at the end of the day?
I was hoping that he would ask me that question after his questions to the Minister responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council.
Mr. Speaker, as the member is well aware, I’m sure that the limit for the Qulliq Energy Corporation to bring forward a request to the Utility Rates Review Council for a major project is $5 million. This project is, I believe, going to be projected to be under that.
One of the reasons for putting it out to tender is so that we can get some accurate numbers to determine what the actual costs for that facility are going to be.
In an analysis that was done, looking at it, it would be more cost-effective over time for the corporation to build, construct, and own its own office building rather than having a number of various locations here in town that are leased from the private sector.
Over time, it will be more cost-effective and beneficial for ratepayers to move forward with a project like that.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I did not get a reply as to the cost, so I would like to get an answer to that, if you don’t mind.
Late last year, the QEC quietly announced that its next General Rate Application will be submitted this spring.
Why is the minister allowing the QEC to build a new building before the GRC process is completed?
Does the corporation already know how much it will be getting at the end of the day?
Once we get some final numbers, as I indicated, I would be more than happy to provide that information to the member.
Until the tenders are received, we won’t have a good, accurate number of what it will cost.
Once that information is received, I would me more than happy to provide it to the member.
To his second question, no, the Qulliq Energy Corporation doesn’t already know what it’s going to receive.
I don’t believe that it was something that was done quietly, as far as the General Rate Application.
I think it’s something that went on the website, there was a press release and letters sent out to all of the municipalities informing them that the corporation was going to be doing that, so I would disagree with the member that it was done quietly.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) In last year’s Budget Address, it was indicated that the long-term debt of the Qulliq Energy Corporation is around $54 million.
It will be interesting to note what the figures will be next week when the Minister of Finance addresses us.
Given QEC’s debt load, how can it afford to construct a brand new office building?
I’m sure and the member is quite well aware too that a lot of the debt that the corporation incurs is a result of the purchasing of fuel and that’s something that’s recouped throughout the year as things go on.
I’m sure that that’s something that the board of directors did look at.
One of the things that I had mentioned earlier is that there will be cost savings over leasing numerous locations throughout the city to having everyone consolidated in one building.
That was the basis on which the board of directors made that decision.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to get an accounting as to how much savings that will be before any new commitments takes place as a ratepayer.
It’s been a while since this entity of our government has tabled any corporate plan.
If you go to their website, the plan is quite out of date.
It would be nice to see a new plan tabled by this minister before our session is over.
When will the minister table an updated corporate plan for the Qulliq Energy Corporation?
I will check with the officials at the Power Corporation and find out when that will be available and done and ready for tabling.
As soon as I find out, I will again be more than happy to provide that information to the member.
Question 212 – 3(2): Problems with Sanikiluaq District Education Authority (Elliott)
My questions are directed towards the Minister of Education, Minister Tapardjuk.
Mr. Speaker, I refer to a CBC radio report about the GN lending $130,000 to a Sanikiluaq school to assist the Sanikiluaq DEA.
I seem to remember in September that the DEA was struggling with, I think, $78,000 and now, it seems to have grown to $130,000.
I was just wondering if he could explain how this is allowed to happen.
Are there any mechanisms in place to stop this from happening?
I thank the member for his line of questioning.
At this time, most of the district education authorities tend to use the regional auditors for their bookkeeping and financial statements.
They review all of the financial paperwork and try to formulate a management letter.
Most of them use the auditors here in Iqaluit.
In Sanikiluaq, the local DEA used the same auditors in the past. However, the DEA board concluded that they would prefer a different auditing company. Once the DEA made that decision, there was no one auditing their statements.
The result was that the DEA no longer knew what their financial situation was. The end result was that they were unaware of their financial standing as there was nobody managing their finances. It even led to a situation where no one was responsible for managing their finances.
Due to this situation, Mr. Speaker, our priority has become trying to conduct training on financial management with the DEA boards locally. We have almost finalized the production of a handbook outlining the financial mandate of the DEAs. This handbook contains all of the relevant information that the DEAs need.
With that being the situation, we came to an agreement with the Sanikiluaq DEA, including their new chairman, that the DEA would resume using the auditors that other authorities use out of Iqaluit.
The auditing company we recommended is based out of Iqaluit that assists a lot of organizations already.
It is obvious that once the Sanikiluaq DEA resumes using the auditing company’s services, the DEA will resume their smooth operations. Further, the auditor will be looking at six years worth of financial statements to try and return the DEA to normal operating status.
That is how we have approached this matter.
We would not want any other DEA to have to undergo this type of experience.
All public finances have to be properly managed and the financial statements have to be correct so that they can make proper decisions.
That is our commitment to manage this situation, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Your first supplementary, Mr. Elliott.
I thank you for that explanation.
My next question is: is this a unique situation for just Sanikiluaq or are there other communities and other DEAs in similar situations?
With respect to problems such as this, we have run into them in the past where there were financial management matters. Sanikiluaq, however, is the only community experiencing problems with financial management matters.
Other communities, such as Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, and Iqaluit, have their own financial managers and these DEAs are in good financial standing.
Other communities experience these issues, so our focus has been on assisting those communities.
We tend to recommend certain actions that would improve their management, such as recommending auditors or other financial management procedures. This includes processes, such as financial statements that other corporations use. Most accounting firms already have these processes included in their service provision.
So if they are assisted by these companies, then there is less likelihood of encountering future issues with respect to financial management.
That is how we have approached these challenges and we continue to prepare more corrections that the DEAs can utilize down the road, Mr. Speaker.
It sounds like by having centralized auditors, it can help with financial situations. The minister didn’t actually specifically say if there are any other DEAs that are running in a deficit situation at this point.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Sanikiluaq is the only one that I am aware of.
Just to make sure that I have it correct, I’ll look into the matter and see if there are any other communities in a deficit situation.
At this time, Sanikiluaq is the only one that I’m aware of, but I’ll have to take this question as notice, Mr. Speaker.
Question 213 – 3(2): Pangnirtung Staff of Medical Travel Office (Komoartok)
I would like to ask my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
It is in regard to the Minister’s Statement he made about the Medical Travel Office being relocated to Iqaluit from Pangnirtung and the three individuals who currently work in Pangnirtung.
What I can also say, Mr. Speaker, is that when we come here to Iqaluit, we hear that there is a vacancy rate of 24 percent with the Government of Nunavut.
I can state that in the smaller communities, if there is a position open and available, it gets filled and there is almost a zero vacancy rate.
In looking at the three positions that are being transferred to Iqaluit, it’s obvious that they will be transferred, will there be three more positions opened under the health and social services department in our community?
So will three more positions be transferred to Pangnirtung to replace these transferred positions or are these three positions slashed from our total number?
The three affected individuals will stay on as Government of Nunavut employees. We would be more than happy to relocate them here to Iqaluit if they wish to do so. If not, they will be able to stay in Pangnirtung as there are positions available for them there.
We have already had discussions with those affected individuals and have had discussions with their union.
They are not going to be losing their employment.
As I stated earlier, if they would like to relocate to Iqaluit, we will welcome them. To emphasize it further, there will be no job losses in Pangnirtung.
Mr. Komoartok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the minister for that excellent response.
If those three positions are going to be relocated to Iqaluit, are you going to be creating new positions even if they’re in a different field?
In any smaller community, if you lose a position, it has a drastic effect on the community.
If those three positions are going to be moved to Iqaluit, are we going to be creating three new positions to work with the GN?
As I said earlier, the Medical Travel Office is going to be moving to Iqaluit, so those three affected individuals will be offered other positions within the Nunavut government in Pangnirtung.
Their salaries and benefits are not going to be affected and they will fill positions within the Nunavut government.
If I have any other information or any new information, I will make sure that I keep the member updated.
I’m very sure now that the medical travel staff will be located in Iqaluit.
Mr. Komoartok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to thank the minister, along with the individuals whose positions are to be transferred since they will be retaining their positions in the GN.
What I’m trying to get across is that there are three positions under the Department of Health and Social Services in Pangnirtung.
Let’s say that if there were 12 positions, then we lose three Health and Social Services positions from Pangnirtung, will the government transfer three other positions to Pangnirtung which will stay there?
We treasure every position that has been transferred to our community and we don’t want them reduced as this would set precedence. If this continues, then eventually, the positions would be reduced to nothing, with all of the positions being slowly transferred to Iqaluit.
We don’t want to see this occurring in our community.
So if any positions are transferred, then we want to see three different positions transferred to our community.
These positions are coveted by our community and I just wanted to make that statement, Mr. Speaker.
I can respond to the member that it will not be done in that manner.
If the three individuals whose positions were earmarked to be transferred didn’t want to move, that would be a problem.
We aren’t moving three filled positions since we have many vacant positions.
We have an approximate 30 percent vacancy rate in the Department of Health and Social Services here in Iqaluit.
Since these positions are under this department, we wouldn’t be filling new positions here as one of our guiding principles is to develop the smaller communities and we would have to allocate more funds to do this.
However, with respect to the three public servants who already fill these positions, we wouldn’t want to lose the employees.
So by virtue of transferring these positions, we have stated to the individuals that if they wish to remain in Pangnirtung, they can do so since we still have some vacancies in Pangnirtung. The affected individuals will not lose a job because of this relocation. I can only respond as such.
Thank you, Mr. Komoartok. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions.
Question 214 – 3(2): Banning European Union Liquor Products (Schell)
Mr. Schell: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I would like to return for a moment to the issue of liquor.
I had asked the Minister of Finance one simple question: when the South African government was still discriminating against Blacks, Canada and other countries took a strong message by boycotting the sale of South African alcohol in Canadian stores.
Will our minister send a strong message against the EU ban on seal products by introducing a ban against their alcohol, yes or no?
I appreciate the member’s question. I can’t say yes or no, but if the member wants to introduce a motion in the House, then we can debate it and we can do it here.
Question 215 – 3(2): Minister’s Task Force on Nunavut Liquor Act (Okalik)
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I look forward to moving that motion very much.
(interpretation) I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Liquor Commission because it is very important to our community here.
I know that we have faced difficult situations in Iqaluit over the past year.
I imagine that most members have heard through the media that many crimes have been committed due to the use of alcohol here in Iqaluit.
It is evident that alcohol is a major cause of social problems and we need to work on it.
I would like to ask the minister: this entity that is going to be reviewing the Liquor Act, will you ensure that the Iqaluit residents are involved in that review? Iqaluit is amongst the most impacted communities here in Nunavut.
I thank Mr. Okalik for raising that concern.
There’s no question, Mr. Speaker, that alcohol is seriously destroying the fabric in our communities. It has been that way for as long as I can remember, living in the north.
The statistics are shocking, Mr. Speaker, not just for Iqaluit but for some other communities in Nunavut.
I hear all of the time from people in Nunavut that we have to do something.
That is one of the reasons we established the minister’s task force to review the Liquor Act.
I assured Mr. Okalik in the past that Iqaluit would be fully involved. The task force will meet with all communities. They will meet with city and town councils, hamlet councils, wellness committees, and anyone who is interested in contributing to the task force discussion reports.
We look forward for the input from Nunavummiut on how to resolve some of the issues related to alcohol.
I’m not trying to belittle any other community elsewhere in Nunavut, but they aren’t even in the same category simply because of the numbers and Iqaluit is impacted more than most other communities.
Therefore, I urge the minister to ensure that the residents of Iqaluit are participating and involved.
Yes, I heard your comment that they will also be holding a hearing here in Iqaluit, but I would prefer that they be involved in a meaningful and constructive way. If the experiences are heard, then they can work to resolve the problems faced by citizens in Nunavut.
I further urge the minister to include an Iqaluit resident in this review panel.
I again thank Mr. Okalik for sharing his concerns.
As a former Mayor of Cambridge Bay, I have stood up in many public meetings to talk about the alcohol issue in my community.
I have many friends who have suffered from alcohol in my community and I know many people who have died from alcohol in my community.
It’s not news to me what he is talking about.
I have assured him that the people of Iqaluit will be consulted and there is no intent of the minister’s task force to exclude the people of Iqaluit.
They will be included and they will have the opportunity to talk to the task force.
Written Question 003 – 3(2): Annual Fuel Purchases by the Government of Nunavut (Rumbolt)
My written question today is for the Minister responsible for Community and Government Services. My question is concerning the annual fuel purchase by the Government of Nunavut.
Expressing the data in the same format as that which the Government of Nunavut provided in Return to Written Question 12 – 2(4), which was tabled in the House on May 22, 2008, what quantities of fuel were purchased and delivered in 2008 and 2009?
As of March 1, 2010, what is the current bulk fuel storage capacity in each of Nunavut’s communities?