EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I think that’s more of a comment to us. We can certainly look at it, it was at very good suggestion to the Housing Corporation and we’ll certainly see what we can do. We’ll give all the statistics after the programs are done to the members, to the Standing Committee so they can work with us and we can work with them and see what we can do with their ideas.
I appreciate the comments.
Just before I close.
My son is here and I’ve never really recognized him in this House before so there’s my son Trevor Thompson with the glasses over with there with the white t-shirt and also his friend Unalik Irniq.
I am just going to shift gears for a different topic. I’m not sure if the minister or one of her staff indicated that in the allocation of the public housing units they looked at any communities overflow by an X number units, any community over three got X numbers of units until they ran out of money.
When they are looking at determining the number of tenants per unit and I understand that they get that information from the housing authorities and associations, when listing the people living in those houses is there a consistent form that they used in determining those numbers, throughout all 26 communities.
Yes, we have what is called a rent scale database, which is given out to all the local housing organizations. This is the database we use to record all the inventory on the units and the number of people living in those units, so it’s consistently reported all across of our LHO’s and that is the information that we use.
We make sure we do verify them and to see if it looks like any misinformation is being put in through data entry. So we do up a quick sort of review to make sure that there’s nothing jumps out like a data input error, and we also look at the number of units that they are showing against our own inventories so there is a double check on those numbers so it’s recorded on a consistent basis throughout the communities.
I know, I’ve had discussions with our manager of the housing authority here, you know over the years both as a co-worker and now, as someone that always tries to do what they can or tries to push the cause of housing, just to keep informed on things.
And one of the things that I think I recall in discussions with her, here and Iqaluit I know, we have a waiting list of probably anywhere between 70 and 80 people and that doesn’t include people that apply that aren’t eligible.
So if they owe arrears at all they are not eligible, if they don't meet the residency requirement they are not eligible, they are not included on that list, if they’ve been evicted, you know for whatever reason.
They are not eligible and they won't show up on any list.
The reality is those people are still living somewhere in this community and the fact is they are more than likely living in a public housing unit with someone else.
They don't show up on any list.
And on top of that factor if you look at it there is a great deal of people that are moving from the communities to Iqaluit looking for work.
There are students that are coming here to go to schools.
They have family, the kids that are staying with people in public housing units.
Friends or relatives.
I asked about the consistency of those number and there does seem to be to my knowledge that some variables that won't show on that list.
And I am just trying to think if there is a way we can address this.
You can look at the list.
Iqaluit has got a couple of units the first year.
They didn't receive anything since then.
I believe the way the numbers were done and were allocated were consistent but I don't believe it is an accurate reflection.
Again if you take something and try to use it across the board.
As a capital and the largest association with over 400 units, there are a lot of people here.
It is an exception to the rule.
I don't believe that it is taken into consideration.
I am wondering maybe we need and I suggested two and half years ago, some kind of an analysis or a needs assessment.
A detailed needs assessment specifically for housing needed to be done in order to be able to set the needs because the needs here in Iqaluit and the circumstances here in Iqaluit because of the numbers, because of the size, because of the rapid growth and the population are different.
If this is thrown in with the same thing as everything else it doesn't fit the formula.
We found the same thing in education.
We have to try and find a way to address that issue because there is a huge need in Iqaluit.
For the second year in a row we are not getting any units. I put that out.
Also that is more of a comment, Mr. Chairman.
I guess the question I guess is when they were deciding on the allocation of units.
If there was a community that got units last year, say we ran out at community X and then the next year you run out at community X again, if there are still 5 communities that were above 3 and didn't get anything for 2 years.
This could be looked at.
I would like to ask if this was something that they looked at or considered when they were allocating the units.
I know the staff worked hours and hours on this allocation of units with the amount of money we have and the amount of houses we can build.
I know that they looked at quite a few options.
One of the options that has come forward was why not base it on the waiting list.
If we based it on the waiting list this would all change.
According to this allocation formula that we did, number of units per number of tenants.
Cape Dorset is 13th but according to the waiting list Cape Dorset is first on the list and Hall Beach is somewhere else.
This is not according to the waiting list because waiting lists were as soon as they knew they were building a hundred units, some communities came with 40 new numbers and some numbers went way off the track.
And stuff like that.
And I think the members are aware of that.
So I know the staff have been working very hard before the allocation of units and if I can get more funding the two communities that are next in line are Whale Cove and Iqaluit.
I understand the situation in Iqaluit and it is sort of the same in Rankin.
It is probably worse because there are so many people coming to town looking for jobs in the capital.
We will certainly try to build something here in Iqaluit if we can get more funds.
Because they are on the list and I understand that there are people that are not on the waiting list because of their arrears.
With the needs assessment that the member had asked for I am going to ask Ms. Hine to answer that question Mr. Chairman.
The comments that the member is making are ones that we have been also been talking about as well.
There are a lot of hard to house people in Nunavut.
We are talking about public housing and overcrowding.
But we do recognize that there are other people that are just not on the waiting list not on these houses.
We are only getting a small portion when we talk about public housing, social housing.
To help us get a better understanding, to make sure that we are capturing some of these people that are not on the list, we did complete a needs survey.
It was completed in part with the Bureau of Statistics in our Nunavut household survey.
And we are desperately waiting for the results of that survey so that we can actually take a look at these other figures.
Figures that we would not be getting from community lists, so that we can make sure that when we are successful, and I'll say when we are successful not if, with other federal dollars that we can make sure that we put those extra dollars in the communities that need them the most.
Mr. Tootoo: I wasn't saying just going by the waiting list.
Those people probably won't show up on the household list either as the number of people living that house.
That is why I am saying that is where it will more than likely lead to discrepancies here in that.
The number of tenants per units.
Those people won't show up on that list.
Not the waiting list.
The minister indicated that there were two communities, above three, I guess, three plus communities that didn't receive units.
What did it cost the Housing Corporation to build one of those units.
What are they projecting to cost them to build one unit in each community.
Actually there are five communities that are not getting anything next summer unless we get more funding.
One unit costs about 190-200 thousand dollars.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know there are five communities but it is the number of three plus that didn't.
And you mentioned that too.
But even five communities that aren't getting anything and if the need is there, at 200 thousand a pop, that's a million dollars. And even if we can strip it down to the criteria that the department or corporation looked at of having three or more people per unit.
In those communities that’s only 400 thousand dollars, so maybe you know that’s something the regular caucus can look at putting forward a motion to get extra money into putting at least one unit each of those communities. It’s only going to cost a million dollars, now I think one of the things that I know better than anyone, that you have to look at is not just the capital cost you have to worry about.
I would be interested to hear, you know what would be the O & M implications, what can we afford O & M wise on top of what we already have already.
I don’t know if they have that information or not, it costs 200 thousand dollars to build these units but O & M what’s the annual O & M cost to go along with that.
It costs about 190 thousand to 200 thousand to build a unit and about 20 thousand per O & M a year for a unit.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Thompson.
I’ll leave that alone now. I am satisfied with my answers right now, and I know what we have to try to do to see some changes now exactly.
Looking at the details of capital for the Corporation and there’s for Iqaluit, it says that there is 367 thousand indicated just for another M&I and retrofit.
I understand that I think you recall last year that there some funding in there for the utilidor upgrades that there are number of units that were scheduled to be hooked up to the utilidor last summer but the city wasn’t able to move forward with that last year and we’re planning on doing it this coming summer.
Are those funds are in that amount or are they in there at all and if they are not, if they are able to go ahead with that this summer, will those funds be available.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. We haven’t gone through line by line and we’re still under questioning Madam Hine.
Just to answer the member's question, yes that project is included in here, we won’t go into the detail until we actually get into capital but we can explain it a little bit more as we go along.
So just to answer that question about the utilidor project, it is considered for next year under the M&I for Iqaluit.
I realize that this department has a big responsibility and funds are few, the department is short of funds to build units in the communities but in the next five years looking at the next five years.
Does the minister feel that you will continue to lack funds.
The population sizes in the communities are increasing annually, and I am wondering if the communities will be able to receive units in the next 5 years.
Should we expect to see units being built.
I am wondering if this problem will continue, but I will raise questions after my comments.
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation:) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
My first question is during the minister's opening comments she has worked with the LHO boards and when she was visiting the communities.
Did they go to all the communities.
All the communities are expecting or hoping for units in the New Year and the numbers that we receive from the communities, for instance in Repulse Bay, Vetaline Tapati is the manager for the Housing Association.
So we would communicate with Vetaline to get numbers as to how many units are needed.
It’s the same for other communities like Coral Harbour, there’s is Cary Nakoolak.
We work with the Housing managers and we are able to find out from the managers how many units are needed and for those communities that we haven't travelled to, we are able to get that information from members or from the housing association offices through our officials.
I appreciate your response.
My next question is about the people that are renting public units.
Is there a rule as to how many people can live in one unit.
Because there is overcrowding in some communities.
If we weren't lacking units and if each community enough houses, couples with their children would be able to have a house.
Each one would have their own room and two children to a room, if there was enough space for all the people in each community.
But there is no regulation for what you were asking about.
I will now go onto Mr. Puqiqnak.
I will make my comment short.
In Nunavut we have a shortage of housing.
There are 26 communities and all the communities are looking at getting extra units.
Communities’ population sizes are increasing.
I can use myself as an example.
My daughters are married and they have children.
I have grandchildren.
Our family seems to increase in just a few years.
I know it is impossible to give each community the amount of units they need.
Each unit is about 200 thousand dollars and living in Nunavut we need homes.
We need houses to live in.
Although some units are overcrowded, as Inuit we would never turn our children away if they didn't have a place to stay.
I am wondering how we could work more closely with the Housing Corporation so that we could increase the allocated units.
Last summer, there was a plan put in the community for the Inuit to be recognized because there is a housing crisis.
We know that our communities want to be recognized because my constituencies were planning or asking and publicizing the fact that we are in a housing crisis in one community out of 26 communities in Nunavut.
How can we give more support.
How can your department can give more assistance to the government.
Like for example in my constituencies, the private businesses have been requesting to build units themselves.
They have been requesting this from your department.
But they were never approved.
So I’ll conclude with that now Mr. Chairman.
I do have two questions.
There is an agreement for this to go through for 5 years.
That payments will be made for 5 years.
There is going to be an annual payment and this will improve our housing crisis.
For individuals that have their own homes, I think our housing crisis would improve if individuals or families were to build their own home.
So what is available.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Puqiqnak, thank you .
We were whispering and I almost forgot.
Yes, we are leasing them for five years and these units were already built and we did not have to construct these units.
We did not have to use capital but we only used our O & M dollars.
In Gjoa Haven that’s what happened and I understand what happened in Gjoa Haven.
What I’m trying to say is if the O & M is not going to be too expensive to lease them, yes we can consider it.
Perhaps as long as it was constructed within our capital dollars.
But we’re committed to five years to lease these units.
I have been trying to get the members to understand that one unit costs twenty thousand dollars for O & M. The O & M for a unit is twenty thousand dollars.
It’s quite expensive so that’s why we want to construct these units ourselves.
We’ll construct two units in Gjoa Haven and I know that there’s a housing crisis.
I would like to thank the Gjoa Haven residents and Clyde River residents that were on the television to make the world understand that they are in a housing shortage and it helped, and I’m very appreciative of that fact because the public had a better idea of what the crisis was.
But we have not made any plans for leasing and we have no capital for a lease.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you, Madam Minister and Mr. Chairman for your response because I wanted to get that clarification and I appreciate that.
I would like to ask that these communities, what the population requirement is to make capital plans.
If you have any population estimates so that you can figure out what units are required.
Do you go to the communities and consult or work with the managers of Local Housing Organizations to find out how much requirement there is for units.
Have you made any plans in regards to that.
Do you go visit the communities to assess the housing shortage or to assess how much that community will require and to assess how much we can't meet the needs.
Although we do have the plans.
This is how much we won't be able to keep up with the needs financially.
Do you make those sort of plans.
The LHO managers in your communities, those are the people that give us the figures, and what the population growth is and how much heating fuel they utilized.
For example, all the fuel or all the energy we use, the rental scales and how much LHO is funded and these reports are sent to our departments.
We do get that information as to how much funding they have left and whether the LHO is in deficit or whether they have paid for their deficits.
So all this information is given to us by the LHO managers.
We do have those managers in all the communities of Nunavut.
Just prior to having the Government of Nunavut there were plans made.
Especially for the decentralized communities.
One of my communities has decentralization.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation, does that department look at decentralization.
Like for example if you build units in one community, or do you look at the decentralized communities when you start allocating units to the communities.
As I have stated before in the beginning.
I think there were three members that I responded to.
We based everything on the units that are rented in the community and the number of people in the household.
Even if they are a decentralized community or if it is a capital city, we don't even look at that, how many units we have in a community and how many people that live in one household is the information that we follow.
Even if we don't mention the communities.
It would be ideal.
We would be basing on the number of units and the number of tenants.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Just a brief comment.
I just want to say thank you to the Minister of the Housing Corporation because she has set aside some units for Pond Inlet to be constructed in the future.
I also want to point out that these units that have been set aside for Pond Inlet, I don't want them to be reduced at all, and if you will be thinking about reducing them, please get my permission first or consult with me.
That was not a question.
Yes. That is how it is.
Once this budget is passed we will agree with it.
Chairperson (interpretation): I don’t think there are any further comments. I would like to recognize the clock and report progress.
We have very few items to deal with, this Housing Corporation's supplementary appropriation is very short.
There’s someone who wishes to make a motion to report progress.
It’s non debatable and it’s 6 o’clock.
We can ask the Speaker to come to the Chambers.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Mr. Speaker.
Your committee has been considering Bill 12 and would like to report Bill 12 is still under consideration and would like to report progress. And Mr. Speaker I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Mr. Nutarak, he’s the seconder today.
Orders of the day for Wednesday November 21st.
This meeting stands adjourned until tomorrow at 1:30.
Just a note to the members we have supper tonight, a Premier’s supper at the Discovery Lodge Hotel with the Manitoba delegation at 6:30.
Wednesday November 21, 2001
1832 - 1879
Wednesday November 21, 2001 4
102 - 1(5): National Addictions Awareness Week (Picco) 4
103 - 1(5): Expansion of the Turbot Fishery & Development of Baffin Fisheries Coalition (Akesuk) 4
104 - 1(5): Interim President of Nunavut Arctic College (Kilabuk) 4
105 - 1(5): Social Housing Rent Scale Review Update (Thompson) 4
289 - 1(5): Launch of Iqaluit Recycling Program (Okalik) 4
290 - 1(5): Gjoa Haven Athletes to Represent Nunavut at Arctic Winter Games (Puqiqnak) 4
291 - 1(5): Celebrity Auction Fundraiser for Iqaluit Amateur Hockey Association (Picco) 4
292 - 1(5): Canadian North Inuk Employee, Diane Tiktak (Anawak) 4
293 - 1(5): Compensation for Lost Hunting Equipment (Alakannuark) 4
294 - 1(5): Visitors' Centre Needed for Rankin Inlet (Thompson) 4
295 - 1(5): Get Well Wishes to Pangnirtung Residents (Kilabuk) 4
296 - 1(5): Boating Facility Required in Pond Inlet (Nutarak) 4
297 - 1(5): Recognition of Sporting Volunteers (McLean) 4
298 - 1(5): Athletes Representing Nunavut at AWG (Iqaqrialu) 4
293 - 1(5): Provide Guidelines for Income Support (Nutarak) 4
294 - 1(5): Funding for Expansion of Kitikmeot Boarding Home (Puqiqnak) 4
295 - 1(5): Compensation for Lost Hunting Equipment (Alakannuark) 4
296 - 1(5): Funding for Prevention of Suicide (Iqaqrialu) 4
297 - 1(5): Effectiveness of Workplace Wellness Help Line (Williams) 4
298 - 1(5): Outpost Program for Inmates (Havioyak) 4
299 - 1(5): Dominant Air Carrier in Nunavut (McLean) 4
300-1(5): Plans for Turbot Quota (Arvaluk) 4
301 - 1(5): Financial Assistance Programs for Nursing Students (Nutarak) 4
302 - 1(5): Incremental Costs to GN for Cambridge Bay Sitting (Tootoo) 4
303 - 1(5): Review of Student Financial Assistance (McLean) 4
304-1(5): Update on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee (Williams) 4
305 - 1(5): Human Resource System (Tootoo) 4
02 - 1 (5) (Iqaqrialu) 4
046 - 1(5): Incremental Costs to the Government of Nunavut for the Legislative Assembly Sitting in Cambridge Bay (Ng) 4
047 - 1(5): Response to the Report of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit on the 2001 - 2002 Budget and Business Plans of the Office of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut (Speaker) 4
Bill 14 - An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act - Notice 4
Bill 12 – Appropriation Act No. 1, 2002/2003 – Consideration in Committee 4
Wednesday November 21, 2001  Nunavut Hansard
Speaker: Good afternoon Mr. Premier, Members, Ulluukkut.
Minister's Statement 102 - 1(5): National Addictions Awareness Week
Good afternoon to the Clerk of the Assembly and staff.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a minute to recognize that this week is National Addictions Awareness Week.
At your Department of Health and Social Services we are working hard to combat the ill effects of alcohol, tobacco and Mr. Speaker, substance abuse.
Nunavummiut tell us that helping in their own communities in the context of their own families, is far better than having them referred out.
To that end, Mr. Speaker, the department has supported the staff in the Kivalliq and the Kitikmeot to receive training and other kinds of professional support, to set up Hamlet operated alcohol & drug programs.
The department has also identified psychiatric nurse positions in eight communities in the Kivalliq and the Kitikmeot to provide professional support.
Mr. Speaker, here in the Baffin, a program we give Wellness Counsellors broadens their capabilities and has been operating for several years.
Mr. Speaker, the idea of this is to help people with problems that can lead to addictions, before they get that far.
This winter the department will be consulting with Nunavummiut regarding a culturally appropriate mental health strategy.
A strategy which would include a more comprehensive approach to addictions issues.
Mr. Speaker, we continue to develop products to discourage smoking and drinking during pregnancy and to convince the whole of Nunavut to "butt out" before tobacco addiction robs them and those that surround them of their health.
Mr. Speaker, however we as a department can only do so much.
The success of any treatment we can offer depends on the combined efforts of the person's community, family and their circle of support.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk.
Minister's Statement 103 - 1(5): Expansion of the Turbot Fishery & Development of Baffin Fisheries Coalition
Good afternoon colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to advise members of this House about some recent developments in Nunavut's turbot fishery.
Turbot is the only ground fish species available for Nunavummiut to harvest.
The offshore turbot fishery is a rapidly expanding of our economy.