EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
On February 15 of this year, he issued a news release in which he indicated that $58,000 worth of products had been purchased from the retail section at Northern House in Vancouver during the Olympics.
Can the minister update us today on the final sales figures from the Olympics and can he indicate how much inventory is still unsold now that the Olympics are over?
I can’t give you the final numbers at this time.
The Northern House that we operate in Vancouver is still open and we intend to keep the Canada’s Northern House open until April 18. That’s towards the end of the Special Olympics, the Paralympic Games.
As of the last report that I have on the sale of arts and crafts, it was around $100,000 at that time, as of February 21, Nunavut’s day.
Will the minister commit to tabling a final document when the final sales are complete in April?
I can commit to doing that once the final numbers and the final report of the transactions are in.
We expect that to be well over $300,000 for the amount of money going back into the arts and crafts and the carvers of these communities where Inuksugait were purchased and also other arts and crafts. We expect well over $300,000 by April.
The Minister of Economic Development and Transportation is also responsible for the Nunavut Development Corporation.
Can the minister tell the House today how many of the corporation’s subsidiaries were involved in providing products for sale at the Olympics?
We had the Nunavut Development Corporation coordinating and dealing with the Inuksugait Project.
We also had other organizations that were involved – the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association and the Nunavut Tourism Association – and various other groups and individuals who are involved in our program down in Vancouver for the Winter Olympic Games.
Once I get the final numbers of the program and project that we held down there, I’ll be sure to table the document for the House to see.
As the minister is aware, the Nunavut Development Corporation is required by law to focus its efforts on creating “employment and income for residents of Nunavut, primarily in small communities.”
Can the minister indicate how small communities such as Sanikiluaq benefit from Nunavut’s recent activities at the Olympic Games?
The Nunavut Development Corporation’s mandate under the Act is to assist the smaller, non-decentralized communities as much as possible.
Like any other community, Sanikiluaq was probably looked at and depending on the number of carvers who were available to do some of these projects for the Vancouver Olympic Games, I’m sure that they were contacted.
To get into the details of that, I’m not sure, but I’ll make sure that once I have that information, I’ll make it available to the member.
Question 230 – 3(2): Poverty Reduction in Nunavut (Ningark)
I would like to direct my question to Madam Premier Aariak and this is in regard to the particulars listed in the Tamapta document.
Further, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Peterson, spoke to an issue regarding the working poor in Nunavut and how they can be provided assistance.
I’m referring to the poverty reduction program, as it is called in English.
It states that Nunavut Tunngavik, the federal government, the territorial government, and the private sector will be working to reduce poverty. Perhaps we ought to call it excessive poverty as that would be a better term. I’m speaking of the extremely poor people in Nunavut.
It is a very well-known fact by the rest of our fellow Canadians, both by the residents of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, that Nunavut has the highest level of poverty in Canada.
This is not by choice. It is due to the dearth of employment opportunities in the smaller communities.
What I would like to hear from the government is a proper definition of poverty. I think we are all aware of what poverty is, but we would be best served to come to a common understanding of the term “poverty” so that it would be understood by all of our residents.
I wonder when the parties would be able to agree on the term “poverty.”
My question to the minister is: how will the Premier work with her partners listed in the document to define the term? And here I am, talking about Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and private businesses here.
When will the definition of what constitutes poverty be started?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the member for posing that question.
As the member stated, Hon. Ningark, we already know what poverty is.
Our government is looking at how we can reduce poverty and I can say that we will have to work with the various entities out there, including the private sector, to prepare a poverty reduction strategy.
I think all of us wanted to help the people of Nunavut.
Since this information went out to the Nunavut communities, when are we going to see this poverty reduction strategy?
We will have to do a study first and of course, we unfortunately can’t do everything at once right now.
We need to have a proper plan before we get anything underway and at that time, we will be able to tell you when the poverty reduction strategy will be completed.
We are already in the year 2010 and we’re going to be dealing with the budget for 2010-11.
Can the Premier tell us if we’re going to be able to get this before the end of the fiscal year?
Poverty and the poverty reduction strategy will take a while because of financial restraints.
We will have to put a strategy together and we’re hoping to see that completed before the end of the fiscal year.
Question 231 – 3(2): Responsibility for Sport and Recreation in the Government of Nunavut (Ningeongan)
My questions are for the Premier of Nunavut, the Hon. Eva Aariak.
Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I spoke about the important role that recreational facilities and sports can play in the lives and futures of our youth.
A number of my colleagues have also spoken on this issue.
The Premier is ultimately responsible for the organizational structure of the Government of Nunavut.
As I noted earlier, responsibility for sport and recreation is split between different government departments.
Can the Premier advise the House on whether she has given any consideration to redistributing portfolios so that responsibility for sport and recreation, including capital infrastructure and programs, can be brought together under one department?
We are going to have an ongoing review of how we can better structure the government and how we can reduce the costs to administer these programs.
This is one of our priorities.
I can assure the member that I will be looking into the matter that he raises.
The Department of Community and Government Services has responsibility for recreational infrastructure across Nunavut.
Until 2004, the Department of Community Government and Transportation, the predecessor of CGS, had responsibility for Sport Nunavut.
Will the Premier commit to considering the idea of moving all responsibility for sport and recreation back under the mandate of Community and Government Services?
Yes, I’ll make sure that this is reviewed carefully and see whether we should put it back under the mandate of Community and Government Services or if we should consider other options.
Speaker (interpretation): Your second supplementary, Mr. Ningeongan.
At present, responsibility for sport and recreation programs is with the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
However, this department’s core mandate has an important and different focus on official languages protection and cultural promotion.
Will the Premier commit to working with her colleagues on both sides of the House to review whether all responsibility for sport and recreation should be transferred back to Community and Government Services?
Question 232 – 3(2): Status of Baker Lake Airport Improvements (Aupaluktuq)
My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, the Hon. Minister Peter Taptuna.
As the minister will recall, I asked him questions on November 26 of last year concerning the need for major improvements to Baker Lake’s airport.
At that time, the minister was not optimistic that the Government of Nunavut would be able to contribute to this important project.
In January of this year, both Minister Taptuna and I were copied on the federal Minister of Transport’s recent letter to the Mayor of Baker Lake. The federal minister has informed my community and I quote:
“As indicated during our meeting, the Baker Lake Airport upgrade appears to be eligible for funding under the Provincial/Territorial Base Fund.
However, in order to receive federal funding, the Government of Nunavut would need to include the Baker Lake Airport initiative in one of its future Provincial/Territorial Base Fund Capital Plan Submissions.”
My question for the minister is this: will he follow this advice and formally request federal assistance for the Baker Lake Airport project, yes or no?
When the discussions were first initiated last year, the discussion was revolving around a new airport for Baker Lake.
As a department, we supported the initiative, but we indicated that we couldn’t finance it.
Last fall, as the member can recall, we initiated within our department a capital budget of $250,000 to renew the Baker Lake Airport Master Plan.
If that’s not showing support for the community, I don’t know what is, but we do support the improvement and upgrading of the Baker Lake Airport.
According to the letter, there shouldn’t have been any kind of surprises or bewilderment of why this government doesn’t support our communities.
We do. We did that by putting in a pile of money there to upgrade the airport and to come up with designs and planning.
I also thank the Hon. Minister Taptuna for that response.
In all fairness to the department and the hon. minister, the minister has also been accepting of initiatives, but we do have some legislation to follow by. As a formality, I have to ask these questions on behalf of my constituents.
The supplementary I would like to ask, Mr. Speaker, is: the federal minister’s letter to my community’s mayor also stated and I quote:
“I would therefore recommend that you engage in discussions with officials from the Government of Nunavut regarding this initiative so that they might consider including it as a priority in their next capital plan submission under the Provincial/Territorial Base Fund.”
My supplementary question, Mr. Speaker, to the Hon. Minister Taptuna is: will he ensure that his department’s officials meet this year with the community of Baker Lake to discuss ways the Government of Nunavut can support this important project, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, the initiative of renewing the Baker Lake Airport Master Plan is already well established. There are going to be staff members from the department going there to determine what options are going to be taken.
Before we can actually submit an application for funding to the federal government, there has to be a plan of designs, a plan, and some clearly accurate estimates.
We can’t just go to the federal government and ask for a pot of money.
There has to be a plan and actual estimates before we can do that.
I will commit to the Member of Baker Lake that yes, I’ll have my staff look at this and come back with reasonable estimates, a plan, and a design on how the project is going to move forward.
I also thank the hon. minister.
This government also supports a lot of initiatives, but it’s clear to understand that, as the hon. minister already addressed, there has to be a plan and designs with accurate cost estimates that have to be clear, which is understandable.
When I read the federal minister’s letter to my community’s mayor, it appeared very clear to me that the Government of Canada has been surprised at the GN’s lack of support for this project. However, the hon. minister has addressed this issue at this time and I also want to ask formally in the House that I understand the hon. minister has initiative support and he also has legitimate policies and legislation to follow in order to accept a project.
I just want to ask as a formality: can the minister clearly explain to the House today why the GN has not provided more support for this project?
Mr. Speaker, I understand he partially answered it, but I would like to ask for the record.
I thank the hon. member from Baker Lake for that question.
Initially, the request was for a new airport in Baker Lake.
At that time, my department, including my senior officials, had indicated that the airstrip in Baker Lake and the infrastructure that was there was sufficient for the traffic that was going through the community.
At that time, there were some other indications that the mining company was going to contribute funds for a new airport. We haven’t seen any amount that the mining company is going to contribute.
At this time, the initiative that we did for Baker Lake was to renew the master plan and see what the airport actually needs in upgrading.
There are probably going to be some upgrades to the apron and the air terminal, but once the project is looked at and whether there are more improvements to be made… the amount that we had approved at the time was $250,000 just to take a look at renewing the master plan for the airport.
I also thank the hon. minister for the response.
Will the minister or his officials and the department commit to contacting the federal minister as well as the private sector in our region to see if they are willing to make a commitment to make a contribution and also get back to myself so that I can report back to my constituents and to ensure that the Hamlet of Baker Lake is well informed about the commitment issues from the federal as well as the private sector?
Will this territorial government commit to that as well once there are other partnerships in place that are willing to contribute to this?
I think it’s a vital commitment not only to Nunavut but also to Canada. Baker Lake will be a very good contributing factor to the economic development of Nunavut.
I think this is a vital project that can only enhance and better service delivery in which the people of Nunavut can also benefit from all sorts of mining activity not only in Baker Lake but also in the Kivalliq region as well.
There has already been some contact made with the private sector, especially with the mining company, and we intend to speak more about the amount of contribution that they are willing to make.
Also, my staff has already been in contact with Ottawa.
Question 233 – 3(2): Update on New Airport and Runway Replacement (Komoartok)
My question is for Peter Taptuna, Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Most Nunavummiut are now aware of other communities that have appropriate landing strips that meet their needs, even in diverse places such as Arctic Bay, where they are building an excellent new airstrip which is almost completed now.
However, we have lobbied for a new airstrip in our hometown of Pangnirtung.
We are continually advised that our airstrip is inadequate and located in a dangerous area, as it is in the middle of the community; it is centrally located.
The current fencing around the airstrip is dilapidated and there are holes all along its length.
This type of disrepair is not the kind of memory we want visitors to remember. As the airstrip is right in the middle, if any aircraft was to skid off the runway in either direction, it would hit only residential housing.
I would like to ask the minister if he has any update available for our community, as we haven’t heard any news as to the status of the airstrip, and whether it will eventually be moved to another location.
We have continually heard about a plan, but as of this month, we haven’t heard any news about its status.
Is there a review currently underway within the Government of Nunavut to replace our airstrip?
The Pangnirtung Airport, as the member stated, yes, it is a safety concern; it’s right in the middle of town.
To move the airport to any other location is going to be up on top of the mountain.
It has been identified as a priority further down the line to relocate the airport. The strategy and the implementation of that are still being looked at.
Mr. Komoartok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the minister for his response to my question as that is what I wanted to hear.
With respect to the plans for relocating the airport, we know that there is preparation activities required to be completed.
I also know that there is a remote weather station currently monitoring the weather in that location. However, we have yet to see any further projects scheduled for either this year or the next. I would like to know if there are any projects his department will undertake to prepare for its eventual construction and I would like to know if there will be any progress made in the future.
We are running out of useable land, especially for residential lots within the town proper.
If the airport is eventually relocated, then the airstrip lands could be utilized for residential lots as it is already covered with granular materials.
With our current situation, we have an inadequate supply of residential lots in our community.
My question to the minister is: when does your department anticipate scheduling further projects to prepare for the relocation of the airstrip? Can the minister provide an update to our community of Pangnirtung?
I believe that there’s a study being done already for weather at the site in Pangnirtung, but I will get back to the member with accurate information.
We know that the relocation of the airport to another site is going to be a major cost that’s estimated to be around 45 million dollars.
In order to spend that amount of money, there has to be further study and engineering done.
Once I get more pertinent information from the department, I’ll make sure that I pass it on to the member.
Question 234 – 3(2): Update on the Social Advocacy Office (Elliott)
My question is directed to the Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Hon. Eva Aariak.
Mr. Speaker, in June of 2009, I raised concerns about the mandate of the Social Advocacy Office being too broad. In the fall of sitting of the Legislative Assembly, I once again asked questions and raised concerns about the speed at which the government is working on establishing this office. Could the Premier update us today on the activities of this office?
We continue to progress on our work on this matter. We are currently working on the proposed site for the facility and the RFP for the project has been completed. We are now working on the details of the contract and the next step is for the construction to commence.
Speaker: Qujannamiik, Premier.
It was my understanding, from the answers before, that the job was going to be advertised before the New Year and hopefully someone would be hired in the New Year, but it sounds like the RFP is just going out now.
My second question is: under the social advocate’s office, one of the key priorities was to complete the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Could the minister tell me if that strategy is completed and when it will be tabled in the House?
The Nunavut government is working on this with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and according to what I have heard, the board is near completion. Once it’s completed, I’ll be able to table it in the House.
Speaker: Thank you. Your second supplementary, Mr. Elliott.
Mr. Elliott: The social advocate’s office is also supposed to undertake a study to work towards the creation of an independent child and youth representative. Could the Premier update the House as to what has been done to update on establishing this needed position?
In regard to this issue, the Minister of Health and Social Services is working very hard on this issue.
They have already met. The contents and the details of the child and youth representative will have to work on the details more. At this time, we had expended some funds on the study of this.
I can’t tell you when it will be completed, but we’re working on this for sure.
So is the Premier saying that Health and Social Services is taking the lead on this and working towards getting legislation of the Child and Family Services Act in place before it moves forward onto the youth and child representative position?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Various individuals within the departments of Health and Social Services and CLEY are working on this.
The Department of Justice also has a role as well to review that because the various departments are working together on that and we need to be very well prepared before we table it. That is what I stated.
Question 235 – 3(2): Definition of Poverty (Ningark)
I am right across from the Hon. Premier.
Earlier, I was asking about the poverty in Nunavut and I believe the response I got from the Premier was that the government already knows the definition of what poverty is in Nunavut.
I do not believe, Mr. Speaker, that every person who comes to the income support office will be able to get paycheques under the definition of poverty in Nunavut.
Now, my question, Mr. Speaker, is: will the Premier now provide the House the definition of what is poverty in the eyes of the government as a program giver?
I didn’t quite understand the question, so I would like the member to rephrase his question.
Mr. Ningark, you have been asked to rephrase your question.
Understanding that not every person who goes to the income support office will be given a poverty paycheque and the Premier indicated earlier that they already know what the definition of poverty is, will the Premier share or tell this House what is the definition of poverty in Nunavut?
He already stated previously the definition of poverty and I agree with the terminology he used in Inuktitut, which is Ajuqsarniq, meaning poverty.
I think he is asking for the formal definition of poverty.
We could write it into the strategy as an agreed upon definition within the poverty reduction strategy. If we are to follow that definition of poverty, then I can table that information and how our envisioning of the process is.
With regard to my supplementary question, I wonder if this will occur during this session. I believe that this is the Second Session of the Third Assembly. My question is: will the Premier be able to provide this information prior to the end of this session or can she perhaps table that information in the House?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ningark. (interpretation ends) Madam Premier.
I’ll try to have that completed before the session is over. If I can’t have it completed by then, I’ll do it during the next session.
I don’t want to just give high expectations to the people out there, so will the Premier commit to providing that information before we leave for home?
Anti-poverty in Nunavut is very important to us and the people of Nunavut are very concerned about this.
How should we eradicate poverty and how should we start dealing with that issue? I will be tabling that information.
As I stated earlier, we’re working on this issue and I know that we’re not going to complete this overnight.
I know that we must look at long-term plans because this is a huge issue, but I’ll try to provide that information right away and provide the definition in the House.
Income support recipients really do need their support and I don’t think I’m the only member who has been approached by individuals who have been denied. I hope it will not and that you make sure that it won’t be like that.
The department gives out income support following their eligibility criteria and it’s all stipulated in the eligibility requirements as to who is allowed to receive income support or not. In regard to the plans to make the strategy on how we can reduce poverty in Nunavut, we will try to make sure they are clear so that people can understand.
Question 236 – 3(2): Freedom of Speech (Elliott)
I want to briefly revisit my questions to the Premier concerning the ability of the members of the Status of Women Council to speak freely without fear of retribution from the government.
If I understood her response to me correctly, the government is reviewing its Human Resources Manual. However, this manual applies to GN civil servants, not appointees like the people who serve on the Status of Women Council.