EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
First off, I would like to recognize the Speaker, former Member of the Legislative Assembly for Baker Lake and I would like to officially welcome you back to the community, but I would like to recognize a friend of mine for many years and I forgot about him the other day and I apologize to the man behind the camera, Martin Kreelak.
I would also like to recognize Salomonie Pootoogoo, he has been living here a long time from Cape Dorset and a well known carver.
I pretty well recognized everybody yesterday, but I want to recognize Mrs. Kunangat, Basil Tiktaalaaq, I would like to thank Becky for using the school, Becky Iyago, the principal.
And I would like to recognize Richard Aksawnee, Harold Etegoyuk and my Constituency Assistant, Leena Taapatai, Aksawnee, again, Winnie and last, but not least, this is a little secret that I have known for a long time and I did not really want to bring it up in the House, but David Simailak’s nickname for years, according to Tagak Curly, was Sammy Davis Junior. So, if you look at him, you could probably see the resemblance. I would also like to recognize Davidee Simailak.
Question 572 – 1(6): Update on the New Baffin General Hospital
Mr. Speaker, just over a year ago, the Minister of Health and Social Services indicated that the people of Iqaluit and the people of the Baffin would soon see a sign, a sign indicating that progress on the Baffin General Hospital was moving forward.
Mr. Speaker, the sign board at the possible future location of this facility still does not have any writing on it, it remains blank and is looking increasingly weathered. I hope that is not a sign of what is happening with the project.
I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if he could provide an update on the status of the new Qikiqtani General Hospital.
Mr. Speaker, as I look around the room there was, I do not think there is anyone here that was with us when we put the sign up in 1996. It was unveiled by myself and Mr. Mark Evaluarjuk on top of that site.
At that time, the plan was to build the facility and the financing under the public partnership program known as P3, it did not go through and it was a big history there. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to say that progress has been made on many fronts with the program for the new hospital.
The Qikiqtaaluk Corporation have been involved from day one. That program is moving forward.
Right now, there is a small delay because of lot 541, the remediation of that lot has to take place before we can do any site work.  Lot 541 used to contain oil tanks, there is contamination of petroleum products in the soil, that lot has to be remediated.
Mr. Speaker, that lot 541 is owned by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and we, under the current rules and so long and so forth, DIAND is supposed to cover the cost of remediating that site.
However, Mr. Speaker, if we cannot get something done over the next few weeks, maybe we will have to do that ourselves.
At the end of the day, the hospital facility needs to move forward and all of the preparatory work has been done and we would hope this summer, Mr. Speaker, to see access roads being built, the Power Corporation poles being moved and the remediation of lot 541.
Mr. Speaker, during the Capital Budget Session last November, the Minister stated that approximately $17 million dollars in the current fiscal year would be dedicated to the new Baffin facility with the projected total $45 million dollars over five years.
Can the Minister confirm whether these financial projections are on target or whether there had been some adjustments?
Mr. Speaker, through the good work of the Department of Finance and the recognition of the Auditor General for Canada, that these facilities need to be booked off in the Capital Plan, and then the monies were put forward in the Capital Estimates.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that right at the present time, work has not taken place, but that will proceed with this summer as outlined and then we will be in the position to have a better cost benefit analysis of what the actual cost will be.
And as the Members know, each year that you slip, then you are actually adding more money to the cost of the project because of inflationary factors and so on.
So, there may be a couple of percentage point moves, but I am not, at this time, sure of what those amounts are because they have not been presented to myself as the Minister in a formal or indeed to the Cabinet through the Financial Management Board.
Mr. Speaker, as the Minister indicated, the site work was going to begin this fall and that the work on the new facility would have begun in 2002, as what he had indicated last year with the construction and 2003 and have the facility open in late 2004 or early 2005.
Can the Minister update this House as to current timeline projections for this facility other than the site work?
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, last year, we were in the process of doing all of the site work and so on. And then on a surface review, an environmental assessment had to be done on the lot and it turned out that the lot adjacent to where the new hospital is to be constructed, lot 541 was contaminated.
Mr. Speaker, then we could not do any work in that condition.
The same thing happened with Arviat when we went forward with the new health centre there and being that we had to delay that project one year so we could actually remediate the site.
In this case, Mr. Speaker, the land is owned by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs through Canada and they have the responsibility for removing the contaminations or remediating the site and that is the work that is going on right now.
We would hope this year, Mr. Speaker, to be able to do the site work and that is the goal and I think we are going to meet that goal and that means putting in all of the access roads, removing the Power Corporation poles that are on the site, doing all of the fill and so on.
Mr. Speaker, if that happens this year in 2003, the material for the envelope of the building, the piles and so on would be in 2004 and you would have I think is a two year construction period.
So, you would be looking at between 2006 and 2007.
So, we have slipped about a year because of the remediation, but that is something that we have said over the last several months. This is not something new.
What is new, Mr. Speaker, is that the Cabinet has set up a working Committee of several different departments including Health, Public Works, Finance, to coordinate the project. This is a huge project, over $45 million dollars and that working group is also helping expedite the process.
Just a reminder to Members that we want to get everybody in today during question period, it is our last day.
So, Members keep you preambles short and Ministers if you would try to be a little more precise with your answers.
Mr. Speaker, hopefully the Minister remembers the invitation he sent to me last May 7th to be there when they put up a new sign. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide some information on the negotiations with the final ownership of this facility and whether it will be arranged through some sort of leasing agreement or for building ownership.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, the leasing and financing arrangements are carried out to the offices of Minister Ng in Finance.
What I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that the Premier has made it very strong and very well known that at the end of the day, the Government of Nunavut wants to own these buildings and there should be any leasing arrangements and so on, an option for the Government to buy these facilities.
Mr. Speaker, that is still in place.
At the same time, we are still on the parallel course of having the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, as well as for example, in the Kitikmeot, the Kitikmeot Corporation moving forward on construction and lease backs.
But there is money in the Capital Budget as the Members know for that option to buy the facilities as the Premier has been very strong on saying that we want to own these facilities for the people of Nunavut.
Question 573 – 1(6): Update on the Issue of Translation of Health Benefit Consent Forms
Mr. Speaker, I have noticed that the Federal Government has placed English and French language advertisements in the media regarding consent forms that will need to be signed before Inuit can obtain certain health benefits.
I am very pleased to hear that our Minister of Health express his concerns over the proposal, not only because the informational consent forms are not available in Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun, but also because this initiative will certainly not improve the situation for our already over-burdened health system.
Can the Minister update this House on this any discussions he had had with federal representatives, or organizations such as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, regarding this issue?
Speaker: The Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Minister Picco.
Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government, nationally, for all aboriginal Canadians receive a benefit under the Non-insured Health Benefits Program, have asked me to sign this consent form.
Mr. Speaker, in our case here in Nunavut, we are the only jurisdiction in the country where 85 % of our population are aboriginal, which means that 85 % of our population receives the benefits under NHIB.
The forms are not in Inuktitut, as the Member had said. They are not in Inuinnaqtun. I have to have Health Centre staff and so on, explain the forms.
We do not see the reason for it.
It does not make logistic sense, it does not make administrative sense, it does not make financial sense.
So I wrote the Minister.
The latest communication is I wrote Minister McLennan last week indicating our disfavour with these forms. Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to you that it seems that the Gun Registry Bureaucrats in the Federal Government have moved to Health Canada. That is what a boondoggle this has turned out to be.
Thank you for the reply that the Minister had already talked about on a news release back in May 23rd.
My second question, Mr. Speaker, is that what assurances can the Minister provide the clients will not be denied any services that are provided through the Non-insured Health Benefits Programs, as a result of not having these four page consent forms?
Mr. Speaker, that has been a concern that had been voiced by many people across Nunavut. As Minister of Health and Social Services we will not refuse to provide the services that we are mandated to do under the Canadian Health Act, as a territory.
So that means that all medical services that were in place before September 1st, will be in place after September 1st, and all residents in Nunavut will enjoy those benefits. Mr. Speaker, we will have to go back to the Federal Government and negotiate with them using the same system that we have in place today, which is under our own healthcare card. Our healthcare card indicates an aboriginal Canadian and a non-aboriginal Canadian.
We do not need a consent form from the Federal Government to tell us that.
I think that the residents in Nunavut do not feel that they are going to be denied in Nunavut Hospitals or Nursing Stations. Can the Minister tell us that if they do not fill out those consent forms, would they still be able to get services in Ottawa, Winnipeg, or Edmonton?
Mr. Speaker, what this consent form does is allows the Federal Government to say you are aboriginal Canadian, and therefore and thus the Nunavut Government in this case is providing a service then we can bill them back.
So, Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes, they will still receive those services. The concern would be on our side when we bill the Federal Government back.
Question 574 – 1(6): Update on the New Air Terminal
Mr. Speaker, this week, June 2nd, I made a presentation to my community in regards to the Airport Terminal expansion in my community of Gjoa Haven and that the money was not adequate.
Mr. Speaker, June 2nd and now it is June 6th, I just wanted to find out from the Minister of Community Government & Transportation what the stage of the air terminal in Gjoa Haven is at.
I mentioned to the Member that I did not have the information about the air terminal expansion project in Gjoa Haven.
And the question that that Member had at that time in regards to that, after the project has been completed and it has to be extended, there has not been any other money set aside, but we have to, there has been a plan to or design for the expansion of it after it has been renovated.
The Department of Transportation were in my community and they explained about the design of the air terminal in Gjoa Haven.
The money that is going to be used would cost about $200 thousand, there is a shortage of $200 thousand dollars for the future expansion of that air terminal in Gjoa Haven, but I would like to ask the Minister of Community Government & Transportation by representing the people of the Hamlet Council, the Hamlet Council would like to participate in the funding because there is not enough money.
Can the Minister, say for instance, if the Hamlet Council was going to contribute $100 thousand dollars, would the projects start this summer?
I believe the Minister took that question as notice on June 2nd, but if the Minister wishes to update, please proceed.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is to be an expansion of that terminal that has been planned already.
What they are doing is right now is they are doing the renovation or the expansion, but there is a future plan for the expansion of that terminal.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): I have heard during the Transportation Officials visit to my community, I have heard something totally different because if the design, the Hamlet Council can contribute financially so that they could purchase the material, but I have heard from the Minister that once they get funding that they could build the expansion.
Will the Minister respond to me if the Economic Council contribute financially of $2 thousand dollars, will they be able to complete the project this summer?
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that my Colleagues understand that Community Government & Transportation has limited resources to fund the projects.
I would like to inform the Member that once the air terminal has been constructed in the future, we can look into the fact that whether it could be expanded or not, but at this time, I know that through the Capital Estimates before they have been approved, it is very difficult to explain to him before approving the Capital Estimates.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): As Member of the Legislative Assembly, we have to represent our Constituents, especially when they ask questions and I have to respond to my Constituents in regards to this issue.
Mr. Speaker, is the Minister saying no or does he expect to see the Hamlet Council contributing or is he flatly denying the request?
I am not saying yes and I am not saying no.
I am willing to look into this with him and with the officials and to look at the plans, whether it is adequate or not before it is constructed.
Although I understand, …
Speaker: …Mr. Puqiqnak you have run out of supplementary questions. But I will put you on the list for a second to go around.
This is highly unlikely given the time.
Question 575 - 1(6): Shortage of Naphtha Fuel
I want to ask this question to the Minister of Public Works.
During the springtime, a lot of people go out camping and the good gasoline is finished.
Perhaps in the future, are we going to be getting adequate amounts gas for next year?
But sometimes a lot of people want to go out camping, but due to bad gas, they are hesitant to go out camping because of the bad gasoline.
I would like to ask the Minister, are we going to get a better gas for next year?
We are having a naphtha shortage in our communities.
Are we going to get more naphtha for the communities?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not think I understood the question. Perhaps I could ask the Member.
Is he talking about naphtha? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Yes, I am talking about the naphtha gasoline.
We always have a shortage of naphtha gasoline in our communities. I am asking, are we going to get sufficient naphtha gas for next year?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On May 14th, there were six barrels that were sent to the community and also on May 21st, there were six barrels that were sent to the community of Kugluktuk.
So, the community does not need to worry about this.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister, for answering my question.
On the 14th and 20th, the price of naphtha must have gone up because they have to fly them in from out of town, but maybe for the future, if you should consider getting more naphtha so that we do not run out next year.
Yes, we will do so.
Question 576 - 1(6): Options or Plans to Maintain Caribou Hunt in Rankin Inlet
The Member I would like to ask is not present.
In Rankin Inlet, they prepare the caribou meat and they are sent to other places and they receive caribou from Coral Harbour for processing.
The staff at the meat plant are hunters and they can prepare the food and they can process the food, but due to mad cow disease in Alberta, we are unable to export our caribou meat to the United States and they banned caribou meat from being shipped or exported down there.
If the ban is not lifted, what kind of plans does the Department of Sustainable Development have so that these jobs are not lost at the meat plant and so that the Coral Harbour can maintain their commercial caribou hunt? That is what I wanted to ask.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have been dealing with this issue and we will keep on lobbying to lift the ban on export of caribou meat to the United States.
Next week, I will be meeting with representative from the United States on that and I will advise them because this has no connection to the mad cow disease at all because we have no cows in Nunavut.
So, we are going to work hard to lift the ban on the export of caribou meat and our representative in Ottawa, we have been working with the Member of Parliament for Nunavut and we will work diligently on dealing with this issue.
It is evident we are going to feel the impact if the ban is not lifted, but I believe that the ban could be lifted. So, I personally will be working on the lifting of the ban.
Mr. Anawak (interpretation): Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the Premier for working diligently for trying to lift the ban on export of caribou meat.
One thing that I am concerned about that there was only one mad cow, if the ban is not lifted, export ban is not lifted for a while, the caribou hunters and the meat plant workers would not be able to sell their caribou meat.
Have they considered any options, if the export ban is not lifted, have they considered any other options like selling/marketing of muktaak and other country foods? I was wondering if they can consider these options if the ban is not lifted for a long time on the exporting of caribou meat.
I do not believe that the ban is going to stay for a long time. I am going to work hard to ask them to lift the ban on the export of caribou meat.
I am sure that we are going to be looking at the options on how we can support the residents of Coral Harbour and Rankin Inlet.
This was just put there and we still have to the opportunity to get the ban lifted. I personally will be working on it.
I believe that they can lift the ban because we have no connection to the mad cow disease.
We will work with the Federal Government to lift the ban. We will do whatever we can to get the export banning lifted. If the ban is going to stay for a long time, yes we will need plans for other options.
I just want to remind you that we are all hoping that the ban is very short, however I never take for granted the wisdom of the Americans to do the right thing.
So my point is that is there a contingency plan in case that ban goes on to diversify from doing the caribou harvest from Coral Harbour.
Shouldn’t they have a contingency plan just in case the ban goes on?
I am hopeful, as the Premier, that the ban will be short. If the ban stays on then there has to be a contingency plan in order to look at other ways of creating economic development in Rankin Inlet and Coral Harbour.
Would they come up with a contingency plan just in case? Thank you.
I agree with the Member that we will have to look for a contingency plan if the ban continues. At the same time the Meat Plant that is being utilized now is European certified.
I do not want to risk losing that by using the plant for other purposes as it was intended for, because it will limit our abilities to create a European market, for example of caribou meat.
So we have to look at it carefully. Our main focus will be trying to lift this ban for the time being, at the same time we will have to look for alternatives and make sure that it does not jeopardize what the current facility is used for. We are very proud of that facility and it is the only European certified facility in Nunavut, and we want to keep that for all of Nunavut.
Mr. Anawak (interpretation): Yes, in Rankin Inlet we are very proud of the Meat Plant and Brian Shindell, because he is a very good, capable worker and his staff.
Although the ban may not be too long, perhaps if you can consider using Muktaak as an example. Maybe we can expand it for a fish plant. If the ban is lifted but have you considered expanding the Fish Plant?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it has only been three weeks that the Fish Plant was established because we’ve hardly had time and opportunity to consider how we can look at that and yes, we will work very hard to lobby the Americans to lift the ban.
Once we know more about this, it will be evident that we will need to make plans. If the ban is going to stay and for a while, we will definitely need to make contingency plans, but the ban is quite new right now, so we prefer to work on the lifting of the ban.
Question 577 – 1(6): Jet A-1 Fuel Additive
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Public Works.
The Jet A-1 fuel in Pond Inlet, they were not too pleased with it.
We heard that the Jet A-1 jet fuel was not adequate and they needed an additive to that Jet A-1 fuel.
Perhaps the Jet A-1 fuels in Nunavut, especially in the Baffin Region, do they all require an additive?
No, not all Nunavut communities, only the community of Pond Inlet had had problems with Jet A-1 to date. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you. Why did it need an additive? was it because it was old fuel?
The Jet A-1 fuel needs to be investigated every six months and during the investigation in Pond Inlet, they found out that the Jet A-1 fuel was inadequate to be used for the airplanes.
The copper, they found like when fuel stays idle for a long time, there is a copper build-up.
So, every six months we need to do testing on these fuels.
After a regular check-up, we found out that there was a copper build-up in the Jet A-1, but I expect that this issue has been rectified to date.
So, after six months they have to be tested as he said?
Was it because testing was delayed that this fuel became stagnant? The other fuels, perhaps such as in Clyde River, do you have a regular program that you test every six months?
Is this regularly scheduled testing? Is it perhaps Pond Inlet fuel was not tested for over six months?
Can you please answer that?
What I said was that the fuel that is tested regularly every six months, that is a requirement and the fuel in Pond Inlet had the regular six month period testing and that is when they found out they had to mix in additives.
And in Clyde River, they will also be receiving their regularly six month testing period.
Question 578 – 1(6): Contracts Office
Yesterday, I was rushed a bit when I was questioning Mr. Kattuk.
At this point, I would like to follow up on my questioning.