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Mr. Speaker, today, I present here the members of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee. They will be holding their meetings for about a week. I extend our warmest welcome to the House during their visit to Iqaluit to conduct their meeting.
Their invaluable assistance makes a huge impact on our work.
The committee members here with us today are: Qabaroak Qatsiya of Cape Dorset; Anaoyok Alookee of Taloyoak, who is a member not currently present; Alice Ayalik of Kugluktuk; Andre Tautu of Chesterfield Inlet – with this one, when we were attending the residential school in Chesterfield Inlet, the sisters would always reprimand him by saying, “Andre, leave the girls alone!”
He was quite precocious back then.
Gamailie Kilukishak of Pond Inlet; Jacopie Iqalukjuaq of Clyde River; Koonoo Oyukuluk of Arctic Bay; Leonie Qrunnut of Igloolik; Marie Anguti of Kugaaruk; Peterloosie Qappik from Pangnirtung; Ragilee Arnaquq of Qikiqtarjuaq; Sammie Peter from Iqaluit; Simeonie Aqpik of Kimmirut; Iqsuktuq Eetuk of Coral Harbour; Laisa Ningiuk from Grise Fiord, who is not with us today.
Mr. Speaker, we depend on the expertise of these members, but we also have staff who assist them and they are Shuvinai Mike, Oleena Nowyook, Kataisee Attagutsiak, and members of Tuttarviit are Anne Mullin, Rhoda Cunningham, and Toomasie Panipak.
Part of their duties includes working with elders. Elijah Erkloo is especially an integral part of this work to include our elders and he is here with us today.
I want my colleagues to join me in warmly welcoming them here.
I expect that we will be seeing them later on this evening at the dinner.
I hope that all of you will be able to attend the dinner as this will give you a chance to talk with the Members of the House.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that these elders be welcomed to the Gallery.
I also want to express my deep gratitude to my staff members, Eileen Kilabuk and Nina Kanayuk, who have provided me invaluable assistance throughout this session.
Hon. Peter Taptuna (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This morning, I am pleased to acknowledge someone from my constituency.
This individual is tireless and always busy. She is heavily involved in the committees, such as the community justice committees, and with programs through Brighter Futures and with the St. Andrews Church.
She’s a tireless hard worker, Alice from Kugluktuk.
I would like to recognize two people in the Gallery as well. Kataisee Attagutsiak, who I have known for a long time, is originally from Arctic Bay and we consider her Ikpiarjummiuq.
She’s also one of the interpreter/translators that Mr. Ningeongan was talking about in terms of her hours of dedicated service not just to our community and she’s actually mentoring one of our youth from Arctic Bay to help her become an interpreter/translator.
I welcome and thank you for all of your hard work.
As well, Koonoo Oyukuluk, who is a member of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee and also within the community, does a lot of hard work on the drug and alcohol education committee as well as the housing association and other boards. Welcome.
Recognition of the Visitors in the Gallery.
First of all, I would like to welcome my father-in-law, Qabaroak Qatsiya from Cape Dorset and Simeonie Aqpik from Kimmirut.
I recognize each and every one of these good elders as I have already met all of them.
Firstly, I wish to recognize my uncle-in-law, Iqsuktuq, of Coral Harbour.
He is my paternal aunt’s husband.
I also wish to recognize Gamailie Kilukishak from Pond Inlet.
Although I recognize some of the elders by face only, I would like to extend them my warmest welcome to the Gallery and I look forward to seeing them this evening.
I’m sorry I didn’t hear the names of two people of my community who are also here in Iqaluit to work with the committee. Their names are David Veevee and Shuvinai Mike.
I also want to recognize and welcome an elder from our community of Pangnirtung, Peterloosie Qappik.
I know this person. He is originally from Pangnirtung but has since moved to Qikiqtarjuaq, Ragilee Arnaquq.
I also want to recognition visitors in the Gallery. Someone from my home community of Coral Harbour is here visiting.
Iqsuqtuittuq has served as a member of the hamlet council in Coral Harbour and also on various boards and agencies, including the regional wildlife organization.
He has been tremendously helpful to our community.
I also want to recognize Andre Tautu from Chesterfield Inlet.
He has always served some organization or board since I have known him these many years.
He has sat on numerous boards and agencies and has also acted in the leadership capacity in several Inuit organizations. He has the kind of experience and knowledge we value so.
I would like to welcome all of these people to the Gallery.
I have only spoken about this individual, but I would like to make it official and recognize Dwayne Twerdin to the Gallery. He is one of our hard-working Department of Justice officials that I always speak about in the House and deliver all of the services that we discuss and approve during the budgeting process.
So I would like to welcome Dwayne to the House.
I would like to welcome each and every one of the people in the Gallery, especially the people from my constituency.
I wish to welcome Dwayne Twerdin, along with Rhoda Cunningham and Elijah Erkloo. These people also reside in my constituency riding.
I would like to welcome each and every one of the visitors to the Gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I also wish to acknowledge several visitors here, some of whom were already recognized. Two of them are from my two constituency communities, Ragilee Arnaquq from Qikiqtarjuaq and Jacopie Iqalukjuaq.
Jacopie Iqalukjuaq is a tremendous asset in our community. He serves on quite a number of local boards and committees, including this particular committee which he is attending to this week.
He is also our layperson/deacon in Clyde River. He provides a lot of guidance and support to our residents in Clyde River.
I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming Jacopie Iqalukjuaq.
Another visitor with whom I grew up with is sitting right there. I would like to recognize my Maliktik, Toomasie Panipak. He now lives in Iqaluit.
(interpretation ends) Item 6. (interpretation) Oral Questions. (interpretation ends) Member for South Baffin, Mr. Schell.
Question 341 – 3(2): Heating Oil Tank Replacement Program (Schell)
When the minister and his officials were developing the corporation’s new Heating Oil Tank Replacement Program for Nunavut homeowners, what number did they use to determine the number of homeowners in Nunavut?
I’m not sure if there was an actual number. I can confirm with my staff if that was something that was looked at as far as the number of homeowners out there, but I know that when they looked at it, the plan was for it to be a multi-year program with funding to be able to change approximately 100 tanks per year based on the maximum amount of grant that’s available.
Having said though, Mr. Speaker, I know in some cases, an individual may not be eligible or it may not cost the maximum amount, so there is potential for more than 100 tanks to be changed per year.
Can the minister inform me what number was used for my home communities of Cape Dorset and Kimmirut?
As I indicated just a moment ago, I don’t know actual numbers of houses that were looked at by community, but I will confirm with my staff if that was the case.
I know that this has been an issue that the member and other members have raised, and an issue that I raised as a regular member as something that needs to be addressed because of some of the huge costs homeowners were facing as a result of failed oil tanks throughout the territory.
It not only happened with the homeownership programs but I know the corporation also introduced a program in the past to change public housing oil tanks because we were running into the same situation there and we didn’t want to end up having that huge burden of the environmental clean-up for individuals to be stuck with.
I’m just wondering if homeowners who replaced their fuel tanks since February 2008… I actually received this article here about the possibility of leakage and there was a pamphlet that was an illustrated homeowner’s guide to heating oil tank inspections.
I’m just wondering if the corporation is going to look at people who have already replaced these tanks.
I’m guessing or assuming that the member is talking about the pamphlet that was put out by the Department of Environment to assist homeowners in what to look for in assessing their fuel tanks.
I know over the past number of years, I have indicated that this has been a growing issue out there.
As our program sits right now, it’s commencing April 1 of this year. So it will be, right now, targeted towards individuals who are looking at replacing their oil tanks as of April 1 of this year.
Having said that though, Mr. Speaker, I will commit to the member that this is something that the program, its roll out and its uptake is something that the corporation will monitor and evaluate. If, as a result of how it’s going, there are any program changes that may be required to improve it, the corporation would open to looking at that if necessary.
I imagine that there was a significant number of homeowners who have replaced their tanks since February of 2008, when this illustrated homeowners guide came out in order to avoid having an environmental disaster.
I would strongly urge the minister to look at this program and try to include these people who went and did the prudent thing, as our finance guy would say, and replace their tank. I think the minister should maybe look at patenting that word and he could maybe make some money on it. If he would seriously look at these people who did do that and make sure that they also qualify for this program.
I appreciate the member’s concern and I think he’s got a valid point there.
Having said that, Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, as the program rolls out, we will be monitoring the uptake on it.
Part of the way the program is designed right now is, as I indicated yesterday, there is no income limit.
However, there is a mechanism in place within the evaluation to target those homeowners with the lower income level.
There are three different levels in the criteria where they can get points for and it goes anywhere from five points to 30 points and that’s for homeowners with income levels below the $75,000, between $75,000 and $125,000, and then homeowners with income of over $125,000.
Those points along with the points that are given based on the inspection for things like visible leaks, age, and condition of the tank, whether there is a flex joint in it or not, whether it has a CSA label on it, or whether it’s on a now outdated wooden tank stand, which no longer comply to code, based on all of those points on how that’s allocated, we will determine the level of grants that the client is eligible for.
If something was looked at, as far as going back and assisting those individuals that the member mentioned, there would be no way of determining the state of any that stuff.
The way the program is designed right now and evaluated, it doesn’t take those kinds of factors into account.
Before we decide right now on the level of assistance that an individual gets, there is a clear picture of one, their affordability and what the need is financially, as well as the need as far as technically and as far as replacement.
That would just throw another challenge in there as far as the program design goes.
Question 342 – 3(2): Needs of People with Disabilities (Elliott)
Mr. Speaker, in researching how other jurisdictions handle the needs of people with disabilities, I found that some provinces and territories have a Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities.
My question to the minister is: what consideration has the Premier given to establishing a separate and distinct portfolio to address the needs of Nunavummiut with disabilities?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the member for asking the question.
There is an office here in Iqaluit that deals with people with disabilities.
I must inform the member that we are not prepared at this time to say that we will set up a file to be made a responsibility of a single minister.
That was actually my next question.
I was going to ask if the minister could commit to considering that, but she has made it clear that the government will not do that.
So my next question would be: other than the $90,000 that goes to the Nunavut Disabilities Society, what support and resources does the Government of Nunavut direct towards addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities?
The issue of disabilities is very important to us in Nunavut.
Under our office in the Department of EIA, the Social Advocacy Office will also be designed to work with people with disabilities, with special emphasis on policy development.
With that answer, I’m just a little bit confused because at first, the minister said that there was a council set up to deal with it. Now she’s saying that the Social Advocacy Office will be creating policy and dealing with it.
Could the minister just clarify: is that one of the Social Advocacy Office’s mandates of what they’re planning on doing, addressing some of the issues that people with disabilities have?
I just stated that dealing with disability issues will be part of the responsibility of the Social Advocacy Office.
I also want to make it clear that the Social Advocacy Office will be involved less with the delivery of programs and more with policy development.
As an example, the office would be responsible for both women’s and men’s issues, particularly people of special needs, such as those with disabilities. If I say it in English, the clientele would be the “disadvantaged people.”
My next question would be then: when will we find out what policies are being developed to help people with disabilities?
We haven’t set specific dates.
We will have the Social Advocacy Office set up and running.
As a government, we must ensure some basic level of support for people with disabilities, but we would have to conduct a full review.
I can’t give you a specific date.
Speaker: Qujannamiik, Premier. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
I have no more names on my list. (interpretation ends) Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. Elliott.
Question 343 – 3(2): Human Rights Tribunal (Elliott)
Mr. Speaker, I noted in the recent tabled annual report of the Human Rights Tribunal, Tabled Document 123 – 3(2), on March 10, 2010, it lists two complaints relating to disabilities.
Will the government be taking steps to address this from a policy level?
Mr. Elliott obviously and truly does stay up 24/7 reading stuff.
I can’t say with any certainty right now, Mr. Speaker, whether we would be discussing that for the fall session, but I assure the member that the government does take seriously the recommendations of the Human Rights Tribunal.
Is the minister able to expand on the nature of the complaints that were lodged?
Are they complaints due to employment or mobility of people with disabilities?
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I’m not able to expand on the details of those complaints.
Question 344 – 3(2): Cape Dorset School Project Cost (Schell)
My question is for the Minister of Education, the Hon. Louis Tapardjuk.
In regard to the Cape Dorset Peter Pitseolak School addition, there was originally $15,675,000 allotted for the project and there was an additional $1 million in capital estimates for 2010-11. My question is: is the minister aware of any additional costs for that project?
With respect to the school being constructed in Cape Dorset, we have set aside $9 million for the construction costs for the fiscal year 2009-2010. In addition, we have set aside another $1 million to be made available for the completion of the building set for the upcoming fiscal year.
At this time, the building is still under construction and prior to its completion, we will need these proposed funds to purchase finishing materials and for the insurance costs and such.
That is what we have with respect to the capital costs items, Mr. Speaker.
My understanding is that the tender was, I can’t remember exactly, $13 million or $14 million, and my understanding is that there are quiet a few extras on that project.
The first thing is apparently, there was nothing allotted for any furnishings for the addition.
So I would like to ask the minister how he’s going to come up with the money for the furnishings for the school.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I don’t have the particular details in front of me right now nor do I have the substantiation sheets with respect to furnishing.
I will have to take that question as notice. Once I have the matter looked into, I can then inform the member in detail what he wants, including the costs of the project and how we have planned for unforeseen expenses, Mr. Speaker.
Your question has been taken as notice, so I’ll move on to the next member.
Question 345 – 3(2): Recentralization of Decentralized GN Positions (Komoartok)
I would like to direct another question to the Premier of Nunavut, (interpretation ends) Hon. Eva Aariak.
(interpretation) I asked the Premier last week regarding this matter for which I did not get a response. I do not want to go home without having gotten further clarification on the matter.
The question regards the number of decentralized positions that were originally slated for transfer to Pangnirtung back when decentralization was initiated. There were 71 positions in total allocated to our community.
There are three positions that were transferred back to Iqaluit, namely, the Medical Travel Office positions that will be moved starting April 1.
My question to the Premier is this: with the transfer of these three positions to Iqaluit, what is the total number of decentralized positions currently in Pangnirtung?
I also thank the member for reminding us of that matter regarding decentralized positions.
It just shows how important this subject is to the community.
I asked for some information about the 71 decentralized positions in the community and about the three incumbents who will be given an option to stay in the community if they wish.
Once I have this information on the 71 positions, I will make sure that I pass it on to the member.
Mr. Komoartok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Premier.
I appreciate her response. I’m sure to expect further information later.
Just to remind the government with respect to the 71 decentralized positions the community of Pangnirtung was expecting, we do not want these numbers reduced unilaterally without us. In fact, one important reason for decentralization was to create jobs in our communities.
If the government is planning to claw back on decentralized positions, we would like to propose to the government a comparable trade of the numerous positions that will be recalled by government.
Anyhow, many of these positions are currently vacant, as we are so constantly reminded. If you would just open up these positions for competition in the smaller communities, I think that many more Inuit would apply.
One advantage of this practice is that turnover and attrition rates among local hires are much lower than outside hires.
I must stress how important the 71 positions are to us and that we do not want to see decisions made without us regarding further recalls, at least without word of some trade for loss.
If, for some reason, the government feels further need for recall of decentralized positions, I urge it to give due thought to what it will offer us in return. This is rightly the way it was supposed to be. Promises were made to us that we expect and count on for our community.
What I just said really was not a question, Mr. Speaker, but I wanted to make these comments.
I didn’t hear a question, but you can respond if you wish, (interpretation ends) Hon. Eva Aariak.
The reshuffling of decentralized positions from one community to another is something that this government is going to be reviewing.
In the beginning, when decentralization was first attempted, we did not know what would happen.
Now that we are in our 10th year for Nunavut, we have a much better idea of the realities.
One result of chronic vacancy of positions is valuable staff housing units sitting empty in our communities.
I’m not singling out Pangnirtung as I’m making a general point. When a position remains vacant for a long time, it results in a staff housing unit remaining empty in a decentralized community.
This is further reason why this issue will be examined closely.
I want to be understood clearly because we want our government to function properly.
There are certain responsibilities that still need to be fulfilled so that we do not spend money wastefully.
It is urgent that we take action now and try out new ideas.
This approach also applies to decentralized positions.
We will certainly endeavour to pursue this issue as diligently as we can.
Question 346 – 3(2): Dialysis Machine for Kivalliq Hospital (Ningeongan)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health, Mr. Tagak Curley.
In my riding of Nanulik, the communities of Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet, we have residents who are required to go down to Winnipeg for medical reasons, some for very long periods, because of the lack of facilities and services in Nunavut.
I have sent emails to the Minster and the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services regarding this.
The last response I got indicated that they were not sure if and when we would be getting a dialysis machine, whether this was located in Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, or Iqaluit. This is one of the questions I asked earlier.
Can the minister tell me if we will be getting a dialysis machine here in Nunavut in one of the regional health centres?
I wish to express my appreciation to my colleague from Nanulik for that particular question.
I’m aware of the situation as per the member’s comments and his reference to the emails that I’ve had the chance to read.
There are quite a number of Kivalliq residents in similar cases with a fair number of patients from Chesterfield Inlet currently in Winnipeg.
We are fully aware of their circumstances.
With respect to the response that was provided to you, it states thusly: it is currently under review and we have included in this review the study of possibly placing these machines in the gateway communities, such as Iqaluit or Rankin Inlet, if there were dialysis machines made available.
I reiterate that this is still under consideration.
With respect to the dialysis machine, those issues are not the only factors to consider.
We would also need funding for qualified technicians and such. Before we would even advertise for these positions, we would have to estimate all annual costs associated with an ongoing provision of this service.
However, the purchase seems to be a possibility based on our initial assessment.
We hope to have more developments that we hope to announce in our upcoming June session.
We are currently extremely busy with the details around the acquisition of these machines.
We want to offer this service, especially in order to lessen costs associated with long-term medical treatment away from home and to decrease the number of days for out of territory medical travel. This would be some of our expected outcome.
But I must remind you that this file is still in its preliminary stages. Once we have completed our review, we will make an announcement.
I also want to assure you that we will raise this issue with the Executive Council. This issue has not been brought forward for discussion yet and we need the council’s approval for things to start rolling.
I want to direct another question to the same minister.
I know of this particular person who has been away for an extended period of time now, perhaps for a month or so now. The assigned escort has also been attending to this patient for the entire time.
No one yet knows when the patient will be able to return home, so my question is: will this patient be able to continue with their medical treatment?
With respect to this particular health issue, it is a right to treatment.
We are responsible to provide health care to our residents.