EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
After the Kelowna Agreement was agreed to last fall and with the new government in place, we are not too certain; maybe after this session, I will be talking to the federal government in regard to housing.
We will have to work harder as to constructing houses. We will be pressuring the federal government because the past federal minister had some very promising words, but with the new government I will bring up the issues again to her.
But at this stage, we are not too sure exactly what the outcome will be.
If I understand him correctly, one of the reasons that we have shortages is because of the government employees and in the upcoming years the government employees will use some units.
I wonder where those houses will be coming from. Will they be for the local housing authority or for the government employees?
Yes, we are anticipating building about 10 duplexes; they will be social housing for the people. They can also apply for homeownership programs.
This will help us. But the units that we will be constructing will be for the housing authorities in the communities.
Did the minister say that these housing authority units will now be used for housing GN?
No, these units are public housing units. We are building 20 residential units, not 20 staff housing units.
Question 175 – 2(3): Update on Medical Air Travel (Kattuk)
Although I had asked this question previously, I will ask again, directing it to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
There is a huge concern in my community that the Government of Nunavut uses $4 million, which is a huge sum of money, and we should manage those $4 million accordingly.
My constituency is left behind at times, when the patients have to go home they can’t get on the plane because it is always filled to capacity and is always too small. That airline has no washroom facilities, so it becomes quite difficult for the passengers.
So I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if she could update me in this regard.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister for Health and Social Services, Ms. Aglukkaq.
I am not sure exactly what he meant by the $4 million, but based on the discussions on the last questions the member raised on the flights that we organize for the flights from Sanikiluaq, the staff has been notified of the members concerns and I have asked my employees to contact the airline and try to address some of the issues that you have raised.
So that’s where that’s at this point in time.
What I said about the $4 million is that the government should satisfy the people in the communities who go back and forth from Sanikiluaq.
Sometimes these patients or passengers are left behind for lack of room on the plane.
Also, the washrooms, when you are flying three hours, it’s very hard for patients or passengers when they have to go to the washroom.
So my question was, since I asked her last week about this matter: what has she done so far today?
Since Friday, I have contacted the department to investigate the situation related to the member’s concerns.
This contract that we have with Kivalliq Air, to provide the service from Sanikiluaq to Winnipeg or to the centres, requires that there be a washroom on the aircraft.
If there are discrepancies to that we have to investigate that situation, so I have asked my staff to contact the airline to find out what kind of aircraft they are using to transport patients from Sanikiluaq to Winnipeg. And that is where that is right now. I have not received any response back from the department and I did bring up the issue the day that the member raised it in the House with me.
So I am waiting to hear back from the airline regarding the discrepancies to what we have asked for in terms of services in the contract.
We have to investigate, but we did ask for aircraft that had the washrooms and the facilities to transport patients.
If she wants more information, it’s a single engine plane, nine-seater, and sometimes we have more than nine passengers that want to go home after they are done with their appointment with the doctor.
Again, it’s not satisfactory.
We need better service; that $4 million is not enough to serve the people and serve them right.
We are concerned. She also said that she had something since last Friday. Can she commit to me that she will work further on this matter to make sure that they have all of the washrooms that they need?
Absolutely, I agree with the member. Quality of care has to be the front and centre of what services Health and Social Services provides.
The member’s concern in relation to this is serious and I will look into that and if those airline industries that we have contracted are not providing the type of aircraft we have requested to provide the service, then that’s an issue that we have to follow up with.
I have asked my staff to look into it and it has been three days. I understand the urgency of this and I do appreciate the member for bringing the issue up.
The quality of care and services we provide to our patients should be the first and forefront of what we do and I will report back to the member as soon as I hear back from my staff.
Question 176 – 2(3): Airport Projects – Federal Funding (Peterson)
On November 20, 2005, the minister’s predecessor tabled a document called, ‘Airports for Nunavummiut and their Economy.’ This Airport Investment Strategy included a project to rehabilitate and pave the runway at the Cambridge Bay airport. Mr. Speaker, this was a hot topic during the Kitikmeot Trade Show a few weeks ago in the Transportation Panel.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell me if he has had the opportunity to meet with the Federal Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities?
I didn’t have a chance to meet with the appropriate ministers that are my colleagues from the federal government. Once the session is over, I will make an appointment and contact them to see when would be the best time for me to meet with the Minister of Transportation to discuss on the National Transportation Strategy and other issues that are under transportation in Nunavut, including Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, federal funding under the Airport Capital Assistance Program has been secured to implement the Iqaluit Airport master plan. Did the submission to the federal government at that time also include the Cambridge Bay project?
We are looking at which communities should be included in this and we would like to make sure that we respect them, especially the ones that have jet services, to make sure that landing areas in each community has a safe landing place.
So we will also look into that to make sure that Cambridge Bay is also included in the future.
Again, we have capital money that is limited to do all communities, but then again, we are going to make sure that we respect the ones that have jet services, and also other communities that need safer airports.
I’m interpreting from the minister’s response that Cambridge Bay Project wasn’t included in the airport capital assistance application. Can the minister tell me why the Cambridge Bay Project wasn’t included and why it didn’t receive federal funding?
I can’t tell him why right now. I can check to see what the cause was for them not be put on the Capital Assistance Program under that.
So I will look into that and make sure that I communicate with my colleague from Cambridge Bay, or even look into ways of trying to put it in there.
Once we have a meeting with the appropriate minister in the federal government, I’ll mention that too, to my colleague to make sure that if we can find more money under Airport Capital Assistance Program, we’ll certainly look into other communities, such as Cambridge Bay to be put on the Capital Assistance Program.
I thank the minister for that response. Mr. Speaker, the newspaper article about the Airport Strategy said that the money was being spent on four communities.
I want to quote from the newspaper article following the tabling of the strategy. It says that Cambridge Bay would require $18 million to pave the runway, which is scarred with ruts caused by topsoil giving way beneath the pressure of landing aircrafts.
For that reason, a 737 can’t land on the airstrip while carrying full planeloads. The next generation of jet aircrafts will require a paved runway, airline companies warned. The airport receives 12,000 passengers annually.
With that information in mind, can the minister commit to me and to the House that he will make the Cambridge Bay Airport Project a priority for paving?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For all the airports in Nunavut, we want to make sure that they’re safe and to make sure than any airline can land. I will look into this and I will want to work closely with the Member for Cambridge Bay to make sure we work with the Cambridge Bay Airport Project, and then meet with my colleagues and look into the four or five year capital plan, if the federal government can provide the funding for airport maintenance.
Question 177 – 2(3): Nunavut Arctic College Year End Financial Statements (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Finance.
Mr. Speaker, I asked the minister questions earlier relating to the Auditor General’s 2005 Report.
Mr. Speaker, in that report, Exhibit 2.3 on page 13, talks about reservations on financial authorities. Mr. Speaker, as far as reservations in the audit concerning the Government of Nunavut, it talks about over expenditures and late audited consolidated financial statements, the Qulliq Energy Corporation borrowing higher than allowed, the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, it just says various issues, so one would assume that there is too much to put down in a chart here and numerous outstanding issues from 2002-03 and 2003-04.
My main question here is for the Minister of Finance. I know in the past the standing committee, and the Auditor General, and at one point, for a brief period of time, the government had indicated that one of the problems causing the delay in providing the audited consolidated financial statements was because of the fact that Nunavut Arctic College had a different year end and it took them some while.
At that time of those hearings, the government agreed that it would be a good idea for the college to change its year-end to the fiscal year of the government. Much to the satisfaction of the committee at the time, they thought, “Oh, that’s good.”
Maybe we can help and make things better, and seriously listen to what the Auditor General was saying.
But lo and behold, when the government’s response comes out, they changed their mind. They said it wasn’t convenient for the college to change their year-end.
So Mr. Speaker, in light of this pretty harsh report, would the Minister of Finance re-look at this option of forcing the Nunavut Arctic College to change its year end so it could help the government meet its legal obligations of tabling the consolidated audited financial statements.
I agree with my colleague completely.
They are pretty harsh words in the Auditor General’s Report.
There are requirements to make changes or improvements.
In regard to Arctic College and the differing fiscal year ends, I will work closely with the government departments and the Minister of Education to see what we can do so that Arctic College can have a year ending that coincides with the Nunavut Government.
I will work closely with the Minister of Education.
With all due respect to the minister, I know this is a story that we have heard before, and the government said yes and then the College said no, it’s not convenient.
In light of the Auditor General’s Report, where again, and again, and again, they are saying that’s an issue.
Will the Minister of Finance, as Chair of the Crown Agency Council, direct the Nunavut Arctic College to change their year end to match the government so that we can move forward in providing timely, accurate financial information, not only for the government to make decisions on, but for us as members of the Assembly to have accurate information when we are reviewing the budget?
I agree with you wholeheartedly.
That is accurate, we do have to make changes and I will have a discussion with the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College and see what we can do to make the changes that are required.
It would help us tremendously in producing timely consolidated statements.
It would make a huge improvement.
We will definitely try to work out a fair solution with it.
I thank the minister for his response and I think that action in this case is long overdue.
I think the Auditor General couldn’t have put it better when she says the timeliness and accurate information leads to good fiscal management.
And that’s one thing that in her words, that this government hasn’t achieved.
I think that having good solid fiscal management would be much more of a priority of this government than the convenience to the college in keeping things the same as they have been forever because that’s the way that they are.
Since 1999, things were transferred over as they were, and Nunavummiut were expecting changes for the better, and I think that regardless of that, will the minister commit to writing to his colleague the Minister of Education directing them to change the year-end for Nunavut Arctic College, through whatever means that takes, whether it be through an amendment to the Public Colleges Act or whatever.
I understand exactly where you are coming from. As I stated, we will take this into consideration and it has been an ongoing issue for quite a number of years.
This is a recommendation that keeps coming up over the years and yes, I will commit that I will work on it and make the necessary changes. I will work with the Minister of Education and I will commit to writing a letter to the Minister of Education.
As Chair of the Government Operations and Accountability Standing Committee, we have been pushing for this for a number of years. Would the minister commit to copying me, as chair of the committee, with his letter to the Minister of Education and also copying us on the response that he gets back from them?
Since the committee is responsible for that, we will make sure they are kept informed.
Question 178 – 2(3): Power Outage in Grise Fiord (Barnabas)
I was just informed that in the community of Grise Fiord, half of the lights are out and we can’t get the personnel up there. I would like to ask the minister what he is going to do about that.
If you would like to extend it, Mr. Barnabas.
I would like to ask my colleagues if we could extend question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): The member is asking for unanimous consent to extend question period.
Are they any nays?
Question Period has been extended for another hour.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to thank my colleagues for extending question period.
As it is an emergency, (interpretation ends) there have been several outages in Nunavut because of the extreme weather in the past few days. Just recently, I learned that some sections of the power are out in Grise Fiord as we speak. Can the minister update us on this issue?
Speaker (interpretation): Minster responsible for Energy, Mr. Picco.
In my role as House Leader, we agree with following up on the question with the member because of the emergency issue. And we hope and ask for the indulgence of the members that after the question is over, to continue with COW to try and get our budget done.
Very quickly, Mr. Speaker, there is a serious situation in Grise Fiord because of inclement weather and because of issues around temperature and so on.
The Power Corporation is aware of it; however Mr. Speaker, the serious issue is that because of weather we cannot get a crew into the community. We are looking at options of trying to bring in a crew either from Cambridge or from the Baffin side of operations.
We are aware of it Mr. Speaker and we are trying to be expeditious in correcting the problem.
Could the minister keep us informed about the situation in Grise Fiord and keep us updated on the situation?
I will keep the member and the members informed as that information becomes available to us. I will update him this afternoon when I get some more word from the Power Corporation.
I know that the member is worried about his constituents and because of that issue; we will keep him up to date.
I have no other names on my list. Going back to the Orders of the Day.
Mr. Peterson: Mr. Speaker I would like to return to Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery, Orders of the Day.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I thank my colleagues for allowing me to go back to number 5. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize some people in the Gallery today from my riding.
Sitting behind me is Mary Rose Maksagak. She is in the House for the first time today. She came to Iqaluit for a Mental Health Integration Initiative Project.
She got here but because of the weather the project was cancelled. She is here for a week; I hope she enjoys her time here and welcome to the House.
The young lady sitting beside her is her granddaughter, Jazlin Kadlun. Welcome to the House.
And sitting behind Mr. Simailak is another constituent of mine from the Kitikmeot. He might be known to a few of your guys around here, his name is David General. He works for the Kitikmeot Corporation.
He’s going to be in Iqaluit for a few days lobbying ministers for help on some Kitikmeot Corporation projects. So welcome to the House David.
Item 13: Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Committee Report on Bills 001 – 2(3): Bill 09 – An Act to Amend the Exemptions Act (Mapsalak)
I wish to report that Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Exemptions Act, as amended and reprinted, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit, and that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Tabled Document 078 – 2(3): Photograph of Pangnirtung after Extreme Weather (Kilabuk)
Mr. Kilabuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I wish to table some photographs of my home community Pangnirtung, showing the calm waters due to snow melt caused by unusually warm temperatures over the last few days, and also the damage done to some structural buildings as a result of the high winds and the natural environmental impacts that happened in the community of Pangnirtung.
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. Item 17. Motions.
Item 18. First Reading of Bills.
Item 20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bill 12, Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2006-07 with Mr. Arreak in the Chair.
I will give my ruling tomorrow after checking the Hansard.
>>House recessed at 15:34 and Committee resumed at 16:01
We can start our meeting.
Thank you for coming back. (interpretation ends) In the Committee of the Whole, we have the following item to deal with: Bill 12, Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2006-07.
We wish to proceed with Bill 12 and continue with the review of the Main Estimates for the Department of Human Resources, followed by the Department of Health and Social Services.
Are we in agreement to continue with the 2006-07 Main Estimates and Business Plans for Human Resources?
Chairman: Thank you. Minister Tapardjuk and your staff, you may take the witness chair, please.
Thank you, Minister Tapardjuk.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my left, Kathy Okpik, my Deputy Minister, and to my right is Tom Thompson, who is the Assistant Deputy Minister.
I don’t have a question but there are some people from my community, from Coral Harbour.
I just want to welcome them, Rhoda Paaliaq and George Allurut, they are sitting on the right.
We are on D-9. (interpretation ends) Human Resources. Branch Summary.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to welcome the people at the witness table and Minister Tapardjuk.
Just to go back to the question in regard to the casual workers, if the term is for a little while like for a month or so, from the appropriate department that they will be employed by even though there will be a large number of people who will try for the casual position.
When they make the selection, and this has always been a concern by the other members, the people who work in the government offices would usually hire somebody they know or their family.
And you stated earlier that this is being worked on and being considered, but up to now, is there anything in place now in regard to that?
Minister Tapardjuk
At this time, I can’t really say that we have anything in place, but we are reviewing and investigating the problems that are coming up.
We are presently reviewing this and there are people who are asking if there are any problems, and once we collect the data, we will be able to make a report, and hopefully with recommendations, how we can fix this problem.
This was mentioned before that people who are hired on a casual basis and if there is a selection, I wonder if the employing department, if the selection can be made by somebody other than their own community. Has this been considered? Just by going with their qualifications, I wonder if this would work better like that.
Thank you. The bell has been rung.
And members, please if you are going to step outside the chambers, always double check to make sure we have a quorum.
There should be ten of us or more.
In different regions, we have offices in Rankin, Cambridge Bay, and Igloolik, but I will let my deputy elaborate more on this, Mr. Chairman.
We have offices in Nunavut in Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Igloolik, and also in Iqaluit.
The Igloolik office deals with the whole Baffin; and Rankin Inlet for the whole Keewatin; and Cambridge Bay for the whole Kitikmeot region.
They are the ones that handle the casual employment.
We are aware that the regional centres have offices. We know that these regional centres hire permanent positions, but for the smaller communities, when they are ready to hire casual employees I think the workload is given to the communities.
This might be kind of cumbersome for some communities.
Just listening to Human Resources, it seems like they are doing very well. What we hear from our constituents, that is not the case.
Will this be reviewed further because it is the individual communities that do the hiring of casual employees? That’s what we hear from the Inuit.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I will be fully open to his suggestion to find out where the problems are. That will be part of the solution.
We are on D-9. (interpretation ends) Inuit Employment Plan.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $732,000.
Chairman: Turn to page D-10.
I’d like more information on this under Training and Development because it is slightly smaller than last year, but it is still $4,659,000, which is quite a bit.
Maybe one of them can explain exactly what it is for, especially because it states here that they deal with training and development to Government of Nunavut employees. Is this for all the Government of Nunavut employees? What kind of training do they get?
Maybe they can give an example of what kind of training they are talking about? Which are successful? Where is the training being conducted?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I’ll let my deputy respond to that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The funding that is there, $4,659,000; $1,136,000 is for salaries and benefits for our staff, and $3,543,000 is for training and development.
We have cultural employee orientation; and Inuktitut language and also training in Inuktitut, and other learning and development.
For example, computer programs, Nunavut Advanced Management Diploma Program.
Up to now, we have trained 940 since April 1, 2005. As of December 2005, we have trained 940 employees through this branch. And there is also workplace wellness.
We have trained another 600 in regard to first aid, CPR, suicide prevention, and coping with stress. Those are the different training programs that we dealt with.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): By reading this, I understood this. I wanted an example, where looking at this, some of them can be dealt with by Arctic College.