EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It would be better if the butchering was undertaken at sites further away from the cabins or alternatively, as per my previous statement, they should have meat cache boxes, which can be applied for.
When Inuit apply for this program, the limit is set at $2,000 per applicant. If there is an application to undertake work or materials, then that application could be approved up to $10,000.
Yes, we can look into this matter to see if we can review them separately or if there are different criteria, as I stated earlier, we review them on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants may all be approved or none of them could be approved or part of their application could be approved, so this determination is done upon review of the application. This will be determined at those times.
Members will note that the clock is indicating that the time allotted for question period has expired.
Tabled Document 233 – 3(3): Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Contracting Report for the Year Ended March 31, 2010 (Taptuna)
I am pleased to table the revised Nunavut Housing Corporation Contracting Report for the Year Ended March 31, 2010.
Tabled Document 234 – 3(3): Correspondence Concerning Relocation of Graves in Hall Beach (Tapardjuk)
I wish to table a collection of recent correspondence concerning the longstanding and unresolved issue of the relocation of graves in Hall Beach.
I wish to advise the Minister of Health and Social Services that I will have further questions for him on this issue during our fall sitting.
Tabled Document 235 – 3(3): Article from Nunavut News/North: Mercury Risk in Seal Liver (Elliott)
I wish to table a copy of a recent article published in Nunavut News/North. The article is titled “Mercury risk in seal liver.”
I urge all members to review the item with care.
Tabled Document 236 – 3(3): Correspondence from Rankin Inlet Students (Curley)
Tabled Document 237 – 3(3): The Lost Arctic Voyagers by Charles Dickens (Curley)
I expect that I will be able to table these letters I received.
First of all, the letter from Chris Echoes, who is a social studies teacher, who is teaching ten students in grade 10 and who wrote that letter to my constituency office to bring to my attention. We urge the government to read this letter so that we can provide assistance, as per the students’ recommendations.
Mr. Speaker, another document I wish to table which should surface tomorrow, further to my Member’s Statement of yesterday, is a copy of (interpretation ends) The Lost Arctic Voyagers by Charles Dickens.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that this document will help to clarify why I believe that it is not appropriate to mount a new search for the Franklin vessels.
History is about more than hardware, Mr. Speaker.
Motion 033 – 3(3): Extension of Review Period for Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Legal Services Act – Notice (Ningeongan)
I give notice that on Friday, October 26, 2012, I will move the following motion:
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Amittuq, that the period of time for the standing committee to report Bill 32 back to the House be extended by a further 120 days.
Motion 034 – 3(3): Legislative Assembly Appointments and Revocations – Notice (Elliott)
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Baker Lake, that the Legislative Assembly make appointments and revocations to its standing committees and other positions.
Item 16: Motions  Mr. Ningeongan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The member is seeking unanimous consent to deal with his motion today. Are there any nays? There being none.
Motion 033 – 3(3): Extension of Review Period for Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Legal Services Act (Ningeongan)
WHEREAS Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Legal Services Act, received second reading on March 1, 2012;
AND WHEREAS Bill 32 has been referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation for consideration;
AND WHEREAS the standing committee has been exchanging correspondence with the Minister of Justice concerning Bill 32;
AND WHEREAS the Minister of Justice has formally indicated that further time is required to respond to the standing committee’s most recent correspondence;
Motion 034 – 3(3): Legislative Assembly Appointments and Revocations (Elliott)
WHEREAS section 17 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides for the Legislative Assembly to appoint such committees to aid and advise as it considers necessary;
NOW THERFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Baker Lake, that the Legislative Assembly make appointments and revocations to its standing committees and other positions;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that the Member for Nattilik be appointed a member of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that the Member for Tununiq be appointed an alternate member of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that the appointment of the Member for Nattilik as an alternate member for the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges be revoked.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 41, 42, and 43 with Mr. Tapardjuk in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:16 and Committee resumed at 15:43
I will now call the committee meeting to order.
In Committee of the Whole, the Speaker has given us the following items to deal with: Bills 41, 42, and 43.
We wish to continue our review of Bill 41, Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2013-2014, and the capital estimates of the Department of Community and Government Services.
When we conclude with that department, we will deal with the Department of Justice and, if time permits, Nunavut Arctic College.
Are we agreed that we will continue our review of the capital estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services?
Do members agree to bring in Minister Kusugak and his officials to the witness table?
Minister Kusugak, you and your officials can go to the witness table. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in.
Minister Kusugak, thank you for appearing before us. We didn’t complete your department, so we will continue with your department in Committee of the Whole.
Before we begin, Mr. Minister, for the record, please introduce your witnesses.
It is good that we will once again be able to discuss these matters.
On my left is my Deputy Minister, Roy Green, and on my right is Bu Lam, Director of Community Capital Planning for CG&S.
We are dealing with Community and Government Services. Page H-3.
Capital Planning. (interpretation ends) Branch Summary. (interpretation) I have no more names on my list.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I want to ask some more questions concerning the department’s project for renovations for Taloyoak’s community hall.
The department’s capital estimates indicate that $2.8 million was allocated for this project in prior years.
Can the minister or his officials give me a breakdown of how the money was actually being spent?
Perhaps I’ll get my Deputy Minister, Mr. Green, through you, to respond to that question.
Mr. Green, go ahead.
I don’t have the specific breakdown of all the expenditures that were completed for the Taloyoak arena.
It has been done in two phases. The first phase was that we spent approximately $800,000 just in some mechanical and code upgrades with the complex.
In January 2013, we will be issuing the second contract that will be for mechanical upgrades, upgrades to the walls and some repairs to the floors in the community hall, and fixing up the arena.
Any more, Ms. Ugyuk?
When can the minister provide an update on the breakdown of the renovations required, as well as the funding required to undertake the work so that the community hall and arena can be repaired?
As identified, the funds will be used for these repairs, although some of the repairs have already been done, such as the community hall electrical repairs and electrical code requirements for the arena to ensure that it can open, as per the legal requirements for public places, and we had to make some revisions.
It will also be detailed out later in January 2013, where the list of repairs required will be completed for the floor and other repairs. Once the tender has been released, we will have an idea of exactly how much we need to undertake these repairs as per the list.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The department’s substantiation sheet for this project indicates that phase 2 of the project will “include upgrades to the complex, including installation of concrete slab with thermosiphon technology and ventilation system.”
However, the deputy minister stated yesterday that “there is no money in the budget to install a concrete slab or the thermosiphon.”
Can the minister or his officials clarify if new funds will be allocated for the phase 2 improvements in next year’s capital estimates or in a supplementary appropriation?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. I believe she is asking about thermosiphon. Minister Kusugak.
I thought I was the only one who had trouble pronouncing “thermosiphon” properly. I was only able to pronounce it properly with practise.
Yes, we tried to get funding to put concrete on the floor of the arena so that it could freeze earlier. Unfortunately the funding request wasn’t approved.
However, I can tell the member that we will be looking for more funding to try and have this completed prior to year-end. We will look for funding to complete this work. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you. I’ll try and practise pronouncing that word and perhaps in January, I will be able to pronounce it properly when I’m asking questions.
However, when I posed my first question, I didn’t get a full response. Will they provide information to help me understand how much of the $2.8 million that was approved last year for this project has already been expended to date? I hope to get a response to this question in the future.
Will I get that answer in January?
If they understand my question, I hope to get an answer.
The reasoning for my question is that this facility has been used on and off, and our youth are clamouring to use the arena in Taloyoak, as well as the younger children.
I hope to receive an understandable response so that Taloyoak residents will know the status.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is a relevant question.
Firstly, the initial work was undertaken in phase 1, as per my previous report, as required to ensure that the facility can be kept open and not closed.
Whether it is due to electrical, plumbing, or other required repairs, the work totalled about $1.4 million.
The other part of the funding, which is $1 million, has yet to be expended.
We had advertised an RFP to tender out the repair work that was still required. However, only one company submitted a bid which surpassed our total budget for the work required.
That resulted in the need for the re-advertisement of a new RFP, which will be done in January, and the total budget for this work will be around $1 million.
I certainly hope that clarifies the situation.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That clarifies the situation and it is clearer now how much money has already been expended for the repairs needed for the community hall and arena, which was stated to be $1.4 million to date.
Were these funds used properly?
Are the required repairs completed in that facility using these funds?
Based on my perception of the matter, I usually go to the community hall, which is being painted.
Several doors and walls are being painted, and I don’t imagine that this work would cost that much just for the paint.
That is what I would like to get clarified.
The money is being expended properly in Taloyoak. When you look at fixing up the electrical, plumbing, and everything else, you can’t really see how much money they are expending.
If you just look at it, it’s beginning to look very good, but the electrical, heating, and plumbing systems have to be done as well. There was money. You can’t see the work when you look at it because it’s not visible.
They’re expending the money properly, Mr. Chairman.
The things that I don’t see when I go to the community hall, such as electrical, heating, and plumbing, is it up to code now?
At this time, all the work that has to be done is nearly completed.
They have a new heater that they still have to install at the community hall. The contractors are working on it.
The question that I have for the department is for the 2012-13 capital estimates allocated for small capital. The minister has requested in previous years for the amount of money and for the coming years up to 2018, I think there is about $5 million for each fiscal year until 2018.
However, page 204 of the capital plan project executive summary states that CGS is requesting a $1 million increase to the small capital budget to help address increases in project costs due to inflation and increased volume of projects due to changes in the regulations.
I would like to ask the minister when there is going to be some money again requested for that.
Due to inflation, we deal with small capital. We are requesting another $1 million for the increase in volume.
I wanted to find out when the increase of $1 million is expected.
We requested that $1 million, but we usually don’t always get an approval. Our request for an additional $1 million was denied. We will be requesting again with that amount of money or a little more.
The reason why I raised the question to Minister Kusugak was that as regular members, we prefer to look at the breakdown of the details requiring the funding.
Perhaps you would get more support for your department if the requests for funding already included these details for review by the committee members down the road.
I just wanted to get further clarification as I am currently unaware of future requests. I did note that this was a separate request, Mr. Chairman. I would like to know if the minister can respond to my question.
Yes, if it’s possible, we try to have a breakdown of what we want to use the money for, but sometimes there is emergency money that has to be expended.
We want to be able to have some money set aside as contingency.
Whenever possible, we try to have them broken down and we will probably have a breakdown of the money that we will be expending and for what.
Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the information.
Regular members have to approve the money that you are requesting.
We want to know what it’s going to be spent on because we don’t want it to be used for anything other than the intended purpose.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ningeongan. We are on page H-3. (interpretation ends) Capital Planning.
This goes towards my general comments from yesterday in terms of asking about the capital planning process and what the Government of Nunavut is doing or what the minister’s department, in particular, is doing.
The Government of Nunavut recently developed a new capital planning process handbook and I was just wondering if the minister could explain what some of the important changes have been made in the capital planning process.
I would love to explain that if I can, through my deputy, through you, Mr. Chairman.
One of the key components in the new capital planning process is that before projects are introduced in the five-year capital planning process for consideration, we would require a rigorous pre-planning study to be done first of all to identify what the problem is with the infrastructure in terms of the program service and delivery.
It would allow us to look at doing an options analysis and a feasibility study to determine what the most appropriate solution is to solving a particular infrastructure problem.
The new handbook actually indicates that there are three primary criteria for ranking or rating projects that are being put forward by different departments and also suggestions from hamlets.
I believe it’s health and safety mandated programs and services and sustainability and economic benefits.
I’m just wondering: are these criteria being followed or applied to all proposals for new capital projects?
Yes, they will be.
For this round of capital planning and for the approval of these, was the new capital planning process and the criteria used for the decisions made?
No, because they were done prior.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Do you have any more questions? Mr. Elliott.
One of the other concerns that I raised in my general comments was the idea of, I believe, the Minister of Finance, in his fiscal update, mentioned “pent up” demand of capital funds. I was just concerned about the number of capital carryover projects that we actually have.
With putting an increase of 60 percent of our capital budget, I’m just wondering: what’s being done within the department to make sure that we don’t have more capital carryover projects or is there a way that your department is being restructured to get some of these projects completed?
I think my colleague is aware that you can get away from doing carryovers in previous years mainly because a lot of that funding was from the Building Canada Fund, which meant that we had to front load our funding from government even before the construction was started.
Because they were front-loaded, you will notice that as the facilities become completed, the carryovers will decrease.
I know my colleague yesterday mentioned quite a few projects, actually, from his riding that were completed.
Some of those had to be front-loaded. Mr. Chairman, it was the nature of the beast. With some funding we get from the federal government, some programs, we have to commit the funding before we even begin construction and that causes carryovers.
It will be noted that as those projects are completed, the carryovers should decrease significantly. In fact, over the next year, many of these carryovers should go because those projects will be concluded.
At this point, we’re up to, I think, 143 capital carryover projects approximately. We’re probably ending the construction cycle in terms of construction in the communities with the cold weather, snow, and ice coming.
Is your department looking at more than 143 this year or are you saying that they will be lower?
Yes, the construction season doesn’t end in cold weather, as the construction continues in terms of working on the inside of a lot of these facilities.
Work goes on all year. We’re hoping and we believe that that number will decrease this year.
Do you have any more questions? Mr. Elliott.
I think one of the other concerns that was raised by members in the past in terms of commitments for some of these projects which you had mentioned were Building Canada funds, where there are certain requirements that need to be met, are all of these projects… ? Is there a certain date that the Building Canada Fund programs actually have to be completed?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Yes, Mr. Chairman, there is a sunset clause on the Building Canada funds. I believe it is 2016, Mr. Chairman.
Again, with the amount of capital carryover that we do end up approving through supplementary appropriation, are there any projects that maybe are going to end up falling off… ?
I don’t know if you would call it falling off the table, but will they all be completed by the 2016 deadline?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Elliott, for your line of questioning.
Yes, it should be all complete before the deadline.
In the capital planning book on H-4 in terms of Resolute Bay’s water system, I know the community… .
I had thanked you yesterday for coming up to the community of Resolute Bay to actually announce to the hamlet council and also to the community that the water system was going to be renewed and fixed.
I believe, at the time, it was a five-year process that was going to be worked out to have the utilidor replaced.
I’m wondering if I could get an update on what has been happening with that since that time.
That was a good day in Resolute Bay when we were able to visit the community and make that announcement. Everything is on schedule right now with that community. I believe we’re still in the design phase, but as far as we know, everything is on schedule, Mr. Chairman.
At the same time, I would like to ask a question about one of the Building Canada funds that we’re actually not going to be voting on, but I know I had asked questions about it before and I think it’s a real concern.
It’s one of the projects in Grise Fiord in terms of whether that project is on track.
I think the reason I asked that question is because I know the residents of Grise Fiord are really excited about having a new hamlet complex there. The GN facility that they were in and the building that the GN employees were in was condemned since 1970, so they’re really excited to have a new building to be able to go to work and take pride in being government employees.
At the same time, it will lead to questions that I’ll be asking the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College when he’s up.
Once the hamlet complex is complete, which they’re hoping will be next year, there will be renovations done to the old hamlet office to bring it up to classrooms for a community learning centre, which I know the community is really excited about as well.
So it would be nice to know and make sure that this project is on track.
I’m glad to say that all the projects that are in your riding are on track and this is one of them.
Who raised their hand?
I also thank the minister for being in front of the committee.
I wanted to ask this question related to the letters I tabled earlier that stemmed from the youth. Unfortunately, they aren’t readily available at this time.
However, many students outlined that due to the lack of activities for the youth; many of them turn to crime. Some of the letters came from two age groups, some of which will appear tomorrow. The ages range from 15 to 16, many of whom are in grade 10.
I believe these students’ assertion that due to the lack of youth activities, many youth turn to crime, as there aren’t enough recreational facilities.
Additionally, some students spoke about the need for a teen centre that would have activities designed for youth. Some of the students want to be able to play sports as well within a facility, although they already know that it is practically impossible. Our community lacks a basketball court and the facilities that have them can only accommodate certain numbers of players.
Due to these reasons surrounding Rankin Inlet, there was funding approved to the tune of $200,000 last winter and the year prior, 2010-11.
What if these funds were specifically for the design phase? Can you give us an update on what’s happening with that?
We’re looking at the youth.
I’m not just talking about arenas; I’m talking about recreational facilities.
If this $200,000 is for the design phase and then there’s $500,000 next year, is it for the design phase or is it for some other purpose?
I would like to thank Mr. Curley for the questions.
I’m from Rankin Inlet and I have been listening to those comments in Rankin Inlet for a very long time because they’re concerned about not having recreational facilities.
First of all, I would like to congratulate Rankin Inlet because they are working very hard to raise funds for recreational purposes. They built a baseball field with artificial turf and they bought it with the money that they raised.
They would also like to see an extension to the baseball field so that there would be more participants.
Last year, the recreational coordinator worked with private businesses and put concrete where they can have floor hockey.
From what I can understand, they’re now raising funds to put down artificial turf.
They’re not just sitting by at all, especially Rankin Inlet, trying to put together some recreational facilities and purposes.
I support them fully and I hope to see communities do that sort of thing.
In regard to the arena, it’s in design phase at this point.
The hamlet council in Rankin Inlet is trying to find out what the people of Rankin Inlet would like.
Once that part is completed, once we know the design of the facility, and so on, we will be looking for funds to put up the structure.
I hope I answered your question, Mr. Chairman.