EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We can certainly provide some assistance in some of the start up costs if that were the case that it proves to be beneficial to communities, businesses, and individuals throughout Nunavut.
By the same token Mr. Speaker, I understand right now that the Royal Bank is doing an alternate banking centre in Arviat, from what I understand, and testing out the delivery of some expanded form of services to see whether or not that would work.
I guess as a result of whatever determination they make from that proposal at this time or that service, they can make additional decisions whether or not to expand into other communities.
Thank you Mr. Minister of Finance for setting up that pilot project in Arviat.
Since we created the Nunavut Government, some of the communities have become part of the decentralization plan.
It is coming very fast and there are quite a lot of people that have moved to those decentralized communities.
We have new people that are well established in their new communities.
Using our local Co-op for example, they are the only establishment that we can use to provide banking services.
So, with the increased population in the decentralized communities and in the other communities, we seriously have to consider setting up financial institutions.
So I will keep it at that while I have the time.
Speaker: I believe that was more of a statement than a question. Okay.
I didn't hear a question so if there is a question and you want to repeat it go ahead.
I would just like to remind everybody to keep your preambles short and make your questions precise.
I would like to question the Minister of Finance.
He stated earlier that he would be working on this with the credit unions.
Have you found people to work on this area or this issue.
Mr. Speaker, I should clarify first of all, it wasn't the government that set up the alternate banking services pilot project the member referred to.
It was the Royal Bank I believe.
Secondly, just on this matter of credit unions.
Again, I would reiterate that it is not the government that would set up the credit union.
If there is an interested proponent out there, for example we know in years past that Arctic Co-operatives were very active in trying to get credit unions up and running in some of the communities where they thought there would be enough business to make it viable.
The former GNWT at that time offered some assistance.
We would also as a government be willing to look at what type of assistance we might be able to offer, whether it be the Arctic Co-operatives or any other group of individuals or businesses that might be looking at setting up some type of financial services or to expand on existing services.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ng. Supplementary.
Question 002 – 1(4): Homeownership Subsidies
In my member's statement I said that it is getting harder to maintain a house as a homeowner because the high cost of living is continually rising.
My question is, what assistance is available to homeowners in the smallest communities to help pay for their bills.
They need to heat their homes in the winter.
Speaker: Ms. Thompson, Minister for Housing.
In March, the housing task force put out 15 recommendations and we will be working on these recommendations.
During their task force meetings, they heard concerns from the communities regarding the high cost of living and we will be working on how we could help the communities.
We will be working on the recommendations.
The cost of fuel in the smaller communities is more than what it is in the Capital or the larger centres.
Will the minister seriously consider some sort of program to make the price of home heating oil in the smaller communities comparable to the cost in larger communities.
The expenses that you have to pay all put together are very high.
So, that is my question to the minister.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Alakannuark.
I will be giving a report on the oil prices, regarding the increases in oil and during my report I will be able to respond to that concern Mr. Speaker.
Question 003 – 1(4): Firearms Certification Extension
I was not expecting to speak next but thank you very much anyway.
My question is directed to the Premier regarding the gun control legislation.
This past summer up to the end of September, we had people coming to our communities to fill out forms for firearms registration.
Could he give us an update on how it has been going.
When is the deadline, is it the end of January.
The federal law states that the firearms registrations must be completed by end of December as I recall.
This is not our territorial legislation but is federal law.
We are not responsible for dealing with this issue.
Just for the benefit of the people that are watching us back home, it may seem to take quite a while before be get to the second supplementary and third.
We are waiting for translations to complete itself.
The Premier and the NTI President had an agreement to work together on a court challenge in support of hunters in Nunavut.
The NTI President and the Premier had signed an agreement to work together.
If the hunters did not get their license or get their firearms registered by December 31 they will not be able to hunting because they will not have the license to hold their firearms.
So my question is, will the deadline of December 31 be too close.
I was wondering if the premier can work to defer that deadline.
Yes the legislation is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government.
The Nunavut Government could ask them to defer the deadline because we have heard that many Inuit people from Nunavut will be unable to register their rifles or their firearms.
Some of the communities were not visited so perhaps we can ask the Federal Government to change the deadline before this legislation is implemented.
We can ask them to defer if that is the wish of the Nunavummiut.
The premier had stated that he can ask his Federal Government counterparts if they can defer this.
If we can at least defer the deadline date.
Can this happen only by way of motion from us.
Is that the only time you can ask the Federal Government to defer this.
I can ask my colleagues here and discuss this matter with them and make a decision as to what kind of procedure we will follow so that I can represent you adequately.
So therefore I can discuss this matter with you as to how you would like me to go about it.
Yes, I know that this is quite a challenge but I know that its going to take a bit of time to deal with this issue through the courts.
I will discuss this matter with my colleagues.
I am sure that we can find out which direction you would like me to go.
If we could ask the Federal Government perhaps at least to defer the matter up to 3 to 4 weeks.
I would like to ask the Premier since it is part of his portfolio being the Premier, if he could negotiate with the Federal Government.
We have been elected to represent our communities, so he should represent the Nunavut Government.
I would like to ask the Premier to go on behalf of Nunavut and he stated that he would like to ask us what our wishes are before he can go speak to his Federal counterparts, so therefore, I would like to ask him to represent the Nunavut Government.
I just wanted to get a clear definition as to the direction that you would like me to go in.
That is why I wanted to get your input on it.
If you just want me to write a letter asking for a deferral I am open to it, I am open to any direction you give me.
I just did not want to do this on my own.
Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.
Question 004 – 1(4): Protection of Inuit Inukshuk Symbol
It took a while for the third session to be completed.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister for Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
I would also like to welcome you to the fourth session of the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, we have heard through the media and the newspapers about somebody else other than me.
The Inukshuk, the symbols of the Inuit people we have heard about a private business wanting to use our Inuit symbol.
I would like to ask the minister if you would be working with NTI and ITC to protect the Inuit Inukshuk.
Minister responsible for Culture.
Your question is very good, but to date I have had no dealings with this issue.
If NTI or ITC are willing to work with my department, I am open and willing to do so.
Mr. Speaker, the minister should be well aware now that our cultural symbols, even religious symbols such as crosses, private companies should not be able to have those as their property or as their trademark.
I know that Canada recognizes this as being an Inuit symbol.
The Nunavut Government should work to protect their symbols.
The only time that they are willing to work with the ITC or NTI is when they are invited to do so.
Therefore I would like to ask, can't your department or the Nunavut Government participate from the beginning so that we can ask the company not to use our Inuit symbol.
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, it is true what the Member is saying. In the past we have heard from the public and we have to protect our symbols such as Inukshuks.
I am not trying to say I am waiting for the other entities to come and invite me to participate with them.
To date I have not discussed this matter with either Inuit Organizations whether it be NTI or ITC.
Once I have that opportunity I will look forward to working with them.
I just want to inform you that I have not brought this issue up with either NTI or ITC.
Supplementary. Mr. Arvaluk.
When will you be willing to discuss this matter with NTI or ITC in regards to this issue.
I know that this 4th session is going short.
So will you be able to do that before the end of the 4th session.
I can not give you a definite date.
I will ask NTI and ITC if they can talk about the issue with me before the 4th session concludes.
Question 005 - 1(4): Status of Nunavut / Manitoba MOU
During the Rankin Inlet session in February the Nunavut Government and the Manitoba Government signed a memorandum of understanding.
Can the Premier tell me what the status is now with the signing of the MOU.
Yes, there are two issues that we are dealing with at this time.
Highway construction and the power grid.
I am sure that we will be tabling a report sometime soon.
They are just reviewing the highway issue down in Manitoba and at this time we are now taking on the Power Corporation.
Nunavut Power Corporation is now reviewing the options to see if we can trade energy between Manitoba and Nunavut.
So, these are the two issues that we are dealing with.
Question 006 - 1(4): Municipal Financing
Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Community Government and Transportation.
I believe earlier in the 3rd session Mr. Speaker, he indicated along with the House Leader they were going to be doing a review of how the municipalities were financed.
I would just like to ask the minister if he could update us on where the review is at now.
Sometime last year, I initiated a review of our financing process for communities.
We had a brief update when I met with the Mayors here last week.
However, at this point the report of the committee is not ready and I would like to inform the member that as soon as we start planning on how we are going to renew or…(interpretation)…once we complete the report on what the recommendations for funding arrangement are, we will include them or let them participate.
However, at this time we have not set up the financial criteria or the program.
Mr. Speaker, I believe in his response the minister indicated that he has a committee working on this.
I would just like to ask him who is on that committee and when will it be struck.
This is more of a technical committee and the committee members are from within the civil service.
The person who is basically conducting it, or the person in charge is Mr. Shawn Maley, the Superintendent of Community Government & Transportation in Rankin Inlet.
At this point in time, I apologize, I cannot give him the names of the whole committee, but it is basically a technical committee looking at the financing process for communities.
I would be pleased to inform the member of who the committee members are but again, when the report is done, it will be up to myself as the Minister of Community Government & Transportation with the assistance of the Legislative Assembly Members to do a final analysis and a final process for how we are going to change the funding system to the communities.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated that the committee was made up of civil servants.
Mr. Speaker, I know in the past the way the formulas work out, that the civil servants in the public service administer that program and it has always been the municipalities' administration and the mayors and councillors at the municipal level that have concerns with that formula.
Will the minister ensure that there is some room or a spot on that committee for the communities to be able to provide their input and have some representation on that committee.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Mr. Speaker, I apologize it is not just the civil servants who are on the committee.
If I remember correctly we have a couple of mayors.
However, keep in mind that whatever recommendations are made to myself as the minister, the final analysis and the final recommendations will be made by myself as well as with the assistance of the Legislative Assembly.
Having been a mayor formerly, having been a settlement Senior Administrative Officer and having been a former councillor, I have some ideas of how we should reform the system.
I can assure the member that as soon as we get to that stage we will be including all of the Legislative Assembly members into reforming the funding system to the communities.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to that day and seeing that report.
But I would just like to ask the minister if he could provide us with some type of a time frame.
It has been almost a year now or three quarters of a year since this was initiated.
I would just like to ask if he has any type of a time frame on when we will have something that we can look at.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, the issue of finances in each community was conducted by the Government of the NWT just prior to the division, however when the review was done, it was for all of NWT.
We are all aware Mr. Speaker, when Nunavut was part of the NWT, there were always some real problems between the way Nunavut communities operated and other communities in the Western part of the NWT operated such as having to deal with band councils.
So as a result I asked for further studies on the financing and I will be happy to keep the members informed.
The committee doing the study is co-chaired by the Deputy Minister Mike Ferris, and the Nunavut Association of Municipalities President Dennis Lyall and the working group is made up of departmental staff, Hamlet Senior Administrators and because of similarities in the funding process we also included the Housing Corporation staff.
Question 007 - 1(4): Increases to Power Rates due to Fuel Costs
My question is for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Power Corporation.
What assurance can the minister give that families in households will not be hit by power bill increases as a result of the rising price of oil.
Speaker: Minister for the Power Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, a little bit over a month ago, we approved the budgets for the Nunavut Power Corporation in Baker Lake and at the time Mr. Speaker, the budget was approved for a little over 48 million dollars for O & M, it did not include an increase for any rising fuel costs.
Mr. Speaker, lower than anticipated costs for the operation of the headquarters of Baker Lake as well as increases in revenue projections based on the demand in growth, especially in some decentralized communities and here in Iqaluit, has for the time being Mr. Speaker, isolated us from having to increase the power rates.
Mr. Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As there are going to be increases for fuel prices, how is it that you are going to keep the present power rates.
It would seem like there would have to be increases in the power rates, if there’s going to be in increase in oil rates.
Do you see an increase in prices, sometime this upcoming year.
Speaker: Thank you. Minister Picco.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, that’s a good question.
Mr. Speaker, under the process for increasing rates or charging more. The Nunavut Power Corporation would have to do what’s called a GRA.
A General Rates application to increase our power costs.
Mr. Speaker at the same time we have an agency, formed under the Government like in the NWT and other jurisdictions called a Public Utilities Board which would have to review any rates application or increase.
So there are checks and balances along the way to protect us, Mr. Speaker the consumer and as the member knows, the largest consumer of power in Nunavut is the government and that’s the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, Nunavut Government, as well as Municipal Governments.
I cannot project 8 months down the road Mr. Speaker, I cannot see the future.
We anticipate with the budget that was approved in Baker Lake that we will not have to raise the power rates Mr. Speaker, for at least until some time in the spring where we will take a look at it again.
Our revenue projection shows us increases in revenue.
That revenue increase will offset any cost in the increase in fuel.
But there are checks and balances along the way.
So I hope Mr. Speaker that helps clarify the question for the member.
Question 008 - 1(4): Authority of Community Education Councils
I will direct my question to the Education Minister.
The divisional boards that were dissolved on July 1, 2000. They are now dissolved and now we have community education councils who'll be taking on more responsibilities since the dissolution of the divisional boards.
Could the minister elaborate on what kind of new authorities they will be taking on.
Right now it is status quo.
We will give the communities time to take on more responsibilities and more authority.
The communities will be given more authority as they increase their capacity, we are open to that.
We are also reviewing the Education Act this year.
Again to the Minister of Education.
But if you are going to be amending the Education Act are you going to be defining the roles and responsibilities of these authorities or committees under this Education Act.
Speaker: Supplementary Mr. Nutarak.
Mr. Speaker, if we are going to be amending the Education Act how long is that process going to take.
Are we going to be done by 2002 or what is the time line like to amend the Education Act.
Speaker: Minister Okalik.
Yes we have signed an agreement with NTI to work together on the Education Act.
We have been working on this approximately a year now especially the previous minister.
We hope to implement the new Education Act next spring but it will be up to my colleagues to see how long it would be under review.
Question 009 - 1(4): Assistance to Comply with Gun Legislation
My question is going to the Premier. It is about gun legislation.
Let me say first of all, it is in regards to the NTI court challenge.
(interpretation) The last I heard, when federal government officials went to Kugluktuk they never even finished what they were doing and left town.
I was not very happy about this because they did not complete their work and December 31 is fast approaching. (interpretation ends) Can the Premier commit to speaking with his federal counterparts to ensure all communities are given assistance to comply with the legislation so they are given the help they need.
Can you commit to that.
Like I mentioned, this is not the responsibility of the Nunavut Government and the people that were touring the communities were not our staff.
We can talk to them but it is the Federal Government’s mandate.
I would like to be given direction by motion or resolution and if you give me direction to write a letter to the Federal Government I could do so.
There is a person who is representing Nunavut in Parliament and you could also call that person.
There are a lot of avenues that you can use to get your message across.
Supplementary. Mr. Havioyak.
Mr. Havioyak: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I have been trying to get help for my people on this issue. We should try and help our people in communities and not just say it is the Federal Government’s responsibility.
It is sometimes pretty hard to understand this because it is complex. We should be helping our people because they go hunting but also they worry if they do not meet their obligations they will not be able to buy ammunition.
We should try and get this through to the Federal Government because we do not have very much time.
We have what you call a Member of Parliament who represents our interests at the Federal level.
I believe that is where you should direct your frustration there.
If you do have frustration with the gun law, our role as Members of the Legislature is to deal with our laws in Nunavut.
That is our role.
What we have done as a government is to support NTI in challenging this gun control legislation because we agree with a lot of our constituents that we have an aboriginal right to hunt, trap and fish without a formal licence or fee.
That is what we have done in supporting in trying to quash this legislation which is causing a lot of grief for a lot of our residents here in our territory and whatever way that we can try and support further delay of the implementation of this legislation we can try that.
I want to know from members, whether it be by way of motion from the House if you want me to write a letter or some form of lobbying.
I am open to that.
Final supplementary. Mr. Havioyak.
Please continue with that and I am happy about your response. But please try hard and I encourage you to get as much information and lobby on our behalf because our people are having a hard time with this.
It is something that we are worried about because our people are concerned about it.
I will be speaking to you and asking you to write a letter or make a motion, but we will figure this out later on today so that it will be a little easier for you to work on this.
Speaker: I believe that was just a comment.
We will move on.
Question 010 – 1(4): No Fuel Delivered to Community
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Petroleum Products Division.
In one of my constituency communities, we did not receive a re-supply and I am wondering why this was, Mr. Speaker.
When a community has enough supply for the new year, they are often left out for that year.
I will look into this further for the member and I will give him a response regarding his concern.
We are expecting that the fuel supply in our community will not be enough for the year.
So if that was the case how would be able to receive more fuel for the community.
Speaker: I would just like to make a reminder that if they are taking a question as notice to make it clear, just to say that I will look into it…if you are taking it as notice then make sure that you state that.
I didn't take that as notice.
I just informed the member that I will get back to him with the information by tomorrow morning. (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, if there is not enough fuel for the year we would make sure that a delivery comes into that community to bring in fuel.
Question 011 – 1(4): Community Input to Capital Plan
Earlier he responded to a question regarding the capital plan.
I believe actually last session, last week, he had indicated that the government and his department were developing this capital plan and once it was developed that we and the communities would get an opportunity to provide input on it.
Mr. Speaker, last February I asked the minister a similar question and he had indicated at that time that the communities would have input into the capital plan prior to it being developed as was the practice prior to April 1, and the creation of Nunavut.
It seems like since then the communities haven't had any opportunity to provide input into the capital planning process.
So I am just wondering when the communities, will get an opportunity, finally, to have some input into that.
Mr. Speaker, when you use the word develop, that's a very broad word.