EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So I will commit that we will do a very thorough review. That will be looked at, but I can’t commit to providing it for the next sitting.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) These homeowners are saving us a lot of money today.
They’re not asking much.
They’re just asking that this program be reviewed so that they can continue to own their homes and do their part in reducing consumption of fossil fuels, which are on the agenda today, and hope that they can continue on and have a more productive home and some place where they can stay warm over the winter months in the coming years.
So that’s all they’re asking and it’s not a big commitment.
It’s something that can save us a lot of money in the long run. So that’s all that they are asking for.
It would be a nice Christmas present for them. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Someone was conserving energy there by not turning the light on right away, I guess.
Mr. Speaker, as I said, the member is very well aware these are some of the issues that I have been raising for the last 10 years and some of those changes finally got implemented just two years ago, so it does take time to do things.
We don’t just make a snap decision that may not be the best decision to move forward in.
So that’s why I said that the corporation will be doing a comprehensive review and evaluation of all of its programs and when that’s done, any changes that will be made will be coming out of that.
Question 196 – 3(2): King William Island Park and Explorer Exhibition Centre (Pauloosie)
My questions are for the Minister of CLEY.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up on the questions that I asked in Committee of the Whole last Friday regarding the Northwest Passage Park and Heritage Centre.
Mr. Speaker, the existing Northwest Passage Park in Gjoa Haven is simply a walking trail that consists of nine signposts throughout the community of Gjoa Haven.
There are references to the heritage centre in Gjoa Haven, but this is actually the elders’ centre. And there are references to the Northwest Passage Museum, but this is just a small display on the second floor of the hamlet office.
Mr. Speaker, there is no centre dedicated to the display of historical information and artefacts related to explorers.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister if he would be willing to ask his officials to review the possibility of establishing a dedicated heritage centre in conjunction with a more comprehensive educational heritage park on King William Island to accommodate the high tourist and research traffic in the area.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also wish to thank the member for raising his question.
With respect to the grants and contributions for those types of items, our department does have funds available which are allotted for museums, heritage centres, and visitor centres. We have a smattering of each throughout Nunavut and all that is required is an application or a letter of request submitted to our department either by the local hamlet or other organization that is a group charged with managing the centre.
If there is such a group in Gjoa Haven, we would welcome any request for assistance from them for their planned projects, Mr. Speaker
There are many sources of information in Gjoa Haven with respect to Amundsen and his crew as the first successful exploration team to travel the Northwest Passage.
However, there is not enough information on display with respect to Captain Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition.
I believe that Gjoa Haven should have a dedicated centre to display all explorers’ artefacts and related items as well as information on the role that the Inuit had or could have had at the time.
Does the minister agree that this would be a good opportunity for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth to showcase their commitment to providing Nunavummiut and visitors with information about our history?
With respect to my response, I agreed totally and I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Nonetheless, without the paper trail associated with a request, it is impossible to know what a community would like or if they plan on building a centre.
My immediate response is that I would only be too happy to work with the residents of Gjoa Haven on both their ideas towards a local centre or museum, or on their ideas for a heritage centre. If they wanted to work towards a museum with archaeological items, we would have to just receive their submission and once the member has submitted a request letter, then we can initiate the process towards planning for this future facility, Mr. Speaker.
This will be my last question to the minister, but firstly I wish to thank him for his response to my earlier question regarding this matter.
Once I return home to Gjoa Haven, I look forward to presenting this information and application form to the group, and I will ask that they proceed with the application and to send it to the minister.
I appreciate the information that the minister has provided, which I can then pass on.
Question 197 – 3(2): NHC Purchase of Iqaluit Warehouse (Rumbolt)
Yesterday, the Legislative Assembly gave consideration to the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s request for $750,000 in partial funding for the acquisition of a warehouse in Iqaluit for the Iqaluit Housing Authority and office space for the Nunavut Housing Corporation itself.
The minister informed the House that the total amount for this warehouse will be in the neighbourhood of $5.5 million.
Can the minister indicate when the government will be requesting the remaining funding and can he explain why this item was not included in the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2010-11 capital estimates?
I believe there were three questions there and I will do my best to answer them all.
If I miss one, I please ask the member to remind me and I will answer it.
It was indicated yesterday in the Committee of the Whole that the overall cost for this new warehouse and office facility is $5.5 million.
Mr. Speaker, the reason that it wasn’t in our current capital budget that we just went through is the fact that we all have targets to work into and once those targets were identified, funding for a facility for the Iqaluit Housing Authority fell off the thing.
But since then, some issues came up with the current facility that they’re in. There are some health and safety issues at the facility that the Iqaluit Housing Authority currently is in.
There are certain areas of it that were closed off by the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission and it was identified that we needed to find a way to address their needs so that they can continue to maintain and serve the over 1,000 units that they’re responsible for looking after here in Iqaluit.
Having said that, Mr. Speaker, that’s why it wasn’t on the plan.
It has been something that we have been hoping to get included for a number of years now.
We weren’t able to do that. We were able to identify through this supp bill of $475,000 as a partial commitment on the $5.5 million. The other $4.75 million will be coming out of the corporation’s bank account, or if you want to call it their working capital.
As I have committed to members in standing committee, that if the corporation was planning to use any of its working capital on anything, that I would be formally informing all Members of the Legislative Assembly by writing and now that that was approved yesterday, I can let the member know that they will all be getting a letter to that effect very quickly.
I thank the minister for his clarification on that issue.
Can the minister explain what the process is for housing associations in smaller communities to request that the Nunavut Housing Corporation buy them new warehouses?
I’m sure the member is very well aware, any capital projects that a community or local housing organization, if they feel they need a new office space or warehouse facility to operate out of in a community, those requests are forwarded onto the district office, whether it’s in the Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, or here in the Qikiqtaaluk to the district offices, and then they are forwarded on through the whole capital planning process in that way.
Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. (interpretation) Oral Questions. Member for Nanulik, Mr. Ningeongan.
Question 198 – 3(2): Status of Ikummatiit Energy Strategy (Ningeongan)
My questions are for the Minister of Energy, the Hon. Lorne Kusugak.
As we have heard over the last couple of weeks, Nunavut will be represented at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The minister made a statement last week concerning the government’s Ikummatiit Energy Strategy.
Mr. Speaker, on page 14 of the Ikummatiit Energy Strategy, it indicates, “The Government of Nunavut will motivate Nunavummiut to purchase energy efficient vehicles.”
Can the minister indicate exactly how the GN will do this and confirm whether it is looking at providing any kind of assistance or incentives to Nunavutmiut to purchase energy efficient vehicles, snow machines, or outboard motors?
I would like to thank Mr. Ningeongan for posing that very excellent question. We have to look at energy efficient vehicles and alternative energy.
This is the core of that policy. In your question, you asked us to review what kind of assistance or incentives we provide to Nunavummiut to purchase energy efficient equipment.
Even though it’s written in that manner, we still have to work on the “innards,” so to speak, prior to establishing an initiative and we are still deliberating on all of the needs we have to include.
Although we have assistance to the homeowners where they get a rebate from the government if they purchase energy efficient refrigerators, stoves, and so on, we have nothing in place for energy efficient vehicles, snow machines, and outboard motors.
We are currently looking at what we can provide for the purchase of energy efficient equipment.
We would be very appreciative of any good ideas to include, should you have them, so please let us know.
I recognize the response from the government.
(interpretation ends) The government’s energy strategy also indicates that the government is considering introducing graduated registration fees based on the size of vehicle engines.
Is the GN still looking at doing this? If so, when will the new system be introduced?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you and I would like to thank the member for asking that question.
We are looking at all avenues and once we have a solid plan, we will see when it’s going to be implemented.
At this time, we are at the preliminary stages and just doing a review.
It seems like almost every single cabinet minister has an energy issue in his or her portfolio.
For example, the Premier is responsible for the GN’s Energy Secretariat, the Minister of Energy is responsible for fuel subsidies for senior citizens, and the Minister of Finance is responsible for fuel tax rebates for hunters.
Is the government looking at reviewing this balance of responsibilities so that its approach towards energy policy is more coordinated?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): With regard to the issue of energy and conservation, it seems to go separate ways and is held responsible by different departments.
We are currently looking at how we can better coordinate the issue of energy within the Government of Nunavut.
We are trying to do what you have suggested so that there would be a more coordinated approach.
Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The minister is also responsible for purchasing the GN’s annual fuel supply.
Can the minister indicate whether the government’s fuel suppliers are required to acquire supplies from countries and refineries that have good environmental protection records?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you. I would like to thank him again for asking that question.
With regard to fossil fuels, from what I know, we try to limit where we get our supplies from. In Canada, we usually get our fuel from Woodward’s and we try to make sure that we get the best quality.
From there, after being bought, they are sent to the three different regions. For the Kitikmeot, NTCL is the one who distributes the fuel to the communities.
Question 199 – 3(2): Authority of DEAs under Education Act (Ningark)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education, Hon. Louis Tapardjuk.
This is with regard to the DEAs, which are a locally elected body responsible for dealing with educational issues in their community. Further, although they have a plethora of authority granted to them under the Education Act, the members of the DEAs can be easily overwhelmed or intimidated by the tasks assigned to them.
It results in some DEAs not fulfilling their legislated mandate due to this reticence or lack of knowledge of their authority.
With respect to the Kugaaruk DEA, I wish to ask the minister whether he or his officials can provide information on the Education Act or even a summary of the powers, duties, and functions of a DEA within a community.
Examples include the types of powers of a DEA with respect to the school principal and their mandate towards the parents, and what role the DEA can play as a committee responsible for education in the community, as well as what the role of the parents are with respect to our legislation.
Can the minister inform me as to whether his officials can visit our community, either from the Kitikmeot regional office or from headquarters?
This type of learning workshop would really assist them, as the members with no knowledge of their mandate tend to not fulfill their duties. I am not belittling any of the members for their lack of knowledge, only the lack of support for them in terms of their mandates.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also wish to thank the member, who posed as my older brother during school, Mr. John Ningark, representing Akulliq.
Indeed, this past summer, closer to the beginning of fall, there was a meeting held in Iqaluit. This was a conference held for the principals and chairpersons of the DEAs. They travelled to Iqaluit to hold meetings and to conduct a workshop on the details of the Education Act and what expectations were placed on the DEAs.
Some of our priorities which we are trying to implement include several activities planned for 2010.
For example, conducting a survey of the DEAs as to the level of comprehension of their mandates, especially with respect to the budgets allocated to the DEAs and how these funds are to be managed. We will be discussing Inuuqatigiitsiarniq (respect for one another) and we will also be elaborating on the bilingual language educational requirements placed on the DEA.
I believe that his question revolves around the DEA mandate, their role, powers, and functions.
During the winter of 2010, we will be conducting a survey of all schools, including consultation visits to every school, especially during the implementation period over the next three years.
The process is outlined as to how each aspect of the implementation will be dealt with over this timeline.
With the Inuit language legislation having been passed, along with our Education Act as well as the development of the curriculum to encompass Inuktitut teaching in all grades, it’s a rather tall order and it’s quite challenging.
We are aware that DEAs have requested assistance on these matters and we will be trying to resolve these issues over the upcoming winter to ensure that all DEAs in the communities are fully aware of their duties, roles, powers, and mandates, Mr. Speaker.
I really appreciate the response provided by the minister. To use an example, in Kugaaruk, a student reaches adulthood and is considered over-aged.
Would they still be allowed to attend high school or would that be disallowed? This was a question posed to us by one of the parents during a community meeting.
We also heard a concern expressed by a parent that if a student isn’t attending school regularly during the school year, they would no longer be able to attend school if they didn’t comply with any action decisions made by the DEA.
We were told that their perception is that that student would only be able to take courses outside of Kugaaruk after they have been barred from the local school.
This seems to be overkill.
Some of us Inuit, perhaps most of us, tend to try and compete on our level of understanding. For example, I want to be more knowledgeable than that person and, conversely, that person wants to try to be more knowledgeable. When this occurs, the focus shifts from resolving the problem to trying to outdo one another.
I wonder if there will actually be departmental officials arriving into Kugaaruk during the calendar year of 2010 to conduct these meetings, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member also for his line of questioning.
Based on what I heard, it sounds like he has two questions contained in that question.
Firstly, with respect to his question about the age limitation for students at the high school and whether that student would not be allowed to attend, this has been resolved in the new Education Act, where it states that any student may attend high school up to the age of majority, 21.
I imagine that in some cases, this person could still attend high school even though they appear too old to attend.
Further, within our stated goals and objectives, it states that if a student has a problem with either their studies or their attendance, there are mitigation provisions. Instead of just suspending or expelling the student, it outlines the higher level of support and assistance mechanisms that must be implemented with the student within the legislation.
There is also a new provision that states that for students who require further assistance, a DEA has to consider the options outlined in the legislation and try to adapt them to the student.
In English, it is called inclusive education. The focus is not on punishing the students, but in assisting and supporting the students if they are facing any problems within the school. These are the types of assistance we will be providing.
With respect to the third aspect of his question regarding the visitation tour, it would be preferable to receive a letter from the local DEA asking for assistance and a visitation to outline the new duties. This letter should highlight their request for a meeting with education officials and it should be drafted such that the DEA invites the officials to your community.
We can look at invitation letters on a case-by-case basis over the winter and we can then look into scheduling this, Mr. Speaker.
I’ll use myself as a brief example. Our children and grandchildren don’t always listen to us.
We were compelled to sign a document in Kugaaruk. Although I was reluctant to do so, my wife and I signed the document as guardians.
We were forced to sign our names because our grandchild was attending high school.
Now, if the child continues to do poorly in school the following school year, the child would no longer be allowed to attend school within Kugaaruk. That is how the document was written. Is that indeed the case?
Cases vary and this is the very first time I have heard of this particular case. I will have to review his individual case to determine if that is the truth.
I’ll have to get back to members by way of correspondence.
This is something I want to hear about and I personally want to know if that’s an actual fact. However, I can’t respond to his question, so I’ll take it as notice and allow me to get back to the member at a later time, Mr. Speaker.
Question 200 – 3(2): Status of NNI Policy Review (Pauloosie)
Mr. Pauloosie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister is aware, the first comprehensive review of the NNI Policy took place in 2003. The second comprehensive review was scheduled to take place five years later, in 2008.
The GN and NTI jointly appoint members to the review committee.  Can the minister indicate when this review will be completed and its results tabled in the Legislative Assembly?
I thank the member for that question. The review is in its final draft. It has been a struggle to get the final draft in place, but all parties have agreed that it’s going to be completed in the near future.
Under the NNI Policy, a contracting appeals board has been established to hear appeals from companies who believe that the NNI Policy was not correctly applied to their bids on government contracts.
The government has not tabled the contracting appeals board’s annual report since September of last year.
When will the minister table the contracting appeals board’s most recent annual report?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Pauloosie. Minister Taptuna.
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again I thank the member for that question. At this time, I’m going to be taking notice of the question as I have no idea of when the documents are going to be prepared or ready for tabling.
Once the documents are in place and ready for tabling, I surely would table the documents.
Therefore, I will move on to another member.
Question 201 – 3(2): Review of the Liquor Act (Okalik)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Liquor Act. At least that is how my hometown calls liquor in their dialect.
Today, he presented a document outlining the department’s appointment of a task force to review the Liquor Act.
As the minister is aware, Iqaluit is unique from other communities in Nunavut.
Iqaluit is the only municipality that allows the sale of liquor in drinking establishments and this has been of great concern in Nunavut, Iqaluit in particular.
I wondered if these concerns will be addressed during this review.
I wanted to first ask the minister who will be on the task force.
Mr. Speaker, the review of the Liquor Act has been a long outstanding issue. I think it goes all the way back to 2005-06 that there have been commitments to review the Liquor Act.
This government intends to do that. As I indicated last week, I hope the work begins early in the New Year.
We will attempt to consult with all communities of Nunavut with the task force.
I proposed to appoint ten members to the task force; I think it is ten members.
I hope that’s Members of the Regular Caucus, some members of the alcohol education committees, a representative of the health and social services department, the Qulliit Status of Women, a representative of the RCMP, and for the time being, we’re calling it a youth ambassador.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Iqaluit residents have felt the impact the most and worst than in other communities.
When you visit other communities in Nunavut outside of Iqaluit, they have no liquor outlets or places to drink.
This makes our community very different and we have felt the impact of the Liquor Act more than anyone else in so many ways.
So therefore, I urge the minister to make sure that Iqaluit residents are well represented when they review the legislation because they will be affected the most.
I strongly urge the minister to take this into account.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that question. Mr. Speaker, I assure the member that the members of the task force will represent all communities and all Nunavummiut to the best of their abilities.
It is the intention that the task force will be members who are quite knowledgeable on all of the issues that affects us for the irresponsible use of alcohol. I will have a lot of faith in the task force.
I neglected, Mr. Speaker, one of the other members of the task force will be the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
So I assure the member that the concerns of the residents of Iqaluit will be heard and considered during the review of the Liquor Act.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to hear about the review of the Liquor Act. I can only urge the minister again, when they start holding consultation meetings with these entities, that they hold one here in Iqaluit.
To the residents of Iqaluit, this is a very important issue and again I emphasize this to the minister.