EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The restructuring of the corporation’s board that began in September last year has significantly enhanced the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation’s institutional strength.
This restructuring has included the appointment of three new members of the board of directors. Two are prominent businesspeople from Nunavut, Tommy Owlijoot of Arviat and Greg Cayen of Iqaluit, while the third, Andre Schroer of Port Credit, Ontario, has an extensive background in commercial lending with over 30 years of experience with First Nations and other aboriginal groups.
Between March 28 and April 1, 2009, the board of directors of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation conducted their first face-to-face meeting of the New Year here in Iqaluit.
During those meetings, the board discussed the new board governance manual and the revised and updated operational procedures manual.
These important documents will be considered again when the board meets again in Baker Lake between June 25 and 28.
I was happy to have the opportunity to meet the board on March 29 and thank them and their staff for their continuing efforts to ensure Nunavut’s business community has access to this vital lending service.
I also want to inform the House that the ministerial directive that required the CEO to report to the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Transportation has been rescinded.
Mr. Speaker, this directive was highlighted in the 2007 audit of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation activities by the Auditor General.
Mr. Speaker, there is still much work to do at the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, but we are making progress and maintaining service to Nunavut’s business community. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Ministers’ Statements. Minister Tootoo.
Minister’s Statement 010 – 3(2): Nunavut Housing Trust Strategy Update (Tootoo)
I rise today to update the House on the implementation of the Nunavut Housing Trust Strategy.
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General, in her report dated May 2008, expressed concerns that the housing corporation may not be able to meet the goal of 725 housing units as committed in the implementation strategy.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to advise the House that this summer, the corporation will be delivering the last of the housing units from the trust, bringing the total of units provided to 750.
This includes new public housing units, Material Assistance Program packages delivered, and acquisitions converted into public housing.
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General was concerned that the corporation may not be able to meet its objective of training 35 to 40 apprentices on the various job sites.
Mr. Speaker, again I am very pleased to announce that there are currently 51 registered apprentices engaged on Housing Trust projects across Nunavut.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, contractors and our local housing organizations have reported over $14 million has been paid out in Inuit wages since construction started in the spring of 2007.
Mr. Speaker, hundreds of jobs and training opportunities have been created by this critical investment from our federal partners.
The benefits have been felt throughout Nunavut.
With another full year of construction planned, the impact of these benefits will continue to be felt by all Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 011 – 3(2): Alberta Apprenticeship Award Recipients (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Good afternoon again and thank you. We are once again resuming our sitting this Monday afternoon.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate nine hard-working and committed Nunavut apprentices who have received the Alberta Centennial Premier’s Scholarship.
These individuals excelled in their trades training and we were told that they earned 80 percent or more in their programs in the 2007-08 training year.
Mr. Speaker, this scholarship was set up to celebrate Alberta’s 100th anniversary as part of Canada and is available to students across the country who are nominated by their province or territory.
Each student receives a cheque for $2,005 from our friends in Alberta.
The recipients from Nunavut for the last year are: Luke Wilman, who is sitting in the Gallery, Daniel Burns, Christian Christensen, Jason Ippiak, Alexander Killiktee, Robin Kolit, Danny MacDonald, Lloyd MacDonald, who is also here in the Gallery, and Alexander Ootoowak.
Please join me in congratulating them and thanking them for their dedication to excelling at trades in our territory, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, developing a skilled workforce is critical to ensuring we are able to take on the challenges we face and benefit from the many opportunities around us.
With the opening of the trades training facility in Rankin Inlet next year, more of our citizens will be able to benefit from training available right here in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, programs like the Alberta Centennial Premier’s Scholarship provide well-deserved recognition to our hard-working learners.
Their efforts and perseverance should be an example to us all and help inspire Nunavummiut to pursue learning in any form.
I encourage all my fellow colleagues to promote training in their communities and to aid their constituents in the journey towards lifelong learning.
Minister’s Statement 012 – 3(2): Nunavut at 10 – Song Competition (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I rise again to announce something that we should all be proud of as well, the winners of the Nunavut at 10 Song Competition.
We were very pleased with the number of quality entries received in response to this initiative.
Launched on April 1 and with a deadline of May 15, CLEY received a total of 22 competition entries.
First prize goes to Madeleine Allakariallak, second prize to Leena Evic and Ellen Hamilton, and third prize to Solomon Uyarasuk.
As part of the grand prize, Madeleine Allakariallak will have her song professionally recorded for release on July 9, Nunavut Day.
I would like to thank the panel of judges for their time and contribution to this program. The judges were Sandra Inutiq with the Language Commissioner’s office; Solomon Awa with the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Human Resources; Ooleena Nauyuk with CLEY; and Danielle Samson with the Association des francophones du Nunavut.
Thank you to all who entered this competition. I encourage everyone to keep their ears turned to the radio for the release of the songs on July 9.
Minister’s Statement 013 – 3(2): Recognizing the Contribution of NHC’s Community Partners (Tootoo)
I rise before the hon. members in this House, our Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, to recognize the hard work and dedication of the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s community partners.
Mr. Speaker, there are 266 funded full-time positions within Nunavut’s 23 local housing organizations, 90 percent of whom are beneficiaries, as well as many casual positions for minor capital projects throughout the territory.
Local housing organization staff are also responsible for the maintenance and administration of close to 4,200 public housing units and provides many essential services to homeowners in our communities.
Like those involved in the construction and maintenance of public housing units, the individuals charged with the fair allocation of Nunavut’s public housing are not tasked with an easy job.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my support in particular to the tenant relations officers and the managers of local housing organizations as they are confronted, I’m sure, on a daily basis by the negative impacts of an insufficient and inadequate housing stock.
They must make difficult decisions that affect members of their communities and even members of their own families.
However, the just and equitable delivery of housing ensures that Nunavummiut most in need have access to safe and affordable homes.
In cooperation with local housing organization staff, board members of the local housing organizations are also significant contributors to housing in our communities.
Housing board members are responsible for ensuring that the needs of their communities are voiced and that housing is justly allocated.
Mr. Speaker, the dedication of the housing corporation’s community partners often goes unappreciated.
I would like to invite members and all Nunavummiut to take the time to recognize the invaluable work that is done to provide essential housing supports within our communities.
Moving right along... Before we proceed to Members’ Statements, I was just advised that Mr. Komoartok would be absent from the House today due to family matters.
Member’s Statement 021 – 3(2): Importance of the Co-operative Movement to Nunavut’s Communities (Ningark)
I rise today to discuss the importance of the co-operative movement, especially in the community of Kugaaruk, to Nunavut communities and pay tribute to the role that Arctic Co-Operatives Ltd. has played in our history.
Mr. Speaker, the Koomiut Co-op in Kugaaruk was incorporated in 1966 and I am proud to say that I was its founding general manager.
Today, there are over 320 active members of the Co-op in our community. The Co-op plays a central role in the life of Kugaaruk and has contributed greatly to the community’s development.
As Members of this House are aware, Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. was incorporated in 1972. There are 23 co-ops operating in Nunavut today. Over 800 people are employed in the co-op network.
In 2007, almost $6 million was returned to co-op members through patronage refunds.
Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. believes that co-operatives are “based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.
In the tradition of their founders, Co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.”
Mr. Speaker, I have always believed that the Co-ops’ values complement the traditional Inuit values in our communities.
As we look to the future, I welcome a strong and continuing role for co-ops to play in building modern community infrastructure...
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent of my colleagues to conclude my statement.
Your colleague, Mr. Ningark, is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
Thank you very much, my colleagues.
I think everyone is well aware that the Co-ops play in building modern community infrastructure, giving our residents a voice in community economic decision-making, and providing employment and training opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in wishing continuing success to the members of the board of directors of Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. and their President, Bill Lyall.
Member’s Statement 022 – 3(2): Congratulations to Adrian Pameolik and Okpik Aglukkark (Shewchuk)
I rise today to recognize two of my young constituents from Arviat on their accomplishments in pursuing their education.
Mr. Speaker, Adrian Pameolik was a recent graduate from the management studies course at Nunavut Arctic College in Rankin Inlet and she received three outstanding awards.
That is the award for the honour roll for academic excellence, the Mackay Landau Award for the highest academic standing in the Management Studies Program, and the Ilagiittuq Award for the 20th anniversary award for the highest academic standing in management studies.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Okpik Aglukkark, a grade 12 student, who has earned $20,500 for her Excellence Award from the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation.
I wish both of these students the best in their future studies and career development.
If there are none, Item 4.
Question 021 – 3(2): Status of Polar Bear Skin Sales (Rumbolt)
Mr. Speaker, fur statistics show that the sale of polar hides can bring much needed income to the Nunavut territory. I would like the minister to provide an update on the status of the sale of polar bear hides.
Can the minister tell the House how many polar bear skins were sold this past year and if they were sold by auction or by other means?
I thank my colleague for the question. I cannot advise the exact number Nunavut-wide of polar hides that were sold at the auction. But I can advise the member that I do have the numbers for his community and that is this year, there were 25 polar bear hides from Sanikiluaq that were bought by our department and sent to auction.
I would just like to say that last year from that same community, there were 22 polar bear hides with an average price sold at $3,500 and a high of $7,400.
And by all indications, this year is going to be another very good year for polar bears and the price should stay high.
Nunavut hunters rely on income from the sale of polar bear hides to continue their hunting and the feeding of their families.
Can the minister tell me when hunters can expect to receive payments from this year’s sale of polar bear hides?
Yes, the next sale that is coming up will be on June 18 and hunters can expect to get their cheques from the North Bay Auction, in addition to their advance that they have already, within 10 days of that date.
Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt.
Question 022 – 3(2): Hydroelectric Development in Iqaluit (Okalik)
We have heard rumours about the possibility of hydroelectric development around Iqaluit to lessen our dependence on heating fuel, but we now hear that it has been put on hold.
Can the minister give us an update as to why that project was put on hold and what plans they have in the future?
I guess it’s a little confusing now as I’m not the Minister responsible for Energy but the Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the member, as I had indicated in the past and reported in the media, that there is still some baseline work that will hopefully be completed this spring.
Once that baseline information is collected, it will be evaluated to determine what the next steps will be as far as where we go with that particular project.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you again, Mr. Speaker.
From what I can recall, we use approximately 200 barrels in our daily energy consumption here in Iqaluit.
That is quite a large number and it seems like we’re wasting our precious non-renewable resources.
With the low prices we are seeing currently, it may not be an issue but we can anticipate it to increase in the future.
It’s obvious that due to low prices, we are able to work on development projects. However, this is the time to start preparations for the future.
One advantage of alternative energy is that they tend to be a one-time cost. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are not good for the environment.
So I would like to urge the minister to outline what plans he has in regard to alternative energy in the future.
I’m sure that the member is aware that one of the things that the government has done in the past, as far as looking at alternative sources of energy, is to do exactly what we are doing here in Iqaluit.
For example, they are looking at the feasibility and gathering of information to determine if a hydro project would be feasible and viable here in Iqaluit.
The government does recognize the fact that the majority of the consumption of fuel happens here in Iqaluit just because of the large growth that the community has sustained over the last number of years in the size compared to any other community in Nunavut.
The greatest potential benefit on moving to an alternative energy source other than diesel would be most effective here in Iqaluit. It would have a positive impact felt throughout the territory as far as our requirements for purchasing diesel, which is the only thing that runs our generators across the territory right now, that we use for producing power.
So there is some preliminary work and look being done also in areas of wind generation.
I would say that we’re running into some difficulties with having the technology that will work in the environment that we need it to work in here in Nunavut.
So there are some of those challenges that we are looking at and hopefully over time, we will be able to overcome.
Be that as it may, we still use approximately 200 barrels of fuel daily to generate energy here. This is not the energy profile we should be advocating today when we can look at alternative sources.
The capital costs for such projects don’t need to be paid immediately, but we can plan this with private developers and look at negotiating a long-term cost sharing agreement.
We can pay down a portion of the capital costs annually.
There have been other jurisdictions that have used this type of agreement.
If we look at the price currently, it may seem low, but over the long term, we are just throwing away money today.
By looking at the big picture over the long term, it will be a large one-time cost but we will know the exact amount to that given date. I would like to urge the minister to make plans to use alternative sources of energy and talk to private companies so that we can start moving forward in alternative energy solutions.
I would like to thank the member for his support on dealing with our dependency on fossil fuels.
I know that the corporation is committed to looking at energy options that will help us try to alleviate that dependency on fossil fuels for the production of power.
I know one of the other obstacles, I think, that we face is not only looking at once we get a completed data required but looking at the hydro project, for example, here is the other huge impediment that we face is just the tremendous costs involved in a project like that.
I think that in the past, there seemed to be a feeling that you could just go out and borrow the money, but as I’m sure the members are aware and all members are, it’s something that has been discussed here in the House before, that the government does have a debt cap that we have to adhere to and so there is an issue related to that.
In my view, a significant project like this, a hydro project, would be the type of project that would probably be best moved ahead with some type of a funding partnership from the federal government. There would, in my view, need to be some type of commitment and influx of support from the federal government in order for a project like this to move ahead.
In the past, we used to have agreements with private companies. For example, our hospitals in the larger centres were built through agreements with private companies and we would repay that loan over a 20-year period.
We can still use those types of agreements to build infrastructure.
I urge the minister to look at how we can enter into multi-year or even up to 20-year agreements with private companies so that we will know exactly how much we’re going to repay every year.
With our current system, no one has an idea what the prices will be until the fuel is landed. For example, if we look at last year’s fuel prices, prices were increased for everyone.
I would like the minister to update the House on what type of plans he has in the future for alternative sources of energy.
I have to thank the member, I know that the member was an advocate for looking for alternative sources of energy in the past and I can assure him that this is something that we’re still looking at.
As I had indicated earlier, the baseline work for the sites in the Iqaluit vicinity is being completed this year.
That information will be evaluated and I think it’s premature to determine which direction we go until we have all of the information and have it evaluated and take a look at it before we make any decisions as a government as to which way to go on it.
I think what the member is referring to in the agreement that he is talking about is a P3 type of opportunity.
As I said, until we get all of the information compiled and evaluated, it’s premature to determine which direction we would prefer to take in regard to a project like this.
Once that information is completed and evaluated, I will commit to ensuring that the Members of this House are kept informed on that.
Question 023 – 3(2): Aviation Regulations for Landing in Communities (Schell)
My question is for Peter, the Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation. I thought I’d better ask my question before he heads over to Paris.
Last week, Adamee had mentioned about the ceiling limits for aircraft to land in Pangnirtung. I have heard, and I don’t know if it’s true or not but I’m going to ask if it’s him if that’s true or not, that First Air had installed a beacon at the airport and that their limits that are required to land are a lot lower at that airport than Canadian North.
Could he answer that question for me, please?
I’m not aware of the ceiling limits and the technical information at this time, so I can get back to the member with accurate numbers for him to look at.
The main reason I’m bringing this up is because everybody is talking and saying that First Air flies over there and they land and that when Canadian North goes there, they can’t land. I’m figuring it’s their pilots, but I’m sure it has something to do with equipment and that’s the reason I’m asking.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell.
Depending on what types of aircraft are flying, as you know, the Dash 8 is Canadian North and the ATR 42 is First Air.
They have different technical equipment onboard, so I can’t answer that question but I will get back to the member with the details that he’s requesting.
Question 024 – 3(2): Small Craft Harbours for Nunavut (Ningeongan)
Last week, the Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans released a report titled Nunavut Marine Fisheries: Quotas and Harbours.
I was pleased to note that one of the committee’s recommendations is that the Government of Canada “move forward to develop and implement, in collaboration with the Government of Nunavut, the harbour development plan recommended by the DFO-Nunavut Harbours Working Group in its 2005 Nunavut Small Craft Harbours Report.”
As the minister is aware, this report recommended that small craft harbours be built in seven Nunavut communities, including Chesterfield Inlet.
Can the minister indicate whether he will use the findings in this report to support his efforts to lobby the federal government for small craft harbours funding?
As you know, Pangnirtung has received funding for their deep sea port in the amount of $25 million over the last couple of years.
And for the smaller communities, including Chesterfield Inlet, the exchange of information and lobbying is still happening at this time.
We’re expecting an answer from the DFO minister shortly, hopefully within the month, to get a clearer picture on which communities are going to be funded.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Your first supplementary, Mr. Ningeongan.
Can the minister indicate if he has been working with our Member of Parliament and Senator on this issue?
I have been working with our Nunavut MP, the Hon. Leona Aglukkaq, on these issues and not necessarily with our Senator.
As you know, he is retiring just in a few days.
So yes, I’m keeping in contact with our Nunavut MP.
Smaller communities like Chesterfield Inlet have been waiting for a number of years now even though they have highlighted the issue of not having the proper harbours.
Not just to accommodate NTCL, barges, and so forth, but another concern has come up in the way of working with the communities to develop some harbour, wharf, or port that can be utilized by the local people.
Can the minister and his department look into that matter as well?
Yes, we’re planning a trip down into northern Labrador to actually investigate and check out some of the existing ports and small craft harbour facilities that exist there. As you know, we do have some issues with tides within some of our areas, including Chesterfield Inlet.
We are making this trip to investigate and we have invited an economic development and transportation member from the standing committee to help us analyze, evaluate, and hopefully come back with a report where we want to build something that’s long-lasting in small craft harbours rather than floating docks.
At this time, we are investigating and we are looking into that, and the trip is scheduled for June 22.
Question 025 – 3(2): Update on Housing Projects for Kugaaruk (Ningark)
At the beginning of this session, I asked the Hon. Minister for Housing about a need to have more staff housing for the teaching staff in Kugaaruk.