EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
A new dozer for Sanikiluaq was on the department’s five-year capital plan for some time. However, it appears to have disappeared.
Can the minister assure me that she will review this situation and consult with the municipality on its capital needs?
In reference to the new dozer, and if it was in the five-year capital plan, I will have to tell the member... I could get back to the member today and tell him exactly what the situation is.
Question 350 – 2(4): Director of Devolution and Status of Negotiations (Peterson)
My question is for the Premier, Minister responsible for Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, I read the media monitor this morning and noted that the Director of the Government of Nunavut’s Devolution Division, John Lamb, was filling the role of Executive Assistant for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Mr. Speaker as you know, Mr. Lamb has been the Director of the Devolution Division for the last two years. My question for the Premier: can the Premier tell me if Mr. Lamb’s departure signals that the Government of Nunavut considers devolution negotiations to be off the table? And if not, would the Premier update me on the status of devolution negotiations?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) We are still waiting for the federal government to respond to our request to commence negotiations.
And from what I understand my Minister of Finance has asked that Mr. Lamb fill in as an interim basis.
So it’s an interim arrangement for the time being. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Premier. (interpretation) Your first supplementary, Mr. Peterson.
I’m glad to hear the devolution negotiations are still going on, although it must be kind of quiet over there if they can allow their director to take their leave of absence to work elsewhere in the government.
Mr. Speaker earlier this year, I asked the Premier if the devolution process would include input from the Nunavut Association of Municipalities to represent all Nunavut communities.  My question for the Premier: can the Premier tell the House when the Nunavut Association of Municipalities will be consulted for input in the devolution issues that may affect their communities?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. (interpretation ends) Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) As I stated earlier, if we ever get to negotiations, it would be great. So that’s our focus at this point.
So the role of our government is to assume responsibility for mineral development and that’s what we’re trying to do, just like any part of the country. I’m not focused on who I talked to or what... I want to make progress.
I don’t know any part of the country where municipalities govern mineral development. So that’s my focus - is to try and get control of those resources so that our territory can run its own affairs.
So when we get there, then we’ll consult with parties that will be affected. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That’s exactly what the Nunavut Association of Municipalities want.
They want the consultations.
They don’t want to be at the table negotiating. They want to prepare for those eventual consultations or ongoing consultations; they don’t want to be consulted after the fact.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut Association of Municipalities has applied for funding from the Government of Nunavut to assist in the research, issues related to devolution that may affect their communities. In fact, they’ve applied one and a half years ago for some funds from the Strategic Investment Program. They’re still awaiting approval.
My question for the Premier: can the Premier tell the House if there are any other funds available from the Government of Nunavut to assist Nunavut interest groups to research devolution issues that may affect their constituents?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Peterson. That was your second supplementary.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) As I said, we’re focused on trying to assume responsibilities and focus on that.
We do not want to see a duplication left, right, and centre. We’re just trying to get to the table. That’s our focus.
The last thing I want to see is to splinter as a territory - this group wants this, this other group wants that. We see that somewhere else. I would rather focus on one initiative so that we get what we rightfully deserve as a territory.
I don’t want ten different groups asking for ten different things even before we get to the table.  We’re going to be in a very weak position.
So we’re just trying to negotiate and have as much strength facing our colleagues in Ottawa.
That’s my focus at this point. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In the government’s Healthy Communities Strategy, one of the principles says that all levels of government working together will strengthen Nunavut.
The Nunavut Association of Municipalities, although it’s not the senior level government, it’s one of the three levels of government. There’s a federal government, territorial government, and the municipal government.
So I believe in that principle, as a former Mayor and the President of NAM, that we should be working together to strengthen Nunavut.
My question for the Premier: can the Premier commit that the Government of Nunavut will consult with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities on issues that may affect their communities?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Last I checked, I was elected to govern the affairs of our territory, and hopefully, that will include managing mineral resources in the future and getting royalties for our resources.
So my focus is to get there as a government, like any part of the country.
And, if there are matters that affect municipalities, in terms of their services, yes, we will consult and work with all governments to make sure that any benefits that flow to the territory are maximized.
I think with the limited role that we do have as a government, for example, in Baker Lake, we were able to work with the hamlet and the federal government, and we are seeing enormous benefits flowing to that community. So I would love to see that in future.
I’m sure if any group can look at that, there’s great hope when we work together as governments.
So I do hope that will continue in the future. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Premier. (interpretation) Item 6. Oral Questions.
Question 351 – 2(4): Ability of Employees Purchasing Canada Savings Bond Through Payroll (Arvaluk)
I believe he is aware that during the NWT days, salaries of the employees used to be deducted for Canada Savings Bonds for those individuals who were interested.
But this is not the case with Nunavut.
We know people who used to work for the GNWT wish to be able to do that here in Nunavut.
I would like to ask the minister if this can be arranged so that they can purchase Canada Savings Bonds.
Yes, I will certainly check into this and ask my officials to see how we can access that.
Once he finds out, can he report back to us so we can see what process can take place at the next session?
Yes, I will definitely check into this to see what we can do at our next session. I will give an update to the House.
Question 352 – 2(4): Missing Documents at the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, we all know the grim news we got with the Auditor General’s Report on the activities of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
One if the things that the auditor pointed out is that, in a lot of cases, there was stuff missing.
In some cases, applications were not evaluated adequately before being recommended for approval. It also indicates that analysis of profitability and cash flow was either missing, or insufficient. There’s lots of missing information there.
Can the minister give us an indication of what he has directed them to do in cases where they have missing documentation for loans?
I can say that complete and accurate financial records have been maintained by the Comptroller of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, who began work with the corporation in April/May of 2006. And also, our department appointed an acting CEO for a number of months. She just finished working there recently.
So all financial records are now current and accurate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Since this has come out, I understand that the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation has been trying to fill the gaps, close the voids of information and documentation that it has there.
In doing that, I understand from some individuals that have loans with them, the corporation has contacted these individuals and asked them if they could, again, provide financial information and things like that that was used in determining the application, and they were told, “... because we lost it. We can’t find it.”
One of the individuals that I talked to indicated that, “Well, I’m not going to give it to you again. It’s my personal business financial information. You lost it already. I’m not going to give it to you again.”
And, was informed by an official at the Business Credit Corporation, “Well, if you don’t give it to us, we’re going to call the whole loan,” to me that’s more of a threatening tactic.  Can the minister assure this House and all those clients out there, that at no fault of theirs, if information has been lost, that they will be in no way threatened or forced into providing further information to the corporation?
I will certainly forward that concern to the Board of Directors of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, and have them, as it were, deal with the issue.
Your second supplementary, Member for Iqaluit Centre, Mr. Tootoo.
Given everything that’s gone on there in the last year, is the minister indicating that he wasn’t aware that these approaches were being used to try and fill the void?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): I have stated as the information was unveiled by our NBCC staff and the formal chairperson were very helpful in setting up that corporation.
When I heard that from this individual, I was rather shocked and appalled that they would use those types of tactics to clients that are currently under loans, and are making their payments and they’re up to date.
Would the minister agree that those types of tactics are unacceptable?
As I stated earlier that I will make sure that they don’t use that, and I personally don’t want to see that being used by that board, I am talking personally, myself, not wearing my ministerial hat, but my thinking would be exactly the same.
Question 353 – 2(4): Review Board of Directors at the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (Curley)
I want to make myself very clear to the Minister of Economic Development.
He stated yesterday that the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation’s loan portfolio has been suspended.
The minister could have stated, and I would have thought the directors be suspended.
They could have made decisions without the proper backup and records and the requirement for security.
The minister also stated that they RCMP have been asked to investigate.
I wonder if you can also do a review of the directors, whether any of them should or should not remain there.
The board of directors maybe didn’t have adequate information.
Back in 2005-06 the board of directors that were on the board at that time are no longer there.
The new board of directors is quite new, and that’s the case right now, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I would like to thank the minister for clarifying that but I do want to ask another question.
The RCMP have been asked to look into the NBCC and I know that the RCMP, once they start investigating that they will not follow your advice. If they find laws have been broken, charges may be laid, whether it is a former employee or a loan recipient.
I wonder if board directors will be informed about their rights and provide them legal counsel.
If that’s not the case, why not provide them with legal counsel, or does the corporation have legal counsel?
It’ll be up to the RCMP to do the investigation.
At that time, once the investigation has been completed, we will have a better idea of what to do.
We’ll also have a better idea of what we need to do with NBCC, whether it is the board of directors or the staff that had been employed.
At that time, we’ll know after the investigation has been completed. I’m sure that the board members will be able to resolve this.
For the record, I know this is a legal issue and I know the minister is specifically not involved in the legal issues of the government, but if the RCMP have already been asked to investigate or look into whether or not any of the laws of the NWT, with respect to loan programs that have been violated or whatnot.
It also raises a very important fundamental question: will the rights of the directors, from Nunavummiut who have really committed to do proper representation work, will they be provided with the proper legal counsel as they should.
If not, will the minister ensure that they have their right to be provided with a legal counsel provided by this government as they are being appointed by the government to serve on those boards?
I have not, at any time, made any suggestions of wrongdoing by the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation Board of Directors.
They are all outstanding citizens in Nunavut and their rights will be protected to whatever extent as necessary, and if they require assistance with legal counsel at any point in the future, that’s a hypothetical question at the moment as to whether they would need that at all or not, but they will be given all of the assistance that they require. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I think members on this side certainly want to ensure that the individuals’ rights are protected. The government has already called upon the RCMP to look into that.
In my opinion, the minister or the government cannot ask the RCMP to go on a fishing expedition without possible evidence, or evidence if any, so therefore, there must be a reason for the government to ask the RCMP to look into that.
Therefore, it’s really quite important that legal rights of individuals must be represented.
Will the minister commit to this House that he will ensure that the rights of individuals who are members of the NBCC are fairly considered and protected?
All legal rights are fairly protected under the Canadian Constitution.
That’s the right of every Canadian.
We have not suggested at all at any point that there has been fraud. We asked the Comptroller General and asked the RCMP to do an investigation, as according to the Auditor General, if laws and regulations had been broken, as we want to make sure that there was no fraud. And, that’s why the RCMP was asked.
Question 354 – 2(4): Negotiations – James Bay Cree (Kattuk)
Mr. Speaker, the federal government has been negotiating with the Cree.
First of all, let me say there’s a traditional camp in the Belcher Islands and they had moved to larger communities. They wanted to get together in their traditional camp in those islands. They said they are Nunavut islands but they were not allowed to be gathered in those islands.
I was wondering if the negotiations have been completed, or are they still negotiating.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Kattuk. (interpretation ends) Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps, it is the James Bay Cree he is asking about.
Yes, they are still negotiating now, and they have not completed their negotiations yet, although we take part in those negotiations with the federal government and the James Bay Cree.
Does the Premier know when those negotiations will be completed?
The Cree and the federal government are negotiating.
We are on the sidelines now, so therefore, I have no idea when they’re going to complete their negotiations. I know that they’re trying to reach their first initial agreement, but I’m not sure when they’ll be completed, so therefore, I cannot respond to that.
Question 355 – 2(4): Miramar Newmont Training Initiatives (Peterson)
I’ve been asking the minister, pushing him, encouraging him, arm twisting, and doing anything to bring him over to Cambridge Bay many times over the last couple of years to encourage his department to work with our region to train people for jobs in the mining industry.
He has indicated his interest. He’s met with the mining companies. I recently met with Miramar and Newmont representatives who mentioned they have some training opportunities available.
I would like to ask the minister if he can tell me today if the Miramar and Newmont representatives have contacted him and requested help with training for future employees in their mine?
It’s been some real exciting news for the residents of the Kitikmeot and specifically for Cambridge Bay that the federal minister now has approved a water license for Doris North to go forward.
I can confirm with the member that in the last 48 hours, we’ve actually been in contact with the Miramar Mining Company to look at opportunities and potential for training not only Cambridge Bay residents, but indeed, residents from the Kitikmeot and Nunavummiut for some of the possible jobs that may available in the Kitikmeot with the Doris North opportunity, as explained in the recent media and with the water license.
So the answer is yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That is indeed good news to hear.
I’m glad the department is being proactive in working with the mining companies.
Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association has negotiated an Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreement with Miramar for positions at the mine.
I wonder if the minister could tell me how his department could work with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and Miramar to ensure that proper training is provided so that these people, when they do go work for the mine, will retain those jobs.
We don’t want pick and shovel jobs. We want training that will give them long careers in the mining industry.
The member is well recognized not only here in Nunavut but across Canada as one of the strongest negotiators on IIBAs, I think, in Canada, and indeed, the member has negotiated IIBAs and has been a part of that process with the KIA, so I congratulate him on that.
What I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, is that the member is on the same wavelength as the Government of Nunavut. We want to create sustainable jobs within a sustainable economy and get away from the mentality of the pick and shovel jobs.
So any type of economic opportunity that brings along technological advances in training, then that’s something that we’re prepared to do, and that’s why we announced the opportunity at placing the Millwright Program in Cambridge Bay.
So we are willing to work as a department on an IIBA, and depending on how that teleconference with our friends from Miramar has gone, we’d be in a better position to see what positions are available and what type of training we can bring forward.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for those kind words.
If I need a public relations man some day, I may call on Minister Picco to help me out.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister, I know it’s probably a confidential matter, but can the minister tell me the number of positions that he’ll be proposing to create or train under this Miramar proposal?
My mom used to always say, “Eddie, if you have nothing good to say about someone, then don’t say anything.” So I just gave him a compliment and that was a very good compliment, something good to say.
I think we need to have more good things to say in the House. There’s a lot of negativity going on in Nunavut right now, we need some positive things. I believe the glass is half full.
The glass is half full when we look at the opportunities for training for the Kitikmeot, and specifically in Cambridge Bay in the region.  At this point, we’ve had a preliminary call from Miramar and our people within the Training Division of the Department of Education, looking at what opportunities are there and then we would move forward aggressively.
I don’t have what positions, or occupations, or training positions at this time. Those negotiations have begun.
I would be in a position later to update the House and the member on those positions.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell me if… this can’t be a one time training program, we need training programs available, ongoing and continuous. There will be more people requiring training in the mining sector.
Can the minister tell me if this is a part of a long-term training strategy to train people in the Kitikmeot for positions in the mining industry?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. (interpretation ends) I will remind you that that was also your third and final supplementary. (interpretation) Minister of Education, Minister Picco.
The future for Nunavut bodes very well when we look at the opportunities across Nunavut, not just in the Kitikmeot. When we see what’s happening right now, in Baker Lake, with some of the gold and the uranium opportunities, when we see what’s happening with Mary River, and we see what’s happening with Doris North.
These are all projects that are going to bring economic opportunities to Nunavut in the long-term.
That’s when we say talk about long-term. We’re talking about long-term training. That’s why we talked about putting the Millwright Program in Cambridge Bay so you are actually training people for the long-term.
So the whole process that we’re looking at, we want to get away from these old fashion 10-42 jobs where you get 10 weeks of work for 42 weeks of unemployment.
We want to look at full time jobs, full time positions and have Inuit and Nunavummiut brought forward in a training program. It’s not only progressive but is Nunavut-wide and that’s the process that we’re involved in.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Miramar people for actually contacting us to see what we can do to help them. That’s well appreciated and well welcomed by the department but also by the Government of Nunavut.
Question 356 – 2(4): Timing of Awareness of Responses in Auditor General Report (Tootoo)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Economic Development and Transportation, as well as Finance.
Mr. Speaker, a little earlier my colleague asked the Premier if this year’s letters of expectations would be tabled in the Assembly.
Instead of responding to that, Mr. Speaker, the Premier seemed to take the opportunity to humanly deflect responsibility when he read out the paragraph in the Auditor General’s Report, where it says, “In the context of this report, the government’s response required direct involvement of the corporation and the Departments of Economic Development and Transportation and Finance, among others, therefore, does not mean a response behalf of duly elected officials of the Government of Nunavut.”
Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation and Finance: when did he become aware of those government responses?
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) We knew they were working with the Auditor General within the government and our staff.
I would like to thank the minister for stating the obvious, but can he indicate when?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Sorry, Mr. Speaker.
As I said earlier, this investigation was brought to our attention and it was obvious. Our officials and staff from the Departments of Economic Development and Finance are working with the Auditor General on the report.
We know all of this already. I was asking the minister, and I’d still like him to answer, when he became aware of the government responses in the report.
Obviously, it was quite some time ago because it has to get printed and get translated before it gets transmitted here.
Can the minister respond, please: when was he aware of those responses?
I said earlier, our staff is working. We’re aware ahead of time with the Auditor General.
I don’t know how she was responding to our staff Mr. Speaker, towards the report.