EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I thought housing was one of them and that’s why I mentioned earlier that housing wasn’t a factor, so I’m just wondering for the one in Rankin Inlet and the one in Cambridge Bay, how many positions can’t be filled, as I asked before, as a result of lack of housing?
I apologize, but I need to bring the Assistant Deputy Minister of Operations back to the table to respond to that.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the minister’s staff.
There are a number of changes periodically, and it is dynamic, but we need roughly 20 units in each of Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet to fully staff.
The biggest challenge is to find the recruits. So if we were successful in finding the candidates for each of those positions, we would need roughly 20 new housing units in each of the two communities.
I guess it’s kind of like you’re caught between a catch 22, we need housing but we don’t know if we can hire the person to live in the house.
Has your department prioritized what positions that they would like to see provided first?
If you have the 20 positions there in each of those communities, are they rated from one to 20 as far as importance, or is it just whichever one we can get, we will take?
Our prioritizing isn’t quite that scientific and unfortunately, we are recruiting in all of those areas simultaneously and our success is not as specific as prioritizing nurses, doctors, technologists, social worker, and etcetera.
So all are important and all contribute immediately when we are successful.
I just want to make sure I understand this correctly that you need 40 housing units in those two communities.
Is that on top of the units that you have already allocated, or is that including the ones that you have allocated already?
These are new units; these are in addition to housing units that are available to us today.
I don’t know if Mr. Richardson is familiar with then, with how many vacant units they have in those two communities already, never mind the 40 new ones.
I’m sorry. I can’t answer that. I don’t know the vacancy, if any, at this moment.
You indicated you need 40 units; those are 40 plus the ones that you have already that you need.
So if you’re advertising right now for all 40 of those positions, and say something happens wonderfully and we get 20 of them, 10 in each community, then do we have any units on the ground for those people to come into right now, or is that just going to lead to, “We’d love to give you a job but we’ve got no place for you to stay.”
Two points. The availability of housing we don’t control, and so the Housing Corporation determines the use of the units, and the units are used by a variety of government departments.
So there are fluctuations from time to time. We are required to determine before placing a job whether housing is included or not, and the jobs that I referred to would be jobs that we would request housing at the time of posting.
Maybe, like my colleague said, I’d like to recognize the clock and move to report progress.
There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is not debatable.
Thank you, Minister, and your staff.
Item 20. (interpretation ends) Report of the Committee of the Whole.
Also, I move that the Report of the Committee be concurred with.
We have a motion on the floor. Do we have a seconder?
Thank you. (interpretation) All in favour. Opposed. The motion is carried.
Item 21. (interpretation ends) Third Reading of Bills.
For tomorrow, the meeting of the full caucus has been cancelled.
For tomorrow, a new meeting of the regular caucus at 11:00 in the morning in the Tuktu Boardroom.
Orders of the Day for March 21:
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, March 21, at 1:30.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Pages 530 – 626
Opening Prayer 530
Ministers’ Statements 530
Members’ Statements 533
Oral Questions 536
Tabled Documents 559
Motions 561
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 562
Point of Order 570
Report of the Committee of the Whole 625
Orders of the Day 625
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 530
036 – 2(4): Home and Community Care Worker Appreciation Day (Aglukkaq) 530
037 – 2(4): Housing Trust Teamwork (Akesuk) 531
038 – 2(4): Skills Canada Nunavut (Picco) 532
070 – 2(4): Update on the Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project (Peterson) 533
071 – 2(4): Pre-Trades Training for Kugluktuk High School Students (Evyagotailak) 535
072 – 2(4): Recognition of Long-Term Service Award Recipients in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 536
087 – 2(4): Status of Devolution Negotiations/Government of Canada Federal Budget (Tootoo) 536
088 – 2(4): Akitsiraq-Type Programs for Nunavut Professionals (Arvaluk) 539
089 – 2(4): Plans for Cambridge Bay Ambulance Services (Peterson) 541
090 – 2(4): Status of Health Centre Funding (Barnabas) 543
091 – 2(4): Construction of Public Housing (Arreak) 545
092 – 2(4): Status of a New Community Hall in Arctic Bay (Barnabas) 545
093 – 2(4): Implementation Strategy for Suicide Prevention (Tootoo) 546
094 – 2(4): Update on the Ed Horne Case (Kattuk) 549
095 – 2(4): Funding for an Air Terminal Building in Qikiqtarjuaq (Arreak) 550
096 – 2(4): Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project (Peterson) 552
097 – 2(4): Alternative Energy (Barnabas) 554
098 – 2 (4): Student Assessment Testing (Tootoo) 556
048 – 2(4): Medical Travel and Escorts Costs - Letter from Minister of Health and Social Services to Standing Committee on Health and Education (Barnabas) 559
049 – 2(4): Discussion Paper for Ikummatiit: An Energy Strategy for Nunavut, March 2007 (Picco) 559
050 – 2(4): Nunavut Housing Corporation Annual Report 2004-05 Framing a Housing Solution (Akesuk) 560
051 – 2(4): Ministerial Meeting Report – F/P/T Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management, January 2007 from Department of Community and Government Services (Brown) 560
052 – 2(4): Electoral Boundaries Commission Report - Kitikmeot Mayors and Senior Administrative Officers Teleconference March 19, 2007 (Aglukkaq) 560
053 – 2(4): Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act - Election to Participate in the Supplementary Allowances Plan - James Arvaluk (Speaker) 561
004 – 2(4): Extended Hours and Days (Picco) 561
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Consideration in Committee – Health and Social Services 562
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Honourable David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Premier, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and Ministers.
Minister’s Statement 036 – 2(4): Home and Community Care Worker Appreciation Day (Aglukkaq)
Home and community care services are of growing importance to Nunavummiut.
This type of service helps families care for loved ones at home. This year, for the first time, we recognize the valuable contribution made by our homecare workers.
Today, March 21, 2007, is home and community care workers appreciation day in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, home and community care services vary by community but can include personal care, home support, nursing, respite care, equipment loans, case management, and client assessment.
Several training initiatives have been implemented over the past year to continually improve professional skills.
Kivalliq Home Care Workers used telehealth last fall to take a 16-hour long palliative care course.
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association developed the course which offered an opportunity to learn new skills, share ideas, and to form a supportive network.
Baffin Home Care Workers in the Baffin participated in a four-day long conference called Rekindle the Spirit.
A total of 47 participated at two separate conferences.
The conference not only allowed staff to share best practices and network; it also offered workshops so that they could recertify their CPR and first aid skills.
Health and Social Services rehabilitation staff offered training as well in safe transfer of clients and equipment care.
Kitikmeot Home Care Workers participated in a ‘Great Kids’ workshop last year in Cambridge Bay to learn about ways to help parents develop nurturing and empathetic relationships with their children. A similar workshop was also held in Hall Beach. Some 15 home care nurses from all over Nunavut participated in Health Assessment Workshops in Iqaluit in February to enhance their clinical knowledge in this area - the first time this has been done in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Members of this House to join me in thanking the home and community care workers of Nunavut for making it possible for families to care for loved ones at home.
This is important for the well being of Nunavummiut and supports the government’s goal of building self-reliant and healthy communities.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 037 – 2(4): Housing Trust Teamwork (Akesuk)
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Good afternoon, my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an exciting new example of teamwork that the Housing Trust initiative is encouraging in Nunavut.
The Housing Trust Delivery Strategy, which was approved by Cabinet and tabled in the legislature last year, outlined the government’s plan to support Nunavummiut by building homes.
It describes how we will work together to construct approximately 725 new houses, as well as encourage the growth of a skilled home-grown labour force and the development of local businesses.
Last summer and fall, the Nunavut Housing Corporation staff visited each community and met with hamlet councils and staff, Local Housing Organizations, local businesses, and other interested people to discuss the trust initiative and gather feedback.
Based on this information, the delivery strategy was developed through interdepartmental cooperation between Nunavut Housing Corporation, Nunavut Arctic College, and the Departments of Education, Economic Development and Transportation, Community and Government Services, and Finance.
Objectives were developed to guide our effort to keep us focused on our four key Pinasuaqtavut goals, including continuing learning and self-reliance.
Ongoing interdepartmental coordination for the Housing Trust initiative is maintained through the Deputies Steering Committee, through the Senior Officials Working Group, and three regional working groups.
The regional groups will play a key role in the implementation of the strategy. In the coming months I will provide a one-window access point for resolving local issues and discussing community feedback on new approaches.
Mr. Speaker, we are also encouraging the establishment of community-level working groups to provide input into local plans for business development, apprenticeship, construction labour-delivery and other activities.
The Community Working Group established in Pond Inlet is one of the first and we look forward to the start-up of many more.
Mr. Speaker, the Housing Trust Delivery Strategy demonstrates a strong effort to integrate community-specific labour delivery methods with ongoing training initiative for labourers and apprentices, and targeted capacity building for local business.
I’m looking forward to an exciting and challenging year as we work together to implement the innovative construction and training component of the Housing Trust Delivery Strategy.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation) Minister of Education, Minister Picco.
Minister’s Statement 038 – 2(4): Skills Canada Nunavut (Picco)
I’m pleased to be able to update my colleagues on the activities taking place with Skills Canada Nunavut.
This is the second year of operation for this very busy not-for-profit organization.
The Skills Canada goal is the same across the country: helping young Canadians realize the enormous career opportunities available by developing their skills in trades and technology fields.
Over 1,000 students in 17 communities, along with many educators, have participated in organized team-building events, such as the cardboard boat race, the cardboard toboggan races, and skilled trades’ obstacle courses.
This year, many new skills clubs have been started in our schools. Skills clubs are extracurricular clubs where a volunteer from the community spends time with students to pass on trade/technology skills to our students.
Skills clubs offer a hands-on approach to teaching students about different skilled trades and technologies, such as graphic design, webpage development, office software applications, and TV and video production. Clubs in carpentry, cooking, hairdressing, and women’s apparel design have also started up. Communities in every part of Nunavut are represented.
Skills Canada Nunavut, through sponsorship by the federal government, the Workers’ Compensation Board, our very own Qulliq Energy Corporation, Kativik Diamond Mine, and the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Education provides financial support, project ideas and materials to get the clubs started.
Students who win gold medals at the territorial competition, at the Second Annual Territorial Skills Competition here in Iqaluit on March 29, at the Inuksuk High School have a chance to represent Team Nunavut at the Canadian Skills Competition.
This year’s national competition will be held in June in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Apprentices will also have the opportunity to compete for a place on Team Nunavut.
Please join with me in wishing all of those involved with Skills Canada Nunavut including the volunteers, sponsors, and teachers our thanks and ongoing success to our students and apprentices.
Item 2. Ministers’ Statements. Item 3.
Member’s Statement 070 – 2(4): Update on the Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project (Peterson)
I rise today to update the House on the status of the Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project.
As members know, I have spoken often about the vast potential that this important Kitikmeot project has for the economies of Nunavut and Canada.
The Kitikmeot Corporation and other members of the BIPAR Technical Committee briefly met in Vancouver and Toronto to discuss whether to proceed with the project, and, if so, how they could finance the $3 million required to complete the additional studies and reports for the various regulatory agencies and governments.
This is in addition to the $6 million that has already been spent on the project over the last decade.
Mr. Speaker, last year the Tibbett to Contwoyto Winter Road that supplies all the diamond mines in the Northwest Territories and Tahera Diamond Mine in Nunavut closed early due to unseasonably warm weather.
The early closure had a negative impact on all mines and, in particular, proved to be nearly disastrous for Tahera, when they only received 60 percent of their annual fuel supply.
We felt the impact in the Kitikmeot.
It is no secret that Nunavut requires strategic infrastructure to support our emerging mining industry.
While there are other economic sectors that Nunavut will develop, there are none in the foreseeable future that can generate the employment, training, and contracting opportunities for our economy that will come from successful mining projects.
Nunavut must break our continued dependence on the federal government for 90 percent of our revenues.
With this in mind, I was relieved when the BIPAR Committee made a decision to proceed with their worthy project on behalf of Nunavut.
The members of the committee are currently undertaking to update many of their reports, including their economic modeling report. The last time this report was updated it projected over 15,000 person-years of employment – a significant contribution to the gross domestic product of Nunavut and the nation as a whole.
Many members of the BIPAR Committee and some of their supporters are contributing time and finances to move this project forward because they believe in it. Now, more than ever, they require the unwavering commitment, leadership and financial support from the Government of Nunavut to take the project to the next level and gain support in Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the federal government announced that they were giving the Nunavut government $25 million each year over the next several years for infrastructure projects. With a current price tag of $300 million, we hope that some of these infrastructure funds will be allocated to BIPAR.
The returns on investment will be significant, and will pay dividends that will benefit our territory for years to come.
Member’s Statement 071 – 2(4): Pre-Trades Training for Kugluktuk High School Students (Evyagotailak)
I rise today to congratulate a group of Kugluktuk High School students who are in the Pre-Trades and Engineering Program that has been piloted by the Kugluktuk High School.
Mr. Speaker, this program combines traditional academics and practical trades-oriented courses.
On the one hand, those students receive Inuinnaqtun language instruction, and on the other hand, they prepare for a pre-trades examination.
At the same time they take 80 credits of academic courses and 40 credits of optional trades courses.
21 Kugluktuk High School students in grades 10 and 11 are currently in this program.
To date the program has seen an increase in attendance, an average of 33 out of a possible 40 high school credits, and the completion of some important work-related courses such as Emergency First Aid, Workplace Safety and Workplace Health Management Information Systems.
Students in the program also have the opportunity to take field trips to learn about employment opportunities that are open to trades people in the north.
A group of grade 10 students in the program recently travelled to visit the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.
This year those students are: Jonathon Agligoetek, Beverly Anablak, also my daughter Tracy Evyagotailak, Robin Harvey, Mahik Havioyak, Barbara Kapakatoak, Angela Kuliktana and Manok Taipana.
Each of these young men and women is taking an important step in realizing not only their own dreams but Nunavut’s dreams as well.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Evyagotailak. The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
Mr. Evyagotailak, please proceed.
Mr. Evyagotailak: I ask all my colleagues to join me in congratulating those young students and wishing them success as they work toward completing this program. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 072 – 2(4): Recognition of Long-Term Service Award Recipients in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk)
First of all I would like to thank my daughter who is taking care of two of her younger brothers. Mom is at the hospital.
I thank them and I love them all.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a number of my constituents in Sanikiluaq who recently received Long-Term Service Awards.
I would also like to thank Minister Tapardjuk for being with us in Sanikiluaq for the ceremony.
A number of my constituents deserve to be recognized for their many years of hard work and dedication to the community.
These constituents work at our health centre and Nuiyak School.
The recipients of the five-year award were: Annie Emikotailuk, Winnie Oqaituk, Dinah Kittosuk, Dinah Kavik, Tim Hoyt, Mary Kavik and Julia Grant.
Dora Fraser and Lucy Uppik received 10-year awards.
Lisi Kavik is a 15-year recipient.
John Jamieson is a 20-year recipient.
Mr. Speaker, special recognition should go to Johnny Meeko Jr. and Caroline Iqaluk. They have both served for 30 years.
I ask all members to join me in congratulating Sanikiluaq’s hard-working Government of Nunavut staff.
We congratulate them. Item 3. Members’ Statements.
Question 087 – 2(4): Status of Devolution Negotiations/Government of Canada Federal Budget (Tootoo)
My questions are for the Premier, whom I welcome back from his recent trip to Ottawa for the unveiling of the federal budget.
Mr. Speaker, the federal budget document states that the Government of Canada will, and I quote, “move ahead with negotiations to devolve onshore natural resource management responsibilities and resource revenues to the territories.”
The Premier has been publicly firm on the issue of wanting to include internal waters in devolution talks.
I’m just wondering if he could update us if he has any further information of whether this is something that could still be on the table, or is it something that the federal government has refused to put on the table.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) From what I understand, the representative for Minister Prentice will be reporting on his findings by the end of this month, and our position remains the same: that resource royalties should be treated, along with devolution responsibilities, should be treated like any other part of the country.
Nunavut will retain control over our natural resources inshore and in the internal waters of Canada.
So that will continue to remain the same and we await the findings of the representative for Minister Prentice and hope that we can make progress in the near future. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I think hold our breath and hopefully the federal government will treat us the same as they do everywhere else in the country.
We deserve no less.
Another thing that was identified in the budget address the other day was that the Government of Northwest Territory borrowing limit was raised from $300 million to $500 million.
I would just like to ask the minister, given that, was he disappointed that our borrowing limit hasn’t been raised knowing that we’re getting close to that limit right now?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) We have raised this matter with the federal government in the past.
Unlike the Government of the Northwest Territories, our borrowing limit requires an amendment to the Nunavut Act. So that’s something that we hope to address when the next set of maybe changes to the Nunavut Act take place so that would be a little easier for us to increase our limit in the future when we need it.
I’m hoping that we can avoid that and try and work with what we have because once you borrow, you have to repay that money and it collects interest. So we’ve borrowed quite a bit already and we’re hopeful that we can maintain our line and hopefully we won’t have to borrow so much in the future. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I can agree with the Premier and hopefully we won’t have to but I guess in the event down the road, if we do have the opportunity to generate our own source revenue, there may be a requirement for us to move on some infrastructure needs and not for just to hopefully leave it open for that if necessary.
Again, the Premier also indicated that they would require an amendment to the Nunavut Act and initially, when they’re looking at that, can he indicate if they are in any discussions at looking at making amendments to the Nunavut Act, and if so, what they are and what kind of timelines are they looking at?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) There are a number of amendments we would like to make in the Nunavut Act.
There’s the legislation dealing with game animals that prohibits in some ways our ability to regulate wildlife management. That has been an ongoing issue.
There is also the issue of having a fourth judge. I’ve raised this with the justice minister and we’re hoping that once some changes are taking place that we can piggyback it with these other amendments that have been waiting for some time.
But I don’t know when that will take place; it’s the federal government’s responsibility.
We’ve been pushing in particular for the fourth judge for some time.
So it is something that we are pressing on but I don’t know when it will be able to be dealt with at this time.
I want to encourage the minister to keep pushing for things that need to get changed.