EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Will some of it go to Kivalliq...especially in the Keewatin, the smaller communities, they have a regional office in Arviat; they don’t get very many visitors.
So, a lot of times we don’t even know of those different programs that are available.
I wonder if he will be sending his officials to visit the smaller communities to announce the program that is available.
Yes, we will try and do everything we can to make sure that the public will become aware of the program because we are going to have to order materials before the sealift in order for them to start construction.
Yes, to his question, our staff will assist the communities in any way they can with the program that is being offered for housing.
Question 066 – 2(3): Wildlife Regulation Reviews (Mapsalak)
Just a couple of days ago, I asked the minister about wildlife regulations and that was being worked on. Was it handed over to you before it was completed?
Did you check into this?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Environment, Akesuk.
We are currently working on this and we can check into it further.
In my last response, we gave all of the HTOs in the communities correspondence, even though they have reviewed this, but we wanted to get written submissions from the HTOs or from the public because we didn’t want to make any mistakes on these regulations and we were willing to work with NWMB and NTI in regard to the regulations.
I have not checked into this further; if this went through that way, but if it’s not completed, then the HTOs can review those regulations in their communities.
Would the minister, before the end of this session, respond to whether the wildlife regulations are missing because we only have a short time left until the end of this session? Will the minister be able to provide the House with the information whether all the regulations were passed out, or given to the hunters?
During the last workshop of the HTOs, they reviewed the wildlife regulations.
I will look into whether the regulations were given out to the hunters and trappers, in whole or in part, for their review.
After I find out from my staff I will provide the members with that information.
The regulations have been dealt with. The review has been dealt with; perhaps not in just a few days. I think it was reviewed for about three days, or so.
I am sure it wasn’t reviewed in just three days.
I seem to understand the minister is saying that the Nunavut Government is saying that there is lack of funding for the review?
We went to the regional offices in Nunavut for the review of the wildlife regulations. They were paid by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
Question 067 – 2(3): Energy Crown Corporation and Letter of Expectation (Tootoo)
My question again is for, none other than the energized, Minister of Energy.
Before I start my question, I just want to say, “Hi Brian.”
My question to the Minister is this; in May of this year letters of expectation to Nunavut’s Crown agencies were formally tabled in this House. In a letter dated April 28, 2005, the Minister of Energy put his signature to the letter to the Chairman of the Board for the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
Under the minister’s own signature, the letter said, “The immediate priorities of the corporation will include complying with both the letter and the spirit of applicable GN policies, particularly with respect to human resource policies and practices.”
My question is very simple. “Has the Qulliq Energy Corporation followed the minister’s directions and complied with the GN Staff Housing Policy and other HR practices? Yes or no?
The Qulliq Energy Corporation, the power corporation, is guided and ruled by different pieces of legislation.
That legislation outlines how policies and procedures work. One example of that was the adoption by the power corporation of the GN Employee Handbook, and excluded payroll book.
In the short answer to the member’s question the answer is yes. Indeed, the power corporation has moved forward to take into account, not only some of the financial concerns of the corporation, but the logistic, the administrative, and the human resource issues that are raised in that.
I don’t know if it’s yes or no; yesterday it was no and today it’s yes.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, again, the minister threw up a spectacular smokescreen in his responses to me with reference to mysterious federal rules and regulations.
Mr. Speaker, I think we all know that we make the rules and issue the directives for how our territorial crown corporations operate.
The morale of our public employees will be undermined if there are different sets of rules for different people.
Will the minister commit to tabling, in this House, the relevant policies and guidelines that apply to Qulliq Energy Corporation employees?
I would commit to reviewing the issues around the public service, but the member has to be reminded that the Power Corporation employees are employees of the Power Corporation; they are not employees of the Government of Nunavut.
Indeed, the Power Corporation is an independent body outside of government, and at the same time, because the Power Corporation is 100 percent owned by the government as the major shareholder, then some of the rules, or directions, and so on, are associated with that ownership, flows through the corporation itself.
So I will commit, to the member, to bring forward the employees’ handbook, as endorsed by the GN, which is the GN Excluded Employees’ Handbook, which we follow as a corporation, which outlines the issues, I think, that the member is talking about.
Aside from the handbook, I think that’s something that you could probably get online through the GN’s sites.
Has the new collective agreement between the Qulliq Energy Corporation and the union been signed off yet? And if it has, will he table that agreement in this House as well?
Yes, I can comply, again, in fairness and the openness of transparency, I will table the collective agreement just signed off by the Power Corporation, which includes the entitlements and so on.
And I just want to put one little caveat on that, and that is to make sure that I can do that, I don’t want to table information that may be detrimental or of a personal or confidential nature, but what I will do is table that agreement, in full, in the House with that caveat that I just mentioned.
Also to shed some more light on the deep darkness of the corporation that the minister is responsible for, the darkness the corporation is responsible for.
I would like to ask him if the Qulliq Energy Corporation has formally responded to the minister’s letter of expectation that I referred to earlier with a progress report, and if so, will he also table that in this House?
I first want to say that I am proud of the work that the corporation has done over the last few years and to the corporation; no one in the public or any other position or job in Nunavut probably has gone through more criticism than the Power Corporation employees.
They do a fantastic job for us in very difficult weather conditions and in a very difficult climate area. So, I want to take this opportunity to thank them for that work.
Over the past several weeks I have had an opportunity to meet with members of the board, because I just appointed, as the member knows, new board members.
We have gone through the policies and recommendations that have been brought forward to the Crown Agency; those letters were tabled here in the House.
I am pleased to say that the board, through the chairmanship of Mr. Merkosak, has responded very favourably to those recommendations and I think part of that can be demonstrated by the turn around that we have seen in the corporation because they’ve actually started working on some of the logistical, administrative and financial issues that we have been discussing in this House.
Question 068 – 2(3): Financial Restraints for GN (Peterson)
My question is for the Minister of Finance. Last week when the Minister of Finance gave his fiscal update it was revealed that we are now projecting an operating deficit for the 2005-06 fiscal year of just under $9 million; I think the number here is $8.7 million.
According to a recent news release the deadline for the appointing of an expert panel on equalization and territorial formula financing report to be submitted has been pushed back until sometime next year.
In the minutes of the Hansard of Wednesday, November 16, I asked the minister about this. The minister said at that time, “At this time I cannot really give him a definite answer.” My question for the minister, since he had a week to think about it; can the minister tell us that the Financial Management Board has made any specific decisions or directives with respect to financial restraint measures or hiring freezes, and if so, what has been decided?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Finance, Minister Simailak.
The FMB has not made any decision on that yet.
I thank the Minister of Finance for that answer. I’m not sure that I should be thanking him for that answer.
I will because it gives me information for my next supplementary question.
If our government does decide to run a deficit for 2005-06, will the government need to borrow an amount in order to pay its bills?
I cannot answer that question at this time because it has not been discussed.
Can the minister tell us if the Government of Nunavut has guaranteed any more debt on behalf of Crown corporations, such as the Qulliq Energy Corporation? If so, how many loan guarantees has it made?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Simailak.
We have not made any new loan guarantees as yet.
There have not been any new guarantees.
I thank the Minister of Finance, again for that answer.
Some time ago it was revealed that the Qulliq Energy Corporation was in arrears to the Petroleum Products Division of the Department of Community and Government Services.
Is the Qulliq Energy Corporation up to date for its fuel purchases?
If not, how much does it owe?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps if the member can ask that question to the Department of Community and Government Services.
Speaker (interpretation): ... just a minute ...this is part of some of the comments that you made during one of the Question Periods. Could you reply to Mr. Peterson’s question again?
They needed to make some adjustments last year and we have completed that.
I believe that there might be some new ones, but if there is none we will deal with them.
Question 069 – 2(3): Commercial Power Hook-ups (Barnabas)
Well I wasn’t going to respond to that because I’m not a Minister.
I have a question in regard to the starting up of new businesses.
My question is directed to the Minister Responsible for the Power Corporation.
In my riding there are hook-ups required. How does it work for businesses that are just starting up and their connections?
On hook-ups for electric power there are two processes, one for residential hook-up, and the other is a commercial process for hook-up.
They are slightly different.
In a commercial hook-up, because there are energy amounts being used and the different capacity and loads being used for example, there are different codes that are in place.
In most cases, the power corporation would need drawings and so on to facilitate those hook-ups. Residential hook-ups are a little more straightforward. So I hope that helps answer the member’s question.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) How long is the waiting period for a customer?
Each community has different waiting times depending on the amount of time that is being facilitated or done in that community.
As an example, if ten new units were being built in Arctic Bay, then we would have been in contact with the contractor there for the electrical hook-up, and that person, the contractor, would contact the power corporation and say we need x number of hook-ups, permanent hook-ups done, in a certain time frame, then that gives the power corporation the lead time to fly into Artic Bay.
So, if the contractor said we need it for the end of July, then we would try and be there at the end of July to try and facilitate that.
If we needed a hook-up immediately then that could take a week or two weeks depending on when we could get a crew into the community.
And again, it depends on whether it’s a residential hook-up or commercial hook-up.
In regard to getting connected, is there a fee connected to that?
There is a deposit requested by the power corporation when we do hook-ups.
The amount varies depending on the residential and the commercial amounts.
So, if the member has a constituent who would like a residential hook-up, then that request would go to our local office and then that would be facilitated when the line crew are available.
If there is a commercial hook-up, then there are more drawings for example that need to be done, there is more work that needs to be scoped, a deposit has to be put in place, and then we would arrange for a crew to go in to do the hook-up.
So there is a fee put in place.
At the same time, when you do, that fee is put in place, that fee is recoverable back to the client if that person moves or what have you.
The amount is there on their bill, shown as a credit.
Is it possible for the minister to send the employees up there if it was an emergency case?
In any community in Nunavut, the first priority for the power corporation is to get the power on.
A good example was, over the last couple of days in Repulse, we weren’t able to get a crew out of Rankin Inlet which services that region and that community.
We actually arranged quick as possible to send another plane and a different crew in from Iqaluit to service Repulse.
So with notification of a power outage that can’t be handled locally, then the operator in the community contacts the power corporation and then we’re able to facilitate an immediate response to that outage. That’s the first priority of the corporation.
Written Question 007 – 2(3): Directives, Instruction and Orders (Tootoo)
My question is for the Chairman of the Financial Management Board and Minister Responsible for the Crown Agency Council.
Mr. Speaker, within the meaning of the Financial Administration Act (Nunavut), what directives, instructions and orders have been made since January 1, 2005, in respect to Government of Nunavut departments and Crown agencies?
Speaker (interpretation): If you would bring up the written question please.  Written Questions.
Written Question 008 – 2(3): Directives, Instructions and Orders (Tootoo)
Mr. Tootoo: This question is for the Chairman of the Executive Council, that’s our Premier. It is again regarding directives, instructions and orders.
Within the meaning of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act what directives, instructions and orders have been made by the Executive Council in Nunavut since January 1, 2005, with respect to Government of Nunavut departments and Crown agencies?
Tabled Document 026 – 2(3): 2004-05 Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council Annual Report (Aglukkaq)
I wish table the 2004-05 Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council Annual Report.
Tabled Document 027 – 2(3): Nunavut Housing Corporation Annual Report 2003-2004 (Akesuk)
I wish to table the following document: Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Annual Report 2003-2004.
Tabled Document 028 – 2(3): News Release: Miramar Mining Announces $43.5 Million Private Placement with Newmont Mining Corporation (Peterson)
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a news release from Miramar Mining entitled: Miramar Mining Announces $43.5 Million Private Placement with Newmont Mining Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, Newmont Mining is the world’s largest gold producer.
Tabled Document 029 – 2(3): News Release: NTI Calls for Funding for Women’s Shelter (Evyagotailak)
I would like to table a news release: NTI Calls for Funding for Women’s Shelter.
Tabled Document 030 – 2(3): CLEY's Promoting Elders’ Needs (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the following document from the Department of CLEY, it’s in regard to promoting elders’ needs.
Tabled Document 031 – 2(3): Annual Contract Data Report 2004-05 and Leased Properties Report (Brown)
I would like to table the documents in regard to last year’s contracts for 2004-05 and also housing rentals.
Bill 02 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #2, 2005-06 – Notice
Bill 03 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #2, 2005-06 – Notice
Bill 04 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #4, 2004-05 – Notice
I give notice that on Friday, November 25, 2005, that the following bills: Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #2, 2005-06; Bill 3, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act #2, 2005-06; and Bill 4, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act #4, 2004-05; will be read for the first time.
Bill 10 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act – Notice
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: I give notice that on Friday, November 25, 2005, I shall move that Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 1, Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2006-07, with Mr. Evyagotailak in the Chair.
We will back here at 3:30 p.m.
>>House recessed at 15:13 and Committee resumed at15:45
Chairman (Mr. Evyagotailak)(interpretation): Good afternoon. (interpretation ends) I would like to call the committee meeting to order.
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bill 1.
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Your committee would like to continue dealing with capital estimates for the Nunavut Housing Corporation and once that’s finished, we will start with the Department of Education’s capital estimates.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with Nunavut Housing Corporation?
Minister of Nunavut Housing Corporation and your staff, please go to the witness table.
Minister Akesuk, for the record, please introduce your staff.
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2006-07 – Nunavut Housing Corporation – Consideration in Committee
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my right, Peter Scott, President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, and also to my left, Vice President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Abraham Tagalik will be here with me.
And also before I start, we have copies of the Homeownership Program and the Home Repair Program; I would like to give these copies to the members.
They are broken down and have more detailed information.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Akesuk and your staff, welcome to the Committee of the Whole.
Yesterday, we were on page L-6.
Questions on page L-6?
There’s nothing directed for elders. So I would like to get an update on what’s happening with this, especially for the elders who own their own homes.
I don’t see any assistance programs for the elders, although we had seen $1,500 that could be used by the Elder Homeowners Repair Program.
In my community of Coral Harbour, there are quite a few elders who own their own homes and they run into a lot of difficult problems because all they receive is their elders’ pension.
They don’t even qualify for income support.
Individuals told me that he has used the Nunavut Housing Corporation as an old company. Back in the Northwest Territories days, back then, the Hudson’s Bay Company didn’t really care whether the elders died or not.
That’s the viewpoint of some of the elders that we have and all they receive is the elders’ pension.
Although it states here, $1,500, but is there any other assistance program for homeowners that are elders? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We discussed a new program that will assist these special needs or disabled individuals.
Those programs are available for assistance programs.
They are broken down and when we go to that appropriate page they are allocated to each region of Nunavut. One directive for elders, and for the disabled persons, who are in the Homeowners’ Assistance Program.
That is the only program that we do have.
We see elders who live in public units when they are at the age of 60, they don’t pay rent for the unit, and everything else is paid for.
The elders who own their home become envious. The elders say that when we start owning our own home we start getting poorer and poorer.
They don’t even provide any form of assistance.
We see the elders that own their own homes are treated differently than others. They do receive the repair program but they are not eligible to receive another repair program only after the five years.
I might be wrong but the elders complain that there’s not enough funding to maintain their homes.
Since an elder owns their own home they can’t even own their own boats. When they want to move into a housing unit, they can’t even move and they don’t even have any transportation.
They have to try and keep up the payments for services. Our elders should be considered more because they lack funding.
Perhaps the minister can make a commitment to make sure that there’s maintenance funding for the elders that own their own home. Provide them with additional funding, or set aside some additional funding. Could the minister commit to that?
Yes, I understand. Your point is very well taken. In my constituency this has been a concern too.
If I remember correctly the fuel subsidy is provided by Income Support. Starting in September and ending in March, I think that one of the departments provide some assistance.
It would be good to make sure that this information goes to the elders.
Perhaps that assistance for elders, we should review the assistance for elders because this year this $1,500 is the first time that we provided senior citizens with home repair, and for people with disabilities.
I know that it’ll become clearer after we have utilized this program for a year. That way we can have a better idea of what is needed in assistance. We would like to work with the members of how we can adjust this better to make sure we provide more assistance to seniors and disabled persons.
The elders at the age of 60 stop paying rent. We can review this and I am committed to working on the senior citizens programs. It’ll become clearer after we have used this for a year.
Then we’ll have a better idea what is needed by the elders.
Mr. Chairman: (interpretation) Thank you Minister Akesuk, Mr. Netser.
Mr. Netser (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman and also I would like to thank the minister for committing to provide more assistance to the elders.
We hear, as the Nunavut Government, we say that we have to respect our elders and show them more respect and I thank you for that.
I don’t see, on Page L-6, (inaudible) I don’t see the Home Improvement Program.
And, looking at the capital estimates, did you take out the HIP program or do we expect to see another program along the line?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Once we are on Page L-10 you’ll be able to see it and also on Page L-12 as well. Grants and Contributions for those that you’ve just stated, it’ll become clear as we go through those pages.
Mr. Netser (interpretation): I’m done.
Chairman: Mr. Alagalak
I’d like to ask a question again. For this $5 million in public housing, because it’s in this bill that needs to be approved in this House during this session, if we don’t complete it today it will probably be completed by tomorrow, those public houses, which community are they going to? Which community is receiving the houses from this line item?
Could the minister update us on that?
Chairman: Thank you, Mister Alagalak.
Hon Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): I apologize. The communities that have units constructed will not be receiving units.
We are going to build two units in the communities. I think there are 12 communities in which we will be constructing units for public housing.
Mr. Alagalak: Perhaps, Mr. Chairman, I didn’t quite understand him or hear him. I just agreed to part of...last year they were using the point system and said that it was really important. The communities that have the most need for housing, those that are the most overcrowded communities, are you going to use those criteria?