EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The reason I ask this question is the people would like to find out exactly what kind of examinations are considered routine when you go here to the doctor.
I think the Member has raised a good point, the point being that many people when they go to a health centre they go there when they are not well, people go there when they are sick.
A lot of times we talk about the prevention side of medicine and I think the Member is correct, there should be an opportunity for people and we should be communicating a little bit better to go to a health centre or go to a family physician or go to the health centre and see a nurse for a general examination before an issue arises.
So I would be prepared Mr. Speaker in conjunction with Public Health through the Department of Health and Social Services to make that information available in writing to the Member.
Question 597 – 1(6): Awarding of Contracts for Construction of Houses
When I made a Member’s Statement a while ago Mr. Speaker I talked about the housing projects in the communities, which I’m very happy about.
However, last year when the Housing Corporation was going to construct buildings and houses, they mentioned they have to purchase a house to be built and to have it transported to the certain community, they stated that because of the money that has to stay in the communities and under Naujaat Challenge and Bathurst Mandate the government talks about the money staying in the communities.
We know that the money, all of the money does not go into the community even though they have a few people working in the communities.
What I would like to ask is does the Minister of Housing know who tendered for the contract this year?
Mr. Speaker I’m not positive about how many tenders we received for each community for the public housing program I believe there are public proposal calls, tenders advertised for that, I can commit to finding out exactly what did take place in the Member’s constituency and get back to him on that one.
Mr. Anawak: I’m sure that the Minister can find out which company got the contract out there.
If the Minister can let us know what kind of conditions are in the contract that would ensure that there was as much local labour as possible because my preference would be that the community gets the contract, but most times are desperate.
What conditions are in the contract to ensure that the company not only gets as much local labour as possible, but what kind of an enforcement is there to ensure that the contractor abides by the contract?
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Housing Corporation follows the NNI Policy that the Minister of Public Works and within that Policy there are provisions for local hire, local businesses and etc. is part of the whole evaluation process for tenders.
As well, they are criteria of thresholds to be met during the contract prior to being put up publicly and if components do not meet that, there are penalty revisions in the tenders for that.
I wonder if the Minister could tell us if there has ever been any contractor fined for not abiding by the contract, and if so could the Minister also supply us with any details of the contracts that were done in the last year for us to look over to see if the contractors are abiding by the contract and secondly, if any contractors were fined or were not abiding by the contract.
Mr. Speaker, yes, I will commit to putting together that information, but as Members know, there is also a major review going on right now with our partner, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Public Works and Services in respect to the NNI Policy in trying to ensure that it is being effective and meeting the goals and objectives that were set out in the Policy.
Question 598 – 1(6): Update on Situation of Fuel in Hall Beach
This summer we ran out of fuel and I had already informed the Minister of Public Works approximately two weeks.
I had also told him that I will be asking some questions and told the Minister to be prepared.
At that time, the people of Hall Beach started using low quality gas where there were some water mixed in with the fuel and after they had done a study, we were told to immediately stop using that fuel, but we used it for approximately three weeks and I had stated earlier, I had told the Minister and his Department to be prepared and I would like an update on this issue.
I am pleased that the Member was able to bring up this issue.
We have many questions that we have to look into regarding this issue and we are working with people who are doing the study.
I cannot respond to his question at this time, but I will take it as notice.
Speaker: The Minister has taken the question as notice; therefore, there will be no further supplementaries.
Question 599 – 1(6): Plans to Renovate Old Public Houses
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Nunavut Housing Corporation.
I have brought this issue up on more than one occasion regarding the public housing units that were built in the ‘60s.
They are inadequate and usually they have a washer and dryer placed right beside the stove.
My question to the Minister is do you have any plans to renovate these buildings, these old public houses and possibly make them into one bedroom units?
Could the Minister inform us as to what kind of plans he has in regards to the renovations of those 1960’s public houses?
Mr. Speaker, we do have funding in the capital plan for maintenance and improvements.
I cannot say specifically right now, whether or not those specific units the Member refers to are part of that plan.
Certainly when the Housing Corporation capital comes forward, we will have that information available.
It seems that the Minister and the Deputy Ministers usually say one thing, but when they are responsibilities handed over to the community, then the whole thing changes.
The direction that is given from the Minister is usually handed down to the staff and to the community level and then the whole thing goes out of proportion.
These are old houses that I am referring to are three bedroom units, but they do not have a kitchen or dining area.
They will definitely have to be retrofitted or improved and made into one bedroom units for example and I hope that happens during, with this Government.
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that there are many needs out there in housing, both on the new public housing, social housing side and also on the repair, maintenance and upgrading anything.
And given the limited financial dollars available to the Housing Corporation, they obviously allocate based on as much as the need as possible and trying to affectively deal with many of those issues as possible.
Again, I would be happy to discuss the details once we get into the capital budget closer.
Question 600 – 1(6): Meet and Discuss with Coral Harbour Residents on Fuel Spill
My question today is for the Minister of Public Works and Services.
As the Minister is aware, the Hamlet of Coral Harbour recently experienced a fuel spill in its harbour during the August Resupply.
The Hamlet is quite concerned because they have not yet received the full report from the Department concerning this spill and they would like to talk to the Department or with the Minister about making upgrades to its local infrastructure to help make sure that this not happen again.
My first question is will his Department sit down with the community to make the full report on this incident and discuss ways of preventing similar incidents from happening again?
And I would also like to congratulate the new Member for his making his first question in the House.
I’ve been having discussions with my Department staff and also the people in Coral Harbour.
There was no environmental damage during the spill and we will present the report to the Hamlet of Coral Harbour once it’s completed.
Question 601 – 1(6): New Fuel Tanks for Kugaaruk
I would like to direct my question and it’s not the first time that I will be bringing it up to the Minister of Public Works and Services.
In Kugaaruk we have different types of fuel in our communities.
There’s aviation fuel and so on.
My question to the Minister is are we going to be getting new tanks to house fuel?
The Member has raised this question on more than one occasion.
We have to keep in mind that there are limited dollars available.
In 2003/2004 there was some work done on the tanks I don’t have the information in front of me but I will review my documents and I will inform the Member and give him an update.
And I would like to thank the Minister for his response.
The reason why I keep asking this question is that there are requirements for fuel when we have to order medivac patients and so on.
It’s very important that there’s an adequate supply of aviation fuel in our communities.
I will bring this question up again as soon as I can.
I will rephrase my response.
In the Finance Minister’s Statement it was mentioned here that it would be included in the capital estimates.
Question 602 – 1(6): Reason Joint Venture Contract Was Awarded the Project
Mr. Speaker as I had indicated in my Member’s Statement my question is for the Premier.
Mr. Premier I am very seriously concerned of the apparent decision, the decision that the executive council made not to award the tender of the Kivalliq health facility to the lowest bidder.
I think, not only to myself, but to the construction industry, the current, whether it be non Inuit-owned or Inuit-owned, that talk to both and they are both very concerned about it as well and feel that sets a very dangerous precedent on behalf of the government and its practices.
It has seriously damaged the governments’ credibility in their eyes - the construction industry and the business community as a whole.
We have a policy, a contracting policy in place, the NNI policy that I have mentioned here earlier today.
I think, Mr. Speaker, it would be probably in the best of public’s interest if the government could justify and let them know, put them at ease as to why they went into that decision and leave no doubt to the rumors and hearsay that have been heard out there that’s been nothing but political lobbying and arm twisting that resulted in these types of decisions.
Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister, the Premier as I have done in my letter last spring request that he advise me, this House, and the public out there what specific reasons, exactly what the Council based its decision to award the contract to a joint venture group rather than to the lowest bidder.
Our government is often criticized for not trying to support the local businesses.
Although I cannot get into the exact specifics of the discussion, which took place, the NNI policy provide for Cabinet to overrule a policy in certain circumstances, and also decide on contracts, and that is what happens.
We looked at the particular project in mind and the extent of the project that has potential benefits of the project, and looked at the overall cost of the project and benefits.
In that light, we felt that supporting the local businesses outweigh the minimal cost that we had to incur.
My shareholders are the people of Nunavut.
I will continue to do my part in trying to support those who are not based in southern Canada but those based in Nunavut.
And my judgment will be based on these, to see what potential benefit that we can provide to local businesses.
Yes, there is NNI, but we all know that it hasn’t been working to the promise that we thought it would deliver so we sometimes have to make decisions that some people might not be totally happy with.
That’s our job, and our job is to weigh benefits over costs.
Mr. Speaker, all Premier indicated support the local businesses and I think maybe it only half true in this case or probably more than half or one of the proponents of the Joint Venture Group that the contract was awarded to is based in Nunavut but the larger partner in that group is based in southern Canada, as the Premier had indicated.
Again, it doesn’t make any sense, and what kind of messages is it sending to the construction, the contracting people out there that if they want to get a contract in Nunavut, but they have to have a small component or contact or small partner or just join any kind of joint venture group with someone in Nunavut that is Inuit and they can put any kind of bid they want and they get the contract.
I mean, half of million dollars which is what the difference was in the contract I believe after NNI was applied.
Also the indications and correspondence that I tabled yesterday stated that Public Works was directed to go to this joint venture group and negotiate on their price after the whole tender process and also to negotiate a higher Inuit employment.  And again, my correspondence that I tabled yesterday, why couldn’t this have been done with the lowest bidder and why wasn’t it done with the lowest bidder?
I would like to ask the Premier to answer that.
What we would like to signal to the people of Nunavut is that we support you if you are locally based, we will do our part in trying to make sure that you get your share of the contracts and that is the message that we deliver.
The company that was for joint venturing within that another company was locally based where the project was being delivered and the magnitude of the project is quite substantial.
The amounts that were under discussion were minimal in light of the overall project.
So, we looked at the cost, benefit allowances and felt that on this particular project, maybe a couple of hundred thousand dollars may outweigh the potential benefits to providing a contract to locally based companies in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier keeps referring to a locally based company and I am pretty sure in one of my correspondence or it was in the meeting, a reference was made to an Inuit-owned company.
Was one of the basis for their decision the fact that part builders from Edmonton, Alberta, was joint ventured with an Inuit-owned firm in this particular case?
We support local and Inuit-owned in particular and we were seeking through this contract that we will try and do our part and we also review the policy itself in light of all of the problems that we have encountered over the last few years and making sure that it truly reflects the desires of Nunavut contractors.
Mr. Speaker, I note that the tender in question closed, I think it was in May 6 of 2003 and that the letter going out to the unsuccessful lowest bidder was I think very early in June.
I also note as we go onto Inuit Firm Registry that the company in question was only added in June.
So, I would like to ask the Premier when did they make that decision to award the contract to the joint venture group?
That advertisement also specified that the lowest bidder might not necessarily get the contract.
So, everybody knew that even though they may have the lowest bid, the Government, at the end of the day, will decide as to the cost benefits and analysis.
We took it upon ourselves as Cabinet to make decisions that we felt would be more beneficial to the people of Nunavut and that was after, I believe, the closing and after June.
I do not have the exact dates right now, but I can provide it to the Member.
Question 603 – 1(6): Signed Contract for Health Facility
I may be ruled out of order here, but I want to follow up on the question by my colleague from Iqaluit in regards to tendering policies and practices in the Government.
I, for one, think that we are doing a terrible job at attracting and keeping local businesses going in this territory.
My question today is, and I have to sit here and accept the decisions that Cabinet makes, because they make decisions based on probably what is right for the territory, whether I agree with it or not.
It gets to the point that we are talking about the Rankin Inlet health facility being tendered out and the pros and cons of it.
My questions today to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
There are two other health facilities in this territory that are being built.
Mr. Speaker, what I would like to know is, do we have signed contracts for the health facility and hospital in Iqaluit, and the health facility in Cambridge Bay?
Do we have signed contracts today?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Member for his inopportune question.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, we do have contracts in place.
In the case of the Rankin Inlet facility, as the Member is aware, that project was taken over by the Government of Nunavut because of issues that had arisen with that project.
In the case of the Baffin Regional Hospital Project, Mr. Speaker, we have a developmental agreement in place with Qikiqtaaluk Corporation.
That agreement, I believe right now, is about four point two million dollars.
It entails all the site work that the Member has seen taking place already on the site, including the removal of the full access road being built, and other work associated with the facility.
In the case of the Kitikmeot facility, Mr. Speaker, the contract is in place with the regional development corporation there, and that facility is underway.
It is my understanding, at the last report that it is on time, and well within the parameters of the Capital Expenditures Budget that was approved for.
We are quite pleased with that.
That is reassuring that the Minister gave me the answer.
But at the end of the day, I support these three hospitals.
I think that they have been needed in this territory for a long, long time.
I want to make it very clear to this House that I fully support that hospital being built on that hill there.
I think that twenty to thirty years is overdue for building a new facility.
Mr. Speaker, we talk about fiscal restraint, and we just got a lesson today on it from the Minister.
We are not as bad off as we thought we first were.
Like I say, the Cabinet makes the decisions.
My question to the Minister is do we have a final price on these two other health facilities that are being built?
Do we have a contract, and do we have a final price on them yet?
Mr. Speaker, very quickly, I think that they are on this afternoon; we will be in the Committee of the Whole where each of the Ministers will be defending their Capital Budget, including Department of Health and Social Services.
At that time I will be able to give greater detail on what has occurred, and what is happening with the three facilities.
I can say very quickly that the budget has been approved; it has been approved in this House for those facilities.
The Member only has to refer back to the Capital Budget on occasion.
And indeed, that is what the budget of the hospital facilities are.
That is the construction costs as allocated in the Capital Estimates, as identified by the Minister of Finance.
Speaker: Just a reminder to the Members that the budget is not in the House yet.
Therefore Members are permitted to ask questions.
I feel I’m being a bit stymied here.
I asked if we had signed contracts.
Based on estimates when do we award contracts based on estimates.
I always thought that we awarded contracts based on the tender price.
That’s why I asked 400 questions for Committee of the Whole today on the health facility and I will do my question asking today.
But I’m telling you I’m very concerned with the fact that we do not have signed contracts on the other two facilities and what’s the final price on them.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker it’s just a statement.
Question 604 – 1(6): Income Support Qualifications
One of the Members of this House could not make it because of weather so the question maybe perhaps if I could make a preamble it’s in regards to housing.
The people that receive income support that are students, how old do they have to be in order to receive income support?
Maybe if the Member can clarify his question.
Is he talking about students in grade 12 or is he talking about adult education students.
I’m talking about rent payments that are made to public housing, I will also be raising questions on this the Minister responsible for Housing, the people that receive income support from the Department of Education, is it at the age of 15 or 13 that they are eligible to receive income support.
Speaker: The Minister will just wait until we maintain quorum again so the question can be answered.
They are eligible to receive income support at the age of 18.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): If I understand it correctly, if they are going to school they are eligible to receive income support at the age of 15 but they are allowed to have their own public housing to rent at the age of 19, I think that is what the Minister is saying.
If they are able to receive income support at the age of 19, the high school students that don’t have attained the age of 18 do not qualify?
People at the age of 18 are qualified to receive income support.
Question 605 – 1(6): Reasons Contract Went Through Executive Council
Mr. Speaker my question again is to the Premier.
It seems interesting that one of the arguments that they used for not going with the lowest bidder is being awarded to an Inuit-owned firm, it seems like that it may have been an Inuit-owned only after the decision was made.
I look forward to him providing us with that information when that actual decision was made.
But Mr. Speaker I think it goes there’s more to it I’d like to know, and I think a lot of people out there would like to know when or why a contract, through normal practices, is administered through the Department Public Works and Services and awarded and everything done through Public Works and Services, why did this one not go through that normal process and why did it go to the executive council to make a decision on?
As we are all aware these health facilities have been in development for quite some time and the magnitude of these projects are much larger than what we are normally used to.
So as Cabinet we have been paying particular attention to all the three projects that have been taking place over the last few years and we felt that in this instance that providing a benefit to local businesses outweighs potential costs of providing for further contracts to southern shareholders.
So we felt that in this case providing a local business for not a significant amount in light of the overall project would be more beneficial for our government.
Mr. Speaker what the Premier is indicating is because of the size and the magnitude of the project that it goes to the executive council.
Has that been the practice of all the major infrastructure capital projects that have gone on with the government since the inception of Nunavut?
For these facilities in particular we have been paying particular attention and we have became aware of the last few years of more recent times that the NNI policy needs to be examined closely and we have been paying more attention to the awarding of larger contracts of labour in light of all the comments we have received from the local businesses in Nunavut.
So, I guess the Premier through his comments is indicating that it has not been the practice in the past it’s just something very recent.
I would like to ask is this the first incident in which this has happened.
For health facilities we have been working on this since we were formed as government so for these particular three projects is not news to use.
Right from the day we were formed in our first Cabinet retreat we discussed P3 and these health facilities so we have been paying very close attention to these three projects in particular.
Mr. Speaker, good lessons can be taken here on how to be evasive in answers on this one.
I did not ask him when they started looking at the whole health facility; I asked if this contract was the first one that they looked at.
I know if you look at some of the larger contracts we have done over the years since we have been here, there was a $17 million dollar high school in Cambridge Bay roughly.
There have been other major projects.
We have a major project going on here with the reconstruction of Joamie School; it is going to be about $13 million.
Is the Government saying that, do not bother applying for these contracts unless you have an Inuit partner?
Is that what the Government, the message that it is sending out there?