EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We do understand that the people wish they had that additional space to accommodate visitors, but we also have such a shortage of housing that we have to make the best use of our existing housing portfolio and reallocate so that families have the additional bedrooms for their children rather than allocating additional bedrooms for the purpose of visitors.
It’s a hard choice that we have to make, but we do have to look out for the overall needs of the entire community.
If an elder goes to the local housing authority, requests and pleads their case, and the local housing authority decides as a board of directors that they will let the individual stay in that house, will that decision be honoured by the Nunavut Housing Corporation?
Mr. Chairman, it would depend on the circumstances and availability of some of these things within the community.
The housing corporation tries to accommodate everybody, but as the president has just indicated, it’s very difficult.
We do our best and, for the elders, it is a difficult situation.
I don’t think I have any more names on my list.
We appreciate that Nunavummiut are provided with local housing and assistance with homeownership.
It’s very expensive for homeowners if their homes catch on fire.
Gas, food, and other expenses are very expensive as well.
Looking at homeownership, we know that some homeowners can’t keep up with the expenses due to hardship and they have to move to their relatives or their children who are in local housing or own their homes. They have to wait so long to get housing.
I know that people who don’t want to live in their own homes anymore have lived in tents outside.
They have to move into their families, even when they are adults, and they move their young children.
This is quite a problem because there are people who want homeownership and there are assistance programs available, but when they don’t want to own their homes anymore, how can the local housing association provide assistance?
This has happened in Gjoa Haven and I would like to know what programs you have for those people.
Mr. Chairman, through the Nunavut Housing Corporation, we do have a program, the Home Renovation Program, which assists very generously up to $65,000.
In some cases, I know that most homeowners are required to have insurance.
That will help the family out a lot. Just like anywhere else, when a house is damaged beyond repair, the homeowners do have to find a place to stay and it becomes a very difficult situation, but with proper insurance, the homeowners are able to get back on their feet with renovations and possibly even replacement of their units.
I encourage everyone to get fire damage insurance.
Any type of insurance would be most beneficial for homeowners.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We have all of these programs for homeownership, down payment, and renovations, but we know that we have some previous homeowners who have moved out of their units because they are unable to keep up payments for water, sewage, power bills, fuel, and then they move out of the access units or HAP units and then they move to their adult children.
Some of them moved to cabins. Some of them moved to their young adult children.
My question is: can they be allowed to move on top of the list for local housing when they apply for a house?
Can they be moved to the top of the list? It creates overcrowding and stuff like that.
I appreciate the question from the committee member. Mr. Chairman, with your permission, I would like Mr. Barriault to respond to that in detail as there are a lot of variables to get it to that point.
If the homeowner has a mortgage that is held by the Nunavut Housing Corporation, one option is to do what is called a quitclaim where they turn the ownership back to the housing corporation and it gets turned into a public housing unit and then they are allocated somewhere to live within the public housing stock.
The first thing the Nunavut Housing Corporation would do is to counsel that client or homeowner to look for different options so that the homeowner can continue keeping their home.
Sometimes that’s financial management advice and sometimes that’s advice on how to obtain repair assistance, for example.
There are a number of different factors and we do provide that counselling as a first step and then try to find ways for the homeowner to remain a homeowner.
Failing that, if it’s a mortgage held by the housing corporation there is the option to do a quitclaim where the ownership is transferred.
In terms of homeowners who don’t have a housing corporation mortgage, to put them at the top of the waiting list would really not be fair to those who, in many cases, have been living in overcrowded situations for a number of years and have been patiently waiting for their turn on the waiting list.
Some would state in some cases that it would be rather unfair as they’ve had an opportunity of homeownership and they’re now somewhat jumping the cue or jumping to the front of line.
Their application would be considered the same as anybody else’s within the public housing waiting list.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) If they do counselling, if they have a mortgage with the Nunavut Housing Corporation, how much counselling did they do last year and the year before?
The community development officers in the programs area in each of our three district offices have training themselves or a background whereby they can provide that counselling. They will only provide counselling, of course, to homeowners at the homeowner’s request.
So if they’re having issues in terms of being able to maintain their homeownership abilities, then they’re encouraged to contact the district offices either in Cambridge Bay, Cape Dorset, or Arviat. Actually, they can also make contact through the local housing organizations such that when the program officer is next in their community, they can make an appointment and have a discussion and obtain some counselling or some information to help them.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $165,819,000.
Are we agreed that we have concluded the review of the main estimates for the Nunavut Housing Corporation?
Minister Taptuna, now that we have concluded with the review of the housing corporation, I would like to ask if you have any closing remarks.
I thank the committee members for their scrutiny, comments, and questions.
I would also like to thank my colleagues and my staff here both at headquarters, district regional offices, and at the local level, the LHOs.
They do a lot of work for the people in Nunavut and it’s a very difficult task. It is demanding.
As the committee member indicated, the tenant relations officers probably have the toughest job in Nunavut when they’re dealing with these types of situations.
Mr. Chairman, the housing corporation is on its way. We’re looking at options to improve our services to Nunavummiut and it is a difficult task, but with your help, we will do our best to make sure that these folks who are out there are housed.
We will do our best. We do need a lot of partnerships to deliver the housing programs; the Public Housing program.
I thank the committee members for their time.
Before we proceed, Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses out.
We will now deal with the Department of Culture and Heritage.
I would like to ask the Minister of Culture and Heritage, Minister Arreak, to go to the witness table to make his opening remarks.
Minister Arreak, you may begin whenever you’re ready.
Bill 49 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2013-2014 – Culture and Heritage – Consideration in Committee
I am pleased to have this opportunity to present the Department of Culture and Heritage’s 2013-14 O&M budget.
The proposed departmental budget for 2013-14 is $25,786,000.
This department holds the leadership role within the Government of Nunavut for the preservation, development, and enhancement of Nunavut’s culture, heritage, and languages for Nunavummiut.
Mr. Chairman, one of the top priorities of my department is to promote and coordinate the implementation of our language legislation by GN departments and public agencies.
You will recall that on October 30, 2012, I tabled the Uqausivut Plan pursuant to the Official Language Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act.
While extensive consultations took place with Nunavummiut, we also worked extensively with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated under the guidance of the Languages Commissioner in drafting the final version of the plan.
Using the Uqausivut Plan as a roadmap and through collaboration with GN departments and public agencies, the Department of Culture and Heritage identified areas where additional support is required to improve compliance with the language legislation.
Subject to the Legislative Assembly appropriation for fiscal year 2013-14, the Department of Culture and Heritage is asking for $5 million per year to assist departments and public agencies in meeting their Inuit language obligations under the Inuit Language Protection Act and the soon to be coming into force of the Official Languages Act.
Mr. Chairman, some of the departmental Inuit language initiatives that will be funded include providing supports through the appropriate departments to municipalities and businesses.
The fund will also support initiatives to promote the use of Inuktut as a language of work in government; enhanced language training for public servants, particularly for those who have Inuktut as their first language; enhanced training for interpreters and translators; boost legal translation and terminology; and improved government communications and services to the public, particularly in the area of health.
Mr. Chairman, the importance of the Government of Nunavut in meeting its obligations under the language legislation cannot be overstated.
As a result, my department will centrally administer these funds to ensure departments and public agencies effectively deliver programs and services in the Inuit language.
This approach will also help me in my role of Minister of Languages in monitoring and reporting annually to the Legislative Assembly on results achieved by departments and public agencies in meeting their Inuit language obligations.
In 2013-14, the Department of Culture and Heritage will continue to expand its translation services and quality control in the Inuit language with five new positions. The department will further provide and administer grants and contributions to support more Inuit language initiatives at the community level, including publications and other media.
The Toponymy program is continuing its due diligence in both assisting the process and formalizing traditional geographic names. The Department of Culture and Heritage receives a constant stream of names for official recognition.
The department is currently processing a total of 2,350 traditional geographic name proposals from four individual submissions from heritage societies, including Inuit Heritage Trust and one university academic from Alberta.
Our priority for 2013-14 is to process the backlog of outside submissions to fulfill the government’s commitment for strong representation of traditional geographic names on territorial and national maps.
The Department of Culture and Heritage administers all archaeology and palaeontology research in Nunavut.
For the 2013 field season, we anticipate approximately 30 applications with the majority being related to resource development and impact assessments.
All permit applicants are encouraged to provide training and employment opportunities for Nunavummiut.
The Department of Culture and Heritage continues to collect oral history and historical site mapping with the help of youth and elder committees.
Nunavummiut are concerned they are losing their elders, who have extensive traditional knowledge of our history, culture, traditional values and language.
In advance, the Department of Culture and Heritage has been hiring locally-based interviewers in each community to record and transcribe oral histories.
The Department of Culture and Heritage will continue to persist in working to implement the recommendations in the Promoting Elders Needs Strategy.
Both elders and youth participate in family relations and genealogy so that the kinship terms and knowledge of family kinships can be inherited by youth.
As part of the Promoting Elders Needs Strategy implementation, the Department of Culture and Heritage has started documenting and collecting traditional caribou clothing and pattern making. Women still possess the skills that need to be passed on to the younger generation.
In addition, the Department of Culture and Heritage supports elders in empowering them with traditions that they have identified as mandatory to preserve and promote culture and tradition of Inuit ways.
Elder lectures in communities are important and need to be brought back, as elders indicated that this is no longer being practised.
The Inuit Language Authority will be focusing on a number of long- and short-term projects this fiscal year, including a number of projects to publish Inuktut language material.
This year, the Inuit Language Authority plans to publish two of four books on traditional terms for the Qamutiik and Igluvigaq.
The next two books planned for publication will be on traditional terms for the Qulliq and Qammaq.
These books will be distributed to all Nunavut communities.
Inuit Language Authority staff is also continuing to work on an online terminology database.
This online database is an ongoing, living database which the Inuit Language Authority will continue to add to and improve as it evolves.
The Inuit Language Authority is planning to publish Inuktut names of the months this year which will include traditional names of the months from all communities and regions of Nunavut.
This list has already been compiled but still needs approval from the Inuit Language Authority Board to be published.
The Inuit Language Authority staff, under the direction from the Orthography Committee, is currently working on descriptive grammar books that will be useful for Inuit language curriculum development in Nunavut as resource material for Inuit language specialists and interpreter/translators.
The Department of Culture and Heritage takes the lead on coordinating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Inuit societal value approaches and advice across the government. The Department of Culture and Heritage also provides administrative support to the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit.
Lastly, Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to restate that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit were recently appointed for the next three-year term.
Let us use their wealth of knowledge and expertise.
Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness, Ms. Ugyuk, if you have opening comments, you may immediately proceed.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) As Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness, I am pleased to deliver the standing committee’s opening comments as we begin consideration of the 2013-14 main estimates and business plan of the Department of Culture and Heritage.
The Department of Culture and Heritage is proposing a budget of $25,786,000 million for 2013-14, which is over $7 million more than the department’s restated budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year.
The standing committee notes that with the transfer of the sport and recreation programs to the Department of Community and Government Services and the transfer of the Piqqusilirivvik Cultural Centre to Nunavut Arctic College, the department will be better placed to concentrate its efforts on many cultural and heritage initiatives and, with the coming into force of Nunavut’s Official Languages Act, engage in a renewed focus on language initiatives and the comprehensive implementation of Nunavut’s language legislation.
Mr. Chairman, with the removal of the proposed Nunavut Heritage Centre from the government’s capital plan, members urge the minister and his officials to give full consideration to developing options to repatriate Nunavut’s cultural artefacts from other jurisdictions.
The Government of the Northwest Territories currently houses a large Nunavut collection at great cost and there is increased pressure from within that territory to no longer provide us with this service as their own collection grows and requires the space.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee notes that the department has a number of programs, initiatives, and services to support Nunavut’s elders.
Members encourage the minister to work with his counterparts in the departments of Justice, Health, and Family Services to ensure that Nunavut’s elders are adequately protected and supported.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Culture and Heritage will continue to distribute a significant amount of funding in grants and contributions.
The standing committee recommends that programs which receive funding through this process are evaluated on a regular basis.
Committee members continue to stress the importance of ensuring that the process for distributing public funds for community or group-based initiatives be seen as a fair one.
Members further recommend that steps be taken to identify communities which have not received funding for projects and to conduct outreach activities and provide assistance in identifying opportunities and preparing project proposals.
The committee notes that the Department of Culture and Heritage also distributes funding on behalf of the federal government for French language initiatives as well as Inuit language initiatives.
With the implementation of Nunavut’s language legislation, the most significant increase in the department’s budget relates to language initiatives; in particular, the new Language Implementation Fund of over $3 million, and increased support for grants and contributions for community-based language initiatives.
Members look forward to regular updates on progress in this area.
Minister Arreak, we will continue with the review of your department at our next meeting.
Just a reminder that there’s a meeting of the Standing Committee on Legislation at half past one in the Tuktu Boardroom.
Motion 46 – 3(3)
Bill 57
Bill 58
Bill 59
Bill 60
In accordance with the authority granted to me by Motion 44 – 3(3), this House stands adjourned until Monday, March 18, at 10:00 a.m. I hope everybody has a good weekend.
>>House adjourned at 11:49
Monday, March 18, 2013
Pages 4201 – 4330
Opening Prayer 4201
Ministers’ Statements 4201
Members’ Statements 4204
Returns to Oral Questions 4210
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 4211
Oral Questions 4212
Returns to Written Questions* 4229
Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters* 4230
Tabling of Documents 4234
Motions 4235
First Reading of Bills 4235
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 4236
Report of the Committee of the Whole 4329
Third Reading of Bills 4329
Orders of the Day 4330
Monday, March 18, 2013 4201
265 – 3(3): Inuit Learning and Development Pilot Project (ILDP) (Ell) 4201
266 – 3(3): NHC Projected Construction Activity Report 2013/2014 (Taptuna) 4202
267 – 3(3): National Social Work Week (Peterson) 4202
268 – 3(3): QEC Inuit Employment Plan (Ell) 4203
269 – 3(3): GN Supports Pro-Sealing Demonstration (Arreak) 4204
441 – 3(3): Nunavut MP Visits Repulse Bay (Ningark) 4204
442 – 3(3): Kivalliq Mine Training (Aupaluktuq) 4205
443 – 3(3): Tribute to Volunteer Interpreters (Ningeongan) 4205
444 – 3(3): Nutrition North Does Not Work for Nunavut (Schell) 4206
445 – 3(3): Recognition of Social Workers (Elliott) 4208
446 – 3(3): Tribute to Jean Charest (Curley) 4209
447 – 3(3): Appreciation to Hunters in Netsilik (Ugyuk) 4210
Return to Oral Question 551 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut’s Intervention Respecting Senate Reform Reference Questions (Shewchuk) 4210
576 – 3(3): Training for Local Radio Operators (Ningark) 4212
577 – 3(3): Physician Recruitment and Retention (Curley) 4213
578 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut’s Intervention Respecting Senate Reform Reference Questions (Elliott) 4215
579 – 3(3): Cancer Prevention and Early Detection (Aupaluktuq) 4217
580 – 3(3): Status of Mary River Project (Enook) 4219
581 – 3(3): Why is the Nutrition North Program Not Working?
(Schell) 4222
582 – 3(3): Abandoned MOT Building in Coral Harbour (Ningeongan) 4224
583 – 3(3): Federal Bill C-10 and its Implications for Nunavummiut (Elliott) 4225
584 – 3(3): Training for Local Radio Operators (Ningark) 4226
585 – 3(3): Open Government (Elliott) 4228
Return to Written Question 027 – 3(3): Correctional Facilities, Recidivism Rates and Rehabilitation Programs (Shewchuk) 4230
Return to Written Question 025 – 3(3): Direct Appointments under Section 18 of the Public Service Act (Ell) 4230
Committee Report 027 – 3(3): Bill 53, An Act to Amend the Medical Care Act (Ningeongan) 4230
Committee Report 028 – 3(3): Bill 55, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act (Ningeongan) 4231
Committee Report 029 – 3(3): Recommendations for Amendments to the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut and Other Matters (Elliott) 4231
339 – 3(3): Member’s Statement about Nutrition North Program that is not working for Nunavut (Schell) 4234
340 – 3(3): Correspondence to Nunavut Impact Review Board Concerning Kiggavik Technical Review (Aupaluktuq) 4234
341 – 3(3): Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund Financial Statements March 31, 2010 (Arreak) 4234
046 – 3(3): Extended Adjournment (Enook) 4235
Bill 52 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Teachers Association Act – First Reading 4235
Bill 57 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2013 – First Reading 4235
Bill 58 – Public Service Act – First Reading 4235
Bill 59 – Collaboration for Poverty Reduction Act – First Reading 4236
Bill 60 – An Act Respecting the Nunavut Law Foundation – First Reading 4236
Bill 49 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2013-2014 – Culture and Heritage – Consideration in Committee 4237
Bill 49 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2013-2014 – Environment – Consideration in Committee 4266
Bill 49 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2013-2014 – Legislative Assembly – Consideration in Committee 4316
Bill 49 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2013-2014 – Consideration in Committee 4318
Bill 47 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2012-2013 – Consideration in Committee 4319
Bill 48 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2013-2014 – Consideration in Committee 4319
Bill 49 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2013-2014 – Third Reading 4329
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ningark. (interpretation ends) Before we go on with our orders of the day, I would just like to inform members that we only have one page here with us this morning.
So I’ll let members know that the page will be restricted to the Chambers and not running stuff, notes or messages, up to the staff on any of the floors.
Minister’s Statement 265 – 3(3): Inuit Learning and Development Pilot Project (ILDP) (Ell)
Good morning, residents of Iqaluit West and my colleagues.
I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the recently announced partnership between the Government of Nunavut, the Government of Canada, and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated in the creation of a new internship pilot project.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, this new initiative will introduce eligible youth to career opportunities in the public service, with placements in a variety of work roles with the three organizations.
The pilot project will take place here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, the internship will begin with an initial in-class orientation and skills development component, followed by four-month work placement rotations in each of the three organizations.
To support the interns while in their placements, they will be paired with a workplace mentor to coach and guide them throughout the 16-month pilot project.
The interns who successfully complete the internship will be set in a pre-qualified pool for potential employment in the Nunavut public sector.
Once the pilot project is completed, an assessment and feasibility study will determine if the project can be expanded.