EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I can’t promise that it’s going to be filled this year, but I can promise we’re going to work very hard to make sure it is filled as soon as possible.
Question 691 – 4(3): Telecommunications in the North (Mikkungwak)
As the minister will recall, I asked questions during our recent fall sitting concerning the issue of telecommunications in the north.
In April of 2016 the Government of Nunavut appeared before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on the occasion of its public hearings into basic telecommunications services in Canada.
On December 21, 2016 the CRTC issued a new Telecom Regulatory Policy which establishes a new universal service objective regarding broadband Internet access in rural and remote areas of Nunavut.
Can the minister confirm what the Government of Nunavut’s position is regarding the CRTC’s new Telecom Regulatory Policy and universal service objective?
I remember when the member did ask me that question.
The government’s position on the CRT’s position is that we’re all for it.
We’re in favour of it, but currently with today’s technology in Nunavut it is not attainable.
We feel that in the future it will be attainable, but currently with technologies that we have here, with only satellite coverage, the rates that they want are not attainable at this time.
We will be working with any stakeholders to try to get to that goal.
On December 15, 2016 the federal government announced its new “Connect to Innovate Program.”
The federal announcement indicated that this program will invest $500 million by the year 2021 to bring high-speed Internet to rural and remote communities in Canada.
The federal announcement also indicated that this program will, and I quote, “support new ‘backbone’ infrastructure to connect institutions like schools and hospitals with a portion of funding for upgrades and ‘last-mile’ infrastructure to households and businesses.”
Can the minister confirm what role the Government of Nunavut will play in accessing portions of this funding?
We are working with other proponents, such as Nunavik, Newfoundland and Labrador, and other Internet providers to try to access these funds.
It’s $500 million, but for the first year it will be at $100 million. I believe that’s the figure.
We’re looking at newer technologies, such as fibre optic lines or low Earth orbit.
When these come into force, the Internet availability to both the GN and Nunavummiut would be better.
For example, if we get a fibre-optic line to certain communities, it will free up more bandwidth from the satellite for other communities so that they can have access to quicker Internet.
We are working with proponents. We have nothing solid right now, but we are working with proponents to access some of this federal government funding.
During our recent fall sitting, I asked questions to the minister concerning the issue of fibre optic connections.
In his responses to me, the minister indicated that the Government of Nunavut had been undertaking a feasibility study on this issue.
Will he commit to tabling the results of this feasibility study during our upcoming spring sitting, yes or no?
The feasibility study that the member is referring to is being done by KRT and it is not complete yet.
No, I cannot table that feasibility study currently because first, it’s not done and second, it’s not our feasibility; we’re just partners in it.
Question 692 – 4(3): Departmental Funding Programs (Akoak)
Good morning to the community of Gjoa Haven and my family and colleagues.
I was very pleased that the minister currently tabled her department’s 2016-17 annual report on the administration of the Community Transportation Initiatives Program and I was very pleased to note the support that the Municipality of Gjoa Haven received under this program.
Mr. Speaker, now that her department’s 2017-18 main estimates have been approved, can the minister confirm when she will be signing and sending this year’s call letter to municipalities inviting applications under the Community Transportation Initiatives Program?
I don’t personally sign those letters; they’re done with the department.
They are being translated this week and they will be sent out next week.
During Saturday’s sitting of the Legislative Assembly the minister announced that her department’s 2015-16 annual report on the Country Food Distribution Program had just been made publicly available on her department’s website.
I was very pleased to be able to spend my Sunday, I did come here on Sunday, reviewing the important annual report with care, and I was very pleased to note that the Municipality of Gjoa Haven received $29,970 in funding during the 2015-16 fiscal year for payments to hunters to provide country food for the community.
Mr. Speaker, now that her department’s 2017-18 main estimates have been approved, can the minister confirm when she will be signing and sending this year’s call letter to municipalities and hunters and trappers organizations inviting applications under the Country Food Distribution Program?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that question. Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but I thought I said that the letter is going out next week.
Mr. Akoak: Thank you for your response.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for the response. As the minister is well aware, the recent discovery of the lost ships of the Franklin expedition has attracted international attention to Gjoa Haven.
Mr. Speaker, I recently attended a meeting of the municipal council where the impact of this discovery was discussed in detail, including the potential for tourism development.
Mr. Speaker, now that her department’s 2017-18 main estimates have been approved, can the minister confirm when she will be signing and sending this year’s call letter to municipalities inviting applications under the Community Tourism and Cultural Industries Program? That’s three different sections.
I believe you might be talking about the Community Tourism and Cultural Industries Program.
The program is designed to encourage diverse and sustainable economic growth through responsible development of the tourism sector and cultural industries.
A dozen projects were approved last year. I am expecting that a letter out to appropriate organizations will also be going out by the end of this month.
Question 693 – 4(3): Homeownership Programs (Mapsalak)
I will direct my question to the Minister responsible for Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I do recall that this question has been asked previously related to private homeowners and the various assistance programs they can apply for, either for repairs or renovations.
Mr. Speaker, in my constituency a private homeowner sent me photos that showed areas of mould. From my perspective, it looked untenable to inhabit that area.
They submitted an application, but the application was denied.
Can the minister provide details on the reasons why an application can be denied from a private homeowner by the housing corporation when they submit an application to make reparations on their homes?
Mr. Speaker, on this question on what barriers there are, if I understood him correctly, he is asking why they are not able to access funding for renovation or for assistance and what kind of barriers would be there for a private homeowner. Is he asking about money or is it impossible for anybody to come in to fix the problem?
Actually it was for funding, as funding is required to assist them to order materials for reparations.
What constitutes a reason for denying the application for funding assistance for home renovations? The request for funds is high, as materials are quite expensive to order, especially when mould remediation costs can be prohibitive.
That is what I am trying to ask about.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for clarifying that for me.
Mr. Speaker, there are many different programs that are available for private homeowners.
A private homeowner can apply for funding as long as they own their own home within Nunavut.
There are different programs and I think my colleague is aware of them. They are able to be provided assistance using those programs if they are applying for funding.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated earlier, they have applied for funding in my constituency. They sent me the pictures.
It’s in terrible shape and it looks horrendous.
The homeowner applied for funding for assistance that was not approved. That’s what he was told. That’s why I asked why they can’t get approved.
He responded by saying that anybody can be given assistance.
In that case the same type of assistance can be provided to private homeowners that ask for funding for renovations.
Now I previously stated that we have different (interpretation ends) homeownership assistance programs, (interpretation) such as the Heating Oil Tank Replacement Program or the Home Renovation Program, and on the side are the programs specific to our elderly homeowners or people with disabilities.
There are many programs that are offered, which is why I previously mentioned that as long as the person is a private homeowner from one of our communities in Nunavut, they can all apply equally to these programs.
However, I would ask my colleague to provide more background on the denial of that homeowner’s application, as I am really interested in hearing about that case and what problems they face.
It doesn’t have to be in this House, but I would like to discuss the matter with my colleague where he can identify the building and community location so that one of our employees can be directed to assess the building that the member has expressed his concern about.
Oral Questions. Member for Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Tom Sammurtok.
Question 694 – 4(3): Rankin Inlet’s Hamlet Office (Sammurtok, T)
Prior to asking my question, I want to first offer a correction, but if this is inappropriate, please inform me accordingly.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, in last week’s Committee of the Whole session I asked a question regarding a moratorium on gas and oil exploration in the Arctic.
The Premier was kind enough to respond to that question.
I heard this morning on CBC’s news clip regarding that news item. I just wanted to let CBC know that after almost four years sitting in this House, I want to reveal my true identity.
I am Tom Sammurtok, MLA Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, the Municipality of Rankin Inlet has outgrown its hamlet office.
The current hamlet office building in Rankin Inlet was built in 1969 and later expanded in 1994.
Not only is this building too small to meet the needs of the growing municipal government and its employees; the facility is also showing significant signs of deterioration and disrepair.
In fact a recent inspection of the building identified four areas that showed high mould readings, which has further limited the operations of the municipality.
Can the minister explain what his department is currently doing to help the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet to repair and remediate its current office building?
CGS did hire a firm that specializes in mould and it is confirmed that there is mould there.
It is on the hamlet’s short-term priority to find more office space and we are helping them to find alternative office space right now.
Currently it’s not on the five-year plan to build a new hamlet office, but we are looking for alternative space.
Obviously the minister anticipated my next two questions and he answered both of them.
Well, that killed my question.
Question 695 – 4(3): Municipal Training Organization (Rumbolt)
Good morning to the people of Sanikiluaq, and my condolences to the Meeko family.
Mr. Speaker, the Municipal Training Organization provides important training to municipal employees and volunteer search and rescue organizations across Nunavut.
Under its Municipal Training Policy, the Department of Community and Government Services provides grants and contribution funding to the Municipal Training Organization to conduct its various training initiatives.
Can the minister tell us, as of today, how much funding has the government allocated to the Municipal Training Organization for the 2016-17 fiscal year?
I can’t tell the member exactly how much we’re contributing for 2017-18, but we normally provide a grant to them for about $170,000 a year for their general operations as well as for space and help them out whenever we can because MTO is a very good organization and very cost-effective training is done through that organization for the municipalities.
I asked for 2016-17 information, not 2017-18.
According to the department’s Municipal Training Policy, recipients who receive funding under this program must provide a report detailing the outcome of the course, an audited financial statement of related revenues and expenses, and key operating statistics.
Can the minister clarify if his department receives a report on each training initiative that is conducted by the Municipal Training Organization?
I can’t tell the member if we received every report on every course, but it is a requirement.
Where government funds are involved, we are accountable. We have to make sure that these funds are spent on what they were supposed to be spent on and that they are spent properly.
It is a requirement.
I would imagine that if a municipality puts in a request for a course, a course is put on, and there are no financial statements done on that course, the next time they applied for funding, the funding would be withheld until the financial statement is done on that course.
It’s an accounting procedure to make sure that we as the GN are accountable and transparent for the public funds we give out.
Earlier during this sitting the minister tabled his department’s most recent annual report on Nunavut Emergency Management.
In that report the department stated that in 2014-15 the Nunavut Emergency Management Division “committed $250,000 to the Municipal Training Organization (MTO) for basic, advanced and coordinator search and rescue training.
The communities and numbers of participants that were trained are detailed in the MTO annual report.”
Can the minister clarify if his department receives a copy of this annual report and, if so, will he commit to tabling the Municipal Training Organization’s most recent annual report in the Legislative Assembly during the spring sitting?
Just for the member’s first question, the amount that was funded for MTO in 2015-16 is the same. It’s still $170,000.
It was the same in that year as it is… . Sorry. It’s 2016-17 and 2017-18 will be the same year.
As for the member’s current question about tabling the report, I’m not sure if the report is done yet, but we would receive it and I can look into tabling it.
I’m not sure if it’s a requirement, but it depends on what information is on there and I will look into the matter.
Question 696 – 4(3): Property Taxes (Enook)
My questions today are for the Minister of Finance and they concern the issue of property taxes.
Mr. Speaker, information published by the Department of Finance indicates that there are approximately 10,000 taxable properties in Nunavut.
In 2016 the new mill rates were published in the May edition of the Nunavut Gazette.
My question to the minister is: can he tell us today whether or not property tax rates in the general taxation area in Nunavut will be increasing, decreasing, or remaining unchanged for the 2017 calendar year?
Mr. Enook is testing my knowledge or memory. I believe they’re staying the same.
We got approved for the mill rate establishment order for 2017.
The mill rates themselves are not changing, but property taxes may go up depending on the value of the actual properties, increases, and if there are additions to properties across Nunavut.
I have stated in this House and I have received concerns from my constituents in Pond Inlet that there need to be more payment options available when it comes time to pay their property taxes.
During last year’s spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly I asked the minister to consider designating municipalities as payment agents.
At that time the minister told me that he would “explore” the idea.
My question to the minister is: can he tell me today whether or not he will act on my suggestion?
We have a variety of ways that people can pay their property taxes: online banking, payroll deductions for the Government of Nunavut employees, and then there are instalment plans.
With respect to hamlets, that’s very difficult for us because not all hamlets are at the same administrative level.
It creates an administrative burden on them and they have to transfer the money to the Government of Nunavut. There may be an administrative component that they may charge us for that service.
We’re not considering that.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the minister for clearly indicating that.
That’s sad to see, especially for the elders and our family members who don’t even know how to use computers more so than we do, which is not pleasing.
Perhaps I can suggest to the minister to make some other options because their arrears start to build up because they don’t have access to services that we can access.
In June of 2015 the Department of Finance began releasing an annual list of property tax arrears owing outside of Iqaluit. At that time the total was approximately $3.2 million.
Mr. Speaker, this is funding that the government needs to deliver programs and services.
Can the minister tell us today whether this amount has decreased, increased, or remained unchanged?
I have to compliment Mr. Enook and his community.
He is raising awareness. I was just reading my briefing note and noted that Pond Inlet is one of the communities with the biggest drop in the number of notices received.
He must be raising awareness and people are… . That’s always a good thing.
The $3.2 million last year, that’s after we factor out the large amount that Shear Minerals owes us, which would bring it up to a much larger amount.
This year, factoring out Shear Minerals, I believe the arrears is down to $2.5 million.
Question 697 – 4(3): Status of New Cape Dorset Power Plant (Joanasie)
My questions this morning are for the Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s request for proposals to design and build Cape Dorset’s new power plant closed on January 31, 2017.
Can the minister indicate when the Qulliq Energy Corporation anticipates concluding its evaluation process and awarding the contract for the new Cape Dorset power plant?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Hon. Johnny Mike.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you. Good morning.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for his question.
Yes, the request for proposals for Cape Dorset’s new power plant is now closed and the bids are still being evaluated.
I believe we will have a decision by this month whether the QEC board will select the bidder.
When I last raised the issue during our fall sitting, the minister could not confirm the status of the land lease for where the plant will be built.
Can he confirm today if the outstanding issues related to the land for the new power plant have been resolved?
I don’t have that report from the QEC, but I expect to see that completed some time this month.
Can the minister provide an approximate figure for the cost of Cape Dorset’s new power plant?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for asking about that.
Yes, progress has been made and the project is proceeding after the land-related issues were resolved and completed.
If I understood my colleague’s question, the QEC has requested a long-term lease of a lot, but the lot selected was zoned to the new power plant.
If that is his question, then yes, this has successfully moved forward.
The reason for the complications was related to other issues. The actual lot was easier to complete, but I will be getting a report about the update, although I anticipate the report being submitted some time this month.
Due to that reason, land issues in Cape Dorset specific for power plant zoning was kind of complicated, but we have successfully past that hurdle.
Nonetheless, I want the member to know that within municipal lands, the hamlet council selected that parcel for the power plant location and this process moved ahead.
However, with respect to the actual QEC request to lease lands, I know that the QEC has submitted a request. I just don’t have specific information on the status.
Question 698 – 4(3): Minimum Wage (Angnakak)
Thank you for recognizing me for the second time.
My questions are for the Minister of Justice, who is responsible for the Labour Standards Act.
Can the minister remind the House and our viewing audience today what the current minimum wage is in Nunavut?
You caught me off guard there.
Mr. Speaker, the current minimum wage is $13 per hour. It was effective April 1, 2016.
I think we all need a reminder sometimes.
Mr. Speaker, the Labour Standards Act was amended during the First Legislative Assembly to require the government to produce and table an annual report on the minimum wage.
The 2014 report was tabled on March 16, 2016.
Will an updated report be ready for tabling before the end of our current winter sitting?
Speaker: The Hon. Minister of Justice, Mr. Keith Peterson.
I’ll have to check on that before I can give a definitive answer.
In 2015 the Legislative Assembly approved a bill that allows the government to change the minimum wage rate by regulation.
Can the minister indicate whether or not minimum wage-earners in Nunavut will be getting a raise any time this year?
I thank Ms. Angnakak for the question. That’s correct. It simplifies the process.
Previously we would have to go to cabinet to get approval. Under regulation the department can do that. I can’t say with any certainty that people making minimum wage in Nunavut will get an increase this year.
The current information I have is that Nunavut has the highest minimum wage in Canada at present.
There may be other provinces or territories that are in the process of raising their minimum wage, but I can’t say for sure that we won’t remain the highest minimum wage jurisdiction in Canada this year.
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Legislation, Mr. Tom Sammurtok.
Committee Report 026 – 4(3): Bill 36, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act (Sammurtok, T)
I wish to report that Bill 36, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 36 immediately moved into Committee of the Whole.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 36 immediately moved into Committee of the Whole.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Bill 36 is now before the Committee of the Whole.
Item 13. (interpretation) Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) Hon. Member for Iqaluit-Sinaa, Mr. Paul Okalik.
Tabled Document 284 – 4(3): Nunatsiaq News Article: Nunavut’s New Senator Fills Out His To-do List (Okalik)
I wish to table a 2009 Nunatsiaq News article on the Senate.
Tabled Document 285 – 4(3): Strategic Framework: Addressing the needs of Nunavut Seniors (Taptuna)
Tabled Document 286 – 4(3): Nunavut Seniors’ Information Handbook (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two tabling items.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table today the Strategic Framework: Addressing the needs of Nunavut Seniors.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the Nunavut Seniors’ Information Handbook.
Tabled Document 287 – 4(3): The Makimaniq Plan 2, A Shared Approach to Poverty Reduction 2017-2022 (Mike)
Today I am pleased to table the Makimaniq Plan 2, A Shared Approach to Poverty Reduction 2017-2022.
Tabled Document 288 – 4(3): Minister’s Annual Report on Poverty Reduction 2014-2016 (Mike)