EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I thank the minister for answering the question. (interpretation ends) Can the minister indicate the approximate cost of making improvements to Pangnirtung’s arena?
This technology doesn’t just involve making it a cement floor; they have to do other work like installing piping, making boards around the ice, and putting new glass in.
There is maybe $2 million that we have to spend on those kinds of improvements. The cost for improvements is higher because those things are not available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Can the minister indicate what other communities are currently being looked at by his department for arena ice improvements?
We are looking at all arenas within Nunavut, that don’t have that system, and we would prefer that we make the improvements on them first.
This would not just extend the hockey season, as it would allow other sports to be played in the arenas, including roller hockey and other sports. It extends the usefulness of the arena to more activities.
It no longer functions only for parts of the year, but can be utilized for the entire year when there is a concrete foundation in the arena.
We would prefer that all facilities be underlain with a concrete foundation, however, when our department became responsible for these facilities, just in the past year we made the decision to make improvements to three facilities per year.
What our vision holds for the upcoming year, is to fix Pangnirtung, Whale Cove and Taloyoak facilities shortly thereafter.
We will also be scheduling improvements on the other facilities after the initial phase of improvements to the current list.
Question 535 – 3(3): Social Services in Igloolik (Tapardjuk)
I say “good afternoon” to my constituents in Igloolik and Hall Beach.
Mr. Speaker, back in 1994 in the pre-Nunavut days, some communities, for example, Cape Dorset and Igloolik, agreed to take on the local management of public services, such as public housing and social services.
The community of Cape Dorset handed those responsibilities back to the GN in 2011. However, the Hamlet of Igloolik continues to manage some of them.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister explain how the restructuring of the government and the creation of the new Department of Family Services will impact the community of Igloolik with respect to the delivery of social services?
I thank Mr. Tapardjuk for the question. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Hamlet of Igloolik and the Department of Health and Social Services are in discussions with respect to the delivery of social services and programs in the community of Igloolik.
When we transfer the social services component of Health and Social Services over to the Department of Family Services, I don’t anticipate any negative changes in the level of service that they currently receive.
Last fall, during our November sitting, the minister gave the exact same answer.
He stated that the Hamlet and their staff were watching the proceedings and discussing the issues.
That was the response, if the minister can recall his previous answer.
There still has been no decision made, ever since that time up to today. When?
When will we see the results?
Can the minister provide a clear response as to when the parties can come up with an agreement and here I refer to the Hamlet and their employees, specifically the social workers in the community?
We would like to understand this matter, Mr. Speaker.
You must forgive me if I misunderstand Mr. Tapardjuk. I’m not aware that there’s any issue with discussions or communications between the Hamlet of Igloolik and the Department of Health and Social Services.
I have been informed that there are very positive discussions. So if Mr. Tapardjuk can clarify what the issue is, I might be able to respond more clearly.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I also thank the minister.
I apologize if I caused you to misunderstand.
The basis of their disagreement has been over the amount of the contribution agreement listed in the contract, where the funds allocated for the social workers to the Hamlet are grossly insufficient.
Additionally, the funds for this purpose as we all know are currently negotiated between the SAO of the Hamlet and the ministerial staff. I want to know what the exact status is, especially regarding the continual funding shortfall for administering the program.
What is the status today? I am certainly trying to be more concise and understandable here, Mr. Speaker.
I thank Mr. Tapardjuk for clarifying.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if this would be the appropriate place to discuss the status of negotiations between two organizations, but again, I am unaware if there are any real issues.
It is two parties having, hopefully, positive discussions because the delivery of social services in the community of Igloolik is a high priority for the Government of Nunavut.
Can the minister confirm if a new contract agreement will be negotiated for this new Department of Family Services?
I wonder what word to use in Inuktitut. The new family social services department?
(interpretation ends) The Department of Family Services, (interpretation) if this new department were to be transferred responsibility for social services, what then? Does this mean that the hamlet will have to renegotiate a new contract, or will these positions be transferred to the new department?
What are the plans for this particular issue?
I would like to understand the situation, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, again I want to assure Mr. Tapardjuk that discussions between the Department of Health and Social Services and also the new officials at Family Services, I believe, are positive. On April 1, I don’t anticipate that there will be any drop in the level of social services in the community of Igloolik.
Question 536 – 3(3): Status of Sanikiluaq Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (Rumbolt)
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Community and Government Services issued a request for proposals for the design of upgrades to Sanikiluaq’s bulk fuel storage facility in January of this year.
The RFP indicates that the successful proponent is required to complete the design and construction-ready documents by June 30 of 2013. Can the minister advise me if the contract for this project has been awarded yet and, if not, when a decision is expected to be made?
The RFP closed on February 21. Our management team is currently reviewing them and we should have an award on that contract within the next seven to ten days, Mr. Speaker.
The 2013-14 capital estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services include $300,000 in funding for increases to Sanikiluaq’s bulk fuel storage capacity.
Can the minister indicate if this budget estimate has changed since the time that the Legislative Assembly approved the capital estimates during our fall 2012 sitting?
I don’t have the documents before me, so I would have to double-check to see if they have changed.
As the minister is aware, Sanikiluaq is one of the few remaining communities in Nunavut where jet fuel is used as home heating fuel.
Concerns have been raised with me by constituents regarding this practice.
Can the minister indicate if his department’s plans to upgrade Sanikiluaq’s existing bulk fuel storage facility will address this issue?
I am glad to tell my colleague that yes, that longstanding issue, for lack of a better term, will be addressed.
Mr. Speaker, the tank farm will include jet A-1 fuel, plus also the P50 heating fuel, so there will be two different supplies of fuel in that category.
In reviewing the government’s request for proposals for this project, I note a number of references to concerns that have been expressed by Sanikiluaq’s mayor concern such issues as fuel shortages, the location of the tank farm, the storage facility, and the retention capacity of the tank farm containment basin.
Can the minister commit to ensuring that his department works closely with the Municipality of Sanikiluaq as this important capital project moves forward?
I will assure him of that.
Question 537 – 3(3): Status of Resolute Bay Fuel Spill Investigation (Elliott)
As the minister will recall, he and I personally inspected the site of the major fuel spill that occurred in Resolute Bay in October of 2011.
In this incident, tens of thousands of litres of fuel were lost.
Can the minister indicate if his department’s investigation into this incident has been finalized and can he commit to providing a copy of the final report into the incident?
I would like to advise my colleague that yes, the gasoline spill clean-up has been concluded, Mr. Speaker.
When the incident occurred, the RCMP were called in to investigate the possibility that fuel may have been stolen or that the incident was caused deliberately.
Can the minister indicate if the findings of the RCMP in this matter have been shared with his department?
What I could tell my colleague is that our department has received the final draft of the report and we are currently going over the final draft of it.
That’s where we are on that issue, Mr. Speaker. We’re going over the final draft of the report, Mr. Speaker.
Actually the question was already answered in the sense that I was asking at first, the minister did reply saying that a report was coming, and my second one was specifically about the RCMP being called in to investigate a possible tampering with equipment or fuel being stolen.
Could the minister indicate if the RCMP has been in contact with the department to share the findings of this part of the incident?
We are reviewing the final report. I don’t know if the RCMP report is contained in the final report or if it is part and parcel of that at this point, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the time of the incident, my constituents in Resolute Bay raised concerns regarding the risk of environmental contamination to both surrounding land and water as a result of the spill.
Can the minister indicate what the final assessment was of the damage caused by the spill?
I believe some of that will be in the final report, but what I could say is that all of the contaminated soil has been collected and put into a contaminated soil area. The remediation of that has started where they will turn the soil and work with the soil until such time it is reusable for landfill and so on.
I understand that all of the contaminated soil from that area has been put into a secure area.
Question 538 – 3(3): Dust Control in Nunavut (Oshutapik)
We are certainly overloading the workload of this minister, but I want to direct my question to the selfsame minister.
We are not colluding to pick on the minister, but my questions are also for the Minister of Community Government Services
(interpretation ends) As the minister will recall, I have asked a number of questions in the Legislative Assembly concerning the issue of dust control in Nunavut’s communities.
Can the minister update me today on the status of his department’s work to address the issue of dust control?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate your question regarding the challenges we face about dust control.
Dust control related to the roads, Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, will never stop especially with the residents in the communities acquiring more vehicles. Although today, we have better dust control measures available, our financial restraints are what hold us back.
Our officials wherever possible, look for better methods of dust control than the methods we currently use. The review of these measures includes the pros and cons of each method, including an estimate of the costs especially in this day of fiscal restraint.
We are continually looking for more effective methods of dust control than our current methods.
Mr. Oshutapik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In his responses to my previous questions on this issue, the minister has indicated that his department works closely with municipalities on the issue of dust control.
Can the minister indicate if his department has had formal discussions on this issue with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities?
When NAM holds their annual general meetings, the CG&S officials attend these meetings, and as a matter of fact, I also visit them during these meetings.
This issue is also brought up for discussion during the mayors’ meetings in the regions.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Your second supplementary, Mr. Oshutapik.
Mr. Oshutapik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In his responses to my previous questions on this issue, the minister has indicated that the cost of paving every road in Nunavut would be “exorbitant.”
Has the minister’s department examined the feasibility and affordability of a limited paving program in smaller communities that would target those stretches of road that see the most use?
If all of the roads within Nunavut were to be paved, I have no idea if anyone has ever made an estimate as to its actual cost, Mr. Speaker, however we do know for a fact that it would probably be astronomical.
Just to cite this example, just the concrete the member was requesting for the hockey arena foundation will cost over $1 million. That is just one project I am referring to. Even though there are benefits to paving our roads, there are also drawbacks since they tend to degrade.
If you look at the Iqaluit roads that are paved, although it plays a part in dust control, it doesn’t stop dusty conditions and then we are faced with potholes which cause further deterioration.
What I can tell the member, is that if all the roads in our Nunavut communities were to be paved; the costs to do so would be exorbitant. We also don’t know if this would alleviate the dust control issues.
Currently, what I can inform the member about is that the Nunavut government hasn’t conducted a cost assessment on a road paving program for all roads in Nunavut.
It’s obvious that the costs would be very high. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Oshutapik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister.
We can tell, based on our visits to many Nunavut communities, although there are still many communities we haven’t been able to visit. The communities close to us, across the strait, including our fellow islanders have paved roads even in the small communities.
Not Nunavut, but in Quebec’s arctic coastline communities’ the roads are all paved.
I wonder if this has a causal effect on the cost estimates for paving projects in other Arctic regions outside of Nunavut, but it would be good to hear about their paving projects even though their roads are generally shorter. Not only are their roads paved, they also use a different cement mixture than that used for hockey arena foundations the minister referred to.
(interpretation ends) Would the minister be willing to commit to having his department develop a Nunavut-wide dust control strategy?
Our department works with the municipalities to try to find a way to reduce dust in our communities.
I don’t think there’s a cure-all.
I think it is one that the municipalities and vehicle operators in our communities have a large role to play in. The speed, the kind of gravel and the road material we have has a lot to do with it, and the way the current material to suppress dust is put on the ground.
I think our department has look at many different types of material to do that work. We continue to do that, Mr. Speaker, and we will continue to try to find alternative ways to suppress dust, but I think it’s a responsibility that the municipalities, the government, and the people who use the roads all have a role in dust control.
Question 539 – 3(3): Social Promotion Issues in Education (Tapardjuk)
My question will be directed to the Minister of Education, although it is an add-on to one of my colleagues’ last question.
On February 28, last week Thursday, I raised a question to the minister shortly after a meeting of educators here in Iqaluit, specifically the Circumpolar Conference on Education for Indigenous Peoples.
My question revolved around these discussions and how could our students improve their education all the way up to grade 12.
If the student’s receive this graduation accreditation I asked how we can ensure that it is up to same level as in other Canadian jurisdictions.
Mr. Speaker, I want to raise this question as members are already aware of the low levels of education, especially in the general streams where the student isn’t even at the grade level where they are graduated in. In the past, many students were passed socially based on their age and not their accomplishments.
To wit: “this student is too old to be in this grade, although their grade level is below their current grade and should be transferred to the next higher grade.”
With many students in this situation here in Nunavut, has this shortcoming been identified by the Department of Education?
That is an excellent question our colleague just raised. At this current time, I don’t have that information available, so after I check into this matter and get that information, I will be able to provide it to the member.
The way I understand that response is that if the department happens to have the information, then it will be provided to me.
With Nunavut now a reality and if our students’ level of education in the general stream are too far below their listed grade level as a result of social passing shouldn’t we ask why the administrators felt that certain students’ age was more important than their actual grade level in that it is only in the administration’s best interests and not the students? That is how any logical person would assume was the case.
If the minister understands this question, Mr. Speaker, how can we assist students who were placed in this situation so that we provide them with opportunities?
I want to understand how students far below their grade average were made to graduate.
So if I understood your question and if I didn’t understand please indicate as such.
Like there are variety of reasons why students are not finishing their schoolwork for example is not attending school and there are also other reasons for students to fall behind and I think the member is asking me as to how those students who are lagging behind get further assistance and as I mentioned earlier a question which was posed by a member, I responded part of that question.
There are different assessments used by the teachers, assessment tools, and also community classroom assistants, some DEA members, and also the parent of the child are involved as to determine where the grade level needs to advance or not and sometimes they have to take additional curriculum material.
Once they are identified, the district education authorities work together to determine these assessments and that’s why would get proper assessment as to which areas do they need more schooling and after they do a complete assessment they will try to determine which topics the students missed then they will identify.
So if I understood his question correctly so please indicate if I misunderstood his question.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you. I thank you minister for the clarification.
My question will be, Mr. Speaker, those so-called graduated students when they apply for a job because they have grade 12 education and they prepare their resumé and hand in their resume but apparently their actual grade level is grade 5 or 8, but their certificates says they are graduates.
That is going to be a problem even though it states on the paper they are very qualified but in reality they do not have a grade 12 education.
Another question: if the students are determined not to have 12 and how can they get assistance? Maybe Department of Education … it’s only grade 8, not grade 12 so I want participation on that, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Minister of Education, Minister Aariak.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This issue relates to students after they have completed grade 12 and prior to receiving their high school diplomas, but the practice is that prior to getting the diploma, they are required to write and pass an exam.
If the students don’t pass their exams, then they have to repeat the grade.
Up to today, I am unaware of any cases where the students’ high school diplomas would be retracted.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister. I totally understand your comments.
The reasoning why I asked that question, Mr. Speaker, in regard to my next question, ever since Nunavut was created those so called students who graduated from high school they’re not true and maybe the majority of them are actually deemed to have graduated but their tests probably do not reflect that.
Can the minister indicate to the House to date ever since Nunavut was created: How many students have graduated in Nunavut and who have attained the grade 12 level?
Can the minister agree based on number of communities, how many graduation levels there are?
I don’t have documents in front of me today. Also, I am glad to say there will be a database as to how many students graduated and they are going to have a school information system in place.
They will be operation shortly and once they are in operation then we will able to use them as a mechanism.
Right now, I don’t have a document in front of me as to how many students actually graduated ever since Nunavut was created but also if they are available then I would let them be known.
Members will note the clock indicates that the allotted time for question period has run out.
Bill 54 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 54, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 54 has been read for the first time.
Bill 56 – Write-off of Assets Act, 2011-2012 – First Reading
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I moved seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 56, Write-off of Assets Act, 2011-2012, be read for the first time.
The motion carried and Bill 56 has been read for the first time.
Bills 47, 48, and 49 with Mr. Enook in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:05 and Committee resumed at 15:31
We wish to commence with the review of the main estimates for the Department of Education and, if time permits, the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Does the committee agree that we first deal with the Department of Education?
Bill 49 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2013-2014 – Education – Consideration in Committee
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, everyone.
At this time, I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Ms. Aariak, to go to the witness table to make her opening comments.
Madam Aariak, you may begin.
I am pleased to meet with the committee to discuss the 2013-14 main estimates and business plan for the Department of Education.
Our work is focused on providing Nunavummiut with the tools they need to become capable and engaged in the opportunities and future prospects of our territory and the rest of Canada.
The Department of Education, guided by Qanuqtuurunnarniq, the value of innovation and resourcefulness, aims to provide quality lifelong learning opportunities to help improve learning outcomes for all the citizens of Nunavut. We are determined to build a territory of educated and empowered people with the skills to succeed.
Mr. Chairman, in Tamapta, we stated that “we have hope for a vibrant future built by our people pursuing their dreams.”
It is important to offer Nunavummiut every opportunity to pursue personal development by helping them increase their productivity, self-reliance, and employment options.
As the members know, a decision was made in July 2012 to create the Department of Family Services on April 1, 2013.
This decision supports our commitment to provide more effective, efficient, and economic government operations.
We have brought together the majority of programs and services that make up the social safety net.
Linking these programs and services under the Department of Family Services will help us improve the standard of living of those most in need. It will do so by streamlining and improving the delivery of social and training programs and services to children, youth, individuals, and families.