EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated and used the example of the increase to the Northern Allowance.
I could see where that would be a direct impact on the collective bargaining because that is something that is only stipulated in the contract with employees.
It is not a separate piece of legislation.
I still fail to see how this could cause an impact on collective bargaining.
I would like to ask the minister if that was just something they assumed the union wouldn't want to see, did they ask them.
Did they talk to them about this, or not.
Mr. Speaker, again in respect of the collective bargaining process, there is an agreement that there is a media blackout right now, that there are no discussions of what has been discussed, what has been agreed upon, what issues are outstanding.
Again to meet the due process of trying to respect the negotiation process between our employees through the Northern Employees' Union and our negotiators, I think that we have to await the outcome of the April 4 to 8 discussions before we can move forward in any fashion on any benefit legislation, whatever the case may be that would impact on our employees.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Ng. Supplementary.
Mr. Speaker, I still fail to realize the impact that it would have because it is a separate piece of legislation.
I don't know how that could have an impact on collective bargaining.
It is something that is not just there for some employees, it sets the minimum standards for all employees.
As far as the media blackout, I don't see why you couldn't talk about it because that is a separate piece of legislation, it has nothing to do with the bargaining.
So I just would like to ask the minister, again, is it just his opinion that they are not, that they are deciding that this is something that deals with collective bargaining and they are therefore treating it like any other benefit of employment.
Is that why, what rationale are they using to link it to collective bargaining.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, it's clear to me, any time you change any legislation that impacts on what benefits you're going to be providing to your employees, there's an impact.
So that's where I would make that correlation.
And in respect of, I haven't said it hasn't been on the table, I said I can't speak to what has or hasn't been on the table in respect of discussions between our negotiators and the Northern Employees’ Union.
So I don't think I can be any clearer.
There's an agreement not to discuss anything until they either come to agreement or don’t reach an agreement, and we're respecting that.
He can bring it up with his colleagues in the Union or our negotiators but as it is now I'm not willing to commit anything publicly on what has or hasn't been said, Mr. Speaker, in respect of the negotiations.
Question 132 - 1(5): Review of Fish Quota and Stock
Mr. Speaker, I will be directing my question to the Minister of Sustainable Development.
I don't know whether it's going to be easy to respond to it but in the previous years, our community had been involved with the Fisheries Department in doing test fisheries in the lakes around our community.
There was a test fishery that was done outside our community and there has been an increase in the fish population and in the lake nearby there has also been an increase in the fish population.
I also have a copy of the results and report of that test fishery.
I think that we should start doing that work again in Nunavut.
We can increase the fish population through these types of initiatives as we saw in the area outside of Clyde River, so my question to the Minister of Sustainable Development is if we could do that in the whole of Nunavut.
If they need a consultant or an advisor, I'm available to help in trying to increase the fish stocks in the lakes around Nunavut.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Can you hear me now.
I would like to look into this further and I will direct my staff about your request.
We will also want the information on when this was done outside of your community and I can say that I will work closely together with the member who posed that question.
We will look into the details, see what kind of study was done and what the methodology was.
I will work closely with the member and the community.
That's a very welcome response from the Minister of Sustainable Development.
There was testing done outside of communities other than Clyde River.
There has been numerous testing during the days of the Government of the Northwest Territories.
It kind of phased out but the previous government used to fund these projects.
I think we have to do that again, as the territory of Nunavut, we have to keep a close eye on the different species in Nunavut.
Especially in these times of global warming, I think we have to get into it again as soon as possible so that there will be sufficient stocks of fish and other species.
This particular lake that I am talking about, the fish migrate from one lake to another.
You have to find out what the migratory routes of these fish are, because they don't stay in one lake.
I think we have to do a thorough study on the fisheries.
I am available and so are the people that were involved in this project.
I think this is more of a comment than a question.
I will take it as a comment.
Question 133 – 1(5): Bussing Program Funding
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education.
During the days of the Divisional Boards, the staff at the Divisional Board used to be responsible for setting money aside so that the busses could be acquired for the communities.
Since the dissolution of the Boards, who is now responsible for the bussing program.
Are we still setting aside money as a government or are the contractors doing that now.
We do our planning every year for acquisition of capital purchases.
Usually what we do is we start doing the review in the spring.
In regards to the question of the member, since the dissolution of the Boards, the Department of Education is now responsible for busses, under capital items.
The budgeting is done by our department under the capital estimates and they are funded by the Department of Education.
Since the Department of Education is now responsible for the busses.
If I could go back to the Divisional Boards, they used to have a policy on acquiring busses.
The school had to be so many kilometres, the residential areas had to be outside of a certain radius, and you had to qualify under these criteria.
Are you using the same policy.
The Divisional Boards had a policy that took into account the student population, the radius and the safety and we're still going to be using the same policy that was applied during the Divisional Board days.
Since the dissolution of these boards, we have been using the same policy that was set by the Divisional Boards.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Since the minister stated that they would be using the same policy, are you going to be setting monies aside on a per capita basis or another system.
Speaker : Minister Kilabuk.
The monies are set on the total school population.
Question 134 - 1(5): Kugluktuk Sewage Lagoon Road
The Minister of Sustainable Development is aware of the issue I am going to raise as I've showed him first hand.
People who go out hunting use the sewage lagoon road. They utilize this road in and out of the community.
They have to use this road while leaving and returning with a load of caribou meat.
Today I want to hear from the minister as to how he's dealing with it because this is a concern brought out by the hamlet and this is something I discussed with him in Kugluktuk to see what he can do about it.
In regards to Mr. Havioyak's question, I've considered it and I will be talking with the Minister of Community Government and Transportation.
I have seen the sewage lagoon and also the trail that is utilized by the hunters going in and out of the community.
The hunters have to go right through the sewage lagoon when they bring home their fresh meat.
I will be having discussions with the Minister of Community Government and Transportation because of course it could become a safety issue.
We have not completed the trip report yet but I will be working closely with the Minister of Community Government and Transportation.
Thank you for your response today.
The hamlet wants to know how soon this project will begin.
Whether it will be this summer as they need to haul gravel before the ice melts.
If they are to work on this project or to begin to order things to rectify the situation, will you be meeting very shortly with the Minister of Community Government & Transportation.
Yes, as soon as we have the report complete. I will also be writing to the Hamlet of Kugluktuk and I will give a copy to the member, in regards to that road and the sewage lagoon.
We will look into how much it is going to cost to build a new road as it seemed simple enough to do.
The Community Government & Transportation Minister will be involved in this as well.
We are not really sure when we will be able to do this but I will keep the member informed.
Question 135 – 1(5): Aqvik Mine Cleanup
The department has been asked questions in regards to the closing of the mine this coming October.
I wondered how the department is planning to deal with this or whether they are going to be involved in the cleaning of that mine, the Aqvik Mine near Resolute Bay.
I was recently in Toronto, Mr. Speaker, and wanted to find out what I could do about this.
I talked to an individual from the Polaris Mine when I was in Toronto as I wanted to be able to visit the mine before it closes down.
I wanted to speak to him about the clean up of the site and to see whether the equipment from over there can be taken care of properly.
We have been in talks with the people from the Polaris Mine and we are waiting to hear from them.
I just wondered what plans the minister has made for those communities affected by the closure of the mine, have they been involved.
In regards to the affected communities, when the mine closes, we have had discussions about that with the officials for the mine.
I know there will be a great impact on the people in the communities surrounding the mine.
My officials will be meeting with the people in those communities to see how we can best support them.
We feel that this should be done as soon as possible because the mine will be closing shortly.
It will probably take a while for them to get the clean up done in that mine, and we will try our best to employ those people in the affected communities.
We will involve them as best we can.
This is a short question.
I just wondered how or if you have involved the people of Resolute Bay in the planning for the closing of the mine.
We have not really done any planning with the affected communities.
I am expecting that we will be doing some planning with them, especially the Quttiktuq communities.
I have just visited the community of Pond Inlet but I have not visited the other communities that will be affected.
I will be visiting those communities to talk with them and I will want to work with the Member for Quttiktuq on the closure and to get the people involved.
I thought that there has been a delay in planning for the closure with the Quttiktummiut as I had read of a document dated September 2000.
Is there something in his department that might be available, some information as to how they have planned for the cleaning of the mine and the involvement of those people effected by the closure.
We don't want to take a long time in planning for this, because the closure will happen in the near future.
As soon as this session is over, will the minister be able to go to those communities.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I know that there is urgency now and we cannot make those people wait for long.
I will have the department officials prepare for it.
The member asked if I would be able to go to her communities, April and May is a busy time for me, and I can't really say at this time when I will be able to go, but I will go as soon as I can.
I will be taking a look at the two mines that will be closing as well, and I will let the member know exactly when I am going to go so she can accompany me, and also to let the communities know that I will be coming.
Question 136 – 1(5): Igloolik Health Centre
Mr. Speaker, I asked the Minister of Health & Social Services about the health services in Igloolik recently.
They don't have an adequate number of nursing staff in the Igloolik area and I wonder if the minister has looked into this and what he has found out.
Mr. Speaker, after the member's question in the House about a week and a half ago, we contacted the health centre in Igloolik.
At that time one of the nurses had been sick and the centre had been closed because of that.
With operational requirements Mr. Speaker, we should have one additional nurse in Igloolik and my understanding Mr. Speaker, is we are recruiting for that position, as we speak here.
The minister tells me that the nurse is on the way.
Is the nurse up there now or just moving there.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that we are in the process of hiring at the present time.
The person that is being hired right now, where is that individual right now.
Minister responsible for Heath and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, what I said, Mr. Speaker, is that we're in the process of hiring.
That means, Mr. Speaker, the ad is in place on a regular basis.
For the Baffin Region we have one dedicated person who does all the recruitment for our nursing staff.
So that's ongoing, I wouldn't be able to say where that person is right now. If indeed that person is actually hired. We're in the process of recruitment.
So that's where the position is. Because as soon as a person is hired, a job offer would have to be made to that individual for the station in Igloolik.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker for giving me another opportunity to ask.
Mr. Speaker, I thought the minister stated that they have hired a person. But the minister informs me now that they are just starting the hiring process.
Can you clarify, are you just in the process of advertising for that position.
Mr. Speaker, maybe I'll try to clarify.
Mr. Speaker, any given time we're vacant x-number of positions of nurses.
So it's a continuous recruitment program underway.
We have a dedicated staff person who's doing that.
So at any given time, for example in this case, it's Igloolik.
If there's a position vacant, then we're, automatically and immediately, trying to hire for that position.
If a job offer has been made or a person has been interviewed, I don't have that information with me but I do know Mr. Speaker, that when a position is vacant, especially on nurses, we're automatically trying to recruit.
So that's what I said Mr. Speaker, when I said the hiring process is under way.
So I hope that clarifies the question of the member.
Question 137 - 1(5): Review of Bussing Program
It's part of a question that was asked by one of the members about the bussing services.
He stated bussing policy goes by the population of the students.
In my two communities, in Clyde River and Broughton Island, there are a lot of polar bears that are around the community and within the town.
For that reason, I think it's very dangerous for the school children because of the large number of polar bears and when it gets dark in the fall especially, for that reason, the safety of the children in the two communities that I represent are in dangerous situation for the children.
I just wondered if it a community could get a bus for that reason.
As an example, last year there were a lot of children that had to be protected from a bear because it came within the school grounds.
I just wondered, even though the population of school children is not very high, could they could take that into consideration.
I know what the member is talking about, the safety of the children in his community, especially in regards to dangerous animals.
Especially when the children are in danger from bears.
We realize that it is like that.
We can take those safety issues into consideration when we are allocating busses to the communities, because we have to make sure the children are safe at all times.
We will look at that in our policy.
We will also be looking at the 5-year capital plans for allocating busses to the communities.
We can't just go around giving busses to all communities, we have to take all of those things I mentioned a while ago to the other member into consideration.
I will consider the member's concerns as well.
Thank you very much to the minister for his answer.
I asked him knowing what I know about these communities even though they haven't asked me directly to bring this up.
I am just following up on the question that was put to him earlier.
On this particular occasion, I will talk to my community as to how they could address the bussing situation in those two communities.
It is up to the member exactly what he wants to put his attention on, so I will look forward to the request from the community.
Question 138 – 1(5): Repulse Bay Health Centre Addition
I would like to direct this question to the Minister of Health.
In Repulse Bay last year, the health centre was going to be enlarged and an addition was going to be built the following year.
Is this still going to be implemented.
Mr. Speaker, according to the information provided to me, we have replaced the windows in the health centre this construction season, and we also just completed a functional program for a new health centre for Repulse.
I did not hear that they were going to put an addition on the health centre.
The health centre's space is limited and it is an old building.
The population is growing in the community.
When is the addition going to be built.
That is the question that I wanted to ask, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity to be in the Repulse Bay health centre in May and the member is correct.
It is an older facility.
There are plans under way right now, Public Works and Services are doing and drafting a functional program for the health centre.
So that will tell us what type of facility we need in Repulse Bay.
We would expect Mr. Speaker, depending again on the capital plan being approved by this Assembly and so on and if the functional program is in place, we would move forward over the next couple of years to do the Repulse Bay health centre.
Again, it depends on the capital plan and the dollars available and so on.
I'd like to thank the minister for explaining the situation.
Is the design of the addition going to be in place or is the actual design already in place and the actual addition is going to be planned.
I wanted him to clarify that.
Mr. Speaker, actually, the plan is not to do an addition.
We're actually looking at a new facility in Repulse Bay.
The plan is under way right now as I said with Public Works drafting the functional program.
After that's completed, then we'll know what the cost is going to be and then we'll be able to budget for those dollars in the capital plan.
So the dollar value is not in the capital plan right now but that will come forward after we complete the functional program.
So it will be a new facility in Repulse Bay based on the capital dollars that become available.
Speaker: Thank you, Mister Picco.
Question 139 - 1(5): Input of Municipalities on 5-Year Capital Plan
I'm somebody who seems to be eating a lot of time in our debate in the Committee of the Whole and in questioning the 5-year capital plan.
Mr. Speaker, earlier the minister indicated that copies of it were sent out to the communities asking them for their input and what their reaction was.
And we already know Mr. Speaker that two communities outside of Iqaluit have travelled here to Iqaluit to meet with the minister over some concerns with it.
I'd like to ask him if he could tell us exactly how the input of the mayors and the communities will be accommodated in the capital plan.
Speaker: Thank you. Mr. Ng.
Mr. Speaker, the plan would be, as the members know, that the Community Government & Transportation staff in the regions, headquarters would have the main responsibility for discussions with municipalities.
They would take their concerns into consideration, primarily if it's related to their own department, obviously, Community Government and Transportation.
If it's outside of that, then they would pass that information back to both Community Government & Transportation and Finance. As a result of those consultations, they would pass the information back to other ministers, other departments in respect of the concerns, and try to address some of those issues as they move forward and the targets are adjusted for future year's capital planning.
Mr. Speaker, we know now that this is year three, the third budget that this government has come up with and I think we still have yet to have some community consultation on the capital plan.
The minister talks about getting this feedback, it's already too late for this year because the capital plan has been put forward and the main estimates were developed by the Department of Finance and the other government departments.
Will they be looking at incorporating some of this feedback into next year's capital planning cycle.
Does the minister have an idea of when they will be contacting and setting up meetings with the municipalities and hamlets to meet with them on their issues.
Is there going to be any type of changes as to the cycle and when they will be looking at it.
Mr. Speaker, Community Government & Transportation officials, like I said, are the lead in this area because they deal with the municipalities.
I understand that some consultation, initial consultations have actually taken place in some communities.
I don't have the schedule here, but it is certainly something that can be discussed, I believe, when the Community Government & Transportation Main Estimates are in the committee of the whole again this afternoon.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Ng. Final supplementary.
I guess that's what happens when you ask two questions you only get one answer.
Mr. Speaker, the other part of the question I asked was if there will be a change to the capital planning cycle that we use.
If there is a planned change will that affect the timelines of when and how quickly this consultation will be carried out.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Well, Mr. Speaker, there is a change. As members know, we committed, based on recommendations from members, to try and do a fall capital session.
So that has really accelerated and crunched down and condensed the timeframe for consultation, not only with municipalities of course, but with members of our standing committees who have a real interest in the capital plan and all programs of the government.
I think I would want to reiterate the fact that we have undertaken to do consultations with municipalities, I don't want the expectation that because we are doing consultations, that every request that they identify is going to be addressed.
Because members know that we don't have all the financial resources to identify and fund every single matter that comes forward.
It is still going to come down to some hard decisions on what each individual department is going to be able to sponsor.
Recognizing that and trying to balance that off with the needs of the municipalities and balance that off with some of the requests that the Members of the Assembly have.
So it is a difficult balancing act and we are going to try to endeavour to do the best job that we can, given our limited resources.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Ng. Oral Questions.
Question 140 – 1(5): Closing Date for Igloolik Nursing Position
I would like to follow up a question my colleague asked before about the Igloolik nursing position.
You mentioned that you have an ad out for that particular nursing position in Igloolik.
When is the closing date on that.
Mr. Speaker, what I was trying to explain was that at any given time, in Nunavut, as a whole, we may be short a nursing position.
We are continuing to staff on an ongoing basis those needs.
For example, Mr. Speaker, we just came back from a recruitment drive in the south and we are continuing to fill those positions, we are at anywhere between 80 – 90% right now with our nursing staff.