EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We also would like to take this opportunity to welcome the Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson, to Nunavut. She’s not here right now but she is touring the community and has toured quite a bit of Nunavut over the last several days.
Also, Mr. Speaker, Pauloosie Nooyalia, who was with me in Nashville when I recorded my CD, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do a debut of that Saturday because I was stuck on the land.
And also our Fire Chief Mr. Cory Chegwyn.
I would also like to welcome the delegation for 2004, and I’m very pleased that the interns are here this week visiting us.
Question 033 – 2(1): Fire Marshal’s Report – Communication with the City Council (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister of Community and Government Services.
As I indicated in my Member’s Statement, there are some concerns that the city has in how the communication of the Fire Marshal’s Report of the Joamie School fire was handled.
I would like to ask the minister responsible if he could inform me and the members of the public of the process of how the communication between his officials, and his department and the city transpired throughout the duration of that report.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Community and Government Services.
There was a report on the Joamie School fire.
Our staff, more than twice before the announcement was made, has worked with the senior level officials of this city and they reviewed the report before the report was tabled.
After it was tabled, there was a concern raised in regard to the firefighters.
Their concern was brought to the mayor, and I called the mayor.
I apologize, but we were unable to meet with each other via teleconference. But we’ve set up a date to meet with each other.
So, tomorrow morning, we’ll be having our meeting at 10:00.
In my conversations with the administration at the city, there was an indication on their part that they had an understanding that the report and the release were going to be gone over jointly and be a joint release.
Can the minister indicate if that was the case, and their understanding of it, because that certainly seems to have been the understanding of the city officials on this matter?
In regard to the release, the city officials had a meeting with our officials prior to the releasing of the report.
I apologize, I don’t have any of the documents with me, but as I stated earlier we had meetings with them twice, and we are having another meeting with them tomorrow to discuss some of the concerns that we had.
I am glad that the minister is meeting with the city officials, to hopefully clarify some of the confusion on this issue.
I guess a couple of weeks ago the report was released to the media.
And the next morning it was on the radio, about the report on the news.
The city and the fire chief had indicated that they hadn’t seen the report.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister if he could indicate if he is aware that the report was released to the media prior to it being provided to the city council.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Government and Community Services.
In regard to the release, just before it was released we gave a copy to the city.
And I do apologize, Mr. Speaker, that they weren’t given enough time; I apologize that the release was given to the city just before it was released through the media.
They didn’t have enough time to scrutinize it, but they were given to the city officials.
I am wondering if, as the minister had indicated earlier on, he does not have all of the details on this.
I wonder if he could provide me with a copy of chronology of when these events happened.
He indicated that the report was given to the city just before it was released to the media.
I believe, from my consultation with the administration of the city, it was about an hour before that, and it still appears that it may have been after it was released to the media.
So I would like to ask the minister if he could provide a chronology of when the report was released to the media; if it was released to the media electronically, when he first saw the final report, and also, how many versions of the report were out there as well.
I would like to assure the members, and the Members for Iqaluit, that I will be giving a copy, and as I stated earlier, we are going to be having a meeting with the mayor and the councillors tomorrow.
Member for Uqqurmiut, Mr. Arreak.
Question 034 – 2(1): New Computers for Qikiqtarjuaq School (Arreak)
With today’s technology, we are using computer systems in the schools, and they’re a vital part of every organization.
In Qikiqtarjuaq, or Broughton Island, the minister stated that he would be looking for computers that would be used at the school. He stated that he would be looking for ten computers.
The present computer system that we have is seven or eight years old; they were donated to the school.
I would like to ask the minister if he will be providing computers for the Qikiqtarjuaq school.
I had an opportunity to visit the  Qikiqtarjuaq school a few weeks ago, and I can say in all seriousness that I was disappointed with the quality of the computers that were available to the staff.
Indeed, one of the staff people informed me that they spend most of their time trying to keep their computers up.
The ones that they did have were donated or second-hand models.
I committed to the principal and to the staff in Qikiqtarjuaq to help them find new computers, money for new computers.
My understanding is that ten new computers will be available this fall for Qikiqtarjuaq out of the O&M money for the school.
Question 035 – 2(1): Access House Sold to the RCMP and Replacement (Alagalak)
As a preamble, I would like to know from the minister… about three or four years ago, there was a house that was sold to the RCMP. It was one of those access homes.
Since this house was bought there has been no replacement house identified.
I’m not sure why.
That house went through the access program, and I’m not sure why it was sold or what problems they had.
But the problem is we weren’t able to get another house to replace that one.
I would like to ask the minister about this problem we have.
In the policies, it states that if you sell an access home, or public housing, prior to the completion of the construction, it would be replaced in about two years.
It states that there would be a replacement for the unit.
I would like to ask the minister about what they have done.
I’m sure you’re well aware of the policies that we have about replacement.
That access home was sold, and I’m sure that we have all the documents.
I think there should have been a replacement right away.
Why was it that this access home was sold to the RCMP when we have a severe shortage of housing?
These monies were identified to be used for the Access Program and to provide home ownership.
Why is it that they were sold to the RCMP, and why is that we didn’t get a replacement for it?
Those are my two questions to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Why is it that it was sold to a government agency?
Did they steal it?
I think that we have to get this problem solved.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kilabuk.
I would like to apologize to the member; this is the first time that I have heard about the access home that was sold.
I don’t know what the agreement was between the parties, but I will have to take this question as notice.
I will have to look into the details.
Only when I took on this portfolio did I start looking into the housing situation, and I haven’t completed my briefing yet. But, I would like to tell the member that I will take his question as notice.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister will take this as notice.
Question 036 – 2(1): Renovation of Arctic Bay Community Hall (Barnabas)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Community and Government Services.
As I stated in my Member’s Statement, I was referring to a gym that was going to be renovated after five years.
Are you going to be looking into this situation?
I would like to assure the member that with the closure of Nanisivik, we are still reviewing this situation.
In my Member’s Statement, I stated that this multipurpose hall was built when the total population was 375 and that the present population is now 646.
That’s a 72.1 percent increase.
Following the population growth, what kind of criteria do you have in building multipurpose halls and what kind of criteria do you …?
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): We are well aware that this hall was built back in the 1970s.
It’s way too small for the present population of Arctic Bay, but I would like to say that we don’t follow the population growth.
We look at the needs of the individual community; for example, if we use Arctic Bay, the community has identified that they would like to have a community hall and so did other Nunavut communities.
In the capitals, we have included Arctic Bay.
I will keep the member updated on what is happening with the hall.
Your second supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
We have been reviewing this situation for the past 15 years.
I have asked repeatedly various ministers about when we are going to be… (interpretation ends.) Mr. Speaker, can the minister be committed to funding this for the capital projects?
The thing that I will commit to doing today is to ensure that the request of the community of Arctic Bay in wanting a new community hall is seriously considered as part of the overall process for the capital project later on in the fall.
Member for Rankin Inlet North, Mr. Curley.
Question 037 – 2(1): House Leases by Kevin O’Brien (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister for the Housing Corporation, and the people of Nunavut would like to understand clearly, if the public houses that were rented from Mr. Kevin O’Brien were ever put to public tender.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Kilabuk.
As far as I’ve been informed, during decentralization in Arviat what they did was that people were given the opportunity to purchase those houses.
Perhaps if the minister could inform me again; I wasn’t really sure whether it was a public tender, or whether it was RFP, or was it through negotiated arrangement with Kevin O’Brien.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Mr. Kilabuk.
I apologize to the member for not being able to give him the full information, but I will get some information from staff and I will get back to the member.
The reason is that as member of the legislature, if I were to rent my house I would be expected to put it as public tender, and whatever company that I owned would have to be in blind trust.
So for that reason the minister will have to inform the Members of this House and the public whether it was a source contract, or was it under RFP. I would be happy to receive some information from him in that regard.
I will get some information from my staff and I will inform the member and the members of the legislature.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister has taken the question as notice.
Member for Kugluktuk, Mr. Evyagotailak.
Question 038 – 2(1): Plans for An Elders’ Residential Facility for Kitikmeot (Evyagotailak)
This is for the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
In my Member’s Statement I talked about the needs for an elders’ facility in the Kitikmeot.
My question for the minister is: what specific plans does he have for an elders’ facility in the Kitikmeot, including the residential facility that can provide 24-hour care?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I am not able to answer the question right now, so before the end of the session I will get back to you.
In what way is the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth working with the Department of Health and Social Services to address the needs for the elders in the Kitikmeot?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Perhaps the member can write me a letter or a Written Question so we can provide some answers from my department.
We can look at it, but perhaps if he can inform me what kinds of elders’ facility that he is talking about.
So as soon as we can get some information on that, I will be able to provide him with the answer.
Question 039 – 2(1): Price of Oil and Gas Increases in Nunavut (Peterson)
The price for a barrel of oil is over $41 U.S. Over the weekend, I was reading the news of the last few days of the price of gas going up across Canada, down south, North America.
I am sure it is just a matter of time before it increases up here.
Could the minister tell the House today what safeguards the government has in place to protect Nunavut residents from the increases in fuel prices?
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: I guess it is part of the overall effort of this government to try and address the serious high cost of living in Nunavut.
We are closely monitoring the increasing prices of gas and fuel according to world prices that have continued to grow.
We are at a point where this needs very serious consideration from this government.
If there are ways that we can help to maintain the cost that Nunavummiut are having to pay today, then we will certainly have to take measures to make sure that we can still continue to provide and deliver the fuel and gas that our communities in Nunavut need.
Can the minister tell the House today if Nunavummiut will face fuel price increases later this year?
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Today, we are continuing to keep a very close eye on the oil prices that are continuing to increase.
So today I cannot commit to this House to say that we will not increase the price of fuel or gas later on in the fall, as the distribution cost will only be realized and finalized at the end of the delivery season.
So today I am not able to indicate if we will be able to avoid an increase of oil, fuel, or gas prices this year.
Will the minister tell the House whether hamlets will get additional funds from the Municipal Operating Assistance Program if fuel prices increase, to protect the hamlets from having to cut into essential services such as wellness, or recreation?
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Again, we won’t be able to determine, until we have actually gone through the delivery process, what additional costs there may be for increasing price of gas or oil. And if in fact there will be, then that is something we would have to monitor and work with the municipalities on only after the delivery season.
I was reading a Web story about how the airlines are preparing for higher fuel prices. The airlines are monitoring higher fuel prices, talking about an increase in tickets.
I am wondering if the minister is in meetings with northern airlines to discuss specific ways to keep their airline tickets prices down in spite of fuel price increases.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Community Government and Services.
Unfortunately, I don’t have access to that e-mail that my colleague is talking about. However, we are also aware of some other possible problems that may arise, because if you look at it today, all of Nunavut prices are better than some of the prices down south, prices for aviation fuel, for example.
So if we do see an increase in the fuel prices we will definitely communicate this to the airlines.
And, I will assure the member that we are keeping a very close eye on the markets worldwide, and also in different parts of Canada, that have air flights into Nunavut.
Question 040 – 2(1): Vacant Staff Housing Units (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
Earlier one of my colleagues was asking about some houses that were leased by the former Speaker of this Assembly.
Last year, I was asking the former minister of housing about vacant staff housing units.
Can the minister indicate if the vacant units that were listed and tabled in this House for Arviat, if any of those houses that were leased to the former Speaker were part of that list?
If I may, in partial response to my colleague’s question: if he could clarify which vacant list he is referring to. But if it’s specifically to the vacant units as mentioned by our colleague earlier, that was something made vacant because of the inhabitable conditions of the units, and we put in requests to have these building units properly renovated and fixed so that they could be habitable again.
For the minister’s reference, that list was tabled by the former minister of the Housing Corporation, retired marvel, Kelvin Ng. It listed a breakdown of vacant units and why they were vacant.
The minister indicated that those units were uninhabitable.
I had asked, it was last year, about those vacant units, and they were vacant, in that community.
Can the minister indicate how long those houses that my colleague is asking about have been uninhabitable?
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: To the best of my knowledge and communications with staff, I want to clarify the fact that we do have two leases in there.
The first, one lease covering three rental units that have become below staff housing standards; as a result we have had to put in requests to have them upgraded and renovated, as it is still at today.
The other lease is for that one unit that is in good condition. So it is the other units that have more recently forced us to declare those units inhabitable and, consequently, of putting in the request to have them renovated to become habitable again.
I would like to ask the minister how long they were uninhabitable.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Housing Corporation, Mr. Kilabuk.
Unfortunately I don’t have the exact date in front of me as to when the units were inhabitable. So I will have to commit to providing that information to my colleague, maybe outside of today.
While he’s looking that up, can he also look up if we’ve been paying for uninhabitable units all along? And two: were those units ever lived in, and were they ever habitable, or were the leases signed while the units were uninhabitable?
I would like to get that information. I look forward to getting that information within the day.
It is not uncommon to continue paying for leases or units that are not occupied for different reasons.
We are right now looking at our options as to whether further payments should be made on these units, and I will be able to provide the other information to my colleague once I have it.
Member for Akulliq, Mr. Mapsalak.
Question 041 – 2(1): Extension of Repulse Bay School (Mapsalak)
I will give a very short preamble.
There is a great shortage of space in the Repulse Bay school. When there is an increase in the number of students, the cafeteria and the science room, they have to utilize those spaces as classrooms because they are really short of space in the school.
They have a shortage of space for classrooms.
I would like to ask the minister, will the Repulse Bay school be extended within this fiscal year?
I note that the enrolment in the K–12 school in Repulse Bay has gone from 203 to 237.5 for this year.
There is no allocation in the capital budget for this year for an addition to the school, but I’m unsure if it is in the five-year capital plan.
That’s something that we’ll have to check and see.
I will also have an opportunity next weekend to visit the school with the member and maybe ascertain at that time the opportunities for an increase to classroom sizes, if that’s called for within the five-year capital plan.
Yes, they are in dire need of space.
They are using the library and the science room as classrooms.
And we have to take turns to utilize the spaces because we lack space.
Also, I have heard that there is nothing included in the five-year plan, you don’t know that?
Do I understand correctly that there is no additional funding within our five-year capital plan?
I would like to ask the minister if they could get some funding for an extension of the school within the five-year capital plan.
Would the minister commit to getting an extension for the school in the near future?
That is something that I’m prepared to look as the minister responsible.
The five-year capital plan, I’m just reviewing it here, brings 2004 to 2005, to 2008, and 2009; there are no monies allocated.
However, the following years, 2009 and 2010, there is $4.7 million allocated for a school addition.
So, it is not in the five-year capital plan in our supplementary target.
Mr. Speaker, that is something that I’ll have to look at with the total number of enrollments presently, as well as the forecast for enrollments, to see if they are actually going to continue to increase, and see what the basis of an addition would be at that time.
Question 042 – 2(1): House Leases by Kevin O’Brien (Tootoo)
My question, again, is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
My curiosity is piqued, Mr. Speaker.
On these leases that we are talking about, with the former Speaker of the Assembly, I’d like to ask the minister: because those leases are signed with a Member of the Assembly, is there a different process of approval that goes through prior to those leases being entered into?
There are no special leases per se for members of this House.
I know leases are treated the same.
So in response to his question, the leases are treated like all other leases that the Nunavut Housing Corporation has.
I’m wondering if the minister could indicate when those leases were signed and effective.
The first lease was dated March 15, 2002 and the second lease was dated December 1, 2002.
At that time, and prior to the leases being signed, were those units inspected and verified to be habitable?
To the best of my knowledge, yes. They were at the time they were inspected.
I’m wondering if the minister could provide the Members of this House with copies and of the condition ratings for those units on that date.
And, if he could also inform the Members of the House about who signed off on those leases.
I most definitely will provide the information to my colleague regarding the condition ratings that were given, but I can also advise my colleague that the March 2002 lease was signed by the then Deputy Minister for Public Works and Services.
The second lease dated December 1 was signed by Housing Corporation officials at my offices at the time.
Member for the High Arctic, Mr. Barnabas.
Question 043 – 2(1): Arctic Bay Residents’ Concern over the Abandoned Nanisivik Mine (Barnabas)
In Arctic Bay there is a concern in regard to Nanisivik.
For nearly the past four years, we’ve been working in Nanisivik mine, but last week I received some correspondence carbon-copied to me and addressed to the Premier; I’ve got a copy of the letter.
Breakwater Resources has stated that they can no longer wait for the government’s decision.
I understand that now the transportation division is now being devolved to Rankin Inlet.
A consultant was hired to study the feasibility of a multi-use mine training facility as well as some vocational training programs at the Nanisivik site.
Another review was sponsored by Community and Government Services to look the condition of the physical assets, of the buildings, on the ground at Nanisivik.
As we know, the site has been abandoned for quite some time now.
The findings were presented, and the primary highlights of that report were on the ongoing cost estimates, including about $5 million annually to keep the site running for a prevocational school as well as the potential facility repair and upgrading costs to us left in Nanisivik of about $5 million.
The total cost is about $10.5 million to rehabilitate the Nanisivik site, and for the ongoing operations and maintenance.
The Department of Education is preparing a request for the Cabinet to look at the situation surrounding Nanisivik, seeking their direction as well the cost-benefit analysis of doing something with it.
In the meantime, I have written the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Mr. Mitchell, asking him about the opportunity for accessing some other federal site that may be available to us that would be more cost conducive, as well as facilitating a prevocational training site.
I think we’ve been waiting patiently for the past three years for the completion of the feasibility study of Nanisivik.