EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
To summarize, these are the main issues that are included in the (interpretation ends) Blueprint for Action on Housing (interpretation) as most of the energy-saving initiatives are written in that report.
Members should review this document so that they are aware of the different initiatives that the member is asking about.
Chairman (Mr. Enook)(interpretation): Thank you, minister.
Can you explain to me what multi-family needs-based housing is? Is that an overcrowded unit?
“Multi-family,” is it three families living in one house?
Yes, that’s what it means.
I think I just have one more question.
I have a question on the rental payments.
“The NHC is finalizing a memorandum of understanding with the department of Family Services to allow Income Assistance clients’ rent payments to be paid directly to LHOs.”
Saying that, how much of that now is going directly to LHOs? You don’t have to give me an exact amount, just a percentage. How much of that did go to the LHOs?
Usually when there’s a cheque cut from the Department of Family Services, (interpretation ends) 100 percent of that amount is issued and made payable to the local association.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) That’s up to you.
Mr. Akoak: It might be on a different page a little bit, but I think right now the clients are getting a cheque that they want paid to the LHOs, but it is under their names; it’s not under the LHO, I believe.
If you can correct me on that.
As I indicated earlier, those are public housing units, (interpretation ends) so it is made payable to the LHOs.
Why would the rental arrears be so high then if that is the case?
We talked about this a little bit earlier on some of the factors that account for the large amount of rent receivables.
As we indicated earlier, the income assistance recipients have to give the housing rent money to the local housing organization. There are quite a lot of factors that a person might not pay for their rent. Usually an individual might keep that rent money instead of giving it to the local housing organization.
Those are some of the reasons and there are other reasons that account for those rental arrears.
My deputy minister responded to this same question earlier on. If it’s okay with the Chair, I would to refer this again back to the president.
We are currently in discussions with Family Services as to why that would be the case.
There is anecdotal information where the income support client is actually given the cheque in the name of the local housing authority, but for whatever reason has not been able to transfer it over physically to the LHO.
We’re currently trying to understand the reasons why behind that.
Please stop me if I’m asking the same question that was asked earlier on.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2017-2020 business plan indicates that “NTI and RIAs participated in the development of the Blueprint for Action on Housing.”
This was already asked, but you want to get clarification and we need clarification as well.
Mr. Chairman, what it means is when we were developing the Blueprint for Action on Housing, we participated with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the regional Inuit associations like the Qikiqtani Inuit Association or the Kivalliq Inuit Association.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami also participated in the development of the action plan.
We are going to keep working with them and we also identified who would be responsible for what action items.
Very briefly, it means that as we have worked together with the Inuit associations, we will continue to do so.
That is our working relationship with them.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you for giving me another opportunity to ask a question.
I will make a brief comment and it is a part of the question that I asked.
“The NHC is engaging with NTI and RIAs to inform the development of the federal government’s National Housing Strategy, to be completed in fall 2017.”
What specific resources is NTI contributing with respected to housing-related issues?
Can you provide me with that information?
I can’t respond as to whether or not NTI is going to be making a contribution, but it falls to our department to look for additional funds from the federal government or other sources like the CMHC.
I can’t respond for NTI because it is outside of our responsibilities.
I’m just reading the Inuktitut and I think it’s wrong once again.
To put it briefly, in regard to the huge deficit, we get a cheque and then we’re required to pay for our rent by giving that cheque to the housing association.
If I was employed and I worked for municipal services, are you going to start deducting from their payroll so that they can pay off their rental arrears to the housing organization? Are you planning on making payroll deductions as a payment plan?
If an individual works for municipal services or the hamlet or wherever they may be employed and they’re renting a unit, it would be up to that individual to have their rent deducted from their payroll and applied to their rent.
The housing organization and the individual can come up with an agreement to have their payroll deducted and applied toward their rental arrears.
I know some of these questions were asked already by my colleagues, but I would like to add to them based on the responses, especially regarding the blueprint for action.
I have questions on Action 22 with regard to the analysis of the staff housing subsidy and that will be done for a whole year.
It doesn’t state what they will be doing once the analysis has been completed.
We put that $400 figure maybe 10 plus years ago.
Since that time the prices of gas, operations and maintenance of a house have gone up drastically and that figure hasn’t changed.
When are you going to complete this plan? We have to provide more support to homeowners.
To answer the question briefly, we are looking at completing it in two years time.
I also noticed, but it doesn’t state here.
We have been saying for quite a long time that we should be increasing the number of homeowners. It would be of great benefit if those who are under-housed could get assistance to own their homes and that would free up the rental units.
I know that you’re going to say they tried that before. Today there is a wide range of jobs available, even in smaller communities. Hamlet staff are now retiring who would benefit from owning their own homes.
Observing that, I would like to see another review.
Inuit are able to work and build their own homes, which we have seen with our own eyes.
When can this take place?
The member’s question about homeownership programs will be included in the review of incentives to encourage homeownership and subsidies. I can give a brief response.
We will be reviewing the HAP program and the plan for housing tenants to become homeowners will be included.
It’s very nice to hear that it will be reviewed, but it seems like we’re reviewing everything continually.
When are we going to start seeing concrete plans?
I don’t want to just plan. I want to help all the residents of Nunavut who want to own their own homes.
I responded earlier to the member that they will be reviewing this in the plans, so I cannot tell you at this point.
I agree with the member that we don’t need to be in a constant state of planning.
Mr. Chairman, if it’s okay with you, I would like my deputy minister to supplement my response.
I also thank the member for his question. (interpretation ends) When we’re looking at the key issue of meeting the housing needs of GN employees as well as what was identified in the blueprint for action, as part of the main context within the blueprint for action on trying to fill the gaps within the housing continuum, primarily which is the lack of homeownership within Nunavut, we would like to increase that availability of being able to contribute to Nunavut residents if they wish to become homeowners. We would like to be able to be the government agency to be able to assist in that way.
We don’t necessarily call the action plans that are set out strategic plans or overall reviews.
We’re actually calling them “action plans,” concrete action where we actually give them a limited time frame as to how we’re going to work towards addressing that.
When you look at the specific actions that are identified, all 60 of which work towards closing those gaps within the housing continuum, we have identified specific actions that have the short term, which is one to three years; the mid term, which is three to five years; and the long term, which is five to ten years.
When you go through each of these actions and when you look at what we’re going to actually do within that short term period of one to three years, we have identified actual steps and who is responsible with respect to which department is going to be the lead, which department is going to be collaborated with and supported, and what the planned activities are with respect to each year; so year 1, year 2, year 3.
The one thing that we want to do is somehow address, within that housing continuum, not only the staff housing for GN employees but Nunavut residents’ homeownership aspect and those that need care, elders facilities, mobility issues, mental health facilities, what have you, and we’re hoping that within the action plan we actually identify specifically with respect to homeownership how we can do that.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): I apologize, Mr. Chairman. I believe my question was forgotten.
When are we going to roll out a plan for a homeownership program?
Action 16 says that you’re going to review homeownership support programs and the review will be complete next year.
When is the housing corporation going to respond to those people who are interested in becoming homeowners?
As I responded earlier on, we expect that within two years. It wouldn’t go beyond three years. Sometimes it can occur from one to three years with respect to his question.
They will be reviewing the staff housing program.
I would like to ask how many of the senior level staff who earn more than $200,000 have been provided with staff housing.
We will have to consult with the Department of Finance to get that information.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): I would very much like to get that information.
It might be helpful if their administrative staff get paid as they’re not getting paid right now.
I believe it would be helpful if subsidies were available to staff.
I wonder when that review will be completed.
It’s just a comment and I’ll leave it at that.
First of all, as I have never owned a private home, I have no idea what types of programs and services are provided to assist homeowners.
This item within your business plan states that funding can be applied for with an upper limit of $50,000.
Is this fund for all of Nunavut?
Yes, it’s for the entire territory of Nunavut.
Another figure on this page includes a reference for an additional funding limit of $15,000.
Is this fund specifically for installing energy-efficient equipment?
Is this on top of the $50,000 or is it offered through a different program?
Yes, it’s an additional $15,000 on top of the $50,000 that can be used for (interpretation ends) energy efficiency related items. (interpretation) This is what is listed, primarily fuel efficiency or energy efficiency programs. This $15,000 can be used in addition for this initiative.
Another item towards the bottom of the page references the Senior Citizens’ Home Repair Program.
Is this specific to renovations for seniors’ homes which would be $15,000 or is this a separate program?
This program called the Senior Citizens’ Home Repair Program is for repairs to their private homes. The maximum amount is $15,000 and it would be specific towards that.
In addition to these funds, (interpretation ends) freight costs (interpretation) are another line item.
Also at the bottom, the Emergency Repair Program, $15,000 is also available for a maximum contribution.
Is this another separate line item than the ones that we just spoke about?
Yes, this is for the Emergency Repair Program for the homeowners. This funding can be utilized for the emergency repairs.
The way I understand it is that this $15,000 maximum contribution is available for one unit.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Yes, I understand that it would be for one house. It would be for one unit.
Some homeowners don’t seem to understand the programs that are made available to them.
Sometimes unilingual Inuktitut-speaking people own their own homes.
Can you elaborate on what kinds of programs and services are available to unilingual homeowners?
Yes, if there was a question from homeowners from either one of the communities in Nunavut, the headquarters is in Arviat and the staff are all Inuit in that office and they can speak Inuktitut.
The office in Arviat is staffed by all Inuit beneficiaries and they take care of the homeownership programs in that office.
Some of them don’t quite seem to be aware of these programs and you feel for them.
Are they kept informed of where they can apply for assistance in case they need it? Are they kept fully informed of where they can apply for assistance?
We have district offices in the Baffin, Kitikmeot, and Kivalliq and/or the local housing organizations. If the homeowner doesn’t know where to get information, they can go through the district offices.
Even the local housing organization can provide assistance if they are asked where they can call or where they should go. They can be provided that information.
I thank him for that information.
Moving on to another area, the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2014-15 annual report on contracting and procurement activities was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on March 16, 2016.
The 2015-16 annual report has not yet been tabled in the Assembly.
When will the 2015-16 annual report be tabled in the Legislative Assembly?
Mr. Chairman, the report is presently being prepared and it is planned to be tabled in the House during this winter session.
Following my list of names, Mr. Enook, for the second round.
Thank you for giving me another opportunity.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to go back to the rental arrears on the housing units we rent.
It is terrible to hear that there is an excess of $27 million in arrears to the housing corporation.
If that were to be paid off, you could construct 60 new units.
I would like to discuss with you what the options are to work on it, Minister Kuksuk.
Also, the document says that one unit costs around $26,000 annually to maintain.
As tenants, we don’t seem to think this is important and I don’t think we appreciate the fact that we are provided homes, perhaps because we are unaware of the costs.
There are many tenants out there who are being provided with low-cost housing and a lot of tenants don’t take care of their units.
How do you keep your tenants informed of these things, including the need to take proper care of their homes, and that if they paid up their rental arrears, we would have more money to build houses?
This was already mentioned.
The local housing organizations have tenant relations officers who are responsible for collecting rental arrears in the communities.
I agree with you. This is an ongoing discussion of how many housing units could be built from rental arrears when it’s in the millions of dollars. When we try to determine how many units to build, we have to consider how much debt there is because we want to do something about that.
We need to establish good communications between tenants with rental arrears and their LHO.
We want to create a position that will deal strictly with that issue and hopefully this will alleviate the communications between the tenant and the local organization.
If we work together that way, then we can eat away at the rental arrears and we expect that to happen in the future.
You have probably thought of this. Some of us don’t know how to manage money and some people don’t bother with paying their debts because they are overwhelmed.
I have heard of instances where some people owe extremely large amounts of rental arrears to the housing corporation.
It’s obvious that this has never been considered because it hasn’t been worked on.
Have you ever considered, for instance, if the arrears of tenants who reside in housing organization units reach $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, or whatever amount, then the housing organization would have to talk to them?
Has that ever been considered?
The reason I’m thinking this way is because if you had spoken to me when I wasn’t so far behind in what I owed, I wouldn’t have such a large amount of rental arrears.
Has that ever been considered or is that the case already?
This is an important issue when there are large amounts of rental arrears.
For that reason we have put in our plans as a department.
We work with other government departments on proper financial management and what the tenant can do to stop their debt from increasing or to decrease their debt.
For those reasons we are starting to plan on counselling tenants with rental arrears. We’re looking at ways of how we can help tenants with financial management.
We’re starting to plan for how we can work closely with tenants on how to deal with rental arrears.
I concur completely with the minister. Nonetheless, if I can urge the government, I would specifically urge you to fast-track this plan on rental arrears.
I am of the mind that while you are focusing on this rental arrear collection plan and most of us are aware that once any government department undertakes a planning process, it can become an unending process for many years sometimes.
I would encourage you to speed up the planning process.
While you are developing this plan, the rental arrears standing at $27 million is increasing as we speak. It is something we have to put a stop to.
If the tenants were proactively encouraged to lay out a repayment plan by being informed of their arrears, then there would be suggestions on ways to lower their arrears.
Some tenants are encumbered with extremely high arrears, but it seems they are not even worried about them.
That is mainly a comment, as I fully support your work.
I am done on this subject.
He said that’s just a comment. (interpretation ends) Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $199,843,000.
Minister Kuksuk, closing comments.
I also wish to first of all thank the interpreters behind the glass booths, as I always thank them, and we are very grateful to them for their services.
I also thank my officials and the resource people who provided support and those who were patiently waiting for their turn.
I appreciate members who provided questions to us and I look forward to working with all of you to resolve the challenges of housing here in Nunavut.
This includes any suggestions meant to improve our efforts as well as the plans we have identified as requiring work.
We want them to succeed and the only way forward is to work in partnership with one another.
I am just expressing my gratitude to you, Mr. Chairman, along with my colleagues for being able to review our work here today.
I believe that is all.
Members, do you agree that we can proceed with the Department of Family Services?
Mr. Chairman, I think we did a lot of work today and we’re more caught up in our work.
Report of the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Mikkungwak.
Just a reminder that the Management and Services Board will meet this afternoon at 3:45 in the Tuktu Boardroom, and that the Standing Committee on Legislation will meet tomorrow at 1:30 in the Nanuq Room.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Monday, March 6, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 15:33
Monday, March 6, 2017
Pages 3648 – 3715
Opening Prayer 3648
Ministers’ Statements 3648
Members’ Statements 3651
Oral Questions 3660
Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters 3674
Tabling of Documents 3675
Notices of Motions 3676
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3676
Report of the Committee of the Whole 3714
Orders of the Day 3715
Monday, March 6, 2017 3648
262 – 4(3): Uqausiit Pinnguarutiit (Quassa) 3648
263 – 4(3): National Social Work Month (Mike) 3649
264 – 4(3): IUT’s Language Assessments (Kuksuk) 3649
265 – 4(3): Mine Development (Ell-Kanayuk) 3650
266 – 4(3): Piqqusilirivvik – Enhanced Program with Pan-territorial Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Quassa) 3650
492 – 4(3): Passing of His Worship David Aksawnee (Mikkungwak) 3651
493 – 4(3): Appreciation for Community Search and Rescue Teams (Rumbolt) 3652
494 – 4(3): Update on Situation in Kugaaruk (Qirngnuq) 3652
495 – 4(3): Recognizing the Tincombe Family (Angnakak) 3653
496 – 4(3): Clarification on Earlier Statement Regarding Inuit Customs (Shooyook) 3654
497 – 4(3): Acknowledging the Passing of Baker Lake Mayor David Aksawnee (Okalik) 3656
498 – 4(3): Tununiq Ikajuqtiit Food Bank (Enook) 3656
499 – 4(3): Weekend Hockey Tournament in Arviat (Kuksuk) 3657
500 – 4(3): Weekend Hockey Tournament in Iqaluit (Savikataaq) 3658
501 – 4(3): Long Distance Travel by Joe Evyagotailak (Taptuna) 3658
502 – 4(3): Successful Hockey Nunavut Tournaments in Iqaluit and Arviat (Hickes) 3659
503 – 4(3): Appreciation of Nunavut Teachers (Joanasie) 3660
650 – 4(3): Status of General Rate Application (Mikkungwak) 3660
651 – 4(3): Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples (Sammurtok, T) 3662
652 – 4(3): Iqaluit Hydroelectric Project (Angnakak) 3664
653 – 4(3): Support for Non-decentralized Communities (Mapsalak) 3666
654 – 4(3): Baffin Island Caribou Management (Keyootak) 3668
655 – 4(3): Nunavut Food Security Coalition (Enook) 3669
656 – 4(3): Addressing Nunavut’s Need for Inuit Teachers (Joanasie) 3670
657 – 4(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Coordination within Departments (Okalik) 3673
018 – 4(3): Bill 19, Unlawful Property Forfeiture Act (Sammurtok, T) 3674
019 – 4(3): Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act (Sammurtok, T) 3675
266 – 4(3): Excerpt from the 2014 Annual Report of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (Okalik) 3675
267 – 4(3): FPT Ministers of Health Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, October 17 to 18, 2016 (Hickes) 3675
268 – 4(3): FPT Forum of Labour Market Ministers, Quebec City, October 14, 2016 (Mike) 3675
269 – 4(3): Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan Annual Report, December 31, 2015 (Savikataaq) 3676
044 – 4(3): Extension of Review Period for Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act – Notice (Sammurtok, T) 3676
Bill 34 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2017-2018 – Family Services – Consideration in Committee 3677
Speaker (Hon. George Qulaut) (interpretation): Mr. Emiliano Qirngnuq, can you say the opening prayer, please.
Minister’s Statement 262 – 4(3): Uqausiit Pinnguarutiit (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good day” to the residents of my community, my fellow Inuit, and my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to share with my fellow members that there is an interactive Inuktitut language application for tablets and smart phones aimed at helping early readers.
This application is called Uqausiit Pinnguarutiit.
Mr. Speaker, this application, or more well known as “app,” is designed to work on tablets and smart phones operating on iTunes and Android platforms, and computer web browsers.
Uqausiit Pinnguarutiit helps preschool readers learn Inuktitut.
Mr. Speaker, early learning is the foundation of lifelong literacy.
Uqausiit Pinnguarutiit captures the interest of preschoolers and gives them a head start in developing their Inuktitut language skills.
Mr. Speaker, Uqausiit Pinnguarutiit exposes preschool children to both Roman orthography and syllabics.
To support this important work, my department is developing additional modules. To promote the use of this app, my department is developing Twitter messages and a slider for my department’s website.
Mr. Speaker, this application is available for free in various app stores and I encourage Nunavummiut to download it to their phones, tablets, and computers.
Mr. Speaker, improving literacy outcomes has been and will continue to remain a priority for my department, and I ask my fellow members to help us increase public awareness on Uqausiit Pinnguarutiit.
Minister’s Statement 263 – 4(3): National Social Work Month (Mike)
Good day, Nunavummiut and residents of my community.