EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The task that we’ve been undertaking within the department was to look at ways of addressing community based health care wellness initiatives overall, not just in Clyde River, but rather, throughout Nunavut.
I looked at different models, like how we’ve dealt with community empowerment through hamlets, on accessing, or giving programs to them, or can we look at ways of supporting community based initiatives such as the one in Clyde River.
I personally believe that there is a lot of merit to models like that, but the challenge that I’m tasked with is to divide the functions of core healthcare programs such as the services provided by the Department of Health under legislation through the Public Health Act, through this Child Welfare Act and so on.
So, internally, within the last two months we’ve been trying to look at what our options are. Once I have those options, I have to then go forward to Cabinet to seek that approval for a base funding type model to be accessed by municipalities. So that’s where I’m at.
The information that the member made reference to around the audited information: we have that information.
I thank the community for providing that.
The programs that he made reference to, currently we continue to provide those programs through our main estimates. That funding comes from the federal government. We have to report those expenditures to the federal government.
At the same time, the communities that have accessed those programs have to report to us, but I’m trying to come up with a framework that can be used by other communities around those different levels of funding government funding agencies.
I will repeat my question: can the minister provide an update on what has been done since March 9, to assist the Ilisaqsivik Society accessing core funding; yes or no?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Arreak.
I think that question needs clarification itself, but however, I will allow the minister to respond to the original question and also the request for clarification.
I provided the update in my first response. Internally, the challenge is to set up and structure the organization to respond to community-based initiatives, initiatives as described by my colleague.
That is the challenge that I am tasked with and I am looking at what options we have to set up the framework.
The funding of our core is a challenge because the funding currently used by the community is federal funding.
They are not Government of Nunavut funding, so we need to set up the process and structure in such a way that we factor those in, funding sources and so on.
That is why I am not responding directly to the community.
As of yet, we have not talked to the community, but internally we are looking at those options.
I apologize, that was his final question.
Question 298 – 2(3): Alternative Energy for Nunavut (Barnabas)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Energy.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Energy has talked about helping the energy. Nunavut has five times the national average.
What are the plans for alternative energy in Nunavut?
Minister responsible for Energy, Mr. Picco.
Mr. Speaker, the member is correct. The power corporation is looking at opportunities for alternative energy.
That alternative energy includes hydro that we have spoken about here in the House, and also involves looking at opportunities for wind. There are issues with the synchronization of wind turbines with our diesel plants, and that is something that we are working on.
So there are other alternative energy sources for example wind, we are looking at opportunities for hydro; we are looking at re-heat within our plants themselves.
Do we, in Nunavut, have capacity for large solar power?
Mr. Speaker, some jurisdictions, especially in Europe, had been able to access title power. This morning, as an example, I had an opportunity to speak with the Dutch consulate general from the Netherlands on issues around alternative energy in Europe.
Here in Nunavut, Mr. Speaker, although we have very high tides in different areas in Hudson’s Bay, as well as for here in Iqaluit, and in Pangnirtung. We only have access to the area for about six months of the year because of the continuous ice.
There are logistic issues to workout. There may not be the economies of scale to be able to go into full title power as we have seen in some other jurisdictions. The best alternative that we see right now on the horizon is the opportunity with hydro.
An example, Mr. Speaker, would be if we had a hydro plant in Iqaluit right now at the present time we could eliminate over 13 million litres of diesel fuel being purchased every year to supply the diesel energy plants.
Let me say, Mr. Speaker, for the record that the most un-costly effective way of producing electricity is through diesel and we need to move away from that.
Could the minister give an opportunity for some of the members to go see wind generated energy or other alternative sources of energy outside of Canada so we can see them first hand?
I apologize to the member earlier. I thought the member had said tidal power and I think indeed he had said solar power.
Mr. Speaker, we’re not looking at the opportunities, if I may very quickly, with solar. Again, economies of scale don’t allow for the full injection of solar to be used throughout Nunavut.
There are other alternatives that we would be able to look at.
On the question the member just asked regarding an opportunity to see some of the sites, we have been invited to visit the cape project in P.E.I., the largest wind project in Canada, by the minister who was actually here in Iqaluit last year.
That is something that we’re following up, and if I confirm a site visit to the North Cape, I will inform the members, if they would be interested in actually seeing this site.
I should add Mr. Speaker that the minister from P.E.I. has been very proactive in asking for Nunavut’s wishes with regard to wind energy, and opportunities to work with the P.E.I. Government in having some capacity with wind generation in Nunavut.
Is the minister or the Government of Nunavut going to be asking for additional funds from the federal government because we have a very high cost of energy for operations and maintenance?
Speaker (interpretation): For you information, that was your final supplementary.
The member touches on a very important point, and that is; what we’re seeing the world economy right now with the price of oil.
We see it at over $70 a barrel U.S.
I said earlier, in Nunavut we have an addiction to oil and to diesel. So, we are looking at the opportunities in the market place.
As Minister of Energy I’ve had an opportunity to speak to my colleague, the Hon. Rona Ambrose, as well as the Natural Resources Canada Minister, Mr. Lund, in Regina two weeks ago about opportunities with our federal partner. That is something that we’ve been following up; as has the Premier had discussions with Mr. Harper again around the same areas.
I can say Mr. Speaker, that the Canadian dollar right now is at the highest it has been, and when you’re purchasing fuel on the open market, on the world open market, and the stock market, that is a good thing for us because we’re paying in Canadian dollars when usually prices are in American dollars.
That exchange rate will help Nunavut.
At the same time, I know that the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Petroleum Products are continually looking at the opportunities that are there for price comparisons.
So the government is moving in that direction.
Question 299 – 2(3): Provision of Services for Elder Care (Tootoo)
I’m sure you will recall, during the Leadership Review, I was asking her some questions in relation to the provision of services for the Elders’ Society that had run the boarding home and the elders’ centre here in Iqaluit.
I’m just wondering if the minister is aware of what types of agreements are in place with the Elders’ Society to administer these and run these facilities for the Department of Health and Social Services.
From what I understand, the Elders’ Society runs boarding home as well as the elders’ centre I believe.
Mr. Speaker, I believe I had indicated that in my question, but my question was: is the minister aware of what type of arrangement is in place between the Elders’ Society and the Department of Health and Social Services to run these two facilities?
Are they contracts or service arrangements? What type of an agreement does the department have with the Elders’ Society to run those facilities for them?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From what I understand, there is a service arrangement for the boarding home, and the service that is required for that is to assist the people that are staying at the boarding home, bringing them to and from appointments, from the airport to the center and back, providing meals and so on.
As far as the elders’ center, the service arrangement is to process the individuals that reside there, and I do not know if that is a question the member is referring to, but as far as I know, that is a home care type arrangement for the elders’ center.
What kind of contract is in place between the Department of Health and Social Services and the Elders’ Society, to run those facilities?
Maybe that makes it a little bit more clearly for the minister to be able to respond to.
As far as I know, those facilities would operate under a service contract.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Aglukkaq. Mr. Tootoo, your final supplementary.
It is too bad that I have to keep asking the same question two or three times to finally get an answer.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated that there is a service agreement in place with the Elders’ Society.
I understand in the past where that agreement has not been sufficient to cover the costs of providing those services, and specifically with the elders’ center that the department has covered off the cost of the deficit to the Elders’ Society for operating that program.
I know the Elders’ Society is a non-profit organization made up of elders here in Iqaluit, and I am just wondering if that practice is still being continued, so that if an agreement that was done.
I think it was almost eight years ago, and it hasn’t been changed since then, is not sufficient.
Will the department still continue to assist and provide the Elders’ Society additional funding to cover off operating losses, and running the elders’ group home and costs that exceed the service agreement that is in place?
Mr. Speaker, just a bit of background, in Committee of the Whole back in March, we had a discussion around the facilities that we operate through contract services throughout Nunavut.
During that time I made the commitment to evaluating the level of services and funding provided to all the facilities that are operated by service providers on behalf of the government, that work is underway.
As it relates to the specific centers here, we have had over 20 formal and informal meetings with the elders’ centre to talk about some of the pressure points that they are dealing with, whether it be training of the staff that are there, to providing services to the elders or whether it be funding, or looking at what services are actually provided and developing some forms of standard.
That work continues to be in place, and in fact, we
had hired a nurse that has done extensive training of the staff in the facility. We are also looking at the funding sources.
So there are a number of initiatives on the way, not just here, but with other centers that we provide service to or contract to provide this type of service.
Question 300 – 2(3): Road and Port Project in the Kitikmeot (Peterson)
Mr. Speaker, last week the minister during the Leadership Review mentioned that he had met with his federal counterpart Minister Cannon and discussed Bathurst Inlet Port and Road project in Kitikmeot.
I read recently an article in the Nunatsiaq News about a Nunavut Awareness Day that occurred last month in Ottawa, where some Nunavut Ministers were down there to raise awareness about Nunavut.
Could the Minister confirm for me that the Bathurst Inlet Port and Road project was part of the Government of Nunavut’s ‘Nunavut Awareness Day’ Strategy that was held in Ottawa last month?
Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Mr. Akesuk.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Yes, we fully support the important role in the mining activities that are happening in the other regions. We would also like to work closely with them in regard to the road and port, in regard to the mining activities around there.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister.
I believe I can conclude from his answer that he met with Mr. Cannon, as part of the Government of Nunavut Strategy, ‘Nunavut Awareness Day.’
Mr. Speaker, there is no secret that we have been working on this project in the Kitikmeot for years, probably 12 years we have been trying to get the Government of Nunavut to support us.
They say they do, we hear there is a lobbying at the federal level, meeting with ministers and senior officials. But, in the Kitikmeot, it is not apparent that any movement is occurring in Ottawa.
My question for the minister is: can the minister clarify for the House exactly what message the Government of Nunavut has conveyed to the federal government in terms of seeking their support for the Bathurst port and road development in the Kitikmeot?
We try to have a very close working relationship with the federal government and to keep our dialogue open. We look at ways and means of how we can get these projects going and it’s still the case today.
We have to make sure the roads project goes ahead because I am sure it will be very beneficial to the outlying communities.
I will keep working on it and when I had a meeting with my counterpart, I touched it a bit, because it was a short meeting.
At the next meeting or when I see him again, I will make sure that this issue comes up again.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, thank you Minister.
The minister is saying there has been a lot of lobbying; the Government of Nunavut has done a lot of lobbying. I was wondering if the minister could commit himself to accompany a group from Kitikmeot to travel to Ottawa in the fall to make presentations to Minister Cannon and other officials that outlines the strategic value of the Bathurst Port and Road project to Nunavut and to the country of Canada.
Yes, if Mr. Cannon would be available, I am more than willing to bring a delegation, even from people from the Kivalliq, in regard to the Manitoba road and other things that we need to work on within Nunavut.
Yes, I will try to work with them, but I need more information from him as to how we can deal with it in the fall time with Mr. Cannon.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Peterson.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for that commitment.
I was encouraged by his words that he’d like to lead a delegation over. That’s good news. I will report that back to the Kitikmeot.
Wolfden Resources has been making a lot of noise recently with their announcement of the construction of an all weather road to support their mining operation in the Kitikmeot. My question for the minister is: can he commit to this House that the Government of Nunavut has not made the Bathurst Inlet Road and Port Project less of a strategic priority
in the Kitikmeot because of Wolfden Resources various public announcements?
There are different mining companies within Nunavut. We have to treat every mining company equally and acknowledge their wants.
The Bathurst Inlet Road and Port Project; we will be working with them the same way.
I’m not trying to have a preference as to which should go first, whether if it’s an access road or a port.
We want to utilize the funding the best way that we can and we have to look at different things. What I want to do is that I want to treat everybody the same.
Question 301 – 2(3): Safe Harbour for Arviat (Alagalak)
My question is directed to the minister responsible for boat shelter facilities, Minister Akesuk.
This is in regard to the many boats that had been destroyed in Arviat in 2004.
You know what a safe harbour is; it’s to park the boats or canoes so they won’t get damaged, where they won’t be destroyed. In Arviat we don’t have such a thing.
You know that we have to pull up our boats if they are not being used.
I would like to ask the minister is I have been told every year that this will be worked on. What has been done up to date on this one because the residents of Arviat want to know?
We have been trying to work on this since I became the minister with the Department of Transportation.
I can inquire about it more.
There are some communities where they don’t have any breakwaters.
I can look into this and find out exactly where those breakwaters are and where if they are to make safe harbours because I am not too clear as to what it is in Arviat.
I have to further discuss in regard to safe harbours and I will check into this further.
There are still a lot of statements and concerns that were brought up, and those records are there and they have to be checked. The other ministers, whether the minister changed or not, are still there in our area.
The currents are quite strong.
I wonder why they are just listening to it and not concerned because they destroy Hondas or vehicles. The Arviat residents constantly bring about their concerns in regard to this.
I wonder why this is not being worked on.
As we probably know we have to have funding and we have talked with the federal government in regard to $48 million for marine infrastructure. I have talked with my officials as to how we can bring about the breakwaters or small craft harbours for all the communities in Nunavut.
As I stated earlier, there are some communities where they do not have any safe harbours.
I will diligently work hard on this and also I asked the federal government if they can give us more funding to be used in the communities for the breakwaters or safe harbours.
In other communities in other centers in Canada, they have very nice looking harbours.
Yes I will ask the federal government as to how else they can assist us, when this is very important.
Your second supplementary, Member for Arviat, Mr. Alagalak.
I wonder if he can write correspondence to those hamlets and communities that he will definitely do something and there is always funding available in regard to that because it should be dealt with in an urgency basis.
So I wonder if you can commit to write correspondence to the hamlet councils and your officials so that they can look into this further, especially to the community of Arviat.
Yes, as I stated earlier, I will bring this up to my federal counterparts and mention that this is for the whole of Nunavut, not just for one community in regard to safe harbours.
Member for Sanikiluaq, Mr. Kattuk.
Question 302 – 2(3): Polar Bear Study and Global Warming (Kattuk)
As I stated under Members’ Statements I will be raising questions in regard to the Minister of Environment.
In regard to the polar bears, we all know that they cannot live in a warmer climate and we know now in our communities in Nunavut with global warming, they might go to a cooler area or search for a cooler place for them to be. I wonder if this has been checked into to make sure that they are not moving to different areas of Nunavut.
Can you indicate which minister you wish to direct this to so we’ll know?
To the Minister of Environment.
Minister responsible for Environment, Mr. Netser.
I don’t think there has been a study done yet on the effects of global warming on polar bears. (interpretation ends) My department is currently working in partnership with several stake-holders to develop a Nunavut-wide climate change adaptation plan.
Will there be a study done to find out how global warming will affect the polar bears.
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): The Department of Environment believes that with global warming (interpretation ends) they may be benefiting from climate change which is in my report from my briefing.
I’m just asking whether the communities will be involved when they are doing studies on global warming that will have an affect on polar bears.
It’s a lot easier to ask questions, but yes, we have a big concern about our polar bear population. We want to be able to do it any way we can to try and protect our polar bears.
Oral Questions. Member for Akulliq, Mr. Mapsalak.
Question 303 – 2(3): Staff Housing for Teachers (Mapsalak)
My question is to the Minister of Education, Minister Picco.
I asked the Housing Minister a question in regard to the new teachers that are arriving to the community. There is no staff housing available for two of them.
There are no empty units whatsoever in Repulse Bay.
Can the minister check or work with the Housing Minister to make sure that those individuals will have adequate staff housing?
We work very closely with the Housing Corporation.
As members are aware, all responsibility for government staff housing units has been turned over to the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
We ascertain as a department, in request to the Housing Corporation on units that may or may not be available in a given community, and then we try to ascertain what we can do to facilitate housing for those staff people.
I am aware of the situation in the community that the member is talking and I believe there may be some good news on the horizon, but I haven’t gotten a confirmation of that at this time.
I would like to thank the minister also.
It is clear now that many employees were coming from down south and now we are very much in shortage of staff housing. According to what I hear this is what I say.
Could the minister support the Inuit teachers? There are quite a few teachers who work in the education field but the training programs for Inuit teachers is offered elsewhere outside of their communities but these Inuit teachers would like to further their training at
the local level. That way we won’t need staff housing. Could the minister support those kinds of initiatives in the smaller communities?
One of the biggest successes that we’ve had has been supporting local teachers at the community level to take programs to qualify them for teaching in the school. A good example of that was just now in Arviat this past weekend when we attended the graduation there with the NTEP students taking the teaching program at the local level.
I can entertain a proposal from the community to look at opportunities for an NTEP training program. We’re running them on an annual basis in different communities.
Again, the communities that are selected to run the program, as the member has indicated, have to have housing for instructors that may have to come to teach the program, as well as some of the other logistics that may be involved at the community, and the number of students for capacity for the program.
So that is something that we can look at if a request comes forward from the community.
Question 304 – 2(3): Update on the Gun Legislation (Arreak)
Prior to the general election for the federal government he stated that he will be able to respond after the election in regard to the gun legislation in Canada.
I was wondering if the Premier can update us on this issue that we get confused on.
Does the Premier have a good update in regard to the gun legislation for Nunavummiut?
Yes, I met with all the federal party leaders. We have a new government, but they still have not caught up with the legislation.
I met with the party leaders and I asked them to be supportive on removing this legislation. They were softening their positions but one of them was quite difficult. Perhaps this coming fall we’ll be able to review this further.
They will have to vote on it, all the Members of Parliament.
So that’s what I had told the party leaders so I had asked them to at least leave it up to the discretion of their representatives.
They were quite open of this but there were small amendments to that operation of the registry. They only made amendment to the procedure but the bill has not been voted on at the Parliament yet. So that’s what we’ll have to deal with again.
I have told our MP to support the deletion or the removal of the gun legislation.