EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Maybe I wasn’t clear in asking my question.
Are the employees who coordinate appointments in Winnipeg employed by the Government of Nunavut or not?
In June of 2016 there was a nurse manager for the Kivalliq Inuit Services who was hired to supervise and coordinate patient referral activities in Winnipeg and that is through the Kivalliq Development Corporation.
I have been informed on a number of occasions that medical clients have not been informed that their appointments were cancelled.
They travel all the way to Winnipeg only to find out that they have to turn around and go home again.
No one informed them of the changes.
Will the minister commit to looking into this issue and ensuring that there are enough staff in Winnipeg to properly organize and coordinate health services for medical clients from Nunavut?
When I was made aware of instances like this when I took over the Department of Health almost exactly four months ago, there were some processes in place through software, MEDITECH specifically, that has been rolling into different communities phasing in.
Recently the Rankin Inlet office went online, which looks after a lot of the medical travel for the Kivalliq.
In the first week when I toured the facility in Rankin Inlet a few weeks ago, the first week online they discovered five errors that were caught.
Already there are steps being taken to address the member’s concern.
While I have this opportunity I want to stress the importance of when we’re dealing with medical travel, it is a large component of our budget with the Department of Health.
Along with my senior executive, my deputy minister, and all staff members at Health, we’re taking this very seriously.
The members are all aware that there has been a tradition of coming back for supplementary appropriations to deal with medical travel and I’m looking at ways along with the department to streamline processes.
This MEDITECH software is going to be a very large component of that to address any errors that are made with scheduling.
I am very optimistic that going forward, we can reduce the number of incidents such as the member has brought forward.
With that, I am committing that we’re going to make advances with the medical travel process and reduce any errors that are accompanied with that.
Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit-Sinaa, Mr. Okalik.
Question 464 – 4(3): English-only Telephone Survey (Okalik)
I would like to direct my question to this minister, albeit he is sitting next to me, but it seems I haven’t queried him for quite some time. This question is for the Minister responsible for QEC.
Reports are surfacing from constituents that southern-based callers are calling residents about the utilities entirely in English only related to QEC.
I wonder if the minister has been informed about this survey being conducted.
Did he receive a briefing on what the purpose of this survey is where southern-based callers are asking questions about QEC?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Mr. Mike.
Our office has not heard about the issue the member raised.
When we hear such things, it seems useless.
The minister is responsible to know about these issues, particularly when callers call from southern centres on any utility-related surveys.
If notice had been provided beforehand, perhaps there would have been less confusion about the truthfulness of what we use.
Furthermore, the callers were asking questions only in English, with no person able to speak Inuktitut.
I wonder if the fact that our constituents who are unilingual is not a cause for concern for those running the energy corporation.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Mr. Johnny Mike.
Actually I have no idea what the member is referencing when speaking about phone calls and what the purpose of the calls are, as he only mentioned QEC.
Is the survey about QEC or is it related to other utility companies pretending to be from QEC?
In regard to the subject of these calls, I can’t respond without understanding the background.
Speaker (interpretation): Your final supplementary, Mr. Okalik.
I believe the minister can request the information rather quickly.
I am expecting a report on this matter in the House on what the purpose of the calls are for, as these southern callers are paid by QEC. Perhaps they can provide that information tomorrow on what the purpose of these calls are.
Minister responsible for the Energy Corporation, Mr. Johnny Mike.
With respect to the question my colleague is asking, I finally understand what he is talking about when referencing callers.
Anyone can call residents in Nunavut and I was actually thinking of the telephone spammers, such as the Visa payment scammers.
I thought that was what he was talking about, but it was another set of calls.
Yes, I will look into this survey, as I finally understood his question, and I will be able to provide that information tomorrow.
Question 465 – 4(3): Inuit Language Implementation Fund (Angnakak)
My question is for the Minister of Languages.
As the minister is well aware, a number of sections of the Inuit Language Protection Act are not yet in force, including sections 3 to 5, 9, and 10.
Can the minister indicate when the government plans to bring these sections of the Inuit Language Protection Act into force?
Minister of Languages, Mr. George Kuksuk.
I haven’t heard when it will come into force, so (interpretation ends) I will take that as notice and get back to the member.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The hon. minister has taken this as notice.
I shall proceed on to the next person. (interpretation) Oral Questions. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet North (interpretation) and Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Tom Sammurtok.
Question 466 – 4(3): Tank Farm Renovations (Sammurtok, T)
(interpretation ends) As the minister is aware, the retail price of fuel is determined according to a number of components, including actual product cost, actual transportation cost, commissions for local fuel sales, dispensing and delivery services, operations and maintenance expenses, product evaporation or shrinkage, and taxes.
As the minister is also aware, his department is undertaking a territory-wide capital project to renovate Nunavut’s tank farms in order to bring them into compliance with federal regulations.
Can he indicate if the renovations being made to tank farms across Nunavut will have any effect on the fuel prices in our communities?
He is absolutely correct that it’s quite a process to get the final costs of our petroleum products done.
As for his question on whether all upgrades to the tank farms and the capacity increases will have a bearing on the price of the fuel, no, they will not.
The tank farm upgrades and the tank farm expansions are done through our normal capital planning process.
The price of fuel is not affected by the capital planning process.
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Can the minister indicate if his department has begun purchasing petroleum products for Nunavut communities for 2017 and, if not, when does his department intend to begin making these purchases?
No, we haven’t started the process of purchasing fuel yet. In fact some of this fuel has been pumped off very recently. We’re all just topped up for this coming winter year.
We will be doing a purchase again some time this winter.
We purchase different fuel products at different times.
The one fuel that we will probably purchase at the earliest will be for gasoline because we buy winter-grade gasoline for Nunavut and that has to be purchased in the winter, not our winter but winter from farther south.
We will be purchasing it this winter and this spring. We actually purchased some of the P50 in the summer. It’s purchased at different times.
We have issues with storage; we can only buy so much.
To answer his question, we have not purchased any fuel for this upcoming year yet.
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) On December 21, 2015 the department issued a news release stating that prices in Nunavut for both diesel and gasoline would go down by 10 cents per litre in all Nunavut communities starting on January 1, 2016.
In that news release, the minister stated that the department was able to reduce the prices of diesel and gasoline for 2016 as a direct result of the efforts made by his department to make an early purchase of petroleum products in the face of volatile global fuel prices.
Mr. Speaker, a simple yes will suffice for my last question.
Can the minister indicate if his department has any plans to reduce fuel prices in Nunavut communities in 2017?
An Hon. Member: That’s a good question.
Unfortunately I can’t answer that with a yes.
He didn’t say yes or no.
He said yes. I can’t answer that because as he stated earlier, there are many factors that go into figuring out what the price of fuel will be.
We don’t have a crystal ball right now in front of us to figure what the price of fuel might be.
Another factor that comes into play is our Canadian dollar. We don’t know what our Canadian dollar will be doing if we purchase with our Canadian dollar.
As of right now, no, I can’t give the member an answer one way or the other.
There are so many factors that come into getting the final price of fuel and once we have made the purchases, which would be in the winter and spring, all factors will be looked at again.
As of right now, I can’t give the member any answer at all.
Bills 20, 22, 23, and 24 with Mr. Mikkungwak in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:17 and Committee resumed at 15:42
In Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: Bill 20, Bill 22, Bill 23, and Bill 24.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with the review of Bill 24 and the capital estimates for the Department of Education, followed by Nunavut Arctic College.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 24 with the Department of Education?
Yes, I would like to have officials here with me.
For the record, minister, please introduce your officials. Mr. Quassa.
Sitting to my left is (interpretation ends) Deputy Minister Kathy Okpik, (interpretation) and to my right is Barry Cornthwaite, Manager of Capital Projects for the Department of Education.
Members, we’re on page G-3. (interpretation ends) Education.
Corporate Services. (interpretation) Following my list of names, Mr. Akoak.
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, Nunavummiut and my community of Gjoa Heaven.
Yesterday my colleagues talked about attendance and we were talking about buses. When we do get buses, I believe the attendance at the schools increase and our children come to school more.
I believe that’s what happens.
My colleague, Mr. Rumbolt, talked about vandalism also in that area.
I’m just wondering: when we do get buses in the communities and if there’s vandalism within the schools or its equipment, have you ever thought about getting buildings to put the buses in other than the hamlet garages and that? When I talk with the hamlet, they’re getting more and more vehicles and I think they do need the space.
I’m wondering if any topics have ever come up to house a vehicle such as a bus.
If a community requests a bus, the district education authority has to identify what kind of a bus it’s going to be, who will be responsible for it, and what types of services are available to service the bus.
What we do as the Department of Education is look at how many students there are, how far the school is from the farthest point of the community, the maintenance of the bus, and if there is a garage or some kind of a shelter available to house the bus.
We also look at other purposes.
For example, if there are too many bears around in a particular community during the fall, then of course that would be a safety issue.
We look at those types of things when a request is made for a bus.
We’re just starting to hear about having some kind of garage or shelter in the community for the bus. That seems to be coming up more and more often.
We usually consult with the DEAs to see if there is a garage or shelter available for the bus.
This is the first time that we’re starting to hear more and more about shelters or parking garages for buses.
I do believe, when I met last with the DEA in Gjoa Heaven, they were going to send you a letter requesting a shelter for the bus.
I’m just wondering if you have received that one.
As I indicated earlier, we’re just starting to hear the issue about garages or shelters for buses.
We just recently received that letter from the Gjoa Haven District Education Authority.
We’re looking at it so that we can factor in all the other requirements.
The district education authorities consult with our staff and also with the capital projects manager sitting to my right on issues such as this if they would like to pursue it further.
As I indicated earlier, I just recently saw that correspondence from the Gjoa Haven DEA.
Barry Cornthwaite is the one you can talk to about these types of particulars.
In our community, the farthest from the school is usually about three-quarters of a mile and in each end as the school is in the middle of the community.
It gets pretty cold.
The cold season is coming and they will need the bus to be operational.
Vandalism was mentioned yesterday. Once we leave something outside nowadays, we cannot keep it unprotected. Otherwise they’re going to be losing windows and stuff like that.
That’s why I’m asking if you will be considering getting garages for these buses.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the member.
As I stated earlier, the person to my right can talk with the district education authority.
I would like to reiterate that that’s not only the case in Gjoa Haven.
There are quite a number of communities that don’t mind having the bus outside as long as there is an outdoor plug available, for example, Arctic Bay, Pangnirtung, Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Cambridge Bay, and Taloyoak.
Those communities keep their buses outside.
Sometimes they get those buses because of safety issues and the buses are usually kept outside of the teachers’ residences or the RCMP buildings as long as there is a plug outside.
They factor in all of these safety issues.
As I indicated earlier, we’re getting more and more enquiries about those types of shelters. Please be aware that they’re not in our capital plan, but the DEA can start discussions with Barry Cornthwaite if they are concerned about that.
There are other communities that keep the buses outside, and I know exactly what my colleague’s concern is.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to first ask the minister about his Minister’s Statement earlier today. He talked about the school in Cape Dorset and the five modular classrooms.
If I remember correctly, we set aside $5 million for that.
I would like to know if all those monies were used for those modular classrooms in Cape Dorset.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank my colleague for requesting that information.
Yes, that figure he referred to is correct.
We requested that amount, but right underneath, we expended close to $4 million for the five portable classrooms.
Is it possible for him to give us the accurate numbers, even if it’s outside the House?
I am very pleased that the students won’t have to go to school in shifts now, which will make it a lot easier for everyone.
Those modular buildings will be put to very good use.
The schools usually have equipment, which I assume would be under small capital.
With the $4 million that he identified, classrooms usually require desks and computers and with the Peter Pitseolak School assets, I’m sure that you have to supply equipment to those modular buildings.
Are those included in the $4 million that you mentioned?
The monies that were set aside for the five modular buildings include desks, computers, and other equipment that is required in a classroom. We expended some of that money for all equipment that’s required for those buildings.
They’re all included in that amount that I mentioned.
The minister is also aware that the outdoor playground had to be removed in order to make room for those five modular buildings.
What kinds of plans does your department have on the outdoor playground, which had to be removed to bring in the modular buildings? Would they also fall under the small capital or ongoing lifecycle projects? That’s my question.
I can also tell the member that the outdoor playground that he was referring is now being constructed.
It’s almost completed and it’s also being funded from that amount that I mentioned. It’s under the same fund.
It’s being constructed as we speak and I think the member is well aware that that’s where we’re at now.
I also thank the minister for his proper response.
Concerning the new school that is planned, under his Minister’s Statement, he stated that the design contract has been awarded to a company.
It states, (interpretation ends) “A design/build approach was approved for construction of the new school because it allows the builder to begin purchasing materials and supplies earlier and shorten the project delivery schedule.”
Will the department and maybe even other government departments be looking at design/build approaches from here on in? It says here that it shortens project delivery schedule and maybe saves costs.
We are pleased that we were able to do this because of its urgency in Cape Dorset.
I will be able to discuss the design/build approach with the Department of Community and Government Services.
It is the only way we can decide what best to do about it.
It seems the member’s question is better directed to CGS, but we are pleased that we were able to use that for Cape Dorset because of the shortness of time.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister.
I almost forgot the Department of Community and Government Services and I would like to thank them for putting up the modular classrooms and for doing an excellent job so far.
I just want to note that you are working with the Cape Dorset DEA and I know that in the past two weeks you were able to meet with them about this issue. It seems to have been quite productive.
As a result of meeting with the DEA, will you now be making changes to the design and build of the new school?
We were pleased about that meeting, particularly when it is an urgent issue in Cape Dorset. With respect to the design and build part of the project, I can discuss it with CGS to deal with that question.
I believe it is the only way we can have a productive partnership.
I believe the question is better directed to CGS, but nevertheless I am pleased we made progress on this issue in Cape Dorset, urgent as it is.
It was a very good process.
Can he tell us if they have identified the size of the new school in square metres?
The size of the planned school for Cape Dorset will be 4,382 square metres.
To compare it to others like the new high school in Naujaat, it is 3,828 square metres.
The size of the new school in Cape Dorset will be 4,382 square meters and it will be able to hold 229 students.
He has already responded to what I was going to ask on the capacity of the school.
He has already answered that, so I’m glad that I don’t need to ask it.
Moving on, anti-vandalism was mentioned. They have installed cameras in most of the schools, but other than that, has the Department of Education considered other security measures to prevent vandalism?
As we’re installing cameras in all of our schools, the new school in Cape Dorset will have security cameras.
However, to date we haven’t decided what else we will install, but if we recall, in Iqaluit we have initiated pilot projects in the schools.
We will take a look at what’s happening here and then we will consider ideas for other schools.
I want to reiterate that the portable classrooms in Cape Dorset will have security cameras.
Maybe I’m not being clear enough, but if there was space underneath and skirting is put in, it will prevent entry.
If there’s a space between the ground and the school, skirting is installed. That will be the case for the planned school in Cape Dorset.
At this time I just want to thank the Department of Education and Community and Government Services.
School was suspended temporarily to deal with many issues.
However, today it’s brighter now in the community of Cape Dorset when it concerns the school with the modular classrooms being in place.
We can expect a bigger new school in Cape Dorset and we look forward to its successful completion. I will be asking for updates from the government as time goes on. We will also want to be kept apprised of the project, including any unexpected surprises, positive and negative, as the project proceeds.
Prior to moving to my list of names, I wish to welcome all the residents of Igloolik who are visiting us in the gallery.
I just wanted some clarification on this issue. Many smaller communities don’t use school buses for transporting students and observing parents without vehicles braving the cold accompanying their children to school, some holding them by hand, others carrying them on their backs in the middle of winter. We observe parents do that in our communities.
I wonder if the bus prerequisite is based on the numbers of students.
Is there a threshold for the number of students required before a community qualifies for a bus?
I thank the member for pointing that out on how the buses in the community are acquired.
The district education authorities have to put in a request to us on their ability to get a bus. They are then put under consideration. As I stated earlier, they need a good reason and if they identify their reasons properly, we cannot refuse their request for a bus.
For instance, is the school too far for the students to walk to school in the cold?
There are different reasons that I have stated.
We haven’t had a request yet from Qikiqtarjuaq for a bus.
I just wanted to point that out to my colleague.
Which communities in the new fiscal year 2017-18 will be receiving buses?
In the 2016-17 school calendar year the communities that will be receiving new buses are Cape Dorset, Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven, and Whale Cove.
Those are the communities that will be receiving new buses in 2016-17.
I asked about this earlier in my request for clarification.
Do I understand that the community population figures are not used as a threshold? Is it dependent on the number of students? Can communities send a proposal to acquire a bus?
That is what I would like the minister to clarify.
As I stated before, when communities request buses, they follow the number of students, not the community.
We look at the number of students when a community is applying for a bus. I also stated that the DEAs are the ones that apply for a bus to our department, not the population of the community.
We use the numbers of students to get a bus. As I stated, they have to provide the reasoning why they want a bus.
I know that communities differ from other communities on safety issues, especially when bears wander into our community during the fall.
Bears come right into the middle of town and pose a threat to children going to school. It’s only by luck that there hasn’t been an incident.
Can this be added to the safety aspect in favour of a bus?
There are many things that constitute a safety issue. If there are too many bears, it is also considered a valid safety issue.
There are other factors that need to be considered such as if there is storage space for a bus, if qualified drivers are available, or would maintenance be there if repairs are needed.
Yes, there are a number of things that determine whether or not a bus will be approved, including safety from bears.
As I stated before, the DEAs are the ones that apply for a bus.
I encourage my colleagues to consult with their DEAs if the community wanted to get a bus.
Let me start off with busing services.
In thinking about the people who have physical disabilities, what kind of policy do you have for the communities to provide bus services for disabled people? Even if there is only one student, would you provide a bus for that student?