EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Yes, once we compile the information for this, after this fiscal year, I willing to table that information.
I am wondering if the minister would also commit to putting it in the same format as that written response of March 21, 2003.
We will try and produce it in the best way possible.
Question 249 – 2(2): Passports Be Made Available in Nunavut
I have a question in regard to passport photos and I would like to direct it to Mr. Picco. (interpretation ends) Will the minister update this House on the efforts to have passports available in Nunavut?
The process right now for passports in Nunavut is similar to other jurisdictions in the country, that federal government offices make available passports.
In some cases, the post office has passport applications.
That’s the process for the facilitation of getting a passport.
You have to pick up an application, you have to fill it out.
That’s the process that is in place right now.
Speaker (interpretation): First supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
Can the minister ask the federal government to see if they can establish a Nunavut base, whether it be in Rankin Inlet or Cambridge Bay or Iqaluit, to have an office in Nunavut.
We’ve had an opportunity to talk, our federal partners and myself as the minister of immigration, over the last couple of years.
There is an indication from the federal government that they’re looking at the process of having what we call a service centre set up through HRDC.
It is my understanding, at some point, maybe in the not too-distant future, that there will be an opportunity to have passport services provided and facilitated through these types of service centre offices in Nunavut.
Can the minister of immigration consult with the Honorable Pierre Pettigrew on this ongoing issue about passport photographs?
As I committed in the House earlier…. Again, I want to appreciate the member bringing it up.
I know the story has been picked up in the national media, and indeed I believe some of the members actually have been asked by national media, like newspapers, to be interviewed on it.
I have been in touch with Minister Pettigrew’s office, as I said here in the House.
We are in the middle of trying to set up a meeting with Mr. Pettigrew some time in the near future.
Again, the House is sitting right now, so it would be a very difficult time for the members or ministers to travel, so it will be after the session, and, again, depending on Mr. Pettigrew’s schedule.
So, we are in the process of doing that.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): As Canadians, we can ask directly our Prime Minister.
I wonder if the minister can bring this up with our Prime Minister.
Yes, if there is an opportunity in the coming days, we would raise it. I know that some members have spoken to the Prime Minister, Paul Martin, on many occasions and we had an opportunity to visit with him here last year.
I believe the Premier also has an opportunity to speak with the Prime Minister.
If I’m speaking to Prime Minister Paul Martin in the next couple of weeks, then I will certainly raise the issue of the passports with Paul, Prime Minister Martin.
I’m sure that he would be welcoming that type of topic concerning Nunavut in regard to our federal partners.
Question 250 – 2(2): Policy on Piloting
I asked this question before to the minister of transportation.
I would like to ask the question again.
It’s very hard and very scary when there is only one pilot flying the planes.
Has he talked to the appropriate airlines about that?
My colleague wrote me a letter in this regard.
I have received it and written a response already.
I will look forward to his response.
I didn’t think there were anymore hands, but the Member for Iqaluit Centre, Mr. Tootoo.
Question 251 – 2(2): Implementing a Transportation Strategy
In the budget address, the Minister of Finance indicated that one of the top two priorities of that department would be to implement the transportation strategy.
I’m just wondering if the minister could give us an idea of the what the top priorities are that they’re looking at in implementing that strategy.
What we’re doing is we’re looking at all the transportation systems, including the airlines, sea transportation, and ground transportation.
I had a meeting with the federal government’s minister of transportation and they seem to be in support of our endeavors.
So, what we’ve been doing is meeting with them to discuss all aspects of transportation.
I know one of the things, if I recall correctly, in that strategy was to try and work towards a dominant carrier, whether it be through the sea or air.
I guess that’s the only two areas that we have to work with in that area.
I know that over the last five years, all the carriers, whether it be by water or by air, have indicated that they want to participate in an open marketplace where competition is there and fair for everybody.
I also believe the consumer benefits from a competitive marketplace.
So, I’m just wondering what the plans are in that specific area for the government in that department.
I also believe that it is very important to have a good transportation system, because I have had my own business before and I believe in open and fair competition myself.
I have always held that position.
Those different transportation services that are provided for us will have to be dealt with soon.
I know one of the other issues facing our transportation area is in the costs that they encounter, and as the minister indicated, he will be meeting with his federal counterpart on the fees and tariffs that shipping companies have to pay on things.
I’m just wondering if those costs and those fees are set federally and we have no control over that.
Is that something that the minister will address with his federal colleague, to try and identify some of those fees that shippers here are forced to pay, that may not be relevant to this area and are added costs to the main consumer of those services, which is the government and the rest of Nunavutmiut.
I had actually said that I had already met with the federal transport minister, and will be meeting with him again very shortly.
The issue of tariffs that are paid by the shipping industry is something that we have been working on.
I have already written letters on it, and we will be meeting with the federal minister again in the very near future, and I will be raising my exact same issue again with him, and hopefully, we will find some ways to start exempting the northern shippers from tariffs they have to pay in southern Canada.
I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the minister in approaching that and working towards that because we are the ones that pay for it.
My follow-up question: will he meet with representatives from the northern shippers to try and more eloquently be able to outline their position to his federal counterpart?
Hon. David Simailak: No, I have not actually met with the northern shippers yet, but I did receive correspondence from some of the northern shippers, which resulted in me writing the letter to the federal minister regarding the tariffs that they have to pay.
But, yes, I would be more than willing to meeting with them, at their leisure, whenever they are available to discuss any and all transportation issues.
Question 252 – 2(2): Development in Arctic Bay Update
I will direct my question to the minister responsible for economic development.
Mr. Speaker, there was a development corporation that was started out by the people of Arctic Bay, and I know that the minister has had a meeting with them.
What is being done by his department in this regard?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister for economic development, Mr. Simailak.
After I had a meeting with them in Arctic Bay, when I got back to Iqaluit, we looked at what they wanted to do.
So, what we are doing right now is working with the people of Arctic Bay, for them to go and talk with the people of Rankin Inlet to see their development corporation and to learn first-hand about what they do.
So, it’s ongoing at this time.
Like I said, it’s very expensive to travel between communities.
If that group wants to go to Rankin Inlet to see first-hand what they are doing at that development corporation, can their fare be paid?
When I met with the development corporation in Arctic Bay, I told them that I would work on their behalf and that they would be able to go to the Kivalliq region, not just to Rankin Inlet.
The only thing that is slowing us down is trying to find some funding for that.
Question 253 – 2(2): Tabling of Status of Women Recommendations
My question is for the minister of health and it follows her member’s statement yesterday on International Women’s Day.
Mr. Speaker, last year, the Qulliq Status of Women Council gave a report to the minister that contained a number of recommendations.
I am asking the minister: has the government formally responded to those recommendations, and if so, will she table the response in the House?
In the minister’s statement, she mentioned that the hard work of the council is one source of information that the government relies on in the formulation of policy and legislation.
As we know, violence against women is a serious issue that demands our full support and attention to overcome. My question to the minister: what policies and legislation is the government working on to address the issue of violence against women?
The policy and the legislation are being dealt with by my staff at this time.
It’s good to know that the department is working on some policies.
I look forward to seeing them when they’re ready.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister: does the minister’s department have in place a tracking or reporting process to track incidents of violence against women, to monitor whether the trend is increasing or decreasing in Nunavut?
Those are very good questions and I thank the member for asking them.
Yes, we have a tracking system.
From 1999 to this date, there are quite a few; it’s increasing.
It is very disturbing, in that answer, that the trend is increasing.
As you know, crisis shelters in Nunavut don’t exist in all communities, and where they do, they are chronically under-funded.
My question for the minister: what is her department doing to help develop crisis shelters in all communities to help women escape from violent situations in their communities?
I also thank the member for raising those questions.
Yes, our department has worked very hard.
The various communities do different awareness activities; for example, in Iqaluit, we organized a walk.
There are also different activities in other communities.
Yes, we need to stop the violence against women.
We work very hard and men are starting to support us.
We stand together against violence against women.
Yes, we are starting to do a lot of work in regards to this.
Question 254 – 2(2): Undershipment of Fuel Products
My question is directed to the minister responsible for lubricants and other petroleum products, the Petroleum Product Division.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was asking the minister on the shortages, and after that I did a quick calculation, through the written response to my written question, on what was actually ordered and what was actually delivered.
It appears, overall, throughout Nunavut, there was a shortage or undershipment of 5.8 million litres of different fuel products, for whatever reason.
I know that the issue of fuel spills has been raised in the House.
I think there were four or five incidents in the last couple of years under this new contract.
I’m just wondering if the minister, in light of this, is looking at reviewing that contract and evaluating whether or not the current contractor actually has the ability to meet the obligations of the contract.
Speaker (interpretation): The Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Kilabuk.
I thought I was going to get a day off. As a matter of fact, the department, in consultation with Woodward’s shipping, has been reviewing the file very closely.
As my colleague stated, we have been very concerned about the number of spills and have taken immediate steps to try and prevent future spills.
Further to that, Transport Canada is also making some recommendations to try and ensure that these spills do not happen again.
In response to my colleague, the file has been reviewed and appropriate discussions are happening right now to ensure that these issues are dealt with accordingly.
I am glad that those issues are being dealt with the current contractor.
I believe that it was a two year contract; the minister will correct me if I am wrong on that.
I am not sure if there was an option to renew or not, but in light of all the problems this year, 5.8 million litres of various petroleum products throughout Nunavut is a considerable amount of shortages, that much less being delivered than what was actually ordered.
Is that something that was a problem in the past, where we would have a large amount of shortages like that, under the old regime that was in place, or not?
Or is this something that was just recent with this new contract?
One of the things that is being reviewed under this contract for re-supply is the scheduling.
We have identified this to be a concern to us and also to the communities, because the scheduling has a lot to do with the fuel that they are able to deliver.
So, to try and ensure that we can fill the orders accordingly, as per the orders, the scheduling of delivery is being closely reviewed to ensure that we do actually deliver close to the amounts ordered for all of the Nunavut communities.
I understand from discussion with some of the contractors and people involved with the re-supply, here in Iqaluit and other communities, that they feel that scheduling was a serious issue.
In the past, a ship would come in and unload the fuel for the year’s re-supply, in one or two trips, earlier on in the season.
This year, we have seen ships into November where you have ice conditions and hazardous conditions for people monitoring the lines that the fuel is flowing through while they are unloading.
I think it presents a safety hazard, not only to the contractor’s employees, but also to the employees of, whether it is Petroleum Products Division, or a private contractor, that monitors that on the shore end of things.
Are they looking at tightening up that contract and at the contractor’s ability to meet the deadlines that they set?
I know, initially, in the proposed delivery dates, there was none that were that late.
In my mind, I would look at that and say, “You can’t meet those obligations,” and do they need to get more ships, get a bigger ship, or do something in order to meet those obligations.
Yes, as my colleague is stating, the scheduling was a big concern and a factor in the delivery of gasoline and the awareness and concerns being raised because of late delivery.
I can assure my colleagues that my staff has been working very closely with Woodward’s to review and look at different options in both to look at an earlier schedule and to look at an earlier end of fuel delivery.
And very timely, Mr. Speaker, my colleague also mentions the use of additional boats for re-supply, and this is also an option that my staff is discussing with Woodward’s at this time.
I know in a lot of cases, someone gets a contract, they try to do things as cheaply as possible. And given the experience of this last sealift supply season for fuel, that, to me, would indicate that the contractor didn’t have adequate equipment to be able to fill its contractual obligations.
Will the minister commit to ensuring that whoever does this, is going to be delivering the fuel in the future, does have the adequate resources to meet its contractual obligations?
That is the effort that’s going on now, to try and ensure that all of the concerns that have risen in the last couple of years are addressed for the upcoming fuel re-supply.
Last year was also the first time that the fuel re-supply boat has been able to get into Kugaaruk, which has never been done before, and that also added infraction to the delivery schedule.
So, I am committed to addressing all of the concerns that have been raised with both the scheduling and the fuel spills that had occurred.
My staff is having ongoing discussions with Woodward’s for this year’s upcoming re-supply of fuel into Nunavut.
Question 255 – 2(2): Hiring Nurses Outside of Canada
What has the Government of Nunavut done in regards to the nurses that are coming into Nunavut from outside of Canada?
There are different hiring processes that are in place by the government, and we follow those standard criteria through the Department of Human Resources.
Once the nurses arrive, with immigration, they have to pass different rules and regulations, the Canadian federal immigration rules.
Usually, it means getting a work permit to come to Canada, and then, after, if they wanted to stay here, then they would get landed immigrant status and so on.
We always have shortage of interpreters because of our different languages, and I am sure that nurses, too, run into problems due to the lack of understanding a different language.
What kind of support or assistance do you provide to the foreign nurses that are coming into Canada?
For each department, when they are doing a review, especially when you’re bringing in workers, one of the prerequisites would be that in this case the person would have fluency in English.
I remember a couple of years ago, for example, we actually brought nurses in from Australia.
So, that would be the process.
If there was a need for follow up, we can do that through the Nunavut Arctic College.
We have programs there, such as English as a second language, ESL, and ABE programs, which may help the immigrant worker who would be coming to the community.
Perhaps the minister can speak to the House about the meetings he’s had with the federal government.
We’ve had different meetings with the federal government and contacts, depending on what hat you’re wearing at that time.
Recently, I met with Mr. Ken Dryden at the FPT in Vancouver, dealing with issues around early childhood education.
I’ve had several different meetings with Minister Efford on natural resources, and the list goes on.
On the immigration or multiculturalism file, we are in the process right now of trying to arrange a meeting with our counterparts. I wasn’t able to attend the immigration meeting just before Christmas because the House was in session, I believe.
Written Question 029 – 2(2): Departmental Expenditures and Variance Reporting Requirements
Mr. Speaker, my written question is for the Minister of Finance and it is in regards to departmental expenditures and various reporting requirements.
Question 1: What variance reporting requirements apply to the Government of Nunavut departments in crown corporations.
Question 2: For the fiscal years 2000/2001, 2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, to date, what were the actual monthly expenditures of each Government of Nunavut department and crown corporations for the following categories:
Compensation and benefits
Grants and contributions
Travel and Transportation
Materials and supplies
Purchased services
Contract services
Fees and payments and other expenses.
Question 3: What guidelines have been issued by the Financial Management Board to Government of Nunavut departments and crown corporations with respect to expenditures with respect to expenditures that occur within 30 days prior to the end of the Government of Nunavut’s fiscal year.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters: Tabled document 52-2(2) and Bill 8.
For your information you will report progress at 6 o’clock.
>> House recessed at 15:06 and resumed at 15:39
Chairman (Mr. Arreak)(interpretation): Welcome back.
During the Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: tabled document 52-2(2) and Bill 8.
We wish to continue with Bill 8 with the review of the Main Estimates of the Department of Justice.
If time permits, we will then commit to the review of the Department of Finance.
Chairman: We first deal with Justice.
Mr. Okalik do you have any witnesses?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): We will have the same individuals who were with us.
Markus Weber and Sylvia Hicks.
The members will have 10 minutes for general comments.
A member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion but not until every member wishing to speak has spoken.
I suggest to members that wherever possible you ask your detailed questions during page by page review of departmental estimates.
I would like to thank the minister and his officials for making an appearance before the Committee.
I will be asking questions when we are going page by page in regards to this Division.
There are three main items and first of all, I was looking at the RCMP report and in reference to trafficking and drug related offenses.
I think it was last year that I saw the estimates in Quebec and since they are not RCMP, they are provincial police and their estimates for drug trafficking in Nunavik was approximately $20 million in street value.
And when you see that in Nunavut it is larger than Nunavik, then I would assume that the illicit drugs and the sale of them in the streets is more than $20 million.
I think this concern shouldn’t be handled only by the RCMP.
The communities don’t have enough and the by-laws haven’t been trained and neither are the municipal employees.
I’m starting to think that there are a lot of children and young people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Is it possible for us to be more vocal about the issues of drugs and alcohol and then when we’re talking about suicide, I’m sure that a lot of the people who commit suicide are addicted to drugs.
I think it is one of the factors.
I think that we should be more vocal, and as politicians we would talk about it but I think it is up to the community organizations and different entities to focus on and become more vocal.
I’m making this suggestion because if there is going to be more and more drugs coming into the communities the enforcement, the government and the individuals should have to look at something to battle the situation.
I think we have to be more proactive in some communities, more so then others and that way we will see more and more people turn away from that.
Another issue is bootlegging.
Even dry communities are experiencing a jump in bootlegging.
I want to say again that we shouldn’t leave it only up to the RCMP.
Again, I would like to say that we have to be more vocal on this issue and have discussions with the municipality, the by-law and other people.
I don’t think that those types of issues should be dealt with solely by the enforcement because bootlegging is becoming a big time business in a lot of the communities.
With the problem we have now, we have to start talking about working together to combat it.
The third issue that I wanted to bring out is legal services.
We now have a Legal Services Board in the communities and in the regions.
I think it’s about time that we have a review of the whole program.
Some of the individuals are having a hard time to get a lawyer when they have to go through the court system, and when they try to obtain a lawyer through the legal services, I have no complaints on the counsellors, but I think that the clients who are the ones having the problems, and that includes the people who are using the Family Court Services...
I had a discussion with the individual and the response was very good.
I would also like to thank the individual and Peter Ma for making a quick response.
I think that there should be a review done on the Legal Services Board.
Usually, when you try to obtain legal services, you have to send the application to Gjoa Haven.
A lot of the people out there are experiencing difficulties in obtaining lawyers.
I would suggest an independent review on this whole process.
Also to talk to the clients or the people who take advantage of the legal services that are available in Nunavut.
Those are the three main items that I wanted to cover during general comments, and I will be asking questions later.
I just want to comment.
Some time last year when we had discussions in regards to the RCMP Detachment offices.
As you know, their Detachment is very small and inadequate.