EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Yes, I had looked into this. The estimates were not exact, so they are now trying to produce a more accurate estimate to convert the children’s group home into a mental health transition facility.
Rankin Inlet is in desperate need of an elders home.
Six Rankin Inlet elders are living in facilities outside of their community and they want to come home.
Can the minister clarify what steps would be required to convert the children’s group home into an elders home?
They already have a plan to make sure that this will be used for mental health and we will continue to proceed with our plan in that regard.
When it comes to infrastructure priorities, the community of Rankin Inlet needs an elders group home and a boarding home for medical travel clients.
Will the minister commit to reviewing the plans to renovate the Rankin Inlet Children’s Group Home and consider converting it to an elders group home or a boarding home instead of a mental health transition facility?
As I stated before, the facility will be used for mental health transition. Mental health is very important and we need to move forward with mental health programs.
This Assembly made mental health a priority and we are doing our part to support it.
We will continue to work to achieve our target for a mental health transition facility and we need to provide support to the people who require assistance when they’re dealing with mental health.
Question 050 – 4(3): Status of Fuel Price (Sammurtok, T)
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) My question is to the Minister of Community and Government Services.
(interpretation) On October 21 of last year, the Legislative Assembly was informed that the price of fuel would be remaining stable.
The annual fuel resupply season is coming to an end. The world price of oil has dropped.
When will the minister be announcing this year’s fuel price?
I thank my colleague for that question. I would also like to thank him when he was the minister. The global fuel price went down and he pre-purchased the fuel at a cheaper price.
Yes, we’re moving ahead with that and the delivery of fuel to the communities is coming to an end. We can say and we understand that we still have leftover fuel from last year and we’re still using the old price for that.
For the new fuel and diesel being delivered to the communities, once we know how much we have left over from last year, we will come up with the price.
Earlier, I was going to say to my fellow residents of Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet that they are in my thoughts as we have lost a loved one.
(interpretation ends) In recent years, the Petroleum Products Division of the Department of Community and Government Services has worked to reduce the price that consumers pay in Nunavut through such strategies as pre-purchasing supplies, as the minister indicated in his first response.
Can the minister indicate how much money the government has saved over the past year through this strategy?
From our understanding, around $30 million has been saved through pre-purchasing.
It’s by buying cheaper fuel from last year.
Can the minister clarify whether or not the price that consumers and airlines pay in Nunavut for jet fuel will increase or decrease over the coming year?
Yes, we will have to do that. Once we know all the information that we have to know, we will have to announce the prices for this coming winter, if not this fall.
Question 051 – 4(3): Baffin Island Caribou and Polar Bear Studies (Keyootak)
Today, we are aware that caribou hunting has been under a moratorium, and we know that animals are studied. Caribou and polar bears in particular have been studied on our lands.
Has there been any planning or is there going to be another caribou survey due to the lack of caribou in the Baffin region? Have you made any plans to do another survey?
That is what I would like to ask the minister first.
When there was a caribou hunting moratorium, NWMB was planning to hold a hearing and people were asking questions about the moratorium. We went through the moratorium and we had always told people that there would be another caribou survey in the Baffin.
The survey started in September and that’s how it is today, Mr. Speaker.
When there is a survey or a study going on, they normally use helicopters to count animals.
We are worried about that. Many people are worried about the use of helicopters to do surveys.
The ones that are used are extremely loud.
Stories have been told where polar bears that were surveyed by helicopter had bleeding ears from the loudness of the helicopter engines.
Mr. Speaker, the two-blade helicopters that they use are very loud, but three-blade helicopters are not as loud.
Can we make sure that the two-blade helicopters are no longer used because their propeller noise is a lot louder than the three-bladed ones? They make animals’ ears bleed.
Will the same helicopters be used for wildlife studies?
Worrisome things that are used for studies like that, airplanes or helicopters are used for that purpose.
I can look into what he is talking about regarding the two-bladed helicopters. As to when that information came out, I will check to see if they are used or not.
I can bring that information to the House once I get it.
Thank you for the direct answer, Mr. Minister.
Last year, they used snowmobiles to conduct their study. At that time, it was about caribou in the Baffin region.
Will that be utilized again, doing land surveys along with air surveys or will this just be an aerial survey?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that question, Member for Uqqummiut.
Since this spring, I have been saying that the 2015 study, which started last month, will continue in October.
There haven’t been many snowmobiles used because of the conditions.
What I’m saying is that the caribou survey is just continuing in the Baffin. We were thinking more along the lines that caribou tend to herd in early fall. As I am the minister, I thought it would be the best time before they spread out all over the place.
Right now, they’re in herds.
Doing surveys on land by snowmobiles usually takes place during the winter.
After we see how the survey is going and once we get indications of how many caribou there are in the Baffin, we will give you more information as to the next part of the survey.
Question 052 – 4(3): Inspections of Domestic Heating Fuel Tanks (Angnakak)
We will keep him in the hot seat today.
On May 29, 2015, the minister tabled his department’s 2014-15 report on its administration of the Environmental Protection Act.
According to this report, the department completed 364 fuel tank inspections in Nunavut during the 2014-15 fiscal year.
Can the minister clarify if these inspections were only performed on government owned buildings or if his department also performed inspections on fuel tanks owned by homeowners within the territory?
That Act is for that purpose, for people’s homes.
It includes private homes as well.
That program continues.
Private homes are included in that program.
In April of this year, a resident of Iqaluit was required to pay a significant amount of money to address a spill that occurred due to a malfunctioning fuel tank.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that under the current legislation and regulations, homeowners are responsible for “ensuring that heating oil tank and accessories are kept in good working order and are in compliance with current environmental and other regulations and codes of practice.”
However, not all homeowners have the expertise to inspect and recognize specific malfunctions within a heating oil tank system.
I also recognize that the department offers and provides free inspections of fuel tanks at the request of the homeowner.
Can the minister indicate if his department will consider performing regular inspections of domestic fuel tanks to prevent costly oil spills from occurring, on a regular basis?
The environment has to be protected and homeowners are responsible.
My staff went ahead and completed their work this summer.
We have to be aware of the environmental risks and homeowners have to help because not everybody knows what’s happening.
The community HTOs or hunters or conservation officers can help along in this regard as well and they have helped in the past.
In your constituency, people have had trouble with their fuel tanks, but this program has been running for the purpose of protecting the environment.
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister. It’s encouraging to hear his response.
In 2011, the department issued a guide and I have a copy of it here. This guide is for homeowners.
I guess it’s to look at their heating oil tanks for homeowners in an effort to reduce the number of spills from domestic heating oil tanks.
Can the minister indicate what other initiatives his department is undertaking to inform homeowners of their legal responsibilities regarding heating oil tanks and spills?
People have to be well aware of this. I can use myself as an example.
I own my home and it has a garage separate from the house.
I received a letter about that garage and your question. I once went home and there was a notice saying that I had to contact a certain person and it had a phone number and address on it.
Those are notifications of what we’re talking about.
As to the situation you were talking about in 2011, I can look into that and respond to you once I get that information.
I know that environmental protection is considered very important and the Environmental Protection Act has to be adhered to properly. I will look into the guide the department issued in 2011 that you were talking about.
Question 053 – 4(3): Medical Examinations to Obtain Driver’s Licences (Hickes)
Mr. Speaker, for motor vehicles special licences in classes 4 through 1, a medical exam is required for eligibility to receive a special class licence. I would like to ask the minister if the same medical exam and parameters are used across territory.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) From what I understand, where there is a medical requirement, the person that is requiring the licence usually arranges it with the company involved and the company bears the cost of those exams.
As to how they are administered, I can’t answer that right now. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for that response. I caught most of it.
From what I understand, there is an agency that establishes the costs and that was kind of where I was leading to, Mr. Speaker.
I recently had the opportunity of helping a constituent navigate a little bit through the process here in Iqaluit. In my research, I found that there is quite a substantial difference in costs of these medical exams across the territory.
An example, here in Iqaluit, it is $64 to get this medical exam, yet in Arctic Bay, it is $390, which is more than six times the cost it is here in Iqaluit.
I was wondering if the minister would be able to explain the difference in costing from community to community.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to get more details on the difference, so I will review this matter. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Maybe while the minister is reviewing the matter and the differences in cost and if there could be some way of standardizing this cost across the board so that the costs are fair for all Nunavummiut.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I cannot predetermine what the costs will be for each instance, so I will review it thoroughly and make sure that we consider all options. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 054 – 4(3): Status of Sanikiluaq’s New Sewage Lagoon (Rumbolt)
Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that the department received correspondence from the federal minister responsible for transportation concerning the new sewage lagoon location in Sanikiluaq.
This correspondence indicates that the new sewage lagoon project is not exempt from the Sanikiluaq Airport Zoning Regulations and that the department will have to look at other locations for the project.
As the minister is well aware, the community of Sanikiluaq is located on the northernmost area of Flaherty Island, with the ocean in front of the community and the community’s freshwater source is directly behind the community.
There doesn’t appear to be many locations where a sewage lagoon can be constructed.
Can the minister indicate the extent to which the zoning regulations will limit possible locations for the new sewage lagoon in Sanikiluaq?
Yes, this required quite a bit of work because of transportation rules in Canada.
My department is further reviewing this issue on what is being planned regarding his question, especially on how it would operate and exactly what would be needed to follow regulations. Moving forward from the project start, there will be… .
Mr. Speaker, that’s my answer.
I’m not sure if it was lost in translation or not, but I did not really understand the answer that the minister gave.
Can the minister confirm if his department is currently working with the Municipality of Sanikiluaq in seeking possible locations for the new sewage lagoon in Sanikiluaq?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I just want to reiterate the first answer I have was that CGS is re-evaluating the planning for this project and conducting a thorough technical, operational, and needs analysis as well as regulatory review to determine the appropriate scope of work and the path forward.
Also, we are working with the hamlet and we have informed the hamlet as we progress with this project. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the minister is aware, this sewage lagoon project has been on the books for many years and has faced many delays.
Given the recent information provided by Transport Canada, can the minister indicate when his department plans to begin and complete the construction of this new sewage lagoon?
As I stated earlier, we’re doing a further review. On July 27, 2015, the Department of Community and Government Services worked on the sewage lagoon in Sanikiluaq and how we can do something on the side because it was refused by Transport Canada before.
It’s moving forward right now.
Once we have a definite answer, I can provide it to the member as soon as possible.
Question 055 – 4(3): Update on Arviat’s Water Pump Station (Savikataaq)
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to keep the same minister on the hot seat.
Mr. Speaker, on a number of occasions, I have raised concerns about Arviat needing an additional water pump station at its water treatment facility. To date, Arviat still has only one pump station, a slow one at that, which does not accommodate the demand for water delivery in the community.
Mr. Speaker, the municipality previously had all of its water truck tanks filled at the end of the day in order to begin water delivery as soon as possible in the morning and for backup for the fire truck.
Now, to make matters worse, the municipality has recently been informed that these trucks must remain empty overnight.
As a result, municipal services often are not met in a timely manner, and the amount of water that needs to be delivered in a day is not possible.
Can the minister provide a clear date by which the department will install a new water pump station in Arviat?
I thank the member from Arviat for asking that question.
Yes, I know the residents of Arviat have been concerned about water delivery for a long time. The water pump station is really slow and we have found that out.
There was a study done on it that identified that this pump station needs to be replaced so the problems can be rectified.
Right now, I can state that the study results on how it would be set up and the options available to the hamlet council are available now.
I asked the minister when a new water treatment plant will be installed and I didn’t receive an answer at all.
He stated that he knows there’s a problem, he’s talking to the hamlet, the hamlet knows there’s a problem, and the people who never get their water in a day know there’s a problem.
What I asked him was: when are they going to get a new water pump station?
I have in my hand a letter from the minister stating that, and I’ll quote him, “A planning study was completed in 2015, and the design of a new or upgraded water pump station will commence this fiscal year for anticipated tender in March of 2016.”
I’ll ask the minister: is this tender going ahead by March 2016 for delivery of the new water pump station by the summer of 2016?
I only mentioned that the CGS has consulted with the hamlet council about the feasibility study and presented the design options to the hamlet to make sure the upgrades will meet their operational needs. (interpretation) With respect to what the state will be during the 2015-16 fiscal year, once that study has been completed and if funding is going to be available, the request for proposals will be made public during this fiscal year.
I still didn’t hear an answer for my question from the minister.
I heard a response and I think his response said that the work will go ahead if there’s money.
For clarity, I just want to know because the people of Arviat need their water like everyone else and we just can’t do it anymore with the pump that’s there.
It’s very hard.
Is the minister stating that the tender is going to go out in March of 2016 for a new water fill station if the money is in the budget?
Hon. Johnny Mike: Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I said that the design will start this year, 2015-16. When the design is completed and the funding is available, the project will be tendered for construction. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 056 – 4(3): Swimming Pools in Nunavut (Mapsalak)
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, it is important for the well-being of our communities and youth that residents have access to recreation facilities.
This is an issue that I have brought up on more than one occasion because I believe that the construction of swimming pools would provide youth in Nunavut with more access to recreation activities during the summer. Access to a swimming pool would also allow communities to develop public safety programs to teach youth and adults to swim.
On March 10, 2010, the minister of the day tabled the department’s Swimming Pool Access Review, which provides information on the feasibility and costs of constructing swimming pools in Nunavut.
Can the minister indicate if his department is currently looking into the possibility of constructing new swimming pools in Nunavut?
Did they do a feasibility study and costs of constructing swimming pools?
Is it still in the works with your department?
In Nunavut, swimming pools are in operation in some of the communities.
Since this was brought up in 2010, I can’t really answer your question, but I will look into it and take this question as notice.
Question 057 – 4(3): Need for Improved Adult Basic Education (Akoak)
Good afternoon to Uqhuqtuurmiut. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College.
Mr. Speaker, a key focus of the government’s Sivumut Abluqta Mandate is education.
However, it does not seem to be a true priority.
Nunavut Arctic College’s community learning centre in Gjoa Haven has empty classrooms this fall with very little planned to follow the recently completed NTEP program.
Will the minister commit to delivering more pre-employment training programs in Gjoa Haven this year?
(Interpretation) The Hon. Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Paul Quassa.
There are 10 other communities that have the NTEP program and they used to have the NTEP program in Gjoa Haven.
We do keep urging Arctic College to make sure they deliver the programs.
Sometimes we ask for particular programs, but we are unable to provide them due to a lack of instructors or some other deficiency in the program.
We would like to see more Inuit teachers in Nunavut.
We don’t close the programs. They are open and accessible in all communities.
Literacy is a critical issue for Nunavut.
Studies have shown that more than half of Nunavut’s working age population struggles with serious literacy challenges.
Can the minister describe what kinds of literacy and adult basic education programs could be offered at Nunavut Arctic College’s community learning centres to help Nunavummiut meet the minimum levels required for them to get jobs?
I would also like to thank the member for asking this very important question regarding literacy in Nunavut. It is one of the priorities of our department and Nunavut.
We are currently reviewing our programs at Nunavut Arctic College and what is available and how we can improve them. We are looking at other options and avenues currently not being used.
It is very true that literacy is a critical issue and this is high on our priority list in the department.
I would like the members to be well aware that literacy is one of the top priorities. You have to be able to read and comprehend in order to be able to access jobs.
There are different programs being provided. There is adult basic education, which is a priority in the programs if they’re going to be furthering their education.
I would like to reiterate that literacy is a critical issue within our department.
Far too many Nunavummiut do not have the minimum level of skills, such as numeracy and literacy, required for them to participate in a modern knowledge-based economy.
What commitments can the minister make to the residents of Gjoa Haven to improve their opportunities to receive the kind of training and education that they need to help them get jobs?
Thank you for lobbying the government regarding adult education and literacy, which is important.
I urge all communities, as they all have adult learning centres, to provide more options for Arctic College students to utilize the programs that are made available. It’s open to anybody in the community. We will be doing promotional work in order to use the adult learning centres.
Also, Arctic College centres usually ask the residents about what types of programs they would like offered in their community.
They ask those types of questions so that they can facilitate what is needed at the community level.
They would like to see what the priority is and what the needs are. They are available. Arctic College is very open in all communities.
Motion 006 – 4(3): Extension of Question Period (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Rule 39(7), I move, seconded by the Member for Tununiq, that the time allotted for Oral Questions be extended.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you (interpretation ends) The motion is in order and is not subject to debate.
The motion is carried and question period is extended for an additional 30 minutes. (interpretation) Going back to the orders of the day.
Question 058 – 4(3): Tax Policy (Mikkungwak)
As the minister is aware, we have a producing gold mine near Baker Lake, a producing iron ore mine near Pond Inlet, and a new gold mine coming into production, we hope, in the near future near Rankin Inlet.
Earlier this year, the minister delivered his annual Budget Address and released the government’s annual set of Fiscal and Economic Indicators.
This publication stated, and I quote, “It is important to note that mining firms themselves will likely not pay much income tax in the short term, as Canadian law provides significant flexibility in terms of when and where mining companies pay taxes.”
Can the minister indicate whether or not he will be lobbying his new federal counterpart to change this aspect of federal tax law?
I thank Mr. Mikkungwak for the motion to extend question period to get at me.
Mr. Speaker, the new government was only elected last week. It hasn’t been sworn in yet and I don’t know who the Minister of Finance will be. That particular issue isn’t something that’s on my radar.
As I have explained before in the House, for these large mining companies, multinational, international mining companies, their head offices are located elsewhere and it’s very difficult for us to collect corporate taxes.