EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The plan is to finalize that plan in the upcoming fiscal year, which is April 1 and so on. When the information has been consolidated with the stakeholders, that communication side we will involve in sharing that information with the Members of this House.
I can get back to you later.
I would like to ask a question with respect to the Environmental Prevention and Contaminants and Environmental Health Services section referred to on page H-20 of your business plan and I believe that it’s funded through this particular line item we are dealing with.
I just wanted to ask the minister; we had a situation in Rankin Inlet last summer where there was a serious health risk, or so I thought it was, that the local store spilled over 3,000 litres of fuel in and around the building; the particular odour and smell, the environmental condition of that area, not only that but buildings across the street were also impacted for a whole week at least.
I was curious as to why the public health people were not actively, nor the town itself, alarmed with what we thought was a very serious problem, particularly to youngsters and the store remained open. Would you not have agreed that this type of situation is a risk to young children because they were going in and out still?
The doors, then, were open all week.
So I’m wondering whether or not that is exactly the kind of thing that their department says that they are to monitor, and so on, and to caution the public from being exposed to that potential risk. Am I right in assuming that?
I don’t know the specifics of that particular situation, but an environmental health protection officer should be involved in those types of review and whether the staff, I am assuming in Rankin Inlet, were involved or not, I don’t know, but they should, in those types of situations, be there to also make the assessment and participate in trying to correct the situation.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. Yes, if that were the case and it was an environmental problem that they weren’t hurt by the smell that was caused by the spill.
It was an intentional spill by the way, if I may say so, and then the building was eventually open all week, the doors were never shut and so on.
And I would think that the public health officer really should have taken a more proactive interest in protecting the young children, particularly in families because we only have a limited space in there.
I would think that’s the kind of thing the building should have been shut down and it wasn’t.
I am wondering whether or not the people that you do have in places like Rankin Inlet are fully aware that they are responsible for issuing such cautionary information to the public. Would you remind them of the fact that they are responsible for protecting our children, our young people, and elders for being exposed to the potential danger of that kind of stuff?
I thank the member for bringing his concerns forward.
Because I don’t know the specifics of that particular situation, I will ask my staff to investigate what steps were taken and what our role was in that particular situation, and evaluate whether we could have done more and why it was not shut down and so on.
I would like to take the opportunity to go back and get that information and review it before I can formally respond to this issue because I am not aware of that file itself in the specifics, but in situations, Environmental Health Officers have a role, and I will use one example.
In a situation in Rankin Inlet related to the water advisory and so on, the Environmental Health staff were participating in that in Rankin Inlet and working very closely with the Municipality of Rankin Inlet as an example, but the particular situation the member raises, I will go back to the staff in Rankin and evaluate that situation and examine whether we could have done more, if not, what did we do and so on.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. Yes, a number of us did raise and discuss it even at home; the scuttlebutt was the Department wasn’t fully actively involved.
I will say to the minister and I say this because I did write a note to the Director of the Health and Social Services, not knowing who I should send the note to, because I consider it a health risk to the young children. I was never issued a reply. That’s why I am raising it.
Other departments would have replied, and they did have a good man there, but my curiosity remains today why he never replied to that. Eventually, people that were responsible for the spill certainly were dealt with by the justice and the police, but it was a very serious problem potentially and finally, Community and Government Services people were involved in cleaning this thing up and so on.
I do not want to see that again.
I did not raise the alarm to the minister or whatever because we thought there was a routine procedure for advising the people of the health risks and it did not happen. In Rankin Inlet, in a place like that, we tend to think if the government doesn’t care, then forget it.
I think that kind of attitude is wrong and I think we need to restore the public trust that people feel entrusted and you need to advise those regional people to ensure they do follow up their mandate and keep the public abreast and involved.
With these large stores in Rankin Inlet, which is the main supplier of goods, groceries were being stored downwind and they were exposed to this smell and everything.
I was just curious why the department did not actively participate in that situation.
Will the minister ensure, I appreciate your interest in looking into it, and I will want to see exactly why they didn’t do so?
As I said earlier, this is the first time I have heard of this situation, I will follow up with the staff in Rankin Inlet, and I will respond to Member Curley because I think the comments he is making are very serious.
I will look into it, I will respond in writing, and I will share it with the rest of the members in the House.
I want to thank the minister for her commitment and I will look forward to hearing that.
I did not follow up my letter, my note; I did send an email to the director at that time.
What I was to say on the other side is that we appreciate the advisory notice that the environmental health officer put out with respect to the water contamination issue. That was handled quite well by them once they had received some evidence of contamination of the water supply.
I’d like to ask that minister and her staff, as well as the public health officers there that they do coordinate their response effectively with the municipality because the municipality, a day after the precautionary notice was issued by the public health officer, did announce publicly that the water was now safe.
A couple of days later, the environmental health officer did issue a statement again. The precautionary advisory is still in effect.
Some of us were cautious enough not to drink water from the tap and so on.
My advice to you is: will you try and advise them that they work more closely with the municipal officials? The last word of the advisory, whether it’s safe or not, should remain with the public health officer. Would you deal with that?
I will ensure that there’s a good working relationship between departmental officials as well as the municipality. Before any information is released, that those two agencies or organizations work together on the communication strategy, who will take the lead, and what steps should be looked into before anything goes out to the public. So I will take the member’s advice.
Mr. Curley: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister for that. I want to say that the municipality did well for the supply of the ice water to the elders, even though there was a bit of difference between the public health officer wanted to publicly issue the local municipality, issue a precaution on ice water.
It was correctly stated by the mayor and the council in the community that we have been drinking ice water for thousands of years.
With that, it is really advisable that they leave that area alone.
On the other water supply notices, I think the last word should remain with the public health officer, and carry out accordingly; I believe it was the public health officer.
There was an announcement in between that municipality did issue that the water was now safe to drink.
For that information, I’d like to thank the minister for making the commitment to try and make sure that there is proper coordination. (interpretation) This is just a statement.
I think you understand that, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: That was just a comment for a directive.
I just want to follow on the line of questioning that my colleague Mr. Tootoo was on concerning a pandemic plan and emergency preparedness planning. I am wondering if the minister could give us a short outline on what the current plan is for dealing with outbreaks or severe emergencies in Nunavut.
The Department of Health and Social Services participates in the planning of emergency response with the Community and Government Services’ EMO Division.
We are a part of that, depending on the situation. I know they have had examples such as an accident happening at the Iqaluit Airport where they did some tests to respond an aircraft accident.
We are part of the team, on a bigger picture, through CGS, but as it relates to the pandemic file that we are directly responsible for, again, that involves working with that emergency response team.
I don’t know if that’s the line of information the member is seeking, but we are part of the process for emergency response measures as outlined by the EMO Division of CGS.
Could the minister give us an idea of how prepared Nunavut is for a pandemic if it was to arrive within the next three to four weeks? Would we be ready; are we prepared to deal with the repercussions?
The information that I have already shared today in the House related to what we are doing as a department in planning for a pandemic in Nunavut and in Canada. I will say it again and I will ask, perhaps, my deputy to elaborate a bit more.
We are part of a bigger team, a national planning group in responding to a pandemic influenza.
Should it ever happen here, it will involve many stakeholders, many departments, and people in and outside Nunavut, federal government involvement in assisting us in response to that.
In our own organization, we have developed internally and stocked up on anti-viral drugs within Nunavut.
The plan is still in the works and again, after the plan is completed I will be able to share more broadly in terms of the next step and phase. I have not seen the plan itself to speak to the details of that plan.
It’s still a work in progress; we have to work with CGS and every department.
At the same time, we also have to work with the municipalities and test out the response that’s being laid out should a pandemic influenza happen. So I can speak to what we have done, I can’t speak to what we would do today should it happen today.
So that work is still underway and I have committed to this House to share and communicate what that plan is to every member here.
At the same time, that information will be shared with municipalities and the general public.
Can the minister perhaps give us an idea of what the cost would be to Nunavut to develop a pandemic plan?
I ask that question because I recall the cost of preparing the smallpox emergency response plan was $70,000. Will we have the financial resources to prepare for a pandemic?
In developing the pandemic influenza plan, we are working with our current internal resources through the Chief Medical Health Officer’s Division. That work is still within the current resources that we have identified within our department. Should that happen, should we have to respond to that?
I can only speak to that as that type of emergency response unfolds. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would just like to recognize the clock and report progress.
Your committee has been considering Bill 12 and the main estimates, and would like to report progress. And also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Just a reminder to the present members of the Management Services Board that there is a meeting at 2:30 in the Tuktu Boardroom. A reminder to all members of the swearing in of the new Member for the Executive Council at three o’clock here in the Chambers.
On Monday, there is a meeting of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability at nine o’clock in the Tuktu Boardroom, followed by the meeting of the Regular Caucus at eleven o’clock in the same room.
Orders of the Day for March 6:
Motion 10 – 2(3)
Speaker (interpretation): We will adjourn for today and we’ll start again on Monday, March 6 at 1:30 in the afternoon.
>>House adjourned at 14:11
Monday, March 6, 2006
Pages 1304 – 1373
Opening Prayer 1304
Ministers’ Statements 1304
Members’ Statements 1307
Oral Questions 1312
Tabling of Documents 1331
Motions 1332
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1333
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1371
Orders of the Day 1371
Monday, March 6, 2006 1304
072 – 2(3): Minister Tapardjuk Absent (Picco) 1304
073 – 2(3): Visit to High Arctic (Brown) 1304
074 – 2(3): Community Aerodrome Radio Station Technical Training Centre Opening in Rankin Inlet (Akesuk) 1305
075 – 2(3): Revitalization of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (Picco) 1306
076 – 2(3): 2004-05 Annual Report, Nunavut Arctic College (Picco) 1307
178 – 2(3): Members Peterson and Evyagotailak Absent from the House (Arreak) 1307
179 – 2(3): Income Taxes (Curley) 1307
180 – 2(3): Arctic Winter Games Athletes (Simailak) 1308
181 – 2(3): Congratulate Arctic Winter Games Participants (Netser) 1309
182 – 2(3): Standing Committee Meeting in Pangnirtung (Kilabuk) 1309
183 – 2(3): Members’ Hockey Game Fundraiser (Barnabas) 1310
184 – 2(3): Members’ Hockey Game (Tootoo) 1310
185 – 2(3): Members’ Hockey Game (Okalik) 1311
186 – 2(3): Health and Education Committee Meeting in Pangnirtung (Alagalak) 1311
208 – 2(3): Auditor General’s Report – Qulliq Energy (Tootoo) 1312
209 – 2(3): VTA Included as Income for Rent Determination (Barnabas) 1313
210 – 2(3): Nunavut Arctic College Budget (Curley) 1314
211 – 2(3): Inuktitut Interpreter – Sanikiluaq Nursing Station (Kattuk) 1317
212 – 2(3): Auditor General’s Report and Problems Within Finance Department (Tootoo) 1318
213 – 2(3): Medical Ship (Arreak) 1320
214 – 2(3): Credit Courses (Barnabas) 1321
215 – 2(3): New Staff Housing Policy Impact on Staffing (Tootoo) 1322
216 – 2(3): Federal Negotiations in James Bay (Kattuk) 1325
217 – 2(3): Shift Work at Baffin Correctional Centre (Tootoo) 1326
218 – 2(3): Medical Travel Problems (Barnabas) 1327
219 – 2(3): Baffin Regional Hospital Lease or Buy (Tootoo) 1329
084 – 2(3): Legal Services Board Annual Report 2004-05 (Okalik) 1331
085 – 2(3): Response to Petition 03 – 2(3): Public Housing in Rankin Inlet (Akesuk) 1331
086 – 2(3): Final Report of the Evaluation of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program September 8, 2005 (Picco) 1331
087 – 2(3): Nunavut Arctic College Annual Report 2004-05 (Picco) 1331
011 – 2(3): Legislative Assembly Appointments (Tootoo) 1332
Bill 12 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2006-07 – Review in Committee – Health and Social Services 1333
Bill 12 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2006-07 – Review in Committee – Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs 1349
Bill 12 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2006-07 – Review in Committee – Education 1369
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Mr. Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Honourable Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Edward Picco, Honourable David Simailak, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Minister’s Statement 072 – 2(3): Minister Tapardjuk Absent (Picco)
I would like to inform the House that Minister Tapardjuk will be absent this week to attend the Arctic Winter Games.
Speaker (interpretation): I’m hearing both Inuinnaqtun and Inuktitut.
Minister’s Statement 073 – 2(3): Visit to High Arctic (Brown)
It gives me great pleasure to report that in February, I had the opportunity to visit five communities and meet with the mayor and council in each.
My travels took me to Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet, and Qikiqtarjuaq.
Mr. Speaker, these are challenging times for Hamlets and it’s important for me to be in the communities and speak directly with the residents. It provides me and my staff a much better understanding of the issues they are facing and the opportunities for us to work better together.
Mr. Speaker, one issue that was raised in the fall by the Mayors of Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay, and their Member Mr. Barnabas, was the move to transfer CGS regional office responsibility for those two communities to our Cambridge Bay office.
That change was intended to improve service and help even out workload, but the communities expressed concern.
I took the opportunity of my visit to listen directly to their concerns based on their experience of the past year and a half.
In response to their request, I announced at my meetings with the two councils that regional office responsibility for them is moving back to the CGS Baffin regional office.
The Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay Councils were very pleased with this change.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation to the residents of all five communities we visited for their hospitality and courtesy.
I enjoyed my visit immensely and have a better understanding of their issues.
Mr. Speaker, I also thank Mr. Barnabas, the member here, for guiding us there in Arctic Bay and we had a very good experience; in the middle of the night, we attended a Co-op meeting. That was very exciting.
(interpretation) We had lots of fun, I also saw some people that I haven’t seen for a long time because at the time, we used to meet for a long time at night.
Minister’s Statement 074 – 2(3): Community Aerodrome Radio Station Technical Training Centre Opening in Rankin Inlet (Akesuk)
I am pleased to inform this House that a new training centre for observer-communicators will open in the Arctic College in Rankin Inlet in April 2006.
Observer communicators are essential to safe and efficient operation of our airports. There are 75 observer communicators in Nunavut and are all community-based positions and occupied by local people who have received specialized training.
The training, however, requires 11 weeks of intensive study away from home.
Until now, training for observer communicator position has been available only from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, with the opening next month of the training centre in Rankin Inlet, this will change.
Students will be able to get training in Nunavut; this is a great accomplishment.
Under a five-year agreement negotiated by the department, Nav Canada will provide close to $1 million for the operation of the new training facility. Training will be done at the Kivalliq campus of Nunavut Arctic College in Rankin Inlet.
Renovations to accommodate the new training facility will complete this month. Two instructors have been hired. The first group of ten students will begin their training on April 25, 2006.
Before concluding my statement, Mr. Speaker, I want to express on behalf of the Government of Nunavut our appreciation and gratitude to the Government of the Northwest Territories to Aurora College and Thebacha College for their excellent instruction.  Also, to the people of Fort Smith, for the support they have provided Nunavummiut who have traveled to their community for training.
They have also been most helpful with the transition of the program to Rankin Inlet.
We all look forward to the official opening ceremonies for the Community Aerodrome Radio Station Technical Training Centre in Rankin Inlet, which is scheduled to take place on May 2, 2006.
Ministers’ Statements, Mr. Picco.
Minister’s Statement 075 – 2(3): Revitalization of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (Picco)
I would like to take this opportunity to inform my honourable colleagues about our progress in revitalizing the Nunavut Teacher Education Program or NTEP.
I am pleased today to announce the release of the final report of the evaluation of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program. I will be tabling this report during this session of the Legislature, probably later on this afternoon.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Teacher Education Program has been Nunavut Arctic College’s most successful program for more than 20 years. A review of NTEP was undertaken to provide a thorough assessment of the program. This report provides recommendations to improve NTEP and serves as a starting point to increase the number of Inuit teachers at all levels in our schools.
Over the next few months, an Expert Panel will incorporate the recommendations from this report into the creation of a long-term strategic plan for the revitalization of NTEP.
Members of the expert panel will be announced in the coming weeks. Their extensive experience with NTEP and teaching in Nunavut will provide a great wealth of knowledge and ideas.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to updating the members with a progress on the revitalization of our NTEP program. I am certain we can all share in the lasting quality and success of this program.
Minister’s Statement 076 – 2(3): 2004-05 Annual Report, Nunavut Arctic College (Picco)
Later today, I will be tabling the 2004-05 Annual Report of Nunavut Arctic College. In accordance with Section 18 of the Public Colleges Act, the Board of Governors of Nunavut Arctic College are required to publish an annual report describing the activities of the college each year.
The report provides an overview of the programs and services provided by the college in each region as well as activities of the Nunavut Research Institute during the academic year of 2004-05. It also includes financial statements for the fiscal year of 2004-05.
This report has also been approved by the Nunavut Arctic College Board of Governors.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to note that this year’s annual report shows that College’s accumulated deficit stands at $310,000, reduced from $1.6 million the year before.
In addition, the report also shows that enrolment in programs remains very high with approximately a 50 percent increase in enrolment the past four years.
Member’s Statement 178 – 2(3): Members Peterson and Evyagotailak Absent from the House (Arreak)
Mr. Arreak: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Evyagotailak will not be in the House this week, and Mr. Peterson will not be here either.
Member’s Statement 179 – 2(3): Income Taxes (Curley)
I rise today to address an issue which Nunavummiut are all too familiar with: taxes.
Mr. Speaker, it’s that time of the year again when T4s are in the mail. People are getting ready to send in their personal Income Tax Returns.
People in the south often forget that Inuit are paying taxes just like any other Canadian citizen. Inuit are not exempt from paying taxes.
Taxes are very Canadian. Let’s take a moment to think about the many kinds that we pay as residents of Nunavut.
We have Federal Personal Income Tax, and Territorial Personal Income Tax. We have the GN Payroll Tax.
We have the Goods and Services Tax and we have the Fuel Tax and the Tobacco Tax and Liquor Taxes in Nunavut.
Residents also pay local taxes including property taxes and municipal service fees. Businesses pay Corporate Tax.
Mr. Speaker, there may be a shortage of housing in the North, but I can reassure the House that we are in no danger at all of facing a shortage of taxes to pay.
When it comes to things like Northern Residence Deductions that northerners are entitled to claim on their personal income taxes, we have not seen any improvements in some time.
Speaker: The member is asking for unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays?
Proceed, Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I’ll try, Mr. Speaker.
Most Nunavummiut whom I have spoken with are leery about moving too fast towards making more hamlets in Nunavut municipal taxing authorities.