EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The corporation’s capital plan for 2007-08 has an appropriation of $15,583,000 and additional core funding of $4,290,000 from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for a total capital budget of $20,273,000.
(interpretation ends) The Housing Corporation has increased the funding to local housing organizations for modernization and improvement by nine percent over the next year.
Over one-quarter of our housing stock is over 25 years old and is in need of repairs.
The 10-Year Inuit Housing Action Plan identified 1,000 public housing units in need of major repair, upgrade or replacement.
This increase in the M&I Program will assist in upgrading our older housing units.
We have introduced warehouse acquisition funding to assist local housing organizations to meet the critical need for storage and adequate facilities necessary to maintain our Public Housing portfolio.
We have also maintained the Fire Damage Fund and the Mobile Equipment Fund at the same levels as last year.
The corporation has responded to requests from seniors and disabled homeowners and is maintaining its Seniors and Disabled Persons Preventative Maintenance Program at last year’s levels to ensure that these clients will have the necessary preventative maintenance tasks performed on their homes.
We are funding the 2007-08 Homeownership Programs at sustainable levels.
In order to support our Pinasuaqtavut commitments to recruit and staff essential positions in all communities, including the smaller non-decentralized communities, the corporation will be building staff housing units in Repulse Bay, three units, Kugaaruk, two units, Kimmirut, two units, and Resolute Bay two units, in 2007-08.
Nunavut Housing Corporation is also renovating older staff housing units in smaller communities.
We were very pleased when the federal government announced that Nunavut would receive $200 million under the Northern Housing Trust. Funding from this trust has been received but does not show in the capital estimates.
Nunavut Housing Corporation was authorized to purchase materials for this year’s sealift from the Nunavut Housing Trust, and most of the construction will start in the spring of 2007.
The Financial Management Board has recently approved the delivery strategy, including the unit allocations for the housing trust.
As the Nunavut Housing Corporation requires funding to implement the delivery strategy, they will be requesting necessary funding from the Financial Management Board.
Mr. Chairman and committee members, I thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today. I look forward to a meaningful discussion and we will be pleased to hear comments and to answer any questions you may have.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Yes, I do.
Sergeant-at-Arms, if you would escort the witnesses, please.
To my immediate right is the President of Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Peter Scott, and to my left is the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer, Eric Whitworth, and also, sitting over on our right in the Gallery is Vice-President, Mr. Abraham Tagalik.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister. Welcome to the House, Mr. President, and Mr. Vice-President.
As co-chair of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Housing I am pleased to be able to provide opening comments as we begin the review of the 2007-08 capital estimates for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
The standing committee had the opportunity to meet with the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation in September to review the draft 2007-08 Capital Estimates.
Members were pleased to hear the Government of Nunavut’s commitment in the Minister of Finance’s economic statement on Tuesday, to ensure that capital projects include a complete and accurate forecast of the cost of associated incremental housing.
Members have previously raised concern that the cost of providing incremental staff housing can impact on the corporation’s ability to provide new public housing units.
Members believe that the corporation’s capital operations and maintenance budget should increase when new staff housing is required by other departments to ensure that the provision of public housing is not negatively impacted.
Members were pleased with the recent announcement that the 725 new public units were scheduled for construction across Nunavut under the Nunavut Housing Trust.
However members recognize that the increased number of new units will dramatically increase the cost of ongoing operations and maintenance.
Members applaud the corporation’s efforts to obtain federal funding to construct new units. They recognize that 725 new units will not fully address Nunavut’s needs.
Members look forward to a report from the minister on the success of the Material Assistance Program that was launched in 2006-07. Members noted that there is no Government of Nunavut funding allocated to this program in 2007-08, but we understand that the program will benefit from funding under the Nunavut Housing Trust.
Members are concerned that people who qualify for funding in the homeownership programs do not always receive the support that they need to purchase the necessary materials for repairs and that the necessary repairs may not be made in a timely fashion. Members encourage the minister to review the current practices with respect to the Homeownership Repair programs to increase their efficiency.
Members believe that the impact of the Government of Nunavut’s new staff housing policy on the Government’s recruitment and retention efforts needs to be thoroughly tracked and evaluated. Members have heard anecdotal evidence regarding front line employees leaving their positions due to the increasing housing costs.
Members encourage the minister to report to the House next year on this issue.
That concludes my comments on the 2007-08 Capital Estimates of the Nunavut Housing Corporation. Individual members may wish to raise questions, or make comments as we proceed.
Before we proceed I would like to remind members of the following: according to Rule 77(1), you have ten minutes to speak and according to Rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of theChair, a member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion, but not until every member has spoken.
The issue of housing is very, very important and I don’t want to deal with it when I’m tired.
I think it would be better that we’ll have a more productive debate when we’re not tired any more. So I would like to report progress.
Are you making a motion? Mr. Alagalak.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Yes.
All those in favour. There were six yeas.
Mr. Netser. Thank you.
The motion is in order. All in favour.
A reminder to all members of the meeting of the Full Caucus tomorrow morning at 9:00 at the Nanuk Room.
Orders of the Day for November 30, 2006:
The House stands recessed until tomorrow, Thursday, November 30, we’ll start at 1:30 in the afternoon.
>>House adjourned at 17:20
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Pages 2592 – 2659
Opening Prayer 2592
Ministers’ Statements 2592
Members’ Statements 2596
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2602
Oral Questions 2603
Replies to Opening Address 2623
Reports of Standing and Special Committees 2625
Tabling of Documents 2628
Second Reading of Bills 2629
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2633
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2657
Orders of the Day 2657
Thursday, November 30, 2006 2592
141 – 2(3): Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement (Okalik) 2592
142 – 2(3): Update on the Crown Agency Council (Simailak) 2593
143 – 2(3): Update on Territorial Parks (Netser) 2594
144 – 2(3): Fire Fighters Competition (Brown) 2595
145 – 2(3): Tabling of Nunavut Arctic College Graduate Survey (Picco) 2596
337 – 2(3): Raising National Awareness of the Health Status of Inuit (Arvaluk) 2596
338 – 2(3): Replacement of Hearing Aids (Alagalak) 2597
339 – 2(3): Resolute Bay IBM Computer Camp (Barnabas) 2598
340 – 2(3): Armed Forces Training Centre for Cambridge Bay (Peterson) 2599
341 – 2(3): Reinstating Arctic Weather Forecasting Station in Iqaluit (Picco) 2600
342 – 2(3): Taloyoak Youth Soccer Team (Aglukkaq) 2601
343 – 2(3): Sunken Boat Near Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 2601
389 – 2(3): Implementation of Medical Client Travel Policy (Mapsalak) 2603
390 – 2(3): Satellite Campus for Cultural School in Kugluktuk (Evyagotailak) 2605
391 – 2(3): Allocation of Police Services in the Territory (Barnabas) 2607
392 – 2(3): KBDC Process to Resolve Legal Issues (Tootoo) 2609
393 – 2(3): Delegation to Aboriginal Health Summit (Arvaluk) 2611
394 – 2(3): Upgrading for Post Secondary Studies (Peterson) 2613
395 – 2(3): Sinking of Boat Near Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 2616
396 – 2(3): Medical Devices Provided Through Department of Health (Alagalak) 2617
397 – 2(3): Impact of Federal Clean Air Act (Barnabas) 2619
398 – 2(3): Update on Administration of Sealift Services (Tootoo) 2621
Reply to Opening Address 004 – 2(3): Mr. Peter Kattuk 2623
Committee Report 005 – 2(3): Status of the Audit of the Workers’ Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (Peterson) 2625
191 – 2(3): Letter from Hamlet of Arctic Bay to Chief Superintendent RCMP (Barnabas) 2628
192 – 2(3): Transcript of Public Meeting on Auditor General’s Report on the WCB of the NWT and Nunavut (Peterson) 2628
193 – 2(3): Inuit Wellness Programs in Nunavut 2004-05 (Aglukkaq) 2628
194 – 2(3): Executive Summary of Second Review of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement 1998-2005 (Okalik) 2628
195 – 2(3): Crown Agency Council Activities Report November 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 (Simailak) 2629
196 – 2(3): Ministerial Meeting Report Agriculture F/P/T June 2006, from ED&T (Akesuk) 2629
197 – 2(3): Nunavut Arctic College 2005 Graduate Survey (Picco) 2629
198 – 2(3): Annual Report of the Information & Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut 2005-06 (Speaker) 2629
Bill 28 – Deficit Reduction Act – Second Reading 2630
Bill 29 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Second Reading 2633
Bill 26 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2007-08 – Review in Committee – Nunavut Housing Corporation 2633
Bill 26 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2007-08 – Review in Committee – Health and Social Services 2656
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. I would like to ask that Ms. Brown say the opening prayer.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Premier, Ministers, Members, and guests.
Minister’s Statement 141 – 2(3): Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement (Okalik)
I rise today to announce that the Nunavik Land Claims Agreement was initialled on November 15, 2006.
This agreement is the final Inuit land claims agreement in Canada and completes the process that Nunavik Inuit began in 1975, when they concluded the James Bay and northern Quebec Agreements.
This agreement will give the Nunavik Inuit a capital transfer of $86 million and defined benefits and land ownership within their traditional settlement area in Nunavik.
The agreement has been ratified by the Inuit of Nunavik through a referendum vote that was held this past October.
The result was 78 percent of the eligible voters were in favour of the agreement.
The Government of Nunavut and Canada will now ratify the agreement. The official signing of the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement will take place in Kuujjuaq on December 1, with all the appropriate parties present.
I will be signing the agreement on behalf of the Government of Nunavut, and attending the signing ceremonies on December 1 in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik.
This will be the first time the Government of Nunavut will be a signatory to a Land Claims Agreement.
The Government of Nunavut will be taking an active role in the Nunavik Marine Region once this agreement is ratified.
It will have representatives on the three co-management boards established by the claim and the Government of Nunavut will also have a member on the Nunavik Implementation Panel.
The Government of Nunavut congratulates Nunavimmiut on their new agreement and looks forward to working with Nunavik Inuit and the Government of Canada to implement the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement.
Minister’s Statement 142 – 2(3): Update on the Crown Agency Council (Simailak)
I am pleased to bring members of the Assembly up-to-date on some of the activities that the Crown Agency Council is currently engaged in to assist our public agencies.
Later today I will table the activities report of the Crown Agency Council to the end of March 2006, and the territorial corporation letters of expectation for fiscal 2006-07.
Before the end of this Session I will also be tabling the responses to these letters of expectation from our territorial corporations.
We have refreshed the mandate of the Crown Agency Council and are taking proactive, cooperative approach to matters of particular concern to out public agencies. Over the last few months, we have actively engaged our public agencies in a dialogue on several aspects of common interest.
We will continue that dialogue in a spirit of increased multilateral communication, cooperation and mutual respect and assistance as we continue to do our best to assist in ensuring the financial and corporate health of our public agencies.
Mr. Speaker, while doing this, we are providing to this House and all Nunavummiut a level of accountability and transparency from Nunavut public agencies that is required and, indeed, deserved.
Some of the initiatives we are pursuing include:
Including the budgets of public agencies in a special appendix in 2007-08 main estimates;
Including the corporate plans of territorial corporations in a volume to be tabled at the same time as the Government of Nunavut departmental business plans are tabled;
A dialogue on Government of Nunavut policies that apply to public agencies and how they may be implemented, coordination of and assistance with territorial corporation year-end planning for the fiscal year 2006-07.
This is with the objective of tabling their annual reports within legislative requirements;
Assistance to territorial corporations regarding the implementation of any new accounting standards that may be required;
Ongoing research with respect to governance models, including providing information, as well as pursuing a basic governance model that could be used by our public agencies
In the longer-term, investigating the enabling legislation of public agencies and providing suggestions for improvement as necessary;
Ongoing liaison and assistance between public agencies and the Government of Nunavut as required.
Mr. Speaker, I will table this document, the Crown Agency Council’s Activity Report and will assure you that the Crown Agency Council is actively working to help coordinate the activities of the corporations and agencies within our territory.
Minister’s Statement 143 – 2(3): Update on Territorial Parks (Netser)
Our territorial parks have been established throughout Nunavut for various purposes such as community camping and recreational areas, to protect important cultural, archaeological, and natural areas and as important tourism destinations that help support local economies.
It is important our parks not only meet the needs of visitors, but also for the people of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, in 2006:
We developed new emergency shelters in Katannilik Park near Kimmirut and the Kekerten Park in Pangnirtung for visitor safety needs.
We also built new outhouses and other facilities for Kugluktuk Bloody Falls Territorial Park near Kugluktuk; and
We rebuilt campgrounds in Pond Inlet and Resolute Bay.
These projects are in addition to park facilities recently constructed in Iqalugaarjuup Nunanga (Rankin Inlet), a boathouse in Katannilik Park (Kimmirut) for visitor safety and emergency response; and campground restoration projects in Pangnirtung and Kimmirut.
Mr. Speaker, in order for Nunavummiut and visitors to know why these places are special to us, we built interpretive signs and trails at Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park in Iqaluit that describe our ancestors’ use of this area and wildlife, bird life and vegetation.
Over the next year, we will be installing new signs and trails in Ovayok Territorial Park in Cambridge Bay that describe the legend of Ovayok; and in Iqalugaarjuup Nunanga Territorial Park in Rankin Inlet to take visitors back in time to see how our ancestors lived more than 4,000 years ago.
In Gjoa Haven, we will be replacing the signs that describe the search for the Northwest Passage. We are also working closely with Nunavummiut to identify and develop new parks and special places in areas such as Clyde River and Kugaaruk.
Mr. Speaker, it is the government’s goal to ensure our residents, their children, and grandchildren can continue to experience the land as our ancestors did many years ago.
Minister’s Statement 144 – 2(3): Fire Fighters Competition (Brown)
Hon. Levinia Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to inform the members of the House of the achievements of our firefighters at the National Aboriginal Firefighters competition.
Mr. Speaker, firefighters from across Nunavut came to Rankin Inlet to compete against each other for the right to go to the National Aboriginal Firefighters Competition in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
This is the very first time that firefighters across Nunavut came together to train and compete against other teams at a national level.
Mr. Speaker, four teams were established with representation from all three regions on each team.
For three days they practised firefighting evolutions, and on the fourth day an actual competition between the four teams was run, and the team with the best score was chosen to represent Nunavut in Prince Albert.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut team consisted of Adamie Nuna from Cape Dorset, Junior Tiktak from Rankin Inlet, Patrick Lyall of Taloyoak, Bobby Kakolak of Kugluktuk, Luutaaq Qaumagiaq from Cape Dorset and Sam Amarudjauk of Rankin Inlet.
The team was coached by Specialist Fire Training Officer Jim Fairbank.
Mr. Speaker, our team placed fifth in the National competition and received unanimous support from their firefighter peers as the team displaying the most sportsmanlike attitude.
They were awarded the 2006 Team Sportsman Award as a result.
Mr. Speaker, through the efforts of the Office of the Fire Marshal and the Municipal Training Organization we can see that our volunteer firefighters are achieving a national level of competence.
I wish to congratulate all the members of the Nunavut team on their outstanding accomplishment.
And we also wish to congratulate those firefighters.
Minister’s Statement 145 – 2(3): Tabling of Nunavut Arctic College Graduate Survey (Picco)
Later today I will table the Graduate Survey of Nunavut Arctic College. This survey was competed earlier this year by the Academic Affairs division of the college and is one of the most comprehensive surveys completed to date. It was geared towards the students who graduated in 2005.
Mr. Speaker, the Graduate Survey is an important tool in that it helps the college gather important information to develop and improve plans for the delivery of programs and services.
Some of the highlights of this year’s survey include:
95 percent of Nunavut Arctic College graduates were satisfied with their program
there was a high level of satisfaction with the quality of teacher instruction
97 percent of respondents would recommend Nunavut Arctic College to others
75 percent of graduates surveyed were employed at the time of being surveyed
Mr. Speaker, I think results such as this provide a strong indication that Nunavut Arctic College is providing programs that are relevant and preparing our students for a variety of employment opportunities in Nunavut and abroad.
Member’s Statement 337 – 2(3): Raising National Awareness of the Health Status of Inuit (Arvaluk)
I rise today to acknowledge the important role played by our national organization representing Inuit across Canada.
The Inuit Tapariit Kanatami in raising awareness of critical health issues facing Inuit in Canada.
Mr. Speaker earlier this week the Aboriginal Health Summit was held in Vancouver BC. The Inuit delegation was led by Inuit Tapariit Kanatami President Mary Simon who spoke very eloquently of the need to establish a focal point within Health Canada to address Inuit-specific needs.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Uqqurmiut spoke yesterday about the number of lifestyle and social issues facing our communities, families, youth, and elders.
These issues have a devastating impact on the health of Nunavummiut.
A report published by our own Department of Health and Social Services, as well as by Health Canada supports this observation.
Nunavummiut have a life expectancy that is ten years less than that of average Canadians.
These statistics are partly due to an unacceptably high rate of suicides. Four times as many Nunavummiut dies from lung cancer as compared to the rest of Canada. Dental health, mental illness, diabetes, and tuberculosis are critical health issues for our population.
The Inuit delegation at the Aboriginal Health Summit called on our federal counterparts to support programs that will address national issues, such as wait times and pandemic preparedness, while focusing on the unique aspects of delivering health services in the remote northern regions such as Nunavut.
I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the efforts of this group of individuals for raising these issues on a national stage.
At the appropriate time I will have questions on this issue.
Member’s Statement 338 – 2(3): Replacement of Hearing Aids (Alagalak)
I rise today to talk about a concern in Arviat, and probably in all of Nunavut. We have people out there who are hard of hearing and they require hearing aids, which are run with batteries.
A lot of those people need their hearing aids repaired and they usually can’t get the service up here.
Even young children need hearing aids and there are a lot of the elders also.
There was one individual that I saw in Arviat who took an empty paper towel roll and used it so that he could hear what the other person is saying.
Those people have a handicap that I think that they would agree with me and understand where I’m coming from that when your body is malfunctioning in one form or another; it’s very hard to be able to be independent.
I have been told by more than one person in my community that when they lose their hearing aids, or if their hearing aids are broken, they can’t get them replaced. I think all hearing aids are basically the same and they’re purchased by the government through Non-insured Health Benefits.
You have to have owned them for a number of years before you can get a replacement.
Speaker (interpretation): The member is asking for unanimous consent to conclude his statements.
Go ahead, Mr. Alagalak.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Thank you, very much.
I might not have a lot of hair, but I hear that I can get my hair replaced, or get a transplant.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to urge the government to look at the Non-Insured Health Benefits and see if they can get replacements at an earlier time.
I would like the government to look at their policies as soon as possible so that those health benefits can be accessed by the people who need them.
Member’s Statement 339 – 2(3): Resolute Bay IBM Computer Camp (Barnabas)
I am pleased to rise today to talk about the computer camp held just last month in Resolute Bay.
The camp was sponsored by IBM Canada was started to encourage young women and Inuit to pursue careers in technology.
For three days Qarmartalik School was the focus of many hands-on activities that stimulated children’s minds, while they were having a great time.
Students played technology trivia games and stripped down the old computers and rebuilt them after being taught about what all of the components were used for.
Mr. Speaker, students have learned how to create web pages that showed how they live by using pictures they brought from home.
As part of this camp, the best web pages were shared with the students from Humberwood Downs in Toronto via video conference.
Furthermore, students also explored the use of robotics by creating computer-controlled vehicles.
Mr. Speaker, I think you and I agree that these kinds of initiatives enrich our students’ learning opportunities.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the sponsors of this camp, IBM Canada, the Qiniq Network, the Qikiqtani School Operations, in addition to Qarmartalik School.