EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
They chose Olayuk for his prowess around the net, but for defence I must say, Keith Peterson would have made it.
I had many opportunities to score. I probably would have made a lot of highlights by missing the net a lot of times, but one goal I did score probably would have made the highlight of the night.
So I want to thank all my colleagues who showed up.
Those who didn’t, please show up again next year.
Member’s Statement 363 – 2(3): Congratulations to Leia Cunningham (Picco)
The Premier is correct – it was a fun event. I want to congratulate my daughter who played pretty well.
And as you know, having scored six goals that day and not counting any of them, I was very disappointed.
I would like to bring to the House’s attention very quickly, Mr. Speaker, a good-news story about a young beneficiary originally from your home town of Pangnirtung. Leia Cunningham has completed four years at Concordia University and now will be attending the University of Guelph in Ontario where Leia will be talking the veterinary program.
Mr. Speaker, at the completion of this program, Leia will be the first Inuk veterinarian in Canada.
Leia has had tremendous support from her family and her community.
She is an excellent role model and we wish Mr. Speaker, your niece, Leia, and the Premier’s cousin, the very best in her future studies and congratulations on her successful completion of her degree at Concordia and making the Dean’s list.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you and we congratulate her as well.
Member’s Statement 364 – 2(3): Municipal Elections (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I rise today to congratulate as well.
We heard from Igloolik that Moses Alarak was ordained as well as Tommy Iviq and Abraham Arnaquq from Pangnirtung, as well as Georgina Greenland and Annie Ituqsep.
These people will be ordained and I would like to congratulate them and to have them recognized by the people of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, as we are preparing to close our meeting, there will be a December 11th election for hamlet council.
And I’m sure that the people in the communities will be electing their representatives in their community council.
I think perhaps, since we started elections of the hamlet council...I just wanted to say that when there’s going to be hamlet council elections, I would like to encourage my constituents to go and vote for the person that they would like to have as their representative so they won’t regret it.
I’m sure that the people who are going to be elected to hamlet councils will be representing their communities as best they can.
You should not be afraid to vote for whoever you want because nobody else can tell you who you could vote for. Say, for instance, if I live in Igloolik, I can’t have somebody telling me from Hall Beach that I voted for a wrong person. I don’t think they are going to say that I voted for the wrong person.
Mr. Tapardjuk is asking for consent to conclude his statement.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker and Members of the House.
Just to conclude my statement, I don’t think that anybody will tell you that you voted for the wrong person.
You have the right to vote for an individual that you believe is capable of representing you, and even if the other individual didn’t win, they have no option but to work with the person who got into the office.
So I would like to urge all Nunavummiut to participate in the elections, and I, myself, will also be voting for an individual that I think would make a good mayor.
Just to remind you, please keep your comments to the same issue under Members’ Statements.
During this meeting I’m very pleased to recognize an individual, who is the Mayor of Grise Fiord, Jarloo Kigutak, if you would stand up, please.
We all know he’s the fearless leader in the High Arctic.
I would also like to recognize Lasari Utak and Paul Irngaut.
This individual was already recognized, but he’s from my home community and we grew up together as boys: Lasari Utak from Igloolik.
I would like to recognize two individuals, if it’s okay with you. First from Baker Lake, but is now working in the House, Minnie Niego, sitting behind me.
The other individual, again, is my namesake; her name is Simailak and a cousin of my constituency assistant.
This individual has been working for the Education Department for 20 years and she has made a huge contribution to education.
Becky Ayaga Simailak.
I would like to welcome everybody to the Gallery.
Question 410 – 2(3): Awarding of Medivac Contract (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services and I would like to follow up on the line of questioning that I did on Friday.
In my last supplementary question on Friday I had indicated that I know that it’s been past practice that medivac contracts have been approved and brought through cabinet for approval.
I had asked her if she could indicate when that was done and in her response she had indicated that there was an appeal in place and that part, the recommendations of the appeal had not gone to the Financial Management Board.
I want to clarify that I wasn’t looking for when that went, but the initial, as far as the initial awarding of the contract went.
When was that brought to either the cabinet or Financial Management Board?
I mentioned on Friday that the matter was before appeal, the NNI review committee has put forth their recommendations on that contract. We expect to have that matter reviewed. In the past where there are budget requirements for approval for such as Financial Management Board, those decisions go to Financial Management Board for approval and so on.
In this particular case a budget was in place, however the deputy at the time made the decision on the contract without going to the cabinet on the file.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Mr. Tootoo.
Can the minister indicate when that initial award was made?
I believe some time in October. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Your second supplementary, Mr. Tootoo.
As I had indicated on Friday that this whole process went through the RFP process and the proposals were received by the department for the medivac contracts. My question to the minister is what are the contributing factors in deciding and looking at who has the best proposal?
How much weight is given to actual investment of infrastructure and ownership here in Nunavut rather than companies based outside of Nunavut?
I don’t know what the percentage is that was applied in that particular category that he is making reference to. I know in terms of what kind of services are made available, or provided for medical treatment and so on, is part of the overall criteria, but I cannot speak to the specific points allocated for the specific categories, I am not personally involved in the contract review files, nor am I involved in awarding the contract.
The request for proposals is processing itself as per the procedures in place from Community and Government Services so I can get the information to the member on the percentages applied by the contract but I don’t have that information here with me, and I am not personally involved in the review of the file for the awarding of the contract.
That is done through a committee of representatives from various departments in reviewing those RFPs.
To be clear I’m not in any way saying that the minister was directly involved in this decision other than bringing or moving forward with the recommendation made by whoever was reviewing it.
Mr. Speaker, the government has gone on the record saying that it wants to boost the economy, help develop the private sector here in Nunavut and here it is my understanding that the company that was awarded the contract is utilizing a couple of southern-based companies to do the work for them.
One of the other proposals was received was by a company that pretty much invested close to $5 million in infrastructure here in Nunavut.
I’m just wondering, if that’s the case, given the direction that the government wants to move in, if the minister can indicate why they would not more of leaned more favourably to a company that was all totally based here in Nunavut and had made that kind of investment here instead of awarding to a company, or a company that was utilizing outside of Nunavut-based companies?
I said I was not directly involved because I don’t know the criteria, or percentage applied but one piece of information would be northern business, or whatever it may be.
I don’t know the exact percentages which is why I said that I am not directly involved in the file to know the type of level of details related to this file.
I am assuming that the description he’s provided there on the file is one of the pieces applied in the contract, but that’s not the only piece. There are other pieces in terms of services. The other piece would be related to cost factors, and so on.
It’s not one particular area.
I am prepared to share that information with the member once I get the request for proposal criteria from the department, as well as Community and Government Services.
Question 411 – 2(3): Deadline for Devolution Negotiations (Peterson)
My question today is for the Premier, and it is concerning devolution.
I heard on the radio this morning and I talked to the Premier Saturday afternoon after our soccer game that he was planning to meet with the federal minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to talk about the devolution file.
In the interview this morning he mentioned that the file has been set back one year due to the delay in the appointment of the federal negotiator.
I recall from previous questioning that the Premier said that they want devolution negotiations to be completed by the end of 2008.
My question for the Premier is can he clarify for the House if the Government of Nunavut is revising the negotiating deadline to a later year?
I had a good discussion with Minister Prentice and he’s appointed a negotiator on the matter. Our negotiators will be meeting, they’re actually meeting today for the next couple of days scoping out how much work needs to be done and where our respective positions are.
I don’t know all the details yet. They are to report back to us, to the principals, and see how much more work needs to be done and how long it might take.
We’ll have a better idea of this once those discussions are done.
I don’t know how long it will take, but at this point, but I am very pleased with the appointment and Mr. Prentice has full confidence in Mr. Mayer, being the representative for Canada.
So, I’m not sure when we’ll have an idea of how long it might take for the negotiations to conclude. I am pleased that this matter is moving forward.
It is good news that the government has finally appointed their negotiator.
Devolution is important to all Nunavummiut because of the promise of province-like powers and control of our resources. We’ve talked about that many times over the last couple of years that our resources will probably be the key to our turnaround and self-sufficiency in the years to come.
My question for the Premier; can he tell us, other than Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs officials…can the Premier tell the House, what groups, or organizations in Nunavut have been, or will be, consulted to provide input to the Government of Nunavut’s negotiation position?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Mr. Premier.
I know that Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated will be a party in these discussions.
These negotiations haven’t started yet.
We’ll see how they go, and depending on any given issue I’m sure that we’ll have discussions with various organizations and groups depending on the topic of the day at the table.
I do not want to foreclose any options.
I want to keep the door open to as many and as broad a field as possible, but I can’t say at this point who or when they may be consulted. We have to get a better idea of what the issues are and what areas we’ll be focusing these discussions on.
It sounds like there was a little bit of hope that some people in Nunavut will be consulted. I think there are some people that do want to be consulted.
Devolution negotiations are going to be complicated, difficult, and very time-consuming.
I’m sure this could take as long 10 years. Some jurisdictions have reported that anyway.
Any misstep could result in long-term financial problems for Nunavut. This has happened again, in other jurisdictions.
My question for the Premier; what assurances can the Premier provide to the House that the Government of Nunavut negotiators will not compromise our financial future in areas such as claw-backs on the formula financing agreement?
We have very worthy individuals that are involved. Our lead negotiator is the former Premier of the Yukon, not once but twice.
So, he has a pretty good idea of how government works, and he’s been involved in devolution on numerous files.
So I think we’re in pretty good hands in terms of our issues being addressed.
We’ve approved the mandate as a Cabinet.
We’ll be following this file, as a government, very closely and making sure that our interests are protected and that any agreement that we do approve has to be approved by this House as well.
Mr. Speaker, I alluded to the interest of some people wanting to be consulted. I’ll clarify to some degree; the members on this side of the House would like to be consulted on devolution.
So my question for the Premier: will the Premier commit to briefing the regular members beginning in our March sitting in 2007 on the devolution file?
I am more than willing to talk to members, but I must say that some issues are confidential during negotiations so that’s one area where I may not be at liberty to discuss all the details, but I’m more than willing to discuss it with my colleagues and explain where we are and where the parties are.
Where there are issues where there is confidentiality involved, then I will ask for liberty from the House in those circumstances.
Question 412 – 2(3): Tracking Devices on Animals (Barnabas)
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our colleague from Akulliq was talking about having a negative impact on beluga whales.
We have been doing a study - they put satellite telemetry radios on over 100 belugas and 50 narwhals.
I was wondering why they have to put satellite telemetry radios on that many animals.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for dealing with that.
We deal with the renewable resources.
Perhaps the minister can look into how many whales were lost during the research or during the time when the scientists were putting the radios on them.
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Yes, I can check into it, and once I get the information, I will provide it to the member.
Although I know that the department has to ask for a letter of support from the community, I don’t think they have held any public meetings in regard to this project. Perhaps if the minister can look into whether there was a public consultation before the actual study was done.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for marine mammals and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board is also working with them. I can look into your question.
According to my knowledge that the Nunavut Government has to have the knowledge, too, and they have to be aware as to what the federal government is doing.
Perhaps your department would have been aware of this occurring.
My next question is: in the upcoming years, how many more whales does the federal government plan to put telemetry radios on?
Question 413 – 2(3): KBDC and NBCC Legal Action (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Economic Development and it deals with the numerous documents that I’ve tabled over the last week.
My first question, Mr. Speaker, to the minister is on the first document I tabled and I will quote it, “He could be one of the southern counterbalances to the file of Ms. C.T.” I would just like to ask the minister if he could explain what is meant by “He could be one of the southern counterbalances” as indicated in that email.
I don’t know what southern counterpart meant, but perhaps it’s the Hansard writers, or I could ask my officials about that if they were still around. I didn’t write it, so I wouldn’t know what it means.
I know that the minister didn’t write it, but you know that other thing “where the buck stops”, and he’s the minister responsible for that portfolio. This was tabled last week and he should be able to have answers to questions of documents that are tabled.
Mr. Speaker, my next question, if we go back to Thursday where the minister had indicated that it was not too many months ago was the first time he had heard about it. Mr. Speaker, a couple of other documents that I tabled, one dated March 31, 2003 and one an email, which he was cc’d on, dated January 2003.
It clearly indicates that he was aware of this file three years ago. I’d like to ask the minister; in this time that he has been aware of this file what actions, if any, has he taken?
Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Minister Akesuk.
Back in 2003 there were quite a few issues that we dealt with that portfolio I wasn’t responsible for that portfolio for quite some time, but I have been briefed on the development of this file and KBDC was also involved with this.
So this was just an information item for 2003. To date, I am not being briefed on the current development, but I have no new developments in my office.
Your supplementary, Mr. Tootoo.
I’m a little disappointed to say the least. I provided the information to the minister a number of months ago and one would’ve hoped that he would’ve looked into it a little more closely; he seemed to totally disregard it at all until it actually came up here in the House.
My question to the minister on this case: has he asked why the NBCC and KBDC have spent nearly a quarter of million dollars in legal fees when from the onset they could have been up $20,000 to begin with?
I’ll remind you; that was your second supplementary.
The development we have, I had requested from my officials to get the information that occurred through the court services. I have to review everything very carefully because there are quite huge sums of money that were on loan. Since it is going through the courts I have to look at them and review them very carefully with my officials.
I think some one really dropped the ball on this one when they have a government that spent a quarter of a million dollars to bankrupt some one, a family of five, with three kids that are going to potentially end up out on the street.
The best thing you can do is get a briefing on it, and I’ll look into it. I mean it is too late for that. The damage has been done already.
So my question to the minister again is, maybe he could inform me and those people that are involved and everybody why this government forced a family of five into bankruptcy and spent a quarter of a million dollars on it when they could’ve been ahead $20,000 at the very beginning on this?
It just doesn’t make any sense to me and I’m sure it doesn’t make a heck of a lot sense to anybody. It doesn’t seem like very wise use of public money and I for one would like to know why.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you and I apologize, too, Mr. Tootoo, if I don’t give you appropriate answers.
I know this is a very difficult file and as a minister, you have to be very careful to understand the developments that have already occurred through the court system and some of it has not been completed through the court system yet.
I am not too sure where it’s at right now, but after all the process has been completed, I will look at it and provide that information to the member and to the members.
Question 414 – 2(3): Medical Travel Contract for Sanikiluaq (Kattuk)
I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for Department of Health and Social Services as she is aware of my concern in Sanikiluaq.
First of all, I’d like to ask her if the contract has been renewed and if not when it is going to be renewed.
I don’t believe there is a new contract for the Keewatin contract for medical services from Winnipeg to Sanikiluaq. I know that we are working on one for the scheduled medical travel piece part and that, I don’t believe, has been finalized to date.
I’d like to ask the minister the concerns that I have raised. I believe she fully understood that those patients who are going on medical, the airline that they were on didn’t have a washroom and those are the concerns that I brought up. I wonder if those will be remedied when they are going to renew the contract.
When the member raised the concern about the flights and the types of aircraft, the company met with the entire community of Sanikiluaq to talk about the services provided, what to expect on each flight and so on.
I believe the senior officials of Kivalliq Air met with the mayor and they met with the SAO as well as the community and I received a letter to confirm some of the highlights out of that discussion with the residents of Sanikiluaq in regard to the concerns that you had expressed as well as some from the community.
And the company is trying to address each concern and from what I understand from the outcomes of those meetings it was very very positive and they were able to clarify a few situations where there were some issues in question.
I couldn’t attend that meeting as I was at a graduation.
I don’t quite understand what she said. Is she saying that the concerns I had about the lack of washroom facilities on the flight? Will those be considered before the renewal of the contract?
Your concerns on the contract, I fully understand that.
We are not working on a new contract as of this year, but I will find out further on this concern for Sanikiluaq.
I will update the member on that as well as the community consultation after the consultation on the issues, the Kivalliq partners having met with the community and also with the airlines concerns and issues.
Once the contract is updated I will further look into the concerns.
Question 415 – 2(3): Alternative Energy (Barnabas)
Last week I raised a question on Bill C-30; my question is to the Minister of Energy.
Why is the energy corporation, or department, why are they not looking for alternatives such as wind power energy?
Last week I was able to table the Ikummatiit, which is an Energy Policy for the Government of Nunavut moving in a new direction on energy and energy related matters, which includes replacing oil with possible hydro power as well as looking for some alternative energy sources which are renewable including solar and wind.
Right now the emphasis from the Power Corporation is on the opportunities for hydro and that’s the direction that we are moving in.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, minister. Your first supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
Can the minister check to see in regard to having wind energy?
In the first term we had done some good work on opportunities with wind. First thing we had to do was determine the wind velocity in different parts of Nunavut, and in cooperation with Environment Canada we were able to complete what’s called a wind map.
For wind energy to be affordable and efficient the wind has to be at a constant speed and we also need to be able to tie the wind energy that is being harnessed into a given community.
There are issues in fluctuations between having a diesel generator on and the amount of wind energy that is being brought forward.
Those issues, technical issues, are being worked on in other jurisdictions, and in northern climes including in Alaska and some islands, for example, in the Faeroe Islands.
We all know that in Alberta and PEI they have wind energy.
Can the minister check with those two provinces in regard to that?
I’ve had an opportunity to speak with the government in Manitoba on two different occasions about opportunities with wind power. At the same time, I have been in contact with the Minister of Energy for Prince Edward Island, the Honourable Jamie Ballem.