EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I’m sure that the Minister of Health and Social Services will also do her best to make changes and will do all she can.
Question 099 – 2(2): Tabling of KPMG Report
My question is for the Minister of Health.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I asked the minister if she would commit to tabling the KPMG report this week.
The minister made that commitment to the House.
My question for the minister: is the minister going to table the KPMG report today?
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Health, your response.
I checked into this question and there is a bit of a problem, and you also received a copy of the letter.
I will not be able to table it in the House today because there will be have to be some amendments.
And I’m not sure if the Inuktitut translation is completed.
I haven’t checked into all the details, but they require a lot of work, especially the reports.
When I hear a statement like that, I have to wonder what’s in the report that the bureaucracy doesn’t want us to see.
I first asked for the KPMG report six months ago during the Committee of the Whole on health and social services.
The deputy minister told me then that they were going to review the request.
Again, that was six months ago, and it seems that the bureaucracy hoped I would forget.
I don’t forget these things; when people say they are going to do stuff, I don’t forget to follow up.
Can the minister assure the House that there will be no further delays and that this report will be made available to me before the next session?
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Yes, I agree with you.
I have made the commitment that the document will be tabled; I did that.
Now there are other things that are being held up.
So, as soon as possible, I will make sure that it’s tabled in this House.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Peterson.
I thank the minister again for that commitment and assurances.
Regular members have been asked to review budgets for many departments, including Health and Social Services.
We all know health is a very troublesome department; they are constantly running a deficit.
It was $18 million, and with your projections maybe $8 million this year; it could be higher, we don’t know.
Most of the problems are related to travel.
Had I known yesterday that the KPMG report would not be tabled today, I would have introduced a motion yesterday to defer a review of the Health and Social Services budget next week.
I consider that the information in that report could be helpful to our discussion.
A question for the minister: can the minister assure me and the House that officials in her department have been directed to place the highest priority in providing timely financial information and reports to regular members when it is requested, not six months or eight months after it has been requested?
I would like to thank the member for bringing this up.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Kattuk.
Question 100 – 2(2): Licence to Obtain Fire Arms
My colleague touched upon this question in regards to the how NTI and the territorial government have taken the federal government to court about firearms legislation.
There is a major concern that this impacts the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement.
In some communities, even when people want to acquire guns, they need a firearms licence.
I want to know if this is a licence for obtaining firearms.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Hon. Paul Okalik.
This licence is to acquire firearms and it can also be used to acquire ammunition.
A problem is many stores are run by non-Inuit and this law applies to non-native people.
Even if I don’t have a license, I can use a rifle, because I’m Inuk.
That’s why that law doesn’t apply to me.
I wanted to make that clear to my colleague.
The firearms acquisition, do we need to use it today?
Keep in mind that this is before the courts on whether this legislation will not apply to Inuit.
But it applies to non-Inuit, and that could be one of the hindrances.
We’re trying to get away from that so that it doesn’t apply to Inuit, so that Inuit can have easy access to obtaining rifles and what have you.
We’re trying to get that taken out of the legislation; we are fully opposed to that legislation.
So, do I understand that if I go to the co-op store and they ask to see my license, I don’t have to produce it?
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Premier.
We have to keep in mind that co-op employees or Northern stores employees have to abide by that legislation, so they to have to ask for the license.
But as an Inuk, if I want to borrow a rifle, I can borrow anybody’s.
But for non-Inuit, they have to have that license in order to borrow or use a rifle.
So, this doesn’t apply to us, where we don’t have to produce a license if we want to borrow a rifle from our fellow Inuit.
So, it’s possible like that.
Question 101 – 2(2): Signed Certification of Inspection
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation and it goes back to that finely crafted return to an oral question that he provided.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated that they are looking at about $750,000 to do that work.
I guess the question that begs to be asked about these deficiencies in fire code regulations that for the most part that have been identified to be fixed.
Did the project receive a signed-off certificate by the fire marshal prior the final inspection?
Did he do an inspection?
Did he sign a certificate saying that it was alright, that the building was okay and that it met the codes?
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Responsible for Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kilabuk.
Yes, when the Nunavut Housing Corporation completed the purchase and sale agreement for the Parkdale, after obtaining the required approvals, it included the contract documents from the Office of the Fire Marshal, the city of Iqaluit, the Electrical and Safety Division of Public Works and Services, as well as compliance letters from consultants.
I remind you, Mr. Speaker, of what my colleague referred to earlier as, and which sounded so destructive, the constructive testing that they did.
It was only at this time that, with the support and assistance of the tenants’ observations regarding the building system, Nunavut Housing Corporation conducted the destructive testing, which led to the discovery of significant concealed construction deficiencies.
I have heard one of the problems that was there, again, was a fire code violation, in any type of common place, there has to be a sealed firewall between each unit, but that was not the case in these units.
So, I guess it is not just something that the Fire Marshal is supposed to be looking at prior to signing off on a project, saying that it is okay.
Unfortunately, in this case it was only after the barriers had been concealed and much after the deficiencies were found.
But normally, as I referred to earlier, the office of the fire marshal would have somebody inspect during construction, if they had the personnel at the time.
But because they did not have the personnel at the time of construction at these specific locations, it was only after the fact that the deficiencies were found.
I guess the minister is alluding to the fact that the Fire Marshal didn’t have enough time to do the inspection before signing off saying that it was alright.
I know members and, I am sure, the ministers are aware of, previous years, how there has been quotes from the Fire Marshal saying that he didn’t have a travel budget to go around and travel to the communities and do inspections.
Maybe that is something that came out after the fire in Joamie School.
So, given the fact that he doesn’t have the budget to go travelling around buildings within a kilometre of his office, this is why this was not inspected when it should have been?
It could have saved this government $750,000.
I understand my colleague’s concern about how this money could have possibly been saved.
I also want to go back to my earlier comments about the Fire Marshal not wanting to take the time to do the inspections.
The reason that the Fire Marshal was not there to be present at the inspections during the construction of those specific locations, as I said earlier, was because they didn’t have the personnel at the time of construction for those specific locations.
I guess I am a little confused.
If the Fire Marshal had signed off the certificate, isn’t he the one that does the inspections, or if he doesn’t have any staff to do the inspections for him, does he just sign off the certificate at face value?
So, I guess my question to the minister is: how many other certificates has the Fire Marshal signed without inspections being done?
We don’t want to see other buildings throughout the territory that may be in the same situation as this.
My colleague is very good at this.
I want to assure the House, and also my colleague, that this is the only one of immediate concern that has been brought to my attention regarding such deficiencies and regarding the fire prevention requirements.
So, at this time, I don’t know if there are any other deficiencies that would be of concern due to a lack of personnel to be able to do the inspections, as we have seen here with the condominiums in Iqaluit.
Written Question 021 – 2(2): Medical Travel Costs
My written question is for the Hon. Levinia Brown, Minister of Health and Social Services.
It’s concerning medical travel costs.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, the medical travel costs are one of the highest costs to our government, $50-80 million a year, depending on what numbers are being given to you.
For each fiscal year indicated below, how much was expended on airline tickets for patients traveling for medical treatment.
a) 2000-2001
b) 2001-2002
c) 2002-2003
d) 2003-2004
For each fiscal year indicated below, what percentage of medical travel for patients traveling for medical treatment was by charter aircraft, and what percentage by scheduled airline service:
For each fiscal year indicated below, how much was expended on airline tickets for escorts for patients traveling for medical treatment:
For each fiscal year indicated below, how much was expended on air ambulances for patients traveling emergency medical treatment:
For each fiscal year indicated below, how much was expended on accommodation and boarding homes, broken down by boarding home, for patients traveling for medical treatment:
For each fiscal year indicated below, how much was expended on accommodation and hotels or other commercial facilities for patients traveling medical treatment:
Item number 7, Written questions, Mr. Alagalak.
Written Question 022 – 2(2): Fuel Delivery
I’m sorry I picked this up during the Members' Statements.
This is the written questions that I have, I will read it. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the timing of fuel delivery can directly impact on the safety of the process. So I’m posing the following written questions on this important issue.
In 2002-2003-2004, what were the scheduled dates for fuel re-supply in each community in Nunavut.
In 2002-2003-2004 what were the actual dates for fuel re-supply in each community in Nunavut.
Written questions, going back to the orders of the day, Item 8.
Mr. Government Leader.
Tabled Document 032 – 2(2): Pinasuaqtavut 2004-2009
I would like to table a document entitled Pinasuaqtavut 2004-2009.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Government Leader.
Tabled Document 033 – 2(2): Convention on the Rights of the Child
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to table a document titled, United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child.
On October 2003, a committee on the rights of a child recommendations that recommends child advocates also be established in the provinces that have not done so, and in the three territories where a high proportion of vulnerable children.
Tabling of documents, Mr. Kilabuk.
Tabled Document 034 – 2(2): Nunavut Housing Corporation's "A Tenant's Handbook"
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Tenants’ Handbook.
There are no more tabling of documents.
Number 14.
Miss Aglukkaq.
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three, so bear with me on this one.
Bill 1 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2003/04 – Notice
I give notice on Monday, November 29, 2004 that Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation, Operation and Maintenance, Act Number 4, 2003-04, be read for the first time.
I will seek consent to deal with my motions today.
Bill 2 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2004/05 – Notice
I have another here.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, November 29, 2004 that Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation, Operations and Maintenance, Number 2, 2004-05 be read for the first time.
I will also seek consent to deal with my motion today.
Bill 3 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2004/05 – Notice
Lastly Mr. Speaker, I give notice on Monday, November 29, 2004 that Bill 3, Supplementary Appropriation for Capital Act 2004-05 be read for the first time.
Again, I will seek consent to deal with that motion.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Miss Aglukkaq.
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (interpretation): There are no more notices of motions for first reading of bills.
I request the consent of this Assembly to waive the two day notice requirements for first reading of Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation, Operation and Maintenance Act, Number 4, 2003-04.
Deputy Speaker: The Minister is seeking consent to 62(1) so that bill number one could have first reading today.
There are no nays. Please proceed Minister.
Bill 1 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2003/04 – First Reading
With this consent Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Amittuq that Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation, Operation and Maintenance, 2003-04 be read for the first time.
I request consent, again, of this assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement of first reading of Bill 2. Supplementary Appropriation Operation and Maintenance Act #2 2004-05.
Deputy Speaker: Thank you. The minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 2 can have the first reading today.
There are no nays, please proceed Minister.
Bill 2 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2004/05 – First Reading
I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Pangnirtung that Bill 2. Supplementary Appropriation Operation and Maintenance Act #2 2004-05 be read for the first time.
Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Madam.
The motion is carried and Bill 2 has had its first reading.
Ms Aglukkaq.
I request, again, the consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement for first reading of Bill 3, Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act #2 2004-05.
Deputy Speaker: The minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 3 can have its first reading today.
There are no nays, please proceed, minister.
Bill 3 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2004/05 – First Reading
I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit West that Bill 3, Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act #2, 2004-05 be read for the first time.
Any abstentions?
The motion is carried and Bill 3 has had its first reading.
(interpretation) Going back to the Orders of the Day.
Item 18. (interpretation ends) Second Reading of Bills.
Minister Aglukkaq.
Bill 1 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2003/04 – Second Reading
I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Amittuq that Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation, Operations and Maintenance Act #4, 2003-04 be read for the second time.
Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Minister.
The motion is carried, Bill 1 has had second reading and accordingly, the bill stands referred to Committee of the Whole.
Bill 2 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2004/05 – Second Reading
I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Pangnirtung that Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Operations and Maintenance Act #2 2004-05 be read for the second time.
The motion is in order to the principle of the bill.
The motion is carried and Bill 2 has had second reading and accordingly, the bill stands referred to the committee of the whole.
Bill 3 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2004/05 – Second Reading
I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit West that Bill 3, Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act #2, 2004-05 be read for the second time.
The motion is carried and Bill 3 has had second reading. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the committee of the whole.
Item 19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters; Bill 4, Appropriation and Capital Act 2005-2006; Bills 1, 2, 3 and 4, with Mr. Evyagotailak in the chair.
Before we proceed to the Committee of the Whole, we will break for lunch until 13:00.
>>House recessed at 11:50 and resumed at 13:07
Chairman: I would like to call the Committee meeting to order.
In the Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bill 4, Appropriation Capital Act 2005-2006.
Bill 1. Bill 2.
Mr. Arreak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We wish to continue with the review of Bill 4, and commence the review of the Capital Estimates for the Department of Education.
Are we in agreement we deal with education?
I would now like to ask Minister Picco for the Department of Education to make his opening remarks.
I’m very pleased to be here today to discuss the proposed 2005-2006 Department of Education Capital Project budget.
As stated in the original Bathurst Mandate and reflected in this budget, the Department of Education remains a priority, a priority of this government.
The Department of Education’s 2005-2006 Capital Budget, a strong budget with proposed expenditures of $19,093,000.
This budget allows this department to undertake 15 projects including 2 new projects at the planning stage.
Mr. Chairman, over the past 5 years, the department has developed a comprehensive school and facility database which enables us to set the priority for each project based on the rankings on the current facilities’ condition, utilization as well as the program requirements.
You may recall, Mr. Chairman, that they had an opportunity to unveil that new piece of technology in the committee hearings last month.
As well the department continues to gather information from Hamlets, District Education Authorities, School Operations, Nunavut Arctic College, and Community and Government Services as a fundamental part of developing, managing and refining our capital plan.
Mr. Chairman, this Department is moving forward.
This proposed capital plan includes two new schools and six school additions, two new Nunavut Arctic College facilities as well as sprinkler upgrades to several schools.
I believe this plan provides residents of Nunavut with the best affordable educational facilities this government can offer.
Construction will begin, continue or be completed in the communities of Arviat, Cambridge Bay, Iqaluit, Sanikiluaq and Whale Cove during the 2005/06 fiscal year.
We are proposing, Mr. Chairman, continued vigorous planning and design work for future projects in Cape Dorset, Iqaluit, Gjoa Haven and Qikiqtarjuaq.
We have emphasized principles of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in our planning and design, as well as supporting multi-purpose facilities, partnerships, and student training as fundamental elements in our construction contracts.
Mr. Chairman, while this proposed capital plan does not reflect a Trade Centre for Folk School, my department will also conduct feasibility studies for both projects within our operational budget in the upcoming year.
While there is great interest in a Folk School and the Vocational School, it is essential we define the program requirements before developing facility project budgets that we will bring forward at a future date.
Mr. Chairman, as strong as our capital budget is, the challenges facing education in Nunavut are equally demanding.
This government has been supportive and aggressive in meeting these challenges.
My department’s capital plan for the next five years will continue to make a great difference in provision of educational infrastructure across Nunavut.
I want to emphasize, Mr. Chairman, the delivery of the capital programming remains focused on delivering projects and not budgets to a community.
My department, as with all Nunavut departments, manages the capital program to best utilize the total capital budget.
With limitations on funding, it is important we all understand this fundamental management approach that best delivers the greatest project value to the largest number of communities in the most efficient manner.
I am very grateful to my colleagues sitting here today and I would like to conclude by saying very carefully, Mr. Chairman, I look forward to the comments of the standing committee on the capital estimates of 2005/06 for the Department of Education.
I look forward to the discussion and debate over the coming days in our capital budget.
Minister Picco, I would like to remind you that I am not Mr. Speaker.
You can call me Mr. Chairman, and I will be happy with that, thank you.
Yes, I would like my witnesses to go to the table.
And I will join them at that table.
Chairman: Sergeant-at-Arms, could you please escort the witnesses in.
For the record, Minister Picco, please introduce your witnesses...
First of all, on my immediate right is the indelible, fantastic Deputy Minister of the Department of Education, leading the way in both vocational and academic program, Ms. Pam Hine.
And on my immediate left is Mr. Lorne Levy, long term public servant as well as resident of Nunavut with a great deal of experience and is doing an excellent yeoman’s service on our capital plan for and on behalf of the people of Nunavut.
Chairman: She also looks a lot better than you, Mr. Minister.
Does the chair of the standing committee have any comments, Mr. Alagalak.  Mr. Alagalak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Yes, you may.
As the chair of the Standing Committee of Health and Education, I am pleased to have this opportunity to make some introductory remarks as we begin deliberation on capital estimates of the Department of Education which has a capital budget of over $19 million for the coming fiscal year.
A number of projects in the department’s capital plan during finding or design stage, the committee encourages the Minister and his department to give full consideration to communities on project design.
Members have noted that community recommendations relating to the size and state of a new facility often don’t appear to be taken into consideration when it comes to construction.
In a number of cases, new facilities required expensive additions very soon after they are built.
This is the case where the Iqaluit Aqsarniit Middle School was already too small when it opened just five years ago.
Continued construction of additional class space accounts for over $5 million of the 2005-06 capital plan.
Renovations to Iqaluit’s Inuksuk High School are projected to take place over a number of years.
While members understand that this long-term planning is intended to reduce the amount of disruption to students, it is also the case that budgets are only approved one year at a time which makes the plan vulnerable to changes in budgeting priorities.
Committee members are pleased to note the department’s initiative to provide greater protection to schools with the installation of sprinkler systems and talk of installing security cameras in schools across Nunavut.
In the past, this standing committee has recommended that the department establish partnerships with communities and other departments to expand on existing projects to cover multiple community needs.
While it appears that the department has acted on this recommendation, it is not always clear what the final agreements will be.
Mr. Chairman, the committee supports the department’s plans to provide accommodations to students enrolling in post-secondary programs at Nunavut Arctic College.
The lack of housing often means that students are unable to take advantage of opportunities to upgrade their skills and improve their chances of employment.