EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
They also review and provide input into proposals that are submitted by consultants chosen to carry out clean up activities at the Dew Line sites.
In my correspondence to members, I detailed the schedule and status of clean up operations at every Dew Line site and I am tabling this information in the House today.
I would like to assure Mr. Iqaqrialu that his concern surrounding the clean up of these sites is being closely monitored by my officials.
Return to OQ 143 – 1 (3): Economic Agreement with Echo Bay Mines
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I left my mike on.
Today I would like to make a reply to a question that was brought up by the member for Iqaluit Centre in regards to Echo Bay Mines.
This information was also contained in a letter to Mr. Tootoo sent after the last session.
As members are aware, Echo Bay Mines have announced the reopening of the Lupin Mine and officials in my Department have been in discussion with mine officials about ensuring that employment and business impacts fall to Nunavut.
The Kitikmeot Inuit Association is also working with Echo Bay to ensure that there are linkages made to the labour force and business community in the Kitikmeot.
However, Mr. Speaker, there are no binding agreements requiring Echo Bay to employ residents of the Northwest Territories or Nunavut.
Echo Bay Mines and the Government of the NWT did sign an agreement in principle on a socio-economic action plan, which the company substantively lived up to by hiring Nunavummiut and providing access at company expense to the mine site from Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk.
On the question of whether employees at the Lupin Mine from outside Nunavut will pay personal income tax in Nunavut, this is determined by Revenue Canada on the basis of their principle residence.
Therefore an employee at the Lupin Mine whose family and home are in Alberta would pay income tax in Alberta.
Return to OQ 88 – 1 (3): Baker Lake Freezer
So that I don't have to keep standing up, I have four responses for returns to oral questions and I will cover them all.
One of them will be in English.
(interpretation ends) The first was a question asked by Mr. McLean on October 28, 1999.
The Baker Lake freezer was well maintained but has exceeded its life span and requires replacement.
Since the community of Baker Lake has an Empowerment Agreement with Community Government & Transportation, there has been uncertainty about Departmental responsibility for funding the replacement.
Community freezers are currently the responsibility of the Department of Sustainable Development, however, the former Department of Public Works, now Public Works and Housing, often provided staff to assist with freezer maintenance.
The Superintendent of Community Government & Transportation, Department of Sustainable Development and Public Works & Housing, have agreed to draft a discussion paper on the community freezer program for their Ministers' review.
When the review has been completed, the responsible Department will provide an update.
Return to OQ 93 – 1 (3): Rankin Inlet Utilidor Project
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): The next one is a return to an oral question that was brought up by Mr. Iqaqrialu regarding the Rankin Inlet Utilidor Project.
The budget for the project was 8.9 million, with the Hamlet paying the larger share of the costs.
The correction of the elevation calculation error on the Nuuvuk Subdivision utilidor did not cause the project to go over budget.
There were no additional costs to the Government of Nunavut as a result of the error.
Return to OQ 106 – 1 (3): Length of Runway Overlay in Qikiqtarjuaq
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I have another return to an oral question regarding the length of a runway overlay for Qikiqtarjuaq.
The project was intended to extend the runway to 3,939 feet.
During a geo-technical check, problems with soil conditions causing unstable ground were found after the 3,800 foot mark.
Therefore the overlay was extended only to 3,800 feet from the existing 3,475 feet and the angle straightened to produce a standard taxiway shape.
Thirty eight hundred feet is more than sufficient for air carriers such as the Hawker Sidley, which requires 3,500 feet for maximum loads.
Return to OQ 107 – 1 (3): Location of Old Dump Site
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): A response to Mr. Nutarak's question on October 29, 1999.
The Department is funding the "Abandonment and Restoration" project on the old dumpsite at Pond Inlet, which began in 1999. Three hundred and eighty thousand was spent in 1999/2000.
If budget estimates are approved, another 180 thousand will be spent to complete the project in the upcoming year.
This should deal with the concern about unpleasant smells in the area.
Once the project is completed to the satisfaction of the Medical Officer of Health, the Department of Health & Social Services will consider the request for the exemption order which is required to allow our Community Lands and Planning Division to prepare leases.
Item 5, Mr. Arvaluk.
I have a lot of people to acknowledge and recognize.
I would like to recognize Laura Qaumak.
She was selected to attend the Governor General's Conference this spring so she is going to be attending that.
I would like to welcome you to the Gallery.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of people to recognize.
I would like to have all the people sitting on the stage up there to be recognized.
If I were to name all the people it would take too long and I'd like to make the elders and the people feel welcome.
First of all I have a lot of people to recognize.
I would like to recognize my wife, Lorraine, I am glad she was able to come down with me.
Today I rise to recognize my constituency assistant, Lena Taparti to Rankin Inlet and also my daughter and son in law, Laura and Downey Qaumak.
Right now, Ms. Ittinuar, our Sergeant at Arms, I will ask you to remove the mace so we can have a 20 minute break.
For those people who wish to eat with us there is going to be some food out there.
>>House recessed 3:00 pm and resumed 3:30 pm
Question 148 - 1(3): Fuel Price Increase Effects on Hunters
Mr. Speaker, I have a question directed towards the Department of Public Works.
Mr. Speaker, NTI President Paul Quassa has released a report and he was interviewed and we were told that there were going to be fuel hikes.
We will be paying almost a million dollars because of the increase in the gas prices.
Paul Quassa also stated that the hunters have rights to go hunting, trapping and fishing within Nunavut.
I would like to ask the minister if the ministers are as concerned as we are about the gas price hikes.
This gas price hike became effective on January 1, and I would like to ask the ministers if they would work together with Nunavut Tunngavik in regards to the gas price hikes.
I had received a letter from the President of NTI and I have responded to him about the price hike on fuel.
We just followed the world prices of fuel and the price of fuel has gone up in Canada, and we have no choice but to follow it.
As the Government we do pay a subsidy for fuel and it is a huge amount.
Nunavut Tunngavik had written a letter to us about their concern over the hunters having to pay the high price of fuel, however, we as a Government have no other form of subsidy program for the hunters because the Petroleum Products Division already has a subsidy program.
Do you want to ask a supplementary question.
No. Mr. Tootoo.
Question 149 - 1(3): Communication with MLAs on Fuel Price Increase
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Public Works & Housing.
Mr. Speaker on January 1st, 2000, the people of my constituency were very surprised to learn that the costs of diesel, gas and aviation fuel were raised by 5 cents a litre by the Petroleum Products Division of the minister's department.
However, it was on January 6th, 2000 that the minister sent a letter to MLAs informing us of this price increase.
My question to the minister is, why weren't the regular MLAs informed or told about this increase before it went into place.
About the fuel price hikes, this was approved by the Cabinet and there was no other way out.
It was evident that we had to go through with this so I apologize to the regular members. We did not inform you right away but we had informed the Hamlet Councils, so I apologize to the regular members.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Ms. Thompson. Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, in the Bathurst Mandate the Government says that the Government is guided by the principles of openness and the mandate also says that MLAs will be respected as important sources of community opinion.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister if she feels, again why we weren't told and why she felt that it was more important to inform the Hamlets and not the elected members that represent those people.
I do apologize that was your first supplementary, I will allow you another question.
I apologize, we are human beings and we do make mistakes in the world, so that was a mistake on our part and I apologize as I stated before.
So I apologize again, it was unintentional and we do want to be close to the communities so that is what we did.
So again, I apologize.
Oral questions, second supplementary, Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask then if the minister would be willing to commit to the members of this House, if in future any issues that are related to all of us, that they would make an effort to inform us prior to their decision going out to the public.
Yes, as we are a new government I am not the sole member to have made that mistake.
Yes, I think on behalf of the Cabinet, I think we have to inform the regular members.
So I apologize, that doesn't always happen, but yes in future we will try to do so.
This is how we learn from our mistakes.
Question 150 - 1(3): Timing of Fuel Price Increase
Mr. Speaker, my question is on the same issue and it's to the Minister responsible for Petroleum Products.
Mr. Speaker, the increase in the fuel by 6 cents came at a very unfortunate time of the year.
It was around Christmas time and we were informed or learned that the price was going up by 6 cents.
It's like, to me Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, here's your Christmas gift.
My concern is that the fuel that is presently in the tanks was purchased last year and has been there since last summer.
Why is the price being increased now on fuel that was purchased last year.
We could have increased the price the day the fuel was delivered but we deferred the increase until now.
So the price was going to increase then but did not.
Mr. Speaker, is the minister stating that she was aware when we purchased this fuel at X number of dollars last summer, last spring, that she was aware the price was going to increase but did not notify the members or the communities that there was going to be an expected increase in our fuel costs.
Yes, I apologize, we had to increase the fuel price when everybody was celebrating Christmas.
I don't think we can expect prices to go down, but it was not 6 cents, it was 5 cents.
The increasing of the price was set for that date.
Again, I apologize if we did not notify the members properly.
Mr. Speaker, I am not seeking an apology for the increase, I realize there are reasons for this, I am just trying to get my mind around the process and why it happened at the time it happened.
Given the fact that the minister has stated that she was aware that the price was going to increase.
My earlier question was, the fact that this fuel was purchased last year, at X number of dollars, what is the rationale for increasing the price of fuel that we purchased at a lower price.
We usually increase the prices during the fall and it's evident as I have stated before we don't expect the prices of fuel to go down.
Although we paid for that fuel at that price we have to follow the increases too, so that is just a normal procedure.
Unfortunately that still didn't answer my question.
The minister is basically saying that the fuel that we purchased last year, if we purchased it for example at 30 dollars a barrel, there is an increase of another 10 dollars.
So we are paying an increase on fuel that we purchased last year at a lower price.
My question to the minister is what knowledge does she have, if any, of where we are going from this point on with increases to our fuel costs.
We had tried to look as to how we could decrease the price and at that time you were the Chairman when the Keewatin people were talking about the fuel prices.
At that time it was evident and understandable how we could decrease the prices of fuel.
My officials in Petroleum Products, I have asked them to look into how we can best deal with the fuel coming into Nunavut.
At this time we are now working on this issue, and that is the work that we are doing for the future.
Question 151 - 1(3): Price of Previous Year's Fuel
On the fuel price increase and gas, oil and other products.
Last year the fuel was purchased at a set price.
We all know that the world price of crude now is around 30 dollars US a barrel.
What was the price of the fuel purchased last year.
Does the minister know what the price was of the fuel that was purchased last year.
In regards to the question and how much the price was last year and what the price is today, I will have to look into it and take it as notice.
Question 152 - 1(3): Fuel Price Increase and Cost of Transportation
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Public Works & Housing regarding the fuel price increase.
In the minister's letter that we received, dated January 6, the minister stated that part of the cost of the increase was due to the higher costs of transportation.
I would like to ask the minister if she could inform us as to how much more we had to pay in transportation costs this year over last year with the fuel.
That's a detailed question and I'll have to look into it in more detail.
I'll take that as notice as well.
Question 153 - 1(3): Report on Cape Dyer Project
I have a question for the Minister of Sustainable Development, regarding the letter that I received.
There's nothing in there that makes reference to the work that has to be done right outside of my community.
If you could direct your staff to do some work, I would appreciate it.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I didn't hear a question.
Possibly you could rephrase it.
Could you direct your staff to have the report done on the Cape Dyer project.
In regards to the question of Mr. Iqaqrialu, this is totally different than the question that he brought up earlier.
The Department of Sustainable Development has the authority to direct anyone should there be any sites that have to be cleaned up.
In the letter there are some sites that we didn't identify in the report.
There's not much that we can do before we get direction from the members or anyone.
Question 154 - 1(3): Impact of Fuel Price Increase
My next question is to the Minister responsible for Petroleum Products.
Mr. Speaker, we were hit with a 5, 6, 7 cent per litre rise in fuel prices last year based on the freight and the world price of crude.
I know this year like everything else the cost of living is going up everywhere and we are about to purchase fuel again.
I know that we didn't get the full impact on the last increase on the price of fuel.
But we are going to be buying fuel at possibly a higher cost again this year, plus the freight will probably go up again as well.
Does the minister anticipate what kind of increase we will be looking at this year so we can maybe look at lessening the impact.
In regards to the increased prices, if there is an increase in anything the government eats it up.
We only raised the price by 5 cents, while we could have put it up more.
We had to put an increase on the gas prices.
Today I cannot tell you how much more increase there will be this coming year, all I can say is that if anything is coming up, if there is going to be an increase in prices and the world market goes up again, of course there will be an increase up here.
In Nunavut, the Nunavut Government gives at least a 50% subsidy.
The MLA for Baker Lake, this is a hypothetical question, so today I can't tell you how much it is going to increase next year.
Speaker: Oral question, Mr. McLean.
I don't have to stress the importance of gasoline and the impact it has on the traditional economy in Nunavut.
We know that there are a lot of subsistence hunters and trappers out there and an increase in the cost of gasoline really impacts how people in Nunavut put food on their table.
I know we subsidize the gas as a government and I know the government and they try to act in our best interest and I myself watching the world price of crude going up know and that there is a ripple effect in that we may be hit with another increase.
Is this government or this minister prepared to look at the cost effectiveness and looking at the bottom line when they're purchasing petroleum products and playing hardball and also at the carriers when they're bringing it in.
Are we paying premiums when we purchase petroleum products and will this government look at bringing in fuel at a competitive price.
Rather than not being so diligent on it.
Thank you Ms. Minister.
Speaker : Mr. McLean two questions and you exceeded your allowable questions.
Ms. Thompson: Thank You Mr. Speaker, we will look at the options that the member has suggested as a government I will direct the staff to start looking at that option.
Question 155 - 1(3): Gjoa Haven Drinking Water
I think everybody knows about Gjoa Haven and the water quality.
The water in Gjoa Haven is of poor quality and every body knows of that now.
We have heard it through the media.
Through CBC when we were in Iqaluit, and there was also an article done about it in the newspapers.
I talked about this with the Mayor in Gjoa Haven and what they see now is these worms in the water and also they had sent out a samples to find out if there is any bacteria in the water.
They were told that the water is drinkable and the water is good for consumption and Mr. Speaker with that in mind I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services and his department to ensure the good quality of drinking water in Gjoa Haven.
They would like to have good water.
My question to the minister is what are you going to do about the situation.
Speaker : Mr. Picco
Hon. Ed Picco : Thank you Mr. Speaker, good afternoon.
Mr Speaker I promised the members during this session I would keep my answers short and to the point.
Hon. Ed Picco: Mr. Speaker, the member has brought up a very serious issue.
The worms are not considered to be a health risk however their appearance in the water is not an acceptable matter.
We are currently working with Community Government, Housing and Transportation, Mr. Anawak’s department to hopefully rectify the problem as soon as possible.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): : Thank you Mr. Speaker. As Inuit, if you can understand where I am coming from, we have a concern, using this glass as an example, I wouldn't want to drink something that had a worm in it even though it might not do any harm to your body and I'm sure that nobody in Nunavut or the rest of Canada would want to either.
I'm trying to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, that the people I'm representing in Gjoa Haven have been alarmed and they are wondering whether their water could make you sick.
They've been told it's okay for consumption, but when there is something in the water that is foreign nobody wants to see that and the mayor in Gjoa Haven has also stated that there is chlorine in the water and the chlorine doesn't kill these worms.
What is going to happen to these people.
Is something going to start growing in them.
Mr. Minister can you respond to my question so that I can give a response back to the people back in Gjoa Haven.
If you would respond please, Mr. Minister.
Hon. Ed Picco : Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker let me first say that and speaking on behalf of this government, we realize that having that larva having that organism in the water is not acceptable.
What needs to be done is that some type of filter or some type of valve on the intake for the water in the water reservoir.
My understanding is Mr. Speaker that the sump pump that sucks the water out was maybe too close to the ground and thus the larva came in.
They are not a health risk.
But they don't look good for the appearance of the water, and I agree with him.
We are working with CGT, and CGT is looking at technical ways for fixing this problem as soon as possible.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you Mr Speaker.
If we will do something about this problem right away could you give me a time line of when the people of Gjoa Haven will have clean water.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr Speaker.
It is my understanding that CGT is working on this problem currently.
There has to be information gathered on how the water is transported from the reservoir, to the trucks and then to the domestic establishments - homes and offices and so on.
That work is continuing.
What I can say to the member after the session today I will meet with the member and we will find out exactly where we are right now.
We'll meet with Mr. Anawak whose department is working on this issue to try and rectify it.
And let me say again Mr. Speaker, these worms are distasteful to see but all indications from the department of health is they are safe and we are trying to help the people of Gjoa Haven.
Speaker : Thank you Mr. Picco.
Question 156 - 1(3): Fuel Price Impact on Harvesters
Mr. O'Brien: Mr. Speaker my question is to the Minister responsible for Public Works and Petroleum Products, and it is in reference to the fuel increase issue we spoke about earlier.
Mr. Speaker, the president of NTI- Paul Quassa, stated publicly that this increase in fuel would cost approximately a million dollars, or the increase for local hunters would be a million dollars more for the cost of their fuel.
I'm wondering if the minister has had any discussions with NTI or the Minister of Sustainable Development, in reference to the concern that is out there regarding this increase in fuel and the impact on harvesters.
Minister responsible for Public Works.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Thank you, when I received a letter from Paul Quassa when he wrote about the increase of the oil, I wrote a letter to the Minister for the Department of Sustainable Development and Paul Quassa indicating that we are not able to solve the problem.
But if they do have any concerns and they wish to help the people of Nunavut and they wish to help through the harvesters income support program that we would be willing to help through that harvesters program, and it stands as it is today.
Speaker: Thank you Ms. Thompson. Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. O'Brien: Thank you Mr Speaker.
The minister indicated and I'm pleased to hear that she sent off a letter to NTI in reference to this.
Has the minister got a reply back from this letter, and the other part of my question is - has the minister had a discussion with the Minister of Sustainable Development, and if so, what assistance could be provided to local hunters.
Ms. Thompson from Public Works.
I still have not received a response from the Department of Sustainable Development.
But I do know I wrote a letter to Paul Quassa and I immediately tried to tell him that on behalf of the Nunavut beneficiaries we would be willing to try and help.
But, I haven't received an answer today.
I am keeping the channels open and am waiting for a response.
Question 157 - 1(3): Gasoline Subsidies
Mr. Tootoo : Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Public Works and Services and it’s in regards to petroleum products.
I would like to ask the minister as she indicated in her letter of January 6th, that we could no longer to afford to offer fuel at the same rates as it is costing us more. I'm under the understanding that there has always has been a subsidy for those fuels.
I'd like to ask the minister if she could tell us exactly what is the level of subsidy for gasoline.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Tootoo, two questions for the Minister responsible for Public works.
Hon. Manitok Thompson : Thank you.