EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Tabled Document 030 – 2(4): Patient Charters for Sanikiluarmiut - Letters to Minister of Health and Social Services & Minister of Economic Development and Transportation from Kivalliq Air (Aglukkaq)
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I have two items I would like to table today.
First I would like to table the FASD Calendar for 2007 that was designed using the posters from the FASD Poster Contest. These were the posters that hung in the Legislative Assembly through November 2006.
The second item I would like to table today, as I committed yesterday, is the correspondence exchanged between the community of Sanikiluaq, Kivalliq Air, myself, and the previous Minister of ED&T in reference to the medevac services provided to the community.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Please bring the documents to the officer’s table. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents.
Bill 05 – An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act – Notice
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I give notice that on Thursday, March 15, 2007, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act, be read for the first time.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills.
Bill 08 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Notice
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I give notice that on Thursday, March 15, 2007, that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the first time. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Before we proceed to the Committee of the Whole, we will take a 20-minute break.
>>House recessed at 15:12 and Committee resumed at 15:37
Chairman (Mr. Barnabas)(interpretation): Welcome. We’ll go back to our meeting.
During Committee of the Whole, we were dealing with Bill 1, Bill 2, and Bill 3.
Mr. Evyagotailak: Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with Bill 1 and the review of the main estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services, followed by the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Evyagotailak. Is the committee agreed that we will continue with the main estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services?
Chairman (interpretation): I would like to ask Minister Brown if she wishes to bring her officials to the witness table.
Chairman (interpretation): Does the committee agree to bring the minister and her official go to the witness table?
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the officials to the witness table.
Thank you. Welcome Minister Brown and your officials.
Please introduce your officials for the record, Minister Brown.
On my right is the Deputy Minister Pam Hine, and I also have with me Mike Rafter.
Yesterday we were on page J-5.
We’ll go back to J-5.
I would like to recognize Mr. Arvaluk who was posing questions.
The question I was asking before in the main estimates 2006-07, revised estimates, $5,000 is in there now.
The way I think I understood it is that because it is too...given to the hamlet council for the fuel price costs.
Why is it under the directorate?
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): I think it is $5 million, not $5,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Arvaluk.
The $5 million was to assist the supplementary for Petroleum Products Division.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): So, do I understand that when the fuel prices went up, I believe it was close to $20 million. How come it is only $5 million to assist the Petroleum Products Division?
Under 2006-07, the fuel costs cost more so we had to ask for another $5 million for Petroleum Products Division and the stabilization fund was going to be a one-time thing to be applied to 2006-07.
We are still on Community and Government Services.
J-6.
Chairman (interpretation): We’ll go to J-7.
Community Support. J-8, J-9, J-10.
In her opening remarks, she stated that prices went up 30 percent for the transportation, beginning 2002 to today.
There has been an increase of 30 percent.
Due to the rising costs, and looking at the communities, there is no consideration given to the rising costs.
Where would they show that increase for the operation of the hamlets?
There’s even an increase under sewage services. Can the minister explain to us why there doesn’t seem to be too much change from the previous years and why is the amount increased in the budget?
Yes, it was starting from 2002, in the communities; there was an increase of 30 percent because of rising costs.
To what he’s saying, the funding that is given to the communities, the funding that was used and starting from 2006-07, there is a slight increase in 2007-08.
Maybe there is an increase of $2.5 million to the communities.
If that is the case, there should be an increase, especially with the fuel and electricity costs. The prices keep going up.
The grants that are given to the hamlets for operations and maintenance remain the same.
At this time, the hamlets in the communities must be going through very difficult times, especially when their funding is not increased.
The communities are visited in the regions and they review the funding that they get.
In fact, just recently in February, we received funding from the federal government and that was divided amongst the communities.
Because of the rising cost of fuel and transportation, there was an increase of $2.5 million to each community, which will be used for fuel, electricity, and utilities.
I personally signed the funding that was given to those communities but they were different amounts depending on the size of the communities.
The bigger communities with bigger responsibilities received more.
That being the case, when the costs are going up, especially the private businesses that are serviced by the hamlets, does the minister know if the costs affect the private businesses and owners?
Yes, I understand your concern and question.
We only deal with the hamlets and we make sure that they don’t go into deficit.
In some cases, a lot of communities their funding is in the black and we’re proud of that.
So in order to avoid them going into a deficit, Community and Government Services and the hamlet administration staff review their funding regularly.
We’re on J-9.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): I just want clarification on page J-7. Main estimates, 2006-07, $4,839,000, and the revised, $2,934,000.
If they were making $100,000, that is 30 PYs. Did you have to lay off some employees and then put them back in 2006-07?
Yes, there are three vacant positions, and they were not laid off. There were no layoffs. At this time there are still three vacant positions.
So, that’s why the funding varies from year to year, to date.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): If the three positions were filled, without using the $2,934,000, once these three positions are filled it would be $4,579,000.
How much money are they earning?
I will ask Mr. Rafter to respond to that question.
To clarify, there were approximately 18 positions that were vacant during the course of the year. And, the funding was reinstated during the course of the year to several under funded initiatives, from salaries, from vacant positions to several areas within the departmental budget that were short of funds.
Mr. Arvaluk: This is my last question, Mr. Chairman. Then you are expecting to have these 18 PYs reinstated, or at least filled to spend $4,579,000. Is that correct?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. Madame Minister.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, that’s what we want to do and we expect to see it occur that way.
We are on page J-7, J-8, J-9, and J-10.
On J-8 there is an item there called; Grants in Lieu of Taxes. It says to provide grants in the amount equivalent to property taxes for property owned by the Government of Nunavut, to municipal taxing authorities. As far as I’m aware, Iqaluit is the only municipal taxing authority in the territory.
My question is, you look at the revised main estimates for the 2006-07 year it was $1,890,000 up from the original main estimate, which is exactly the same as what’s been proposed for the 2007-08 year.
So I was just wondering what happened there; it was higher.
Maybe did we lose some property that that amount is going to go down pretty seriously?
Why isn’t it the same as the $1,890,000 that was revised, too, last year?
Yes, we have been trying to address this but the GN is in the process of reviewing forced growth.
We hope to address the need very soon.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Madame Minister. (interpretation ends) Mr. Tootoo.
Maybe a question for the 2006-07 year, the 1.890, is that more like the actual amount that was paid out for a grant in lieu of taxes for the 2006-07 year?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. (interpretation ends) Madame Minister.
Yes, we did forecast the need in the order of $2,100,000 for 2007-08.
If that’s the case, I’m just wondering how come it doesn’t show it in here with the amount that you’re forecasting that that’s what you’re going to need; it’s just under $1 million short of what you’re forecasting. I’m just wondering if I could get an explanation to that.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the one on my right, Mr. Rafter, to respond to the question.
Yes, the minister is correct. In 2006-07 we paid about $1,890,000 to the City of Iqaluit for grants in lieu of taxes. The numbers aren’t finalized for the 2007-08 year yet.
They’re going to be somewhere in the order about $2,100,000 and some of this information has become known over the past number of months after the final drafts were prepared. We would expect to be able to meet this by going forward to the management board during the course of the 2007-08 year.
I’m sure all of the taxpayers in the City here would be happy this year because they all pay their taxes and they’ll be happy to hear that the government is going to pay all its taxes as well for the property that it has here in the City.
So I guess I’m just looking for a commitment, even though it says the $1,200,000 here that the government is planning on paying its full amount of taxes to the City of Iqaluit, it’s roughly $2,100,000 for the 2007-08 year.
I would like to confirm that that’s correct.
No forced growth was funded this year and the government will revisit the issue in 2007-08.
We’re on page J-7, J-8, J-9, and J-10.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I would like to ask the minister that in some communities the Municipal Funding Program is used mainly.
I think they also get funding under Airport Operating Services, but the council wasn’t too happy.
Is the airport going through the Transportation Division or is it coming through Community and Government Services?
Yes, you are correct; it is going through Economic Development and Transportation. They have that responsibility for the airports.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, that’s what I figured, and I’m sure that the minister heard that we were facing a difficult situation in Rankin Inlet.
I’m going to pose a question later in regard to that.
With regard to the $1,500,000 that you just issued a press release on, that this line item will be used to help communities regarding energy.
My question under that line item; what kinds of criteria do you have?
Is it a fuel subsidy criteria, or do the proponents have to sign application forms?
What is going to happen out of that money?
Yes, we all heard through the media that $1,500,000 was allocated to the communities, and each community’s funding allocation varies according to what kinds of the services that they were going to be using it for, whether it is water or sewer.
The funding was already allocated, and they did a study in each region. The Kitikmeot region studied how much was expended last year.
They followed the actual expenditures.
That’s how the funding was allocated even though the amount varied in each community.
That’s how their funding was allocated to support the municipalities, like when the fuel prices increase, for example, and also for the energy increase.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Perhaps the Deputy Minister or her officials can respond as to what kinds of criteria were used and how much did Rankin Inlet or Arctic Bay get?
Are there any criteria that they have to use, or did you just allocate the money or distribute the funding to the communities following the population numbers? What were the criteria used?
I will speak English. (interpretation ends) It is based on a formula.
It was actual expenditures from prior years.
That’s what it was based on, when the money was being divided.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. Yes, I would like to... yes, could that criteria, if so, and then just a press release that was provided to us on February 19.
Could the minister provide us with a more specific outline of the program?
Is this a one-time program, or will it be annually?
Will it be as it states, based on the increased power and fuel costs only?
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m going to ask Mr. Rafter to respond to that question.
Mr. Rafter: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The allocation of the $2,500,000 was based on prior year results in hamlets audited financial statements that was based on consumption at that time and taken into account in addition to that was the level of the Fuel Stabilization Rider.
So it was intended to offset the incremental costs related to heating fuel, electricity consumption, and the Fuel Stabilization Rider.
Mr. Curley: Do I understand it then that each community will be eligible and they will be provided with a portion of that funding?
Yes, that’s how it’s going to be.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you. It’s going to be beneficial to the communities. I will conclude with that for now.
My next question, I think the minister announced during the committee meetings in regard to the lottery programs are going to be reviewed. I think they’re being continually reviewed.
Perhaps the minister can update us on the lottery regulations and programs.
Currently, the Government of Nunavut uses the legislation, which was adopted from the Government of the Northwest Territories upon division.
Much of this legislation contains materials that is not relevant to Nunavut, and needs to be put in a Nunavut-specific context in order to better reflect the needs and experiences of Nunavummiut.
The Department of Community and Government Services is currently working on amendments to the Local Authorities Election Act, and the Civil Emergency Measures Act.
I would like to ask another question to the minister in regard to the amendments. We would like to be informed as to why there was an amendment.
The reason why I am asking this question is you definitely will have to have a public consultation as some of the communities don’t have any money for their lottery program, and I think bingo is part of that.
There is no money left for some of the family members; they don’t have any money to buy food any more because all the money they had is spent on playing bingo.
I would like to ask the minister if she could tighten up the regulations.
I think they have to be under a charity status.
Is it true that as long as you say that you’re a sports group and not necessarily have a charitable status that you can hold bingos, or do some fundraising along that line?
In regard to the comments that my colleague was talking about, I can look into the regulations. I, personally, would like to see a public consultation in this regard.
The hamlets are responsible for the lottery regulations and I know exactly where you’re coming from.
I would like to hold public consultations so that we can hear from the residents of Nunavut.
I’m sure that there are going to be quite a lot of people who will be making comments on this issue.
It is getting easier and easier to get a gambling license.
Even if the organizations are not registered, is it possible for them to get a license and are you comfortable with that as the Minister responsible for that?
If it’s going to be an organization that is not a registered group, I think the government will have to make a decision and have it run by an independent gambling commission aside from the hamlet council.
I think we should consider looking at the options we have and look at our southern counterparts and see what kinds of regulations they have.
Usually what happens is if (interpretation ends) ... the government, okay?
They are outsmarting you, so whenever the family allowance night is happening, and the time the family allowance, and GST payments are coming in, the groups will line up as a big event for bingo night.
It’s not surprising to see a $15,000 bingo night almost every week or every second week in larger communities.
So, should this kind of affair be regulated a little more seriously? I think that’s the question you guys have to look at.
I really truly believe that we need an independent licensing commission, or gambling commission for that matter; formalize it so that it’s not only those groups.
Let’s say a sports group needs to raise money, go down and get a bingo night a few weeks at a time before the big event happens.
So it seems to be there are no regulations whatsoever that works to really manage and control it.
I think there is room to control it. There is room to improve that.
Can the minister really have a more formal, very formal gambling public consultation in review of the proposed legislation so that there will be a formal announcement as to what is happening to these kinds of things that I am raising.
The Act in itself is outdated, and we have to look at it and update it.
I think your suggestion is great about having consultations.
I really am in agreement with that because right now, all our organizations, even though they’re required to file a regular report of their earnings, and what took place in their activities, it’s difficult to promise the outcome right now as it is because of the outdated Act.
So as the minister responsible for this, I think it’s important for you guys to hear that we will push for community consultations and that way everybody will have input, and that way we’ll have informed direction.
I have a final question with respect to bingo.
Bingo is the only one that I know. There might be a whole lot more gambling programs that are contained within one license. I don’t know.
Bingo is the only one that I do know of. I don’t think I’ve ever really played bingo myself. I do want to ask you a question because I did find out from a young person in the community; how much does a bingo card cost?
They said; it depends. It depends on what? It depends on how big the jackpot is.
So should the bingo cards or for individuals be regulated because when I look at the whole income support recipients, to have to pay a $20 bingo card for regular bingo nights is really something else.
I normally see welfare bingo cards when you happen to walk into somebody’s place when it’s a bingo night on their tables. You see a whole slew of them on the table.
During the larger events, you’re always told that it costs about $30 a bingo night.
It may not be a big thing here in a place like Iqaluit but I can tell you it means a lot to income support recipients who depend on any scrap of money to try and buy some food.
So I’m just really quite concerned that I think gambling is out of control in Nunavut and we’ve got to put some serious thinking into it. Will the minister continue to keep us up-to-date on what she’s doing about the gambling programs?
Yes, I concur with the member’s statement.
We do not promote gambling but it’s out there. Of course, it’s difficult to regulate certain behaviours.
Of course, there’s room for considering change. So I agree. I would like to see community consultations to have discussions with the communities. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
There’s $1.5 million that was given to the hamlets through Community and Government Services that was for the fuel rider.
Even though that was the case, and to supplement Mr. Mapsalak’s comments, there are private business owners who are not eligible for this or don’t have access to this money, especially the larger amount that’s given to the smaller communities.
My question is: are we going to be able to give financial support to the private business owners?
I know exactly where you’re coming from but as a government we can’t help everybody. We have very limited financial resources and I do want to help everywhere we can but as you are probably aware, the cost of living has increased dramatically this year and it’s ever-increasing.
I believe, and I’m sure that I’m not the only one, that on November 1 there was an increase in the fuel price and since that increase; we heard that it had a domino effect on the services and programs that are available out there; food, for example, at the retail outlets.
On more than one occasion in Rankin Inlet we hear that the cost of food is increasing almost on a daily basis. I don’t think it has anything to do with the fuel cost.
One five-pound bag of oranges used to be $5.99 and it’s now $8.99.
Even here they’re about $12, $13 and potatoes are the same case.
Even though there is an increase in fuel I don’t think that this constant increasing of prices doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the cost of fuel.
I was just in Yellowknife recently, because we couldn’t go to Rankin Inlet; I bought a $0.28 bias tape.
At the NorthMart here it was $2.02, exactly the same item.
So it was very, very cheap in Yellowknife and then you come over here and it was $2 plus, and it barely weighs more than an ounce.
I’m sure that it goes for every item that is made available at the retail outlets.
We see increases almost on a daily basis, but it’s not necessarily due to the fuel costs.
I know exactly where you’re coming from but I just wanted to state some facts and I would like to tell you that we can’t help everyone out there.
I understand exactly where you’re coming from, but again on J-8, I have a question regarding the Disability Council.
We had a meeting with them at that time and on J-8 there’s $40,000 set aside for senior citizens and disabled persons grants.
I think for Health and Social Services there’s approximately $90,000 that’s made available.
What is this $40,000 going to be used for?
It’s for senior citizens and disabled persons.
That $40,000 comes from Community and Government Services and they can get 100 percent grants for such things as Iqaluit residents for their property taxes. The other communities can get some assistance from the Department of Finance who are seniors and disabled persons.
These are just for senior citizens and disabled persons for paying their property taxes.
I just had a thought while my colleague was talking about the topic of gambling, and the minister indicated that we know it’s out there; and something that we really can’t control people’s behaviour.
I also heard here a number of times, and this government, that you can’t help everybody; we don’t have the resources to help everybody.
Also, the fact that they’d like to do some consultations and look at considering some different changes.
I know in other jurisdictions throughout the country they do have casinos that are operated by the government. They’re looking at it as going to generate revenues.
Would that be something that this government would look at setting up - government-run casinos?
Thank you, Member.
Any suggestions that we have from you are welcome.
You belong to the government too. It’s up to you too to decide. We all can jointly have discussions on this issue if the government wants to have casinos or not.
It’s up to the people, and the people elect their government, and we’re all people so, we should work together to see if we want that or not.
It’s just like with alcohol, and drugs, and gambling. It’s a problem that’s out there; a lot of the social problems that it causes.
If, and I hope not, but if that’s a direction that the government decides to go in to look at generating revenue, that they do a thorough consultation on that to make sure.
The government, I don’t care if it’s me or anyone else in here, I don’t think making a decision like that is up to us to make.
If you look at it, it would just benefit us as a government.