EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I congratulate all 35 graduates from Nattilik. I hope they all can continue to further their education and for the rest of the students I wish to say that they should stay in school and try and finish their education.
I would like to thank the people of Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven for recognizing the students who graduated.
Thank you.]
Member’s Statement 123 – 2(4): Heart of Canada’s Arctic (Peterson)
I am pleased to rise today to inform the House about an important initiative that the Cambridge Bay Hamlet Council and Community Economic Development have undertaken.
Mr. Speaker, my community has a world-wide reputation for being one of the friendliest and caring places on Earth to visit. Visitors from near and far are always made to feel welcome and at home when in our community.
The hamlet council and Community Economic Development have decided to take Cambridge Bay’s reputation and market it. They have developed the slogan, “Heart of Canada’s Arctic.”
Cambridge Bay is located in the Central Arctic and is strongly committed to wellness initiatives, and indeed, is working very hard on becoming the Centre of Excellence for Wellness in the Arctic; hence, the emphasis on ‘Heart.’
The community believes that this slogan will capture the essence of what Cambridge Bay is all about. The hamlet council is trademarking the slogan and will use it on promotional materials and for information purposes.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that our communities undertake initiatives to promote knowledge and awareness of what our communities have to offer visitors. They cannot rely 100 percent on other organizations and agencies to do the job for them.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to join me in congratulating the Cambridge Bay Hamlet Council and Community Economic Development on their initiative and wish them continued success in promoting Cambridge Bay around the world.
>>Applause  Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Peterson.
Member’s Statement 124 – 2(4): New Skateboard Park (Picco)
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and welcome.
I would like to update the House on an excellent initiative by the City of Iqaluit for our young people.
Last week, the new and improved skate board park located at the curling rink officially opened.
The park consists of new ramps and pipes. As well, the skate park is fully supervised and monitored by on-site town recreation staff.
Mr. Speaker, as parents and elected officials, we regularly hear that there are too few programs during spring and summer for our children.
The skate park helps fill this void here in Iqaluit and locally.
I expect that more coverage of this program - the summer T-ball program, the activities at our swimming pool, and other activities - will be available from the city recreation office, and in the local media, like the award-winning News/North, and the recent national award-winning Nunatsiaq News and its Sixth Estate Editor Mr. Bell, very soon and in the coming weeks.
Mr. Speaker, the work by Mike Courtney and his recreation team, as well as the foresight of Mayor Sheutiapik and the council, should be commended for developing this program for our community. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our City Council in Iqaluit for being proactive on behalf and for our children.
Member’s Statement 125 – 2(4): Condolences to Family Members (Brown)
I took part in the fishing derby in Rankin Inlet but I didn’t get a suntan, even though I took part.
I don’t think I got a tan from the fishing derby.
Just to update the members, we lost a family member in Rankin Inlet.
Although we lost a family member, we are told that we are all to die, but my family members are going through a healing process.
My colleague and I went to visit the family who lost their family member, and the mother who lost a child is my first cousin.
Robert Naukatsik, who passed away, has worked with the GNWT for many years and he worked for the Government of Nunavut.
For that reason, I would like to update this to you, the family members are going through a healing process, and I will be seeing them after the session here is over.
I would like to send my condolences and my love to all my family members. I will be seeing you after the session is over.
I also send my greetings to Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet residence in the South and North of Rankin Inlet.
Member’s Statement 126 – 2(4): Cape Dorset Community Updates (Akesuk)
I would like to extend my gratitude to the Premier for being able to visit Cape Dorset to open the Seewald Park.
We played hockey outside when the weather was really nice, and we also traveled with RCMP officials in Cape Dorset and we played at the outside skating rink.
They opened the ice skating rink, and we played hockey with the RCMP, along with the bantam young hockey group; they played against the RCMP of Nunavut. They won and beat the RCMP and the Premier.
I would like to extend my gratitude and congratulations to Cape Dorset, and thank them for their hospitality when we opened the facility.
Perhaps the next time the Premier visits Cape Dorset, he’ll score the next time but they wouldn’t let him score in the last visit.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Akesuk. (interpretation ends) Members’ Statements.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome back to the Gallery today a very distinguished visitor, Mr. Robert Stanbury, QC, or Queen’s Counsel.
Mr. Stanbury, as many members know, served in Prime Minister Trudeau’s cabinet in the early 70s and played an instrumental role in getting funding for the beginning of the process that we have right now for the Government of Nunavut.
So I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Mr. Stanbury to the Gallery.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to the Gallery, Mr. Stanbury.
Question 160 – 2(4): Kugaaruk Sewage Lagoon (Mapsalak)
I would like to direct my question to the Community and Government Services Minister Ms. Brown.
Mr. Speaker, the Hamlet of Kugaaruk asked about the Repulse Bay Sewage Lagoon.
I went to visit the community recently. I came to Iqaluit from that community and they asked the same question while I was in the community. The sewage lagoon is overflowing and seeping because it’s too small.
They were told for I don’t know how many years that they would be eligible for the new sewage lagoon.
I would like to ask the minister if they’re aware of the sewage lagoon overflowing in Kugaaruk.
Minister of Department of Community and Government Services, Ms. Brown.
I would like to thank the member for asking me the question.
Everything was reviewed and all the sewage lagoons are overflowing and getting too small. They were going to look into Kugaaruk’s sewage lagoon. Due to the melting of the snow I think that there’s an overflow.
I will ask my officials to look into that right away.
Although, I know that there are quite a few sewage lagoons that need to be updated or moved; I will look into that.
The community of Kuugaruk is quite concerned about this because the river if fish; arctic char, and that’s where they go fishing.
The sewage lagoon is very close to the ocean, and that sewage lagoon is now seeping on to the ocean.
So I was wondering if the minister can deal with this as an urgent case during this summer to get a new sewage lagoon in the community.
My colleague’s statement is very important and there was a study done in 2002 during the summer.
The consultant had gone over there to review the area. Back in August 2004 they went to look into that to see what they could do.
And also, Dillon Consulting in the summer of 2005 did a study on that in August.
We’re now just waiting; according to what I have heard that the Nunavut Water Board is supposed to provide a license, so that’s what we’re waiting for.
Once we obtain the water license in the summer of 2007 and 2008, they will start working on that. We are concerned along with the people.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Brown. (interpretation ends) Your second supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak.
Can the minister inform this House as to how long we’re going to have to wait for the water board decision?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Mapsalak. (interpretation ends) Minister responsible for Community and Government Services, Ms. Brown.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know but we do know that it’s very important and it is going to have an impact on the environment.
Should there be an overflow, the Nunavut Water Board will have to be informed and they will have to know that it has to be dealt with as soon as possible.
We will inform you as to how it’s going.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Brown. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions.
Question 161 – 2(4): Qulliq Energy Corporation Billing Practices (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Energy.
Mr. Speaker, when you buy a kilogram of apples or vegetables from the Northern Store you expect to be charged for a kilogram of apples and not just an estimate.
You expect to pay no more and no less than it should be.
It should be the same for the electricity that we consume. You should be charged for what you actually use.
In recent weeks I have received a number of concerns, numerous concerns, from my constituents in Rankin Inlet.
They have told me that their power bills are clearly inaccurate and that the Qulliq Energy Corporation has been averaging their bills using estimates instead of actually reading their meters because there is a dog obstructing the pathway or there’s too much snow.
Can the minister explain to the House how he will address this problem?
I would like to thank the member for that question and I would like to thank the member for forwarding to me several emails concerning the constituent issues in Rankin Inlet.
I believe we’ve been able to address some of the concerns in that fashion. Mr. Speaker, the meter reading is carried out on a regular basis by our staff, whether in Rankin Inlet or any other community in Nunavut.
In some cases, Mr. Speaker, and the member just mentioned one, where there may be, in this case, a dog or an animal that has caused some concern for the metre reader, we want to ensure that the metre reader, like any other employee or public employee, does their job safely.
In this case, if there’s an animal in place, then the meter reader cannot get to the meter, then they do an estimate.
However, Mr. Speaker, there is a regular day and time when the meter reading occurs, and in the majority of time, Mr. Speaker, the meter readings are carried out as per orders of regulations with the department and with the Power Corporation.
However, in a time like if there’s an animal in place, Mr. Speaker, or sometimes because of inclement weather, then the meter may not be read on that date.
However, the following month the meter would be read and then that average would be taken for the bill.
The response was short and simple as usual. I think the problem that we are facing, not only Rankin Inlet, is really overwhelming crisis that the billing system of NPC has created for the consumers.
In one community there were so many that it is incredible.
The average bill that I estimated from people calling me was about over 1,000 per house.
In many cases, these are either probably not as a result of over-billing but the billing system is in crisis. It’s a mess. That is one community.
Mr. Speaker, my following question is that last year the QEC commissioned an internal review of its operation, and they recognized that there are billing problems. The report concluded, and I quote, “The review indicates that number of stakeholders raised a concern with timeliness and accuracy of billings. QEC management believed that a new billing system, now in place, will correct past problems.
The report recommends that the billing system be reviewed regularly to ensure that it is operating effectively.”
Mr. Speaker, it is not operating effectively.
Can the minister explain to the House today how the corporation is actually implementing this new billing system?
The member is correct that the Power Corporation did do a review of billing issues. The billing issues comprise of two issues.
One is the actual receipt of payment of an account and the one is, of course, the actual reading of the meter, which manufactures that account.
I would not suggest in any way that the member has that there is some kind of crisis in place.
As the member knows, and all the members know, the Power Corporation is subject to annual audits, and at that time their accounts receivables, which in the majority, are meter reads, are checked and added for accuracy. And, indeed, the accuracy of the accounts is very, very high; I do not have the actual percentage, but I do know it is well over 95 percent.
Mr. Speaker, there were some concerns raised with billing. The Power Corporation moved very quickly to fix those problems.
In some cases, Mr. Speaker, they have been made known, and in most cases, these are corporate clients not private individual clients, the billings on those peoples’ bills and on those companies’ bills have been fixed, and the companies involved have been credited in that case where they have been overcharged.
In some cases, as the member pointed out, there might have been under-billing.
In those cases, those problems have also been rectified.
I believe that the minister is certainly aware that there were billing problems with the system that the NPC had. Whether they are corrected or not, I believe it is subject to dispute, and I believe it is in that category.
Therefore, I think it is urgent that the second largest community with the largest accounts in private sector and private homeowners in that community is presenting a complaint that the customer service is not what it should be.
A number of staff have been moved out to Baker Lake where they are handling all the billing systems up in that place, but a place like Rankin Inlet needs a customer service agent.
Mr. Speaker, I’m aware that section 12 of the Qulliq Energy Corporation Approved Terms and Conditions of Service document states that “In the case of metered service, the invoice for services provided to the customer shall be based on actual meter reading.”
This section allows customers to dispute their bills and have Qulliq Energy Corporation do an actual meter reading. However, many of my unilingual constituents are not comfortable wading their way through thick manuals and preparing formal letters.
Can the minister commit to ensuring that if a customer in Rankin Inlet calls the Qulliq Energy Corporation or walks into their office, someone will immediately help them to resolve their billing concerns?
As I said earlier, I appreciate the member raising the issue in his home community, and as the member, I’m sure, would concur that as soon as I received the email I responded back to him that we would follow it up immediately, which we have done.
In cases where there have been mistakes on their bills, then they are being fixed by the Power Corporation. And on behalf of the Power Corporation, if there has been a problem, we apologize for that.
However, as I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, I think we send out over 16,000 invoices or bills a month, and sometimes you’re going to have some issues when you have that number.
I also heard various concerns, for example, from Minister Aglukkaq with one of her communities, and so we are following up those concerns.
At the same time there’s a 1-800 number available and we do provide unilingual service where acceptable.
My final supplementary is this: Mr. Speaker, the consumers, the private homeowners, do not mind paying for actual metre-read bills, but in many cases the homeowners do not appreciate lending money to Qulliq Energy Corporation and actually having to pay as well the rider that is attached to the bill, as well as the subsidy is based on altered estimates.
So in a sense this subsidy is being used to pay for kilowatt hours that are not being consumed by the homeowner. Therefore, it’s not a simple manner of correcting an over-billing; you actually have to go through whether or not the subsidy has been applied correctly.
So will the minister indicate to the House and to the Nunavummiut that the corporation will not be allowed to over-bill any longer?
Let’s make it perfectly clear that the member has raised several points and I have acknowledged his points.
The member has flamboyantly said that there’s a crisis and so on and so forth but that is not the case.
Again, the member has, in his last supplemental question, is bringing two things together that are incorrect.
Let me, for the record, so that people in Nunavut who are listening will be sure of what is being said, and that is, very carefully and quickly, that the amount of money on the bill for the rider has been approved by the URRC, which is the Utility Rates Review Council.
If the Power Corporation takes in more money than it’s allowed to do, the Power Corporation has to undergo an audit and they have to pay back to the constituents, to the member’s constituents, to the Members of the House, to all Nunavummiut who pay a power bill, they have to rebate back any monies that they have received.
So there is no borrowing or lending of money to the corporation.
On the billing issue itself, I agree that there have been some issues in some communities, and from time to time this does occur, and we’re moving very quickly to ascertain what those amounts are.
The member, if he has an individual case that he’s aware of, if he would give me the names of those individuals, which I’ve asked him for, then I would be able to follow up exactly that account and make the proper adjustments.
Question 162 – 2(4): Status of Small Craft Harbours for Nunavut (Arvaluk)
My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Earlier this month the minister appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.
I was pleased to note that in his presentation to the senators, the minister stated, and I quote; “...studies and proposals have been prepared for both small craft harbours and the deep water port facility. We continue to see no action on this issue while millions are spent in other jurisdictions to maintain and upgrade their harbours.”
Can the minister indicate to the House today what kind of support he received from the Senate Committee and our call for federal investment in small craft harbours?
Minister responsible for Economic Development and Transportation. Mr. Simailak.
Yes, I met with the Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.
We talked about this subject with regard to Nunavut, and they stated to me that they would be in support of getting the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to provide some funding for seven communities in Nunavut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Simailak. (interpretation ends) Your first supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.
With that Senate support, can the minister outline for the House his department’s strategy for getting federal action on the issues of a deep water port for Nunavut and small craft harbours?
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans knows the problems that we have here in Nunavut for small craft harbours and deep water port facilities.
In March 2004 there was a committee struck dealing with Fisheries and Oceans to work together with the Government of Nunavut and our department to try to get some funding for those facilities for the communities of Nunavut.
This has been brought to the attention of the federal government in Ottawa already.
So what we are trying to do is we are still waiting for those monies for those facilities to be built here in Nunavut, and the Senate Committee has also asked the federal government as well in this regard.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Simailak. (interpretation ends) Your second supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.
With that answer, can the minister update me today on the status of the Pond Inlet proposed new breakwater and dock?
They have identified as a priority the seven communities in Nunavut, and Pond Inlet is also one of the seven communities that are on the priority list.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Simailak. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions.
Question 163 – 2(4): Addressing Health and Social Services Complaints (Barnabas)
Mr. Barnabas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I would like to welcome the members back to Iqaluit. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, over two months ago, on March 22, I looked to the minister seeking assistance on behalf of a constituent of mine who travelled with her son to Ottawa for a medical appointment.
The appointment was cancelled and rescheduled for two weeks later. My constituent was not permitted to return home for these two weeks.
Mr. Speaker, I was very surprised to hear on the news sometime later that my constituent’s concerns on this matter still have not been addressed.
The department’s spokesperson now says that my constituent can submit a formal complaint to the department.
Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of the Members of this House who are often called upon to provide assistance to their constituents for the listening public and for the public record, can the Minister of Health and Social Services provide a clear and complete description of how and where to submit a complaint or a concern to the Department of Health and Social Services?
To address that issue, we have been trying to deal with ways of coming up with more centralized responses to various concerns and the collection of data of various concerns across the territory.
The member is correct that when there are issues of this nature we all receive constituency concerns.
To try and deal with some of that, we established the position of client services coordinator and that position will be located in the headquarters division of the Department of Health and Social Services in Cambridge Bay. The ad is out and I believe it closed last week or is closing this week, and we hope to have that position filled shortly.
Presently, all appeal forms for these types of situations are located in various Health and Social Services offices and service providers.
It often seems that complaints received by the Department of Health and Social Services disappear into a blackhole and their final outcome or resolution is never known.
Can the minister clarify whether the current complaints process includes a mechanism by which decisions made by the department can reviewed or appealed?
To clarify two things; firstly, when there is a complaint related to an individual person’s medical file, I do not have access to that data, nor can I provide that data to any Member in this House to protect the person/patient’s record.
So when there are complaints of that nature that involve confidential medical files of an individual, those types of responses are directed directly to the individual who raised the issue.
So to clarify that in terms of decisions or appeal processes, as I mentioned in my earlier response, the appeal forms are available in every health centre.
In fact I have provided the same forms to all the Members in the House some time ago that individuals can use to file their complaints.
Mr. Barnabas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) The minister stated that she would get a client service coordinator.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, for sometime, the minister has been promising to establish a position for the client service coordinator to assist medical clients, but they could face some concerns.
I recently noted that this position is finally being advertised.
When does the Minister of Health and Social Services anticipate that this position of client service coordinator will be filled and functioning?
>>Applause  Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Barnabas.
I’m just as anxious as the individual to have that position filled. Just to clarify, there is a service in place right now for any individual who wants to file an appeal or complaint to any of us in the department. That door is always open.
I hope that the position will be filled within a month or so; I believe the competition advertised is closing sometime this week.