EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Minister of Finance appeared before the Regular Caucus. Mr. Peterson stated that unrealistic class “X” estimates waste time, resources, and continue to be a leading factor in projects becoming significantly over budget.
In the substantiation sheets, there are, in the CGS, or Community and Government Services, about 20 projects listed as class “X” for 2010-11.
Can you indicate how your department is working to address this issue that the Minister of Finance was talking about earlier this year?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Yes. Starting this year, we are going through the planning and design stages for those projects.
A slightly different question, the annual general meetings of NAM, association of municipalities, passed a resolution concerning municipalities participating in the GN’s capital planning process.
Can you update the committee on how your department is working with the municipalities on this issue?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: I’ll have Mr. Green answer that, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
The Nunavut Infrastructure Advisory Committee, which is made up of three GN employees and three hamlet mayors, is responsible for ranking and prioritizing community projects.
Every second year, it was a practice, as far as the NCIAC, to visit the communities to give an updated list on the communities’ priorities.
Starting this year, this winter, we were scheduled to go in, but we have decided not to visit the communities because we’ve got Aarluk consultants going into the communities to do the sustainable infrastructure plans.
The idea of that is that they would meet with all the communities, identify the condition of existing infrastructure, and identify their short-term and long-term goals to see what infrastructure they would require so that communities can be sustainable going forward.
So once the information comes back from that report, all of that information will be integrated into the GN’s community consultation process which is mandated through NCIAC.
So once those reports are done in the spring, we are planning to start visiting the communities some time in September or October of next fiscal year.
So on H-5, Tangible Assets, in the past several years, I don’t know how many years now, the department has explained to us time and time again that what is causing the cost of capital projects to increase is the economic boom in Alberta.
How has the recent economic downturn affected the GN’s capital planning now?
Is it still high or is it going down a bit in terms of contracts and construction costs, etcetera?
That’s a very good question, Mr. Arvaluk.
I would ask my deputy to answer that, Ms. Lausman, if you allow, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Go ahead, Ms. Lausman, can you try and respond to the question.
Ms. Lausman: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Actually having just come from Alberta, I can tell you that costs there have dropped probably by about 25 percent over the last nine months. Most of the costs were associated with the cost of labour and the cost of materials like concrete, and so on.
Here in Nunavut, the cost of labour is still rather high, but we have certainly seen some drop in costs relative to some materials associated with construction.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Lausman.
Mr. Arvaluk: Just a very quick supplementary along that same line.
I notice that there are construction companies in Nunavut that build houses and infrastructure for the government. Are they the ones that are keeping the construction costs so high because they are up here?
Have you looked at other construction companies to build the infrastructure program from outside of Nunavut to find out if they could do it cheaper?
It’s another good question.
We find that the cost of doing business up here is very expensive and it depends on how remote a community you go to and what kind of labour force they have in many communities.
There are so many different factors in that question.
You can have construction happening in an X community.
Because of shortage of staff or expertise in that field, people have to stay in hotels and those factors start to come up.
You have to rent heavy equipment in order to be able to do some of the work.
In often cases, you have to bring in the equipment into communities to be able to do that kind of construction and bring in different special equipment that may not be available in any given community.
So you put that in, the cost of electricity, power, and everything else up here, it really adds up to the overall cost of projects, Mr. Chairman, and many other factors.
Mr. Elliott has his hand up.
Go ahead, Mr. Elliott.
In the 2009-2010 capital budget, $2.5 million was allocated to the sewage lagoon in Arctic Bay.
In a letter that I received from the minister’s office, he talked about a two-phase process of how the sewage lagoon was going to be built.
Phase 1 was a road up over the hill and in phase 2, which is happening in the next fiscal year, the actual sewage lagoon would be sort of constructed.
I just noticed that it’s not in this year’s capital plan and I’m wondering how the department is going to continue on with funding that project if it’s not in this year’s capital budget.
Chairman (interpretation): Can someone try and respond to the question?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Thank you for the question.
Yes, it will be funded through the gas tax.
Chairman (interpretation): Are there any other questions on H-4 and H-5?
Not Previously Authorized. Total Capital Planning. $26,359,000.
We can now move on to H-6.
Total Capital Expenditures. $9,595,000.
Mr. Arvaluk: Mr. Chairman, we are now suspecting that everything will eventually go up, including fuel.
A few years ago, the government was talking about the hedging program for fuel purchase.
The fuel prices are fairly low now, but we don’t know how long that’s going to last because of the apparent economic recovery in Canada and the prices will probably be going up for everything.
Is the minister considering using the hedge funding policy to purchase next summer’s fuel for Nunavut?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. We are currently on the capital estimates. Your reference to Petroleum Products is in a different page, H-7, which speaks to fuel farm construction during this current fiscal year.
Your question is more in line with questions relating to day-to-day operational issues.
I will allow you to ask another question if you have any questions with respect to capital estimates.
Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) I was trying to ask a question on H-6.
Under H-6, Petroleum Products Revolving Fund, it’s $9,595,000. (interpretation ends) It’s accounts receivable and operating expenses. (interpretation) That’s not for petroleum products and if it’s for petroleum products, I would ask a question about the hedging policy.
That’s under H-7, fuel storage, and the total capital expenditures for that is $9,595,000. We are on capital estimates and not on day-to-day operations.
Are there any further questions on fuel storage in communities?
I’m sorry that I didn’t see the summary on H-7.
Once we start dealing with O&M when we meet again, which I believe will be in April, I will ask that question during question period instead.
Yes, that would be an excellent question on the cost and we will undoubtedly ask it.
Continuing on this, Minister Kusugak, you can make a comment if you wish. I’ll leave it at your discretion.
In regard to Mr. Arvaluk’s question, if it’s okay with you, Mr. Chairman, I can respond to it.
What we’re doing right now is looking at buying in bulk ahead of time. It works better when we hedge. Right now, we’re looking at making purchases ahead of time.
Last year, there was a great deal of fluctuation in prices. So what we’re looking at now is to buy early in order to take advantage of lower fuel prices.
Chairman (interpretation): For your information, we will ask that question during question period tomorrow.
Are there any further questions on H-6? $9,595,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Total Branch. Community and Government Services. Distribution of Capital Budget. $35,954,000.
Chairman (interpretation): You have agreed. Are my colleagues in agreement that the Department of Community and Government Services is concluded?
We have concluded that department, so would you like to move on to another department?
I’m sure the minister would like to make closing remarks, so I give him the opportunity.
I would like to thank my colleagues very much for posing excellent questions on the capital estimates. If you need additional information, please feel free to visit or write to our office.
All of your questions will be considered and we will review Mr. Rumbolt’s opening comments.
I would also like to thank Kathleen Lausman and Mr. Green.
I would very much like to thank my employees who are not here, although some of them are, for getting us prepared for this meeting and to all CGS employees. Mr. Chairman, I thank you as well.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Kusugak and your employees.
I am envious that we were able to conclude your department in a very brief time. That doesn’t happen often.
The department has been concluded and we have finished the items that we were going to deal with today.
What’s the wish of my colleagues?
Do you want to report progress?
Chairman (interpretation): The committee would like to adjourn for the day, so can someone move a motion to report progress?
Mr. Arvaluk is the mover of the motion and the motion is not debatable.
We will now wait for the Speaker.
Your committee has been considering Bill 8 and the capital estimates, and would like to report progress.
There is a motion on the floor to concur with the report.
Mr. Louis Tapardjuk is the seconder.
Just a reminder for all members, there is a meeting of the Full Caucus tomorrow morning at nine o’clock in the Nanuq Committee Room.
Orders of the Day for November 26:
This House stands adjourned until Thursday, November 26, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 17:39
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Pages 621 – 675
Opening Prayer 621
Ministers’ Statements 621
Members’ Statements 625
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 631
Oral Questions 631
Point of Order 637
Tabled Documents 649
Notices of Motions 650
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 650
Motions 650
First Reading of Bills 651
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 651
Report of the Committee of the Whole 674
Orders of the Day 674
Thursday, November 26, 2009 621
045 – 3(2): Housing Needs Survey (Tootoo) 621
046 – 3(2): High Arctic Communities Trip (Taptuna) 622
047 – 3(2): Aboriginal Firefighters Competition (Kusugak) 623
048 – 3(2): Nunavut Signs Greenland-Canada Polar Bear MOU (Shewchuk) 623
049 – 3(2): Diabetes Month (Curley) 624
050 – 3(2): Update on the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (Taptuna) 625
073 – 3(2): Support our Northern Airlines (Schell) 625
074 – 3(2): Traditional Food Airfreight Rate (Arvaluk) 626
075 – 3(2): Support for Nunavut’s Remote Communities (Rumbolt) 627
076 – 3(2): Happy Birthday Rachel Uyarasuk (Tapardjuk) 628
077 – 3(2): Conservation Officer’s Actions and Consequences (Ningeongan) 628
078 – 3(2): Steps Towards Social Advocacy (Elliott) 629
079 – 3(2): Need for a Swimming Pool in Repulse Bay (Ningark) 630
080 – 3(2): Long Gun Registry Questionnaire (Tootoo) 631
103 – 3(2): 2010 Year of the Inuit (Arvaluk) 631
104 – 3(2): Former Deputy Minister of Justice (Okalik) 634
105 – 3(2): Government Response to Conservation Officer’s Actions (Ningeongan) 636
106 – 3(2): Status of Water Truck Fill Station in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt) 638
107 – 3(2): Transportation Infrastructure Needs of Baker Lake (Aupaluktuq) 639
108 – 3(2): Government of Nunavut’s Travel Policies (Schell) 641
109 – 3(2): Progress towards Social Advocacy (Elliott) 642
110 – 3(2): New Landfill for Repulse Bay (Ningark) 644
111 – 3(2): Completion of New Bridge in Pangnirtung (Komoartok) 645
112 – 3(2): Investigation of Conservation Officer (Arvaluk) 646
113 – 3(2): Vacancies in Quttiktuq (Elliott) 647
114 – 3(2): Correspondence with Pangnirtung Housing Organization (Komoartok) 648
058 – 3(2): Letter from 9-Year-Old Constituent Concerning the Need for a Swimming Pool in Repulse Bay (Ningark) 649
059 – 3(2): Correspondence Regarding Qulliq Energy Corporation’s Inuit Employment Plans (Okalik) 649
060 – 3(2): Report of the Integrity Commissioner of Nunavut re. Mr. Paul Okalik, MLA (Speaker) 650
009 – 3(2): Appointment of Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole – Notice (Okalik) 650
009 – 3(2): Appointment of Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole (Okalik) 650
Bill 19 – An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act – Notice 650
Bill 13 – An Act to Amend the Retirement Plan Beneficiaries Act – First Reading 651
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Nunavut Housing Corporation – Consideration in Committee 651
Speaker (Hon. James Arreak) (interpretation): Thank you and good afternoon.
A very good afternoon, Premier, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and Nunavummiut.
Going to the first item in the Orders of the Day, Ministers’ Statements.
If there are none… . (interpretation ends) Hon. Hunter Tootoo.
Minister’s Statement 045 – 3(2): Housing Needs Survey (Tootoo)
As the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, I am very pleased to inform my hon. colleagues and, indeed, all Nunavummiut that the Nunavut Housing Needs Survey will be delivered in all Nunavut communities over the coming months.
Soon, Mr. Speaker, interviewers will knock at the doors of all residential dwellings, including public housing, staff housing, and privately owned and rented homes.
The survey will begin in 13 communities this month, November 2009, with all communities being surveyed by the spring of 2010.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation is sponsoring the survey and the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics is responsible for hiring and training interviewers and for overseeing the data collection.
Statistics Canada is providing technical support and analysis of the survey results.
Recognizing the importance of local hiring, more than 100 Nunavummiut from across the territory have applied for interviewer positions.
To date, the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics has hired and trained 22 senior interviewers.
The Nunavut Bureau of Statistics is moving forward with the hiring of community interviewers.
The housing needs survey is an important opportunity for Nunavummiut to help build the future of housing in Nunavut.
We ask that all households in Nunavut participate in the official language of their choice and, Mr. Speaker, all responses will remain confidential.
Mr. Speaker, given the critical shortage of housing, we will use the information collected by the survey to update the Nunavut Ten-Year Inuit Housing Action Plan and to secure additional funding to address the growing housing crisis in Nunavut.
The survey’s results will also allow us to better plan for the delivery of housing resources throughout the territory.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important means for Nunavummiut to have a say in the delivery and the quality of housing in the territory, and this survey will afford them the opportunity to have their voices heard.
I encourage all people to participate.
Minister, can we have a copy of the statement brought to the table by the page, please.
Minister’s Statement 046 – 3(2): High Arctic Communities Trip (Taptuna)
I want to thank you for this opportunity to rise today before the Members of this House to inform them of a trip I took this past October to the Quttiktuq communities of Arctic Bay, Resolute Bay, and Grise Fiord.
As you are aware, the current government has made a commitment to visit every Nunavut community to find out first-hand the issues facing our territory, and I am pleased to be able to take this trip into some of our most northern communities.
I was accompanied on this trip by the Hon. Daniel Shewchuk and the Quttiktuq MLA, Mr. Ron Elliott.
All of us took this opportunity to meet with councils, stakeholders, and interested people in each of the communities we visited.
As the members are aware, as we go north, the longer distances and lower volumes of people and goods moving raises the costs and reduces the options available for transportation.
This is even truer in the High Arctic and because of this my department is undertaking a study on solutions to the cost of living people in these communities face every day.
While it was an honour to be able to visit this beautiful part of our territory, my prime purpose for this trip was to hear first-hand how these high costs impact people’s lives up there.
Mr. Speaker, the most basic demonstration of sovereignty is in the everyday treatment of people.
It was very apparent that the extremely high cost of transportation in the High Arctic would not be acceptable anywhere else in Canada.
For the sake of those people, for the sake of the economy of our territory, and for the sake of sovereignty, it is necessary that we develop a solution to offset these costs.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who welcomed us to their communities and shared their stories and their thoughts on the changes that are needed to improve the lives of people in the High Arctic.
I would also like to thank the member from Quttiktuq for his hard work both before and during the visit.
Mr. Speaker, thanks in part to this trip the study is nearing completion and there will soon be a discussion on its findings and how to advance them into changes that can make a difference.
I look forward to bringing this discussion before the Members of this House in the near future.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Lorne Kusugak.
Minister’s Statement 047 – 3(2): Aboriginal Firefighters Competition (Kusugak)
I rise today to provide information to members about the Annual Aboriginal Firefighters Competition.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut sent a team of firefighters to this event which was held this year in Listuguj, Quebec, and I’m sure I didn’t pronounce it properly.
This is the fourth year that firefighters from Nunavut have attended this event.
In 2006, 2007, and 2008, Nunavut firefighters won the award as the team with the best sportsmanship.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that this year, our firefighters placed fourth out of eight teams in the competition.
Each year, we have improved our standing at this annual event.
This improvement demonstrates the dedication of our volunteer firefighters and shows continued improvement the territory has made through the training programs offered by the Municipal Training Organization.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Samson Amarudjuak and Johnny Karlik of Rankin Inlet, Sandy Natseck and Jerry Nuluk of Repulse Bay, James Sangoya of Clyde River, and Iqaluk Toonoo of Cape Dorset.
These individuals represented all Nunavut firefighters and have demonstrated their commitment to the safety of their communities and dedication to improving their skills.
Mr. Speaker, continued training and the skills developed through teamwork are important to our firefighters and our communities.
These individuals are an example of what we can accomplish when we put our minds to it.
Congratulations to these individuals and thank you to all Nunavut firefighters for their services.
Minister’s Statement 048 – 3(2): Nunavut Signs Greenland-Canada Polar Bear MOU (Shewchuk)
I would like to inform members that on October 30, 2009, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut, and the Government of Greenland for the conservation and management of our shared Baffin Bay and Kane Basin polar bear populations.
Sixty percent of the world’s polar bears range in Nunavut.
This effort is an indication of the important role that Nunavut plays in the management of polar bears in Canada and the world.
The MOU includes the creation of a joint commission comprised of representatives from the Canadian Inuit organizations, including Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board, as well as representatives from harvester groups in Greenland.
The role of the joint commission is to recommend the combined total allowable harvest for those populations that we share and to coordinate science, traditional knowledge, management, and outreach activities.
This MOU will facilitate further collaboration between co-management partners on key priorities for polar bear management.
Coordinating our efforts with respect to research methodologies and the exchange of multiple sources of knowledge will help us uphold our ongoing commitment to protect this important species for future generations.
We look forward to exploring the many ways this joint commission can work toward our shared vision for polar bear management and conservation.
Minister’s Statement 049 – 3(2): Diabetes Month (Curley)
November is Diabetes Month.
It is intended to build public awareness that diabetes is preventable in most cases and that it is manageable with physical activity and proper nutrition.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, Nunavut’s rate of diabetes has historically been well below the national average due to a traditional lifestyle that includes country foods, lots of physical activity, and low sugar intake.
However, our world has changed here in Nunavut during the past 50 years and with it, a change in lifestyle that involves risk factors for developing diabetes.
Mr. Speaker, my department partners with Nunavut communities, Inuit organizations, and Health Canada to deliver and support activities that prevent and teach proper care of diabetes.
Mr. Speaker, during this month, the staff members of Health and Social Services are arranging diabetes workshops in the communities to provide training to frontline health staff and other interested or affected individuals.
These workshops will continue throughout the winter months in just about every Nunavut community.
Mr. Speaker, while we work to keep Nunavut’s rate of diabetes low, we know it takes a great commitment on the part of the individual – daily physical activity, proper nutrition with low sugar intake, and more country foods.
Health care workers continuously strive to provide the necessary support to individuals and families to make good diet choices throughout the year.
We know additional work is required to prevent diabetes.
Issues like inadequate nutrition, the high price of nutritious foods, and lack of physical recreational activities work against us.
I would like to acknowledge our partnership with Health Canada, who is contributing $1.4 million to Nunavut to assist with our efforts.
These funds have been allocated to clinical prevention as well as health promotion, prevention, and awareness.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, we have some new pamphlets and information sheets about diabetes available for the public in all official languages and you can request this information at your local health centres.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Peter Taptuna.
Minister’s Statement 050 – 3(2): Update on the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I rise today to provide the Members of this House with an update on the recent activities of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
On August 28, 2009, Alex Buchan of Cambridge Bay was appointed chairperson of the corporation, while Greg Cayen of Iqaluit was appointed vice-chairperson.
I am confident that these two individuals will provide the leadership necessary to consolidate the recent improvements that the corporation has made both in terms of its governance and its service to Nunavut’s business community.
Mr. Speaker, the corporation’s board of directors has recently taken steps to enhance its effectiveness.
Policy and planning, finance, and credit facility committees have been created to streamline the corporation’s operations and provide additional support to the corporation’s staff.
I want to thank Peter Ma for his hard work and dedication during his tenure as the interim chairperson.
Mr. Speaker, there is still much work to do at the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, but we are making progress and maintaining the service to Nunavut’s business community. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.