EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Standing Committee on Social Wellness has reviewed the proposed capital estimates of the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth for the 2010-11 fiscal year and I am pleased to provide you with the committee’s comments.
Standing committee members note that the department’s proposed capital budget for 2010-11 is a total of $7,060,000, of which $7 million is for the Nunavut Heritage Centre and $60,000 is for minor capital projects.
Mr. Chairman, the Nunavut Heritage Centre continues to be identified as an important infrastructure requirement. Article 33.2.4 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement states that “There is an urgent need to establish facilities in the Nunavut Settlement Area for the conservation and management of a representative proportion of the archaeological record.”
Having such a facility in Nunavut would allow us to repatriate collections of artefacts of Nunavut origin, many of which are currently being held under service contracts at the NWT’s Prince of Wales Heritage Centre.
A feasibility study that was tabled in June 2003 indicated other possible sources from which items could be acquired for the purposes of establishing the founding collection of the Nunavut Heritage Centre.
For example, the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa was cited as being a major repository for natural history collections. The standing committee looks forward to ongoing updates on the progress of developing the founding collection of the Nunavut Heritage Centre.
Members are concerned that not enough information has been provided by the department with respect to how the $7 million will be spent.
The draft capital estimates refer only to the “development of the project design” for the Nunavut Heritage Centre.
The standing committee looks forward to receiving further details on exactly how these funds will be spent.
Members note that there were no capital funds allocated for this project in the 2008-09 and 2009-2010 fiscal years.
Members are aware that as part of his fiscal update in October 2007, the finance minister stated that “to maintain previous time frames and incremental infrastructure commitments made to Nunavummiut with respect to major capital projects, $9 million has been reallocated from the Heritage Centre Project. (…) We are committed to returning the $9 million to the Heritage Centre Project budget in future years.”
Members were informed of and encourage the ongoing fundraising efforts for this project. During his appearance before the committee, the minister advised members of his hopes for obtaining support from Nunavut’s Parliamentarians for these efforts.
Members look forward to ongoing updates on the progress of fundraising efforts for the Nunavut Heritage Centre, including any anticipated third party contributions. Members recognize that this project’s success will very likely depend on federal funding.
Mr. Chairman, the Piqqusilirivvik Cultural [School] continues to be a highly anticipated initiative. In January 2009, the Government of Canada presented the federal budget in which Piqqusilirivvik was announced as a major project that could benefit from federal funding.
Members are pleased to note that a federal news release dated April 9, 2009 announced that $32.2 million has been allocated through a joint funding effort, with the federal government’s contribution covering 75 percent of the cost through the Building Canada Fund.
Members note that as of June 2008, with the passage of the 2008-09 supplementary appropriations, approximately $2.2 million was approved.
This amount brought the total GN contributions to this project to over $8 million, meeting the Government of Nunavut’s 25 percent cost-sharing portion for this project.
Members were advised that the total estimated cost for this project has been adjusted from $32.2 million to approximately $28 million.
The committee’s understanding is that this adjustment was undertaken as a consequence of the department having reviewed its original estimates for the construction of the facility.
Construction of the Piqqusilirivvik Cultural School started in September 2009 and members look forward to the opening of the school in 2011.
As construction of Piqqusilirivvik continues, members look forward to being kept informed of the project’s progress.
In light of the cost adjustment for this project, members recognize that more funds may now be available for the establishment of the institution’s two satellite campuses in Baker Lake and Igloolik.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee recognizes the importance of fostering literacy among young Nunavummiut.
Members note that there has not been any capital funds allocated for public libraries in the last few years. During his appearance before the committee, the minister and his officials advised members that the Department of CLEY would entertain requests or proposals from libraries in need of capital funds.
Mr. Chairman, members note that the $60,000 that has been budgeted by the department for minor capital projects is an ongoing yearly amount allocated for minor office renovations and the purchase of equipment.
The exact same amount has been budgeted every year since the 2005-06 fiscal year.
While members understand that it may be difficult to predict exactly how much to budget for renovations, members would expect to see more variation in this area from year to year. The standing committee encourages the department to report annually on what these funds are actually used for.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2010-11 Capital Estimates of the Department of CLEY.
I am confident that individual members will have questions and comments as we proceed. (interpretation) Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Do members have any general comments pertaining to the opening comments from the minister?
I am in agreement with the minister’s opening comments. Sometimes some of us talk about, especially for those of us who were born in Nunavut, our culture being unique.
That is what we usually talk about. We have not utilized our ancestors’ ways.
Although we speak Inuktitut, the artefacts that pertain to who we are, where we come from, and that identify us are not in Nunavut.
Also, Mr. Chairman, I believe the artefacts that were found in Nunavut are housed in Yellowknife’s heritage centre. Not only that, they are also housed in Denmark and overseas, I’m sure and I’m sure there are artefacts housed in Ottawa that were sent down.
It would be wonderful if these artefacts are repatriated to Nunavut once the Nunavut Heritage Centre is completed.
Also in Kugaaruk, I think it has been over 20 years that we used to get visitors from Japan to go tour and see our old traditional campsites.
We used to think that they knew more about us than we did.
In Kugaaruk, there are some old grave artefacts and I read about them. They dig up the old burial sites without our permission and they did not even ask questions.
I believe that was before Nunavut was created.
Perhaps once the Nunavut Heritage Centre is completed, you could ask other international countries to make sure that these artefacts are repatriated.
Yes, we constantly talk about it under Article 33 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement that these artefacts are to be repatriated to Nunavut.
Our Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth is working on the development of a strategy for the Nunavut Heritage Centre and we’re making a strategy on how to repatriate the artefacts.
Although we don’t have a set time or years to complete that, we’re now working on the strategy as to how we can repatriate those, Mr. Chairman.
Just to give notice, I will want to ask questions when we are going clause by clause.
At this time, I would just like to make a general comment on the need to have the heritage centre.
All of the issues that are under the responsibility of CLEY are something that the people of Nunavut would like to see become.
Some of the elders are not with us anymore, but they have been looking forward to seeing everything that is being done by your department.
We stated in the beginning, I think it was in Kugluktuk on May 9, 1993, that there were going to be some issues that would be challenging after the signing of the agreement, and then in 1999, we knew that the implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was going to be very hard and it’s under federal legislation.
The federal government has to follow through with their legislation, but they have been taking a very long time to implement the issues under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
There have even been some court cases started by NTI.
Even though that’s the case, we would like to see the establishment of this infrastructure because we are losing our artefacts and our elders.
Even the minister indicated that there was a 108-or 110-year-old and there are people out there who know the Inuit traditional values. They are dying at a very fast pace and dying with them also is that knowledge, traditional societal values, and so on.
I’m sure that the elders we have now would be extremely helpful to our department.
It’s very important using Nunavut’s dollars even if it’s just at a design stage. We have to get that heritage centre up and running as soon as possible.
We will also have to look at it not only in Canada but also outside of Canada.
If there was a heritage centre, it would be a showcase for the whole world.
We also know that in Sisimiut, Greenland, and in other countries, if there’s anything that’s of Inuit origin, it’s something that is very popular.
I will have some questions when we’re going line by line.
Minister Tapardjuk, do you have a response or a comment?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, he has indicated that he would have some questions when we go into line by line and I’m anticipating what kind of questions he will be bringing up.
Yes, it’s very true that the monies that we would like to use are especially for the planning of the heritage centre.
There is a project brief and also the design of the heritage centre. If this is approved by the House of Commons in Ottawa, we can start doing the designing and planning.
I’ve had discussions with Leona Aglukkaq and the new Senator for Nunavut, Dennis Patterson, and we hope to get some news.
We also would like to set up the design or do the architectural stuff.
There is phase 1 and phase 2 of this project.
We are currently working on phase 1.
We will definitely lobby the federal government so that we can do the project brief and also the design.
We will use that as a lobbying tool for the federal government, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to thank the minister and his officials for being here.
When Minister Tapardjuk just got into his ministerial position, I told him that I would watch and listen to him to learn and become familiar with terminology in the House. For the communities of Baker Lake and Igloolik for the departmental operations… .
There are wilderness travellers in canoes who come into Baker Lake, travelling from the Kazan River and Thelon River.
They are very interested in Inuit culture. They often visit the heritage centre and are impressed and amazed with Inuit.
It is a great facility that educates them and it would be of great benefit to Nunavut.
We will now proceed with page D-3.
The floor is now open for questions. (interpretation ends) Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Total Capital Expenditures. $60,000. (interpretation) The breakdown is on page D-4.
I think you already agreed to that one.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) D-5. Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. Branch Summary.
Culture and Heritage. Total Capital Expenditures. $7 million. (interpretation) We also have the Detail of Capital on page D-6.
We all know that $7 million sounds very expensive when you’re setting up the design. I wish I could draw and I would get that $7 million.
We also know very well that… . In the substantiation sheet, it identifies what I’m interested in and what I wanted to see.
Mr. Chairman, my table is very small and I do have a lot of paper here.
I am not blaming the architects, but there are a lot of things they have to know when they’re going to be making a design that’s going to be built in Nunavut because of the climate, and so on. We have seen schools, houses, and other infrastructures where the design was drawn without even thinking about the harsh conditions we live in up here.
Due to that, there is mould and shifting because they don’t know the conditions from the heat in the summer to the extreme cold in the winter.
I would like to ask the minister if they will factor in our climate when they’re designing the heritage centre. Do you know where to look for an architect that would make this design climate friendly?
We have extreme conditions. We need to consider the wind chill factor, the heat in the summer, the cold, and the moisture.
There is a tendency for the artefacts to spoil, but I didn’t see anything that specifies that those things should be factored in when they are going to be making the design of the building.
When we are looking for contractors to do the design for the Nunavut Heritage Centre, everything you identified will be factored in. They will have to look at the heat, the cold, the moisture, or the density.
They will all be written out in the contract when we are looking for the designers. They will all be factored in, Mr. Chairman.
This question is totally different, but it’s still on the same page.
What’s it called now, the heritage museum?
You stated that the heritage centre would cost approximately $62 million, but on page 3 of the substantiation sheets, you are anticipating that it will cost $102 million.
How did you make that estimate without even knowing what type of design it will have or even what size it’s going to be?
How did you estimate it from $62 million to $102 million?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I will have Mr. Rudolph respond to that question, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Rudolph.
Mr. Rudolph: Yes, Mr. Chairman, originally, there was a study done by Vermillion’s cost consultants that estimated that it would be $62 million.
Since that time, the Department of CGS has estimated a much higher amount, but until the projects design is done, we won’t really know for sure what this building will cost.
When CGS did that much higher estimate, prices were rising in Nunavut for building construction and recently, they have been dropping again with the world economy. So we won’t know exactly until we complete the design phase and have a better idea of the cost.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Rudolph.
I assume that also includes when you will want to start building that building and will determine exactly how much it’s going to be.
Again in the substantiation sheets under the Department of CLEY, you had directed Ketchum, (interpretation ends) not ketchup, (interpretation) but you had directed Ketchum Canada Incorporated and Uqsiq Communications Incorporated to start the planning stage, or to find where they can access funds or to do some fundraising.
On December 2008, these consultants gave a plan as to the fundraising campaign.
During our review in February 2009-2010, you told the Members of the House that the fundraising campaign has been completed.
Could you tell us what phase is in place now?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mike Rudolph will respond to that question, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Rudolph: Yes, Mr. Chairman, we spent approximately $300,000 on the preparation of a study that developed a fundraising strategy.
The strategy did not commence to actually deliver on fundraising because there were no capital funds in the budget to build upon.
The consultants recommended deferring the commencement of a fundraising strategy until there was a commitment by the Government of Nunavut for some capital funding.
At that time, there wasn’t any money actually showing as a commitment.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Rudolph.
I’m not exactly sure if my question is being answered for the very simple reason that we were advised that that entire plan is being ready. All I want to know now is: how and when are you going to proceed?
Currently, we have frozen that initiative until we can identify where the funds will stem from.
The reason is that without the government identifying the operational funding, the project could not proceed.
As an example, if the government put money aside, it is specifically for that project. Fundraising would be available if the government themselves get outside monies for this centre. I don’t think other governments would assist if we are not part of the funding partners.
We have now identified $7 million for the project preparations and we are currently working on the project design.
Once it’s ready, we will go to the federal government to ask for monies.
Once everything has been completed, we will be able to proceed.
However, everything is at a standstill because there are no monies identified for this project.
All I can state is that it is in limbo.
In regard to your question, what we need to do is to identify funds for the facility, identify the operational funding, and determine how we can operate this without the proper planning.
I believe Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Department of CLEY are involved in a working group that has been struck. We are also working with Inuit Heritage Trust.
If these monies are approved, we will have some ammunition to start working on it, Mr. Chairman.
This is going to be my last question for now in relation to heritage museum fundraising.
First of all, for a number of years, there has been a lot of discussion with respect to obtaining third party funding for the Nunavut Heritage Centre.
Now he seems to be saying that it might be desirable to have more than third party funding; fourth party, fifth party, whatever you can get.
Can he tell me what the status is of obtaining third party funding now?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): If this $7 million is approved, we will start the project brief and design.
It’s two-phased. Soon after we have completed phase 1 and we get all of the details, we would start on phase 2.
I’ve had discussions with Dennis Patterson and got some advice on how to go about it the best way if we are going to get some federal funds.
Once we get there, we will look at other sources of funds.
If the federal government would be willing to give us some money and for how much, then the fundraising strategy would kick in and they would raise about $25 million.
Once we get all of the details, we will have to decide how we’re going to use the funds and how much money the Nunavut government will be willing to put in.
Right now, we are asking for $7 million so that we can start planning and looking at the design aspect of it.
When that’s all done, we could start the fundraising strategy.
I don’t have any questions for the money portion, but of course, everything runs on money.
On D-5, it talks about the conservation, protection, promotion, and enhancement of the cultural richness of Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, when a lot of people are going up to Nunavut, they probably think that Inuit all dress in the same design.
Inuit women have different styles of Amautiit. In the Nattilik area, for example, the design is different from the Kugluktuk area. The Pangnirtung Amauti design is different from ours.
Again I’m sure they have different designs in the Amittuq area, but they are all very beautiful.
Mr. Chairman, Amautiit are not designed solely for aesthetics.
When I was a child, women’s Amautiit used to have a loose area under the arm so that in the cold, they would be able to bring their baby from their back down through that loose area to the front.
The design of your hood is not just for decoration and those ones with the points have a tie over here in the front.
Again it’s all for warmth and in order to have freedom of movement.
Mr. Chairman, if it got cold, you would just draw on the drawstring so that it becomes weatherproof.
Once we have our heritage centre, I would suggest that the design of clothing be shown from different regions in this centre.
Today, we have more contemporary designs being made for showcasing and in the past, clothing was made more practical.
So I would suggest we showcase the regional designs in this heritage centre.
I almost made him a minister.
Do you want to try and respond to Mr. Ningark’s comments, Minister Tapardjuk?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes. We would consider everything, including articles of clothing.
Under Article 33, the artefacts would be repatriated to Nunavut and we will have to have it.
I’m sure that would be part and parcel of that. Of course, Mr. Chairman, the articles of clothing would also be considered.
We’re on D-5. (interpretation ends) Culture and Heritage. Total Capital Expenditures. $7 million. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Going back to page D-2. (interpretation ends) Department Summary. Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Detail of Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $7,060,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Before I ask the minister for closing comments, Minister Tapardjuk, I should have said this in the beginning but in the future, I ask that your witnesses respect the decorum of the House. (interpretation) At this time, Minister Tapardjuk, do you have any closing remarks?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The members wanted to be kept updated on the heritage centre and I will make sure that we keep them updated. We have to keep working hard in order to get it up and running.
Yes, we will make sure that we keep you updated.
Chairman (interpretation): I thank you as well, Minister Tapardjuk and your officials. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you would escort the witnesses.
Thank you. (interpretation ends) Do members agree that we proceed with the next department?
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Economic Development and Transportation – Consideration in Committee
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I would now like to ask Minister Taptuna of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation to make his opening remarks.
Good afternoon to everybody here.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here today to present the Department of Economic Development and Transportation’s 2010-11 capital plan to the Committee of the Whole.
The department is proposing $5,550,000 in the capital plan for the fiscal year 2010-11.
Nearly 90 percent of that amount in the capital plan is for community-specific projects while the other 10 percent will be used for strategic projects that affect the territory as a whole. The majority of these expenditures under the plan are for infrastructure to improve the safety and reliability of our transportation system.
In March of this year, I tabled Ingirrasiliqta: The Nunavut Transportation Strategy, which members will recall highlights the need to improve our transportation system to enable economic growth and the well-being of Nunavummiut. Accordingly, the department is proposing that $4,660,000, or nearly 85 percent of the total capital plan, be dedicated to transportation-related projects that will provide improved access to air, land, and sea travel.
I will highlight a few examples of the proposed expenditures.
As members know, airports will continue to provide our only year-round mode of transportation for the foreseeable future.
As a department, we are responsible for maintaining the quality of the runways and the related infrastructure that allows safe aircraft operations.
In 2010-11, we will be completing construction of the new airport in Arctic Bay. The $600,000 we have budgeted for the coming year will be used for installation of the navigational aids and relocating the CARS station from Nanisivik.
In Baker Lake, we will be spending $250,000 on planning and designing improvements to the airport to accommodate the additional traffic the community has experienced with the construction of the Meadowbank mine.
$600,000 of our capital plan will go towards rehabilitating the surfaces of the Kimmirut Airport.
The project will involve creating a granular stockpile to meet the future maintenance needs of the airport, overlaying the surfaces, and applying a dust suppressant product.