EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
But then again, like with the previous government, there are challenges and there has to be a change in the goals of your particular department.
The Department of Sustainable Development should not depend on their staff for implementation but commit assistance at the community level in regards to economic development.
We have 35 million 452 thousand dollars in total that will be debated in the House and for the staff it is about half of the entire amount.
There is 12 million 364 thousand dollars set aside for administration only, and it is almost the same for the communities which is 50 million 884 thousand dollars just as an example, this will be for compensation and benefits only.
It’s a bit top heavy, so what we would like to see is an increase in the amount that will be geared towards the communities and to make the administration amount smaller.
I will be raising questions later, but I want the minister to understand that self reliance is a goal of the communities, and they don’t want to rely on the government for positions.
They have the determination and the drive that they can become self-reliant at the community level.
They have not pouted and they are strong in their belief of self-reliance.
And because of that the Department of Sustainable Development has to be more responsive to the needs and the wishes of the communities.
I have no other names on my list for general comments and before we go to the questions we’ll take a ten minute break.
I think every body is getting a little tired here.
Do we all agree, or do you want to go ahead?
There was a suggestion to take a break, but if you want to go ahead it’s at the discretion of the committee and we can keep going to 6 o’clock if it’s that is the wish of the committee.
Okay, questions.
On page 5-11.
Oh, I’m sorry 11-5.
We are now on questions.
I’m sorry, Mr. Chairman.
If I’m wrong correct me, but there was a mention of a park being set up outside of Rankin Inlet.
There is apparently going to be a signing for the Wager Bay proposed park and the community of Repulse Bay are anxiously waiting for the IIBA to be signed.
I would like to be given an update on what’s happening with Wager Bay.
The federal government is the one with the national parks and we are currently waiting for the federal government to conclude their negotiations.
I could give you an update once I get the information from the federal government.
If I can recall, there was going to be a signing ceremony last year, but I will get an update and give the member from Akulliq the information once we have received it.
I have a brief question.
If you do get the information, can the minister inform me immediately?
Yes, I’ll keep you informed on the process and we do hope that they will be signing an agreement shortly.
Chairperson (interpretation): We have now opened the floor for questions.
We have 3 million 41 thousand dollars under compensation and benefits and there’s approximately 1 million dollars that has been increased for this year’s budget.
I would like to know whether there will be more services provided at the community level.
I believe Mr. Iqaqrialu is on page 11-6 but I will respond to his question.
There’s about a 200 thousand dollar total increase.
The 3 million dollars is because we have increased the number of employees that we have in our department.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Are they representing the communities?
They are representing the communities and they are all employees of the department.
Does that mean that in the 26 communities there will be Economic Development Officers?
We will, in the pages coming, be talking about the Economic Development Officers and we will identify the numbers at that time.
The monies identified here are also used to compensate the wildlife officers.
That was at the request of the members.
Their compensation and benefits are covered here also.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Just for my own information.
Under the contract services, we have 370 thousand dollars, 400 thousand dollars in the revised estimates and for the main estimates, the increase is very small.
Is that because you don’t have that many contract services?
There has been a slight increase due to forced growth in the contract services.
Chairperson (interpretation): Page 11-6.
Corporate Management. Questions. If there are no further questions we’ll move on to Page 11-7.
Total operations and maintenance 31 million.
We’re on page 11-6 and keep your comments and questions brief.
Mr. Havioyak: Did you say 11-6.
It states in the top part, Corporate Services is responsible for financial management and administration and so on and at the last part of it you’re saying training services.
Can you tell me what that training section is?
It’s actually Training Services.
Can you expand on that a little bit?
There are workshops held on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and that training is provided to our employees.
That covers the training component of this department.
Page 11-6, we’re on 11-6.
Total operations and maintenance 4 million 115 thousand dollars.
Chairman (interpretation): Turn the page to 11-7.
Sustainable Development, it goes onto 11-8, 9, 10 to 17.
If you have any questions, you can ask questions pertaining to those pages.
Just identify which page you’re raising your questions on.
I just want to get some clarification on Sustainable Development Branch, houses six divisions, parks and tourism.
I just want to get some clarification on the divisions of Sustainable Development.
There are six divisions within this department.
There are parks, travel and tourism, economic development, oils and gas, mining, wildlife and environmental protection and fisheries.
There are six divisions under this department, the wildlife division and the mineral, oil and gas division and so on.
Under tourism this amount, there are probably different types of tourism offices throughout Nunavut.
For which programs that the government provides are these offices responsible?
Yes, the tourism, my department deals with tourism and there is funding available on page 11-12 which covers Nunavut Tourism core funding.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Under grants and contributions there’s 15 million 884 thousand and there’s been an increase.
Are these grants and contributions geared towards business development?
The 15 million are for different projects and so grants and contributions would go towards small businesses and other programs.
So those contributions would be identified from page 11-8 to 11-17.
Mr. Iqaqrialu. Just to give members some clarification, we are on 11-7 and that page continues onto 11-17.
Turning to 11-8, Fur Price Program, there was 120 thousand and a revision decreased it to 50 and then for 2002-2003 main estimates it’s gone back to 120 thousand.
What’s the purpose of this increase?
There was 120 thousand in 2001-2002 and the revised estimate was 50 thousand and it was because the program wasn’t being used.
During the North Bay auction we made an increase so that if we were to get into a deficit it’s just to cover that, if that would happen.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Under the same program was the money decreased because there were good purchases of fur?
I’m sorry I didn’t really get his question, could he rephrase the question?
It was 120 thousand and the revised estimates are 50 thousand.
Was there a good purchase price for the skins which led to a smaller use of these funds?
I think the Fur Price Program is successful and the money is there, but I think it is better to leave it there.
I believe the program has gone very well.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I will have another question later in regards to something else.
I will give the other members a chance to speak.
I was just waiting for Mr. Nutarak to raise his question.
But on page 11 – 7, about protecting the environment; environmental protection delivers programs in support of the Environmental Protection Act.
I read this report, but it contains nothing about Nanisivik or its cleanup.
I am wondering how his department is protecting our environment.
Just to get some clarification from the minister as to how they are dealing with the Nanisivik mine closure.
Our department has staff available in Nunavut and in Nanisivik or Polaris we have to protect our environment in those mining areas.
As a government we have to keep up with the closures of mines and ensure the federal government is doing their job in protecting our environment.
We have to keep up on how well our land is being respected, so there are staff available to deal with those issues.
In Arctic Bay they are looking at diamond exploration.
I know that diamond exploration and mining does not pollute as much as a base metal mine.
Has the department approached the company at Jaffin Inlet near Arctic Bay so that the diamond exploration could be assisted in the mining of diamonds?
During mining exploration we have to respect the mining sector and the processes they have to follow.
As Nunavummiut and as a government, we have to see if these projects are feasible and how best to protect our wildlife and our environment.
So we have to respect the environment.
We have to respect the land when the mining company is looking at opening a mine in Nunavut.
We have to work with them and make sure that they are respecting the land and the environment and the wildlife.
So, with that, if there was a mining development project in Nunavut we will continue to be involved in the development stages, to ensure they are respecting the land, environment and wildlife.
Ms. Williams (interpretation): Thank you for the clear response.
On 11-8 my colleague raised a question regarding the fur price program and the minister talked about marine mammals and when he talks about seals and flippers and the 120 thousand dollars in 2001/2002, the minister reported that the sealskins would have a better price this year.
The fund has not changed at all from last year.
Is the grading of seal flippers and the fur, is the quality of fur looked at when dealing with the fur price program?
That was a clear question.
There is 120 thousand dollars for the fur price program and this is geared towards all furs, whether it’s wolf or seal fur.
With the fur price increase will the 120 thousand dollars be enough to cover this program?
If during the North Bay auction, if we do well in selling fur, we feel that this amount would be sufficient.
But if it doesn’t go well, we would have to seek more funds but to date it looks like it will be sufficient.
We are basing this on the past two years’ successes.
Ms. Williams (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On 11-9, if I understand correctly, disaster compensation.
Would this be for natural disasters? This is just to get a clarification on what they mean by natural disaster.
For instance, if a hunter was out hunting and the snowmobile broke down because of the weather, the 15 thousand dollars would probably purchase one snowmobile.
What does the minister mean by natural disaster or disaster compensation?
This was used to assist more than one individual.
I think 10 individuals were compensated and there was an individual who received four thousand, 500 dollars and that was the highest amount.
The smallest amount was for 500 dollars and it was successful so we expect that this amount will support 10 individuals.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Chairman.
If an individual was to lose the snowmobile, the 15 thousand dollars would be too small but under 11-15, it talks about the community harvesters’ assistance program and a gasoline assistance program.
How many outpost camps are present or presently running in Nunavut?
I apologize, I don’t have the details in front of me but the outpost camps in Nunavut, this money is to individuals or people in outpost camps but I don’t have the details in front of me so, I’m not able to respond at the moment.
Chairperson (interpretation): Madame Williams.
For outpost camps are these camps assisted with gasoline purchases or what do they mean by gasoline assistance, does this only apply to outpost camps?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): It would go towards only the outpost camps.
I have a few questions here, there are a few of them I want to ask let’s just use one for example; I have raised this question a number of times in the House regarding a grizzly bear survey.
I don’t see it in these main estimates, okay let’s use Kugluktuk for an example if they did a survey or a study on grizzly bears, grizzly bear populations, I don’t know if it’s in the main estimates but I would like to know what page is it on if there’s any funding that goes towards toward surveys like studying the population of grizzly bears.
It would be covered under contract services but when he talked about grizzly bears we don’t have that listed, it’s under grants and contributions and it would be covered under contract services.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): I just want to inform you that the hunters and trappers organization in Kugluktuk have requested a survey and they have already sent a letter to the Department of Sustainable Development.
And I would like the department to consider the fact that the population of grizzly bears is growing rapidly in our area and they are damaging a lot of cabins and at night time or during the day even they are coming into the camps frequently.
The elders in our communities really notice that the population of grizzly bears is growing and that they are invading more camps.
I keep raising this issue.
(interpretation ends) Another issue and another thing I guess I want to talk to about is the entrepreneurial workshop I mentioned earlier in my comments.
I know some of my constituents want to get into business but were sort of, I’m not sure if the word scared is the right word for it, but they are afraid to get into business not knowing what might be involved if they do so, taxation for example and other regulatory issues that they would have to deal with before they can get into business.
So those are the types of things that they want to know about and I have to know more about it.
I have to know all these laws before I get into business. Are there that many? No.
But they have to know that before they get into a business. Again, just for my information, I guess, maybe I can get through it very quickly, where can I get this entrepreneurial workshop, funding for that community, you had good number of them I guess.
I know in the past they have handled it at the regional level.
So there could be some money at the regional level but they might have changed that.
Maybe it’s good to know just for our information today, where we can get this type of workshop going for that community.
In the three regions and in the Kitikmeot, in Kugluktuk, for example, will be the person to find out more about this funding matter and there are three offices in Nunavut.
One in Pond Inlet, and Keewatin, Rankin Inlet, and there are three main offices where we can find out more about this issue.
If you are in that region, you can find out, if you are from Kitikmeot region, you can find out from the Kugluktuk office how much money is available for this, the business programs.
I’m sure that this department is relaying this kind of information to the communities.
Will you be using the EDOs to provide this information?
Sometimes the information does not get out to the people that are interested.
Somehow they miss it.
They miss the promotion I guess of these workshops I’m talking about.
So maybe you could just give us a quick run through on how you’re relaying this information to the community, through public notices.
I don’t know, I’m just trying to get a picture of how you’re, if you’re doing it, how are you getting it out to the individuals in that community?
You probably recall that years ago you could get the information packages from each region and this information was to be distributed to each region’s main offices.
If there are any left over we will give them out to the public as information and I will find out where.
There was all kinds of information on what is available under each program and if I recall, there were informational packages to be given out to communities.
I will get back to you after I find out more about this.
I just want to ask a question.
It’s not on this page here.
I’ll ask later.
Chairperson (interpretation): I have Mr. Iqaqrialu’s name.
I was just reading something here on page 11 – 8.
Grants to small businesses.
It states in the NNI policy that “eligible businesses can receive up to five thousand dollars and includes those with less than 500 thousand dollars in gross sales, artists or craftpersons who make all or part of their income through…”
The entire amount is only 330 thousand dollars.
Is this part of this plan, could you explain this one a bit more?
The assistance level is set at five thousand and only for those companies who do not gross over 500 thousand dollars, perhaps if you said it as sales less than 500 thousand.
I do not see it.
The question is on page 11 – 18.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): I will try to answer this properly.
I will ask Ms. Keenainak to answer this question.
Chairperson (interpretation): Ms. Keenainak.
Ms. Keenainak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
It is trying to say that any person that owns a business which makes more than 500 thousand dollars a year won’t be eligible for this funding.
If a craftsperson is making that kind of money it would be based on a year’s salary. If it exceeds 500 thousand dollars they won’t be eligible to receive help from this fund.
How come we are trying to assist businesses and yet they are restricted if they make too much?
I don’t think it should be like that.
Why is there a limit on that fund?
This is for small businesses and available to them to help them get established.
For those businesses that are already making over 500 thousand dollars there are other funds to assist them.
There is money available to help the bigger businesses, but this particular funding is for the small businesses that are just starting and it is to help them get started.
The bigger businesses have support from funds on different pages, under page 11 – 15 for your information, the bigger companies can be funded, the funding that we provide is different, it’s written on a different page.
Just for your information, it’s on page 11-15 where the bigger businesses can get assistance.
We can deal with these ones on 11-15.
This one is grants to small businesses and we are talking about smaller businesses on page 11-8.
In smaller communities it’s harder to get businesses going because you have to pay for everything you need and once you start a business, there are all kinds of bills you have to pay in order to get going.
The 5 thousand dollars is not enough for a small business that is just starting and perhaps we can use this as starting money for smaller businesses.
If they manage the money really well, maybe they can develop the business into a good one, keeping in mind the bills they have to pay.
This money is geared towards starting small business and it is quite small. Why is it small?
This page is not very small but we also have to think about other organizations aside from this government where we can seek funding.
The government is not the only place where these developing businesses can access funding.
I used to be involved with Economic Development in past years and this money that is available to help small businesses, it helps the smaller businesses get started.
Five thousand dollars is a lot of money when you are just starting a small business; it helps a lot to get started and it would benefit a new business.
I understand your response but does the Department of Sustainable Development have agreements outside of this?
Is this why it is so small?
Chairperson (interpretation): Akesuk.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Chairman.
When I was working as an Economic Development Officer what we did was the EDO got training to see what organizations they could access funding from for the small businesses.
We were told at that time where there could be some funding accessed from the federal government as well as other organizations and it’s probably still the case.
But we were always trying to give the client information on where else they can access funding.
I know that and I realize that there are other sources that businesses access funding from.
I just wondered whether that 330 thousand dollars would be enough.
Is it because small businesses don’t access this enough; is that why there’s only 330 thousand dollars?
He must be in 2001/2002, there was 386 thousand dollars allotted at that time.
There’s other funding that could be accessed by the businesses that have been running for some time and this is just for the start-up businesses for small businesses in Nunavut.
The funding that we provide at the Department of Sustainable Development goes towards many things.
We have made sure that we are getting the most out of our budget.
We are continually looking for ways to take some from here and put it there instead so that we could get the most out of our budget as the services that our department provides throughout Nunavut are many.
This funding is for grants to small businesses.
But for those businesses that would like to start up, would the businesses that are asking for some grants from this 330 thousand dollars, when they’re trying to access that 5 thousand dollars, do they have to write down their plan for what they want to do or what is the criteria?
That 5 thousand dollars, the individual requesting that funding would have to identify what he wants to do.
Like if he wants to try to get a canoe then he would have to write down what kind of business he’s going to use the boat or canoe for, such as tourism or other things.
The business must be well planned in order to try and access this 5 thousand.
Does the individual requesting that funding have to have a business name?
They’re trying to start up their small business, and they have to be able to provide the information as to what kind of business they want to carry out, if they want to ask for that funding.
The licences that are needed to start businesses, would that individual have to have that license before he’s approved for funding?
Yes, whoever wants to start up a new business could either say that they have purchased their license or say that they’re going to be purchasing their license to run a business because they have to have a license in order to carry on a business.
For example, an individual that already has a business, or if there’s somebody that already runs a small business like tourism, if it’s going to compete with the other businesses then we look at it and see that it’s not going to interfere with that individual’s business.
Chairperson (interpretation): I still have some names on my list.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Under 11-12, this is my first question that I’ll be asking.
The Nunavut Tourism core funding, 2 million 364 thousand dollars.
There’s been an increase because we requested that increase but what is the increase going to be used for?
There’s an increase of 1 million dollars for that Nunavut Tourism core funding.
It’s to do mostly with the training for tourism businesses in Nunavut and to promote the Visitor’s Centres and promotion of products in Nunavut to advertise to people that would like to come up to Nunavut communities.
It’s to do with advertising and promotion of services and marketing that is available for people that would like to come up to Nunavut and to be able to promote Nunavut to the world, to come up and see our communities and to provide information.
Whatever is in the information that is provided under Nunavut Tourism core funding explanation, it’s to do with tourism.
He stated that it would be used for training as well.
We talked about the tourism industry.
There must be other higher education or training that they can take, the tourism operators within Nunavut.
Have you thought of providing more money to train the tourism operators?
What we are talking about is guide level training for those people that deal with tourism.
We would work with the Department of Education to provide a guide level training course to tourism operators.
Yes, I understand the minister’s response but if he could clarify to me, he stated that this is for the guide level training program.