EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I know exactly what’s happening but at this time I don’t know what level they are at. But tomorrow I will give him the information in regard to the application and where it is at; I will inform the member tomorrow.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Alagalak.
Also, Mr. Simailak, I have to ask you a question.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister took your question as notice and I’m sure that he will be able to respond to your question tomorrow.
Go back to the Orders of the Day.
Question 011 – 2(1): Summer Student Program (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister of Human Resources.
I know that the government has a Summer Student Employment Program and I would like to ask the minister if he could indicate how that program works and if it started already.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Tapardjuk.
There are various summer student programs.
There are youth in Nunavut who will have to be introduced to the labour force eventually.
The human resources department, in co-operation with all the departments, has identified 141 students. We have set aside $700,000 to be utilized for that and that funding will be split between all the departments.
Of these 141 individuals, 98 of them are Nunavut beneficiaries. Perhaps when we were looking at the percentage, 70 percent of the students are beneficiaries in this coming summer season. Since this program started back 1999, the number of students has increased, and there are 16 communities who will provide summer work for the students.
So we have identified this already; it has already been initiated.
I’m pleased to hear the program is in place and ongoing.
I would like to ask the minister… I know that students get out at various times during the year.
Some finish a little earlier than others, and I know that there are students that are back here in the city of Iqaluit from secondary education for the summer that are looking for work and are being told that they have to wait.
I’m just wondering if maybe the minister can indicate why, if the program is in place, these students are being told that they have to wait before being offered employment.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I have not heard of any of the students being told that they have to wait to get a job.
I will look into this and tomorrow I will give you the answer.
I look forward to that information.
The minister had indicated that 70 percent of the students were beneficiaries, but under the program, does it differentiate between a beneficiary and a non-beneficiary student, or is a student just a student under the program?
Is there any priority for beneficiaries or non-beneficiaries under the student employment program?
The Government of Nunavut has agreed with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the federal government: on Article 23, where it states that 85 percent of them should be Inuit.
Yes, we will be working very hard on this issue and we are committed to working with them and we’re going to train them under Article 23.
I assume then by what the minister is stating that if a non-beneficiary student is in town and looking for employment, they’re being asked to wait, “We have our quota of non-beneficiary students.
We’re looking for more beneficiary students.” Or if they’re here looking for work and there are employment opportunities under that program, they’ll be directed to the appropriate position.
There are many applicants and also the Government of Nunavut is a public government; under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, Article 23, we have to abide by that.
Although, there are non-beneficiaries who have applied and we consider them full-heartedly.
Last year, the number of students interested was smaller than this year.
But if there is a non-beneficiary who would like to obtain a summer job, we’re not going to close the door on them.
Speaker (interpretation): Orders of the Day. Item 6.
Question 012 – 2(1): Representative for Manitoba/Kivalliq Road Meeting (Alagalak)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Economic Development. Today or tomorrow, we have heard, there is going to be a meeting taking place in Manitoba to talk about the Manitoba-Nunavut road, and a feasibility study was going to close today.
The department of economic development, are they going to send a representative for that meeting?
I am sure that you will be sending a representative. That is why you are here; it is a very important meeting.
Therefore, I would like to hear if your department is going to send a representative to that meeting.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Economic Development, Mr. Simailak.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Yes, there will be a representative from the Department of Transportation for that meeting in Winnipeg.
Speaker (interpretation): Are you finished?
Member for Cambridge Bay, Mr. Peterson.
Question 013 – 2(1): Review of Minimum Wage Report (Peterson)
My question today is for the Minister of Justice, this is posed for the Nunavut Labour Standards Act.
I read with interest in the document you tabled yesterday who is responsible. That was: under the labour standards act, the Government of Nunavut is legally required to read the minimum wage annually, and report the results of that review to the Legislative Assembly.
I read that the government has not yet met its legal obligations in this regard.
My question for the minister is this: has the government reviewed the minimum wage in the past year, and when will it fulfill its obligations to table the results of the review in this House?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Justice, Mr. Okalik.
I will be tabling the review during this session and at the appropriate time, probably not today but perhaps tomorrow.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Peterson.
Could the minister tell us how the government undertook the review of the Labour Standards Act?
I do not have the document with me at this time, but I will be tabling it at the first opportunity.
Speaker (interpretation): Your second supplementary, Mr. Peterson.
Could the minister indicate whether the minimum wage will be increased?
Actually, we just recently increased the minimum wage.
At this time, I am not prepared to increase it until further studies and more consultations have taken place with the private sector.
Question 014 – 2(1): Immigration Problems with People from Greenland to Nunavut (Barnabas)
I know we have to settle Nunavut and put everything into place, but we have experienced a problem with an immigrant coming from Greenland. He is married to a Canadian citizen.
After 9/11, it is becoming very difficult to get into Canada, especially to go through immigration.
I would like to direct my question to intergovernmental affairs, Mr. Picco, in regard to whether the duty fees have been amended.
First of all, let me say that the case in question that the member was speaking about, I don’t want to get into a great amount of details on it because it is confidential information concerning people.
However, I can say that the member brought it to my attention last week and indeed within 24 hours I met with the two people.
We expedited the file to Ottawa and ensured that it is with the proper authorities to make sure that the immigration goes smoothly.
As the Minister responsible for Immigration, we have seen a lot of difficulty not just in Nunavut, of course, but in Canada and indeed the world since 9/11.
These are some of the issues.
As Ministers of Immigration for the country of Canada, there have been a large amount of discussions around.
On the reciprocal cost of the fees themselves, there are some issues with that. However, the fee structure is not in place to deter immigrants from coming to Canada.
Indeed, it is there to help facilitate, as well as look at the logistics, administrative, and financial costs of such an application process.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
Some people from Greenland were already living here when that 9/11 incident happened.
I’m asking about that documentation process.
Some of these individuals, even though they are married to a Canadian citizen, have to wait seven years, literally.
They’ve lived seven years in Canada; they have to wait so many years for the documentation to be completed.
They’ve been asked to leave Canada and they’ve been deported.
Let me make it perfectly clear that the rules and regulations on the immigration of immigrants to Canada are federal legislation, federal statutes.
After saying that, our job and my job as the Minister for Immigration for Nunavut is to help expedite and facilitate for people who want to stay in Nunavut.
Indeed, the member is correct.
There are several people from Greenland who attempted to stay in Nunavut.
At the same time, the proper checks and security clearances as well as the immigration laws of Canada have to be followed.
Our job is to help facilitate that.
For example, as we just indicated for the case the member was talking about, we believe we are going to be able to bring it to a successful conclusion. And again, it was the first time as the minister responsible that I had a chance to handle the file.
On other cases, for example, as the minister of immigration, we have been looking at opportunities for bringing medical professionals into Nunavut from other jurisdictions.
We help facilitate that file.
I’ve had discussions with our MP, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, on issues around passports and so on.
So I would suggest to the member that when people are applying to be in Nunavut, if they’re coming from another jurisdiction they can’t just come here and marry someone else.
There are rules and regulations and processes to be followed, and that is what we’re attempting to do: follow the letter of the law, as it were.
At the same time, if the member has issues with constituents, or if any other members have, who have come from another country and are attempting to stay in Nunavut, and there are issues around the process, then the member can make those people’s names known to me and I will be able to facilitate that to the best of our ability as a government.
Speaker (interpretation): Your second supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
But, there is a problem regarding immigrants who do not have work permits and who are not allowed to work here.
Is there some way that we can make it easier, through the Government of Nunavut, so that they can work in the communities?
They are hunters and they provide food for the community.
Since they don’t have work permits they are not allowed to work, but of course it costs money to go hunting.
Is there something that we can do about these kinds of situations?
Speaker (interpretation): Hon. Ed. Picco.
There are different rules and regulations regarding people who move from another country, from their place of birth, to Canada.
In this specific case, we are talking about citizenship that these people want to take out, or for purposes of working, they may have landed immigrant status.
Again, I can’t say specifically on each case because each case is different.
However, if someone comes in from another jurisdiction and has been in Canada for a considerable period of time, they are usually considered under landed immigrant status if they hadn’t already chosen to move towards Canadian citizenship.
The member knows, for example, here in Iqaluit and many other communities in Nunavut, people are sworn in on every July 1 who have resided in Nunavut.
However, I don’t know if we want to open up the floodgate to people who have just moved to Nunavut from a different country to allow them to hunt, fish, and so on, and maybe take work away from the people who live here.
That’s why we have rules and regulations in place under citizenship as well as landed immigrant status.
If there are specific cases, as the members have made some good cases like there was one last week… We were able to help the couple out.
If you could bring those forward to me, we’ll help you with the file.
Question 015 – 2(1): Premier Meeting with Territorial Premiers in Yukon (Curley)
As we heard on the news, the Premier went to the Yukon to meet with the other two territorial Premiers of Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
You went there representing Nunavut.
Could you inform the House of the discussions that took place at the Premiers’ Conference, and what came out of it?
We talked about a number of issues. We especially focused on health issues and whether we have sufficient funding, that if given from the federal to the territorial level, we are going to be cooperating together as territorial premiers.
And we also had discussions about exploration and mining.
Those are the two issues that we are going to be working on together as Premiers of Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon.
We talked about how we could be more involved in the issue of missile defence.
Another issue: we talked about the funding that was set aside by the federal government and how there have to be some kinks worked out of it.
In 2007, the Arctic Winter Games are going to be held in Whitehorse.
They want Nunavut and Northwest Territories to participate in the games in a joint project with Yukon.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Curley.
I would like to thank the Premier for mentioning some of the issues that were covered at the Premiers’ Conference.
My next question is with regards to working together as a government and as an entity of Nunavut.
For example we can cover the EDA, Economic Development Agreement, health and social services, and the Missile Defence Program.
I don’t think we can conclude all these issues during Oral Questions.
I would like to ask the Premier if it is possible to table a document that covers all the issues that were discussed at the premiers’ conference.
I don’t have the report, but I could table other documents that were used at the conference, if the members would like to scrutinize those documents.
Speaker (interpretation): Your second supplementary, Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): My last question, Mr. Speaker.
Those issues are very important, especially since we don’t have the economic development agreement; we understood that it will be operated by the federal government without giving the funding to the Nunavut government. Because of that we have a lot of concerns, and I am sure that some of the smaller communities will not have access to those funds that were set aside by the federal government.
I think that if there is a joint consensus with the three premiers we will be able to give support and will have easier access to the funds.
We have to discuss those issues in the House, and we need all the information so that we can make an informed joint statement to the governments and the entity.
The Inuit Circumpolar Conference has discussed these issues but I would like to see you table those documents, if we can make an informed support with regards to the missile defence system.
I would like the Premier to table those documents.
We can table the documents that we compiled together.
There is not much information there, but it does outline some of the concerns and the possible solutions to those issues.
Question 016 – 2(1): Ikuma II Report and Hidden Subsidies (Tootoo)
Before I go into my question, I would like to recognize some of the Iqaluit Fire Department that are here: Fire Chief Cory Chegwyn; volunteer firefighters Barry Rogers, Pauloosie Nuyalia, Eyetsiak, Corey Bell, and Chris Wilson.
I would like to welcome them to the Gallery. Also, one of the coroners is back there as well [No audio.]
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corporation.
Earlier the minister indicated that the Affordable Energy Fund would be as outlined in the Ikuma II Report.
The Ikuma II Report talks about setting up this fund to get rid of the hidden subsidies. And in the report it states that, I think just in PPD alone, they are looking at probably uncovering about $10 million in hidden subsidies.
I would like to ask the minister if the Qulliq Energy Corporation has figured out what all those hidden subsidies are and how much would be required to be appropriated by the government to fund this fund.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Minister Simailak.
We are currently compiling the information, but I will take your questions as notice.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister will take it as notice.
Question 017– 2(1): School Building Safety (Tootoo)
My question is for the eloquent Minister of Education, as he likes to be known.
Mr. Speaker, in the Government of Nunavut press release that was dated May 5, the Minister of Community and Government Services stated, and I’ll quote, “I am confident that our schools are safe.”
Not long after that, I heard a story on the radio about a roof collapse at a school.
My question for the Minister of Education today simply requires a yes or no answer: does the minister agree with the Cabinet colleague of the assessment of our schools’ safety?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Education, Mr. Picco.
First of all, the roofing question was in Inuvik; I’ve been to Inuvik several times and have been to the schools.
I was quite surprised to have seen the roof collapse when we heard about it.
I guess it was from the weight of the roof.
After that happened, it was on the news, a complete inventory was done of all schools in Nunavut to make sure that the roofs… If there was a situation involving snow build-up on the roofs, would we have the same situations?
And it’s my understanding that indeed, our roofs are safe in Nunavut, at our schools.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, the minister has done a good job in assessing and making sure that all our roofs are safe in our schools in Nunavut.
I’d like to ask the minister: as of today, has every school in Nunavut had a complete safety inspection in the last three months, not just the roofs, but a complete safety inspection?
The member knows the Department of Community and Government Services is responsible for the maintenance of all government infrastructure, of property, buildings, and so on, that we have under the inventory of the Government of Nunavut.
It is my understanding that as part of routine school maintenance, snow-load is monitored, for example, in this case.
I cannot say with any degree of certainty that in the last week, or two weeks, that our schools have all been checked.
I can say, with the information provided to me, that all our schools were checked for snow-load shortly after what we heard on the radio.
The experience was in Inuvik.
As part of the course of general maintenance, all school buildings as well as other infrastructure belonging to the government are regularly checked, and I guess that would be the answer.
As you know, the schools are a haven, I guess, for our young people, our children that are going to school, and we certainly would not want anything to happen to them in a government facility.
Would the minister be prepared to provide the members with a list of when the schools in the communities, in Iqaluit and in the other communities, were last inspected for safety and provide that to the members?
I noticed that the member does not seem afraid or frightened or terrified to be in this building which is a government-owned or a government-leased facility operated for, and by, the government of Nunavut.
Indeed, as I said earlier, the Department of Community and Government Services does regular checks on all buildings.
What I can do for the member is get the information on when the last checks of our schools were done and provide that to the member as well as what the regularly scheduled maintenance services are.
I will have to have some communication with the minister responsible for community and government services and see if we can get that information for the member and for the House.
As the minister put it quite well, I am not afraid to be in this building: it is only four years old.
Some of the schools that we are looking at; the one here in Iqaluit is over 30 years old, getting close to 35 years old, some of the other schools I have seen throughout the communities across Nunavut are just as old. Does the Department of Education have a policy on when and what things should be checked on in the schools by the Department of Community and Government Services?
I am not sure if there is a policy in place.
What I can say to you is that under the at-risk or loss policy of the government, and indeed, it was in place before April 1, 1999 and has been in place since, there are format standards and requirements and criteria that have to be followed by the Government of Nunavut in its ownership of infrastructure and so on, in this case, for example, buildings that we lease, or in the case of the schools, buildings that we own.
That is my understanding, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that the old Department of Public Works and now Community and Government Services follows that type of annual maintenance.
And like I said earlier, I will provide to the members when the last regular maintenance check-up was held at our schools.
I know it was in the past several days because of the incident that occurred in Inuvik where inspections were done in 1999.
However, at the same time I am prepared to work with my colleague in community and government services to get the other information that the member has requested for schools specifically.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Are we on Item 7 now?
Speaker (interpretation): We are not on seven yet.
Going on to Item 7.
Written Question 006 – 2(1): Qulliq Energy Corporation (Curley)
Minister of Energy, David Simailak, of Qulliq Energy Corporation:
First of all, as of May 13, 2004, who are the members of the Board of Directors of the Qulliq Energy Corporation?
From January 1, 2003 to May 13, 2004, how many meetings took place between members of the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s Board of Directors and members of the Government of Nunavut’s Crown Agency Council?
From January 1, 2003 to May 13, 2004, what ministerial directives were issued to the Qulliq Energy Corporation?
As of May 1, 2004, how much has the Government of Nunavut spent in relation to the pending transfer of the functions and personnel of the petroleum products division of the Department of Community and Government Services to the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s subsidiary known as the Qulliq Fuel Corporation in each of the following areas:
i. Relocation and removal costs for employees;
ii. Settlements and other compensation for employees;
iii. Advertising and recruitment;
iv. Office renovations, equipment purchase and other capital expenditures;
v. Legal services costs;
vi. Consulting services;
vii. Administrative costs; and
viii. Other expenses?
What specific factors account for the deferral until April 1, 2005, of the functions and personnel of the petroleum products division of the Department of Community and Government Services to the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s subsidiary known as the Qulliq Fuel Corporation?
As of April 1, 2004, how many persons, broken down by community and position, are employed by the petroleum products division of the Department of Community and Government Services on a full- and part-time basis?
As of April 1, 2005, how many persons, broken down by community and position, are planned to be employed by the Qulliq Fuel Corporation on a full- and part-time basis?
From April 1, 2004, to April 1, 2005, what expenditures are planned by the Government of Nunavut in relation to the transfer of functions and personnel of the petroleum products division of the Department of Community and Government Services to the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s subsidiary known as the Qulliq Fuel Corporation in each of the following areas:
Written Question 007 – 2(1): Nunavut Payroll Tax (Peterson)
My Written Question is for the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Finance, on the new Payroll Tax.
One question: are Nunavut residents, who are paid a minimum rate of wages pursuant to section 12 of the Labour Standards Act, required to pay the one percent Payroll Tax pursuant to the Payroll Tax Act, 1993, Nunavut?
Under Item 7.
Written Question 008 – 2(1): Performance Bonuses and Termination Pay for Members of the Public Service of Nunavut (Peterson)