EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, the community of Baker Lake shared a profound sense of pride in the accomplishments of our people who were honoured on that day.
Mr. Speaker, the ceremony on February 8 was held to recognize and celebrate the contributions of four of my constituents: Philippa Martee, Nelson Tagoona, Susan Toolooktook, and Thomas Qaqimat.
Mr. Speaker, although all four of Baker Lake’s recipients of the Diamond Jubilee Medal come from different walks of life and have pursued different paths along their journeys, they are united in their deep commitment to the well-being of our community and all of its people.
Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to take this opportunity to note that the Premier’s visit provided an excellent opportunity for the community’s leaders to provide updates on Baker Lake’s ongoing initiatives and priorities.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in congratulating the Baker Lake recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
I, too, join in congratulating all of them.
Member’s Statement 384 – 3(3): Appreciation for Enhancements to Security at Pond Inlet Airport (Enook)
Good afternoon, Pond Inlet residents and fellow Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give credit where credit is due.
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, I raised the issue of security at Pond Inlet’s airport on a number of occasions last year in response to serious incidents of vandalism that had occurred at the airport.
These incidents were not simply causing great inconvenience to my constituents; they were threatening to seriously disrupt our community’s vital air linkages and schedules.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, when the people of Pond Inlet entrusted me to serve as their representative in this House, I promised to hold the government to account when necessary, but to work with it wherever possible.
Mr. Speaker, before I boarded my flight to Iqaluit this past weekend to attend our winter sitting, I had the opportunity to take a look at the new security cameras that are now in place at the Pond Inlet Airport.
It is an impressive set-up, and the community is optimistic that this will help to deter further incidents of vandalism or crime at the airport.
Mr. Speaker, when I raised this issue in the House last year, the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation’s most recent responses to my questions indicated that he and his department were working closely with the municipality and the communities of Igloolik and Cape Dorset to address airport security concerns.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that this experience has clearly demonstrated the value and importance of close cooperation between different levels of government in Nunavut.
Regardless of whether we sit in the House of Commons, this Legislative Assembly, or a municipal council, we are all serving the same people: the people of Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 385 – 3(3): Appreciation to Queen Elizabeth II – Diamond Jubilee Medal (Tapardjuk)
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good afternoon” to my constituents.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to rise today to celebrate the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Mr. Speaker, I’m fully aware that our current government is representing our Queen and the fact that she truly cares about the people, it is evident today. Tagak was also one of the first people who tried to empower Inuit.
I often thought about the fact that if we were defeated during World War II, I would assume that in England and Canada, we would be speaking in German instead of English.
However, I want to be proud of the fact that it’s good for us. Also, she is our Queen and we can see today that she truly cares about the Inuit. She is represented by the Assembly and I think we should be grateful to our Queen.
The Queen gave out 60,000 medals, which included recipients in Igloolik and Hall Beach.
First of all, every day, Jack Kammuka and his wife go on the radio encouraging people to go eat at their place.
They help the less fortunate and I am very grateful that they were recognized for that.
Jopie Kaernerk was recognized because he made himself available whenever the need arises in the communities and he’s always available.
I presented a medal to Paul Haulli and he received the honour for his work in the Nunavut Association of Municipalities.
Mr. Speaker, the recipients from Igloolik were: Ike Haulli, Elijah Evaluarjuk… .
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk. The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays?
We, as Inuit, are able to get around businesses.
Ike Haulli and Elijah Evaluarjuk have a hotel and they’re able to employ people and their employees are paying taxes.
It’s evident that the Inuit have more businesses.
Paul Quassa, who is well known, used to be a chief negotiator for the NLCA.
Zack Kunuk is also available to help people in need on a voluntary basis.
Guillaume Saladin started Artcirq and he’s well known across the world.
My colleagues, I want you to join me in congratulating these individuals.
Member’s Statement 386 – 3(3): Tribute to Yvo Samgusak (Kusugak)
Today, Mr. Speaker, I do want to remember a former long-time resident of Rankin Inlet.
He passed away, so I wanted to remember him. We lose a lot of family members or people.
Even though this person was mute, he was able to use sign language and he was very welcoming. Whenever you saw him, he was always smiling and he was always happy.
It was pleasant to be living with Samgusak in Rankin Inlet.
We’re going to miss him in our community.
He was very welcoming and he was a very capable hunter. I think he was the best fisherman of all and no one could match his skills. He was a good fisherman and knew all the fishing spots.
It’s obvious that Rankin Inlet people will miss him.
His wife and children are in my thoughts.
We miss Samgusak dearly.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to make my statement.
Question 491 – 3(3): Marine Infrastructure in Pond Inlet (Enook)
As the minister is well aware from his recent visit to Pond Inlet, the community still lacks modern marine infrastructure.
It is my understanding from reviewing recent correspondence from the minister that his department has allocated $19,200 from his department’s small craft harbours budget for the “preliminary design of a boat launch” in Pond Inlet.
For the benefit of Pond Inlet residents who are following our proceedings today, can the minister outline the scope and timeline of this project?
I thank the member for that question and his Member’s Statement.
Mr. Speaker, I did have an opportunity to visit Pond Inlet last summer in early June. It’s very beautiful there.
The only problem is there is no boat launch.
It is a huge problem for the community, though we did discuss this with the hamlet councillors and some outfitters who were there, available to help us evaluate some certain things along the beach there.
Mr. Speaker, we hired an expert to take a look and evaluate some of the beach lines for a possible building of a boat launch.
Mr. Speaker, we did just recently receive a report from a consultant and we look forward to discussing the findings of this report with the Hamlet of Pond Inlet.
I want to ask more questions. If you can inform the residents of Pond Inlet, I would appreciate it.
My supplementary is you have been saying that you have an ongoing dialogue with the federal minister with regard to the need for marine infrastructure in Nunavut. It’s a matter of fact that it is a very important issue in Nunavut.
Can the minister update the Legislative Assembly today on the status of his ongoing discussions with the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans concerning the urgent need for federal investments in new marine infrastructure in Nunavut?
Yes, I and the Minister of Health, our MP for Nunavut, do discuss some of these marine infrastructure needs in all communities.
It is a major deficit that hinders economic development in Nunavut.
At this time, we do have an ongoing dialogue on ways to try and come up with solutions, identify some ways of working and finding solutions that are sustainable.
At this time, in Pond Inlet, we’re just looking at a boat launch. As the member is well aware, to build something like a small craft harbour in Pond Inlet alone is well over $40 million.
The boat launch that pertains to his first question is just a smaller boat launch that will benefit the harvesters and the residents of Pond Inlet and make it easier for putting out their small craft boats and for getting away from the inclement weather.
As you know, Pond Inlet is open to the ocean.
The community residents do have a major problem in launching and getting their boats off the beach.
I want to ask about the funding available for small craft harbours which is available annually from your department.
Will the minister commit to tabling an annual report in the Legislative Assembly during the spring sitting concerning his department’s expenditures under its Small Craft Harbours Program?
Mr. Speaker, again pertaining to the first question, once our officials have their discussions with the hamlet officials in Pond Inlet, there are a couple of options that they will be looking at for the boat launch.
The budget for that hasn’t been determined yet.
Overall, one of the things that we want to do is make sure the boat launch can be built locally with existing equipment at the local level and local labour.
Once we have this preliminary option discussion with the hamlet, I’ll be certain to put forth more information or possibly table the other document that he is referring to.
Speaker: Getting ready for Committee of the Whole, I think, eh, Minister Taptuna?
Question 492 – 3(3): Update on Federal-Territorial Relations (Schell)
Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier.
I guess we’re all aware that this summer, when they had the “Idle No More” protest with all the aboriginal groups down south in regard to lack of funding from the federal government for housing and infrastructure, we all remember Chief Spence going on a hunger strike because of lack of housing and infrastructure in her community.
Although it was not a hunger strike, I don’t think it was fasting because she was consuming fish broth.
Of course, the information for broth is any liquid that is boiled with meat and that could include seal meat.
Also, in High German, broth means “to boil,” and when you’re talking about a young man, a broth young man is a sturdy young man.
So my question is: has the Premier planned any protests in regard to lack of funding from the federal government for housing and infrastructure in Nunavut?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague for asking that question.
With regard to infrastructure and capital funding, we have a severe shortage, especially to housing and other issues.
Every time I meet with the government officials, I bring these issues up.
I was in Ottawa recently to talk about these issues. (interpretation ends) The issues of discussion with my counterparts in Ottawa were exactly that: the housing infrastructure and our dire needs of other infrastructure, such as energy.
Yesterday, in the House of Commons, one of the subjects discussed by the Members of Parliament was the issue of infrastructure needs in the north.
In reviewing Hansard, I noted that one of the Members of Parliament stated, and I quote, “Earlier this month, the Premier of Nunavut was here in Ottawa lobbying for $500 million over five years for only two projects.
That did not go very far.”
Can the Premier clarify what projects she was requesting half a billion dollars in funding for, and can she indicate what the federal response was to her request?
I will repeat what I just said earlier because that’s exactly what I was talking about when I was in Ottawa, housing infrastructure and energy infrastructure, with my meetings with my counterparts.
You know, when you meet with your counterparts, with the federal government, the dialogue is ongoing and you are not given an immediate answer to your requests, as we all know.
So I will wait and see what the federal budget will bring us.
My next question is: was there any response from the Prime Minister?
Was there any specific commitment that we will be receiving funds from the federal government?
There was no specific commitment, but the dialogue is ongoing.
My next question is: why weren’t the appropriate ministers present when she was requesting funds for housing, infrastructure, and energy?
My colleagues were well aware of the reasons why I was going to go to Ottawa and I worked closely with the Minister of Finance, my colleague.
When the Premier is meeting with his or her counterpart, that is the normal practice and I was conducting my business as a Premier, as I always do.
Question 493 – 3(3): Preventative Dental Care (Rumbolt)
Mr. Speaker, as I noted in my Member’s Statement earlier, an increase in preventative dental care services in Nunavut’s communities could go a long way towards improving the health and well-being of all of our residents.
Can the minister clarify what kinds of preventative dental care programs are delivered in Nunavut communities on a regular and ongoing basis?
Mr. Speaker, it’s no secret that the earlier children begin oral hygiene the better their teeth will be.
Of course, we know that teeth are important throughout life, right up until old age.
Not looking after teeth could lead to some serious health consequences, as Mr. Rumbolt mentioned in his Member’s Statement.
I can tell Mr. Rumbolt that on a regular basis, [we offer] the Nunavut dental preventative programs. We have a school fluoride rinse program, a school tooth brushing program, prenatal and postnatal presentation at the health centres, and the daycare tooth brushing program.
We’re also working, through the Territorial Health [System] Sustainability Initiative, THSSI for short, the current two-year extension to develop an oral health program that will have an emphasis on children and youth.
We are evaluating different models to improve oral health care in the communities.
We’re also currently working with Health Canada to increase dental services provided in communities.
We recognize that there are issues.
It is a real tragedy when you see 2- to 5-year-old kids with a whole mouthful of silver teeth.
The earlier we address preventative tooth decay, the earlier it can benefit the kids.
The high cost of providing medical transportation and accommodation for clients who have to be flown out of their home community to receive treatment and services has been well documented.
Can the minister clarify whether his officials have undertaken any cost analysis to compare the cost of providing regular dental care at the community level to the cost of transportation and accommodation for dental care clients who require dental treatment?
Mr. Speaker, I’m not aware that the health department has done a detailed cost analysis.
As a finance type person, common sense tells me that if you could do it closer to home, there will be savings.
Unfortunately, that’s not possible in our communities.
We do have contractors who come in to visit all communities in Nunavut to provide dental services on a contractual basis.
There’s a schedule to visit all communities.
Where necessary, we will send children to Churchill, Manitoba if they have to go under general anaesthesia to receive treatment.
We’re looking at the possibility of using the Qikiqtani General Hospital for children in the Baffin to address the huge backlog we have in this region.
It’s interesting the minister mentioned the contractors coming to the communities because it seems that contractors who do come to the communities come to pull teeth, not to prevent people from getting teeth decay or anything like that.
My next question is: can the minister indicate how many full-time dental care providers, such as dental hygienists, dental therapists, or dentists, are employed by the Department of Health and Social Services and in which communities?
Yes, it is unfortunate that when dentists do come into communities, they have to pull teeth.
Even a person who regularly looks after their teeth could occasionally expect to get cavities. I’m well familiar with that situation.
I don’t have an exact number of how many dentists are in Nunavut.
As I said, we have dental contracts.
We have dental therapist positions in 7 of 12 communities: two in Iqaluit, one is filled; there’s one in Arctic Bay that’s filled; Arviat is filled; Baker Lake is filled; and Rankin Inlet is filled.
Where possible, we request these dental therapists to go visit other communities to help the communities there.
Mr. Speaker, there’s a real backlog of vacancies for all of these type of positions across Canada.
As I said, we’re working with Health Canada through the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program to address dental care in Nunavut.
My final question will be: will the minister commit to reviewing the level of regular and preventative dental care provided locally in Nunavut’s communities?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Peterson.
Mr. Speaker, dental care is a high priority concern for our department.
As I indicated earlier, our department is working with Health Canada to address dental care.
We will continue to make it a high priority for our department and help the residents of the communities in Nunavut.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Peterson. Oral Questions.
Question 494 – 3(3): Update on Hamlet Office/Community Hall in Kugaaruk (Ningark)
Mr. Ningark: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services pertaining to plans for a new hamlet office and community hall, but I will leave it up to you to determine if these are two different issues.
(interpretation) The Minister of Community and Government Services and I had the opportunity to discuss the draft plans for the hamlet office and what stage the plans were at. Additionally, I alluded to the community hall, dance hall, or whatever they are called.
I asked the minister what stage the planning was at for the Kugaaruk project plans.
The Kugaaruk hamlet office is quite old and further, I was informed that it is becoming harder to maintain.
So my question is: what stage is the planning at for these projects?
I believe that could be lumped together as municipal infrastructure.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for lumping them together. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Ningark, for asking that question.
With the fact that community halls or offices require more maintenance where the public gathers, it causes challenges and urgency to replace them.
In Kugaaruk, the plans for the hamlet office are ongoing, and for the fiscal year 2013-14, we identified funding for the planning process, such as looking for the site and the designing stages. This will be undertaken in this upcoming fiscal year, 2013-14.
Apparently I can also ask questions about the community hall, which I believe the minister said, so I thank him for that opportunity.
I would like to ask then: what’s the status with the planning stages for the community hall? Can you respond, Mr. Minister?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will see if I can have these two plans reviewed simultaneously during the planning process. We will include it in this process.
Question 495 – 3(3): Federal Support for Search & Rescue in Nunavut (Ugyuk)
(interpretation ends) As the Premier is aware, an ongoing concern for me is the need to strengthen federal support for search and rescue in the north.
Can the Premier indicate what commitments the federal government made to her on this issue during her recent meeting with the Prime Minister in Ottawa?
The actual search and rescue topic was not on my agenda with the Prime Minister in my last visit.
Question 496 – 3(3): 2013 Budget Issues (Elliott)
My questions are for the Minister of Finance and are based around the 2013 Budget Address that was delivered by the minister earlier today.
Mr. Speaker, we rely quite heavily upon the federal government for funding through the territorial formula finance.
I had noticed that in the minister’s Budget Address, there was no reference to that.
In the 2012-15 Business Plan of the Department of Finance, it indicated that one of its priorities for the 2012-13 fiscal year was to begin substantive negotiation, and I’ll emphasize the word “negotiation,” of the Territorial Formula Financing Agreement to achieve a greater capacity for the GN. The current TFF expires in 2014.
I guess the question I have for the minister is: as the year has progressed, the word “renegotiate” has sort of turned to “renewal,” and what I was hoping for was a clarification if work around the TFF has actually been a negotiation and whether there will be significant changes or is it merely just a renewal of the funding that is already received by the territory.
I thank Mr. Elliott for the question or should I say questions.
Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Elliott will recall, it was December 19, 2011 when I was in Victoria at the federal/provincial/territorial finance ministers’ meeting and Mr. Flaherty announced to the finance ministers present our funding with respect to health care, the TFF, equalization payments, and more so the health side.
Mr. Speaker, there haven’t really been any negotiations, more of technical discussions on our gross expenditure base.
I believe there were some ongoing discussions there, but I don’t believe that we should be concerned that our funding will be reduced when the current TFF expires.
I think we have a five-year extension, Mr. Speaker.
Last year, the minister’s Budget Address indicated that increases in tobacco taxes would produce additional revenue of $3 million and that the government would use a portion of these new revenues for smoking prevention and cessation programs.
How much funding from these new revenues has actually been allocated to date for smoking prevention and cessation programs?
As I had mentioned in our Budget Address, early indications in the first nine months of the fiscal year is that we collected more tobacco taxes, but cigarette smoking has decreased.
In the Health and Social Services business plan, which will be coming up here in the coming days, you will see that we will be allocating over $2 million to the Tobacco Reduction Cessation Program.
The Department of Finance and the Department of Health and Social Services have been working very closely on that.
That was a commitment I made last year in Committee of the Whole.
In March of 2012, the minister announced that the federal government had agreed to increase Nunavut’s borrowing limit to $400 million.
What is the current status today of the GN’s debt position?
He’s really testing my memory today.
Mr. Speaker, we were very grateful that the Government of Canada increased our debt cap to $400 million.
That allowed us to look at investments in infrastructure.
Of course, the first investment that we’re looking at is the Iqaluit International Airport P3 project.
It’s a very exciting project. As of today, I can’t give you an exact number, but I believe our available debt cap is about $197 million to $200 million.
As for my final question, in terms of some of the other projects that have been announced and in light some of the answers received from the Premier this afternoon about her discussions with the Prime Minister, it seems as though and I have heard mention of possible hydro infrastructure, and we have been reading in the media about QEC and the hydroelectric dam.
Is there any way that we would be able to finance with our budget and with our borrowing room to be able to manage a P3 project, as he’s already mentioned, with an airport and other huge projects, such as what the QEC is actually working towards?
With the current use of the limit on our debt cap and taking into account the guarantees for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, QEC’s lines of credit, and our capital leases, and then factoring in Iqaluit’s P3 airport, we will be very close to our limit on the $400 million debt cap.
So unless Canada was to increase our debt cap significantly beyond the current $400 million, I don’t think we could… . Well, we couldn’t incur any more debt beyond $400 million.