EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I’m not talking about great big ports or anything like that we wish they had built in Iqaluit, but just basic docks and protected waters for personal use craft.
I have spoken to a number of people and there are some pretty pricey boats out there that people use for hunting, camping, and travelling from community to community. In some families, that’s the most valuable asset they have and not all communities have a basic dock or a basic breakwater or protected waters.
I’m just wondering: what is the department’s long-term strategy to meet some of these objectives across the whole territory?
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Hickes. Minister Ell.
I’ll ask Mr. Stevens, the Assistant Deputy Minister in charge of transportation, to answer that question.
Mr. Stevens: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Our strategy for marine infrastructure is basically to see basic marine infrastructure comprising breakwaters, improved beaches, and that type of thing in every community.
We continue to advocate the need with the federal government, I would suggest, in every venue and every possible discussion.
We have heard numerous times, whenever we’re short money or need major infrastructure investments, we go to the federal government and we lobby for money.
I know that’s not going to stop and I know we’re going to have flashes of success here and there, but to me, asking the feds on one specific project overarching the whole government, with all of our infrastructure needs, may not be the only strategy that we can utilize.
I’m wondering: have there been other communications at the cabinet level of maybe looking at increasing funding for smaller scale community infrastructure staged over a period of years?
Some of our advocacy is relative to the statutory requirements for the federal government to provide this infrastructure and that’s why we spent a lot of time promoting it with them.
I appreciate that, actually.
I read that somewhere and it filed off into the wrong memory bank.
I appreciate the obligation that the federal government does have and I just wish you well in your endeavours.
That was just a comment. (interpretation) Thank you. Mr. Mikkungwak.
I welcome the minister and her officials. I believe we’re on page K-6, but my questions are on the business plan, page 197, the 2014-15 priorities, fourth bullet.
Last year, I asked about the GPS systems. I don’t have a date when I asked the question, but I would like to get some information. Representing Baker Lake, I asked questions as an MLA.
I was told that I would be given a letter in response, but I didn’t receive it.
You work with the federal government, NAV Canada, and Nunavut Airports.
The first question I would like to ask is: where exactly is Baker Lake in this regard?
Since you last asked the questions, I would like my Assistant Deputy Minister, Mr. Stevens, to respond to that.
We have initiated the preliminary design work for GPS approach for Baker Lake and the relative other improvements that have to go along with that.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Thank you for the response.
When would that initially start?
It just started.
If this is being worked on, how long are they planning to work on it? If the GPS approach system is going to be installed in the community, are they going to be installing them in one year or two years? Can you explain that, please.
It will take about six months, but the airport will need to be fixed up.
The Hamlet of Baker Lake and the community has been pushing hard to get this.
Will Baker Lake have to make another proposal for this or is the work already in progress?
We will have to finish the design work before we can go further on the discussion.
Once the design work has been completed, will there be a delay in the planning stages for the construction or would all the appropriate proposals or contribution agreements have to be completed before the actual construction?
We would have to source the work for that to move forward.
On that fourth bullet in the status, it also indicates NAV Canada. Would that be a joint funding proposal?
Any improvements required for GPS approach would be sourced through GN and/or Transport Canada funding through their ACAP program.
With that ACAP funding, would that initiate all the upgrades necessary so that GPS approach is constructed within the community of Baker Lake’s airport?
When I look at the GPS approach for the runway and with all that, I understand that the minister has seen our terminal building with a number of other ministers that were able to come to my community.
The actual terminal building in Baker Lake, according to the information and I have seen the plaque at the terminal building, was completed on May 16, 1983.
Would that terminal building be renovated or upgraded with the GPS approach system being constructed?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you as well. Minister Ell.
No, that would not be part of the project.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ell. Mr. Mikkungwak.
For the instrument package, would that not require any upgrades for the people who are monitoring the flights coming in or monitoring the flights going out from the terminal building?
I will ask Mr. Stevens to answer that question.
The initiation of a GPS approach would be independent of any ATB requirements.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you for the direct responses. Now I would like further information.
The air terminal building that is used for people who are travelling is really old. As I stated earlier, it was built on May 16, 1983.
Sometimes it gets too cramped and it gets too cold. I would like to know if it’s going to be on any future considerations for capital projects.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Mikkungwak, the question you are trying to ask has more to do with capital expenditures, so if you can rephrase your question or ask a different question. Are you done?
Before I ask my question, I’ve got to go back in history a little bit. When I was elected in 2008, one of my priorities was to have the old abandoned airport terminal in Sanikiluaq removed. I have questioned the previous minister many times and in many letters, and still the building is there today.
It seems I am having more success with new infrastructure than I am getting rid of old infrastructure.
Anyways, in your priorities for 2014-15, it stated that you were conducting planning work for remediation and removal or demolishing airport terminal buildings in Qikiqtarjuaq, Coral Harbour, Nanisivik, Sanikiluaq, and Resolute Bay.
In particular, I’m just going to ask about my own community.
Up until this fiscal year, 2014-15, what planning has been done to date?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. Minister Ell.
The study for the old air terminal building for Sanikiluaq has been done.
I thank the minister for her update.
If we move on to priorities for 2015-16 and again, priorities for 2016-17, they both say conduct and complete planning toward the removal of these buildings.
If your study is done, why do we need another two years of planning and preparation to remove the building?
There are other old airport terminal buildings in other communities that still require a study, but currently for Sanikiluaq, the department is preparing a funding request to cover the decommissioning.
When can we expect this funding proposal will be put forward and when can we actually see some actual work happening in the community to have this building removed?
We can expect that to be in the capital estimates for the fall.
I know one of the issues and the reason it’s taking so long to have this building removed is because I think there is asbestos in the building. When the time comes to remove the building, how will this asbestos be disposed of?
The decommissioning study just alludes to the asbestos being delivered to a licensed facility. At this time, I don’t have the location of that, but I can get that information if the member requires it.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Stevens. Mr. Rumbolt.
When you talk about a licensed facility, if you could explain that a little bit, please, and whether we have licensed facilities to accept this kind of material in Nunavut or will it have to be shipped south?
We don’t have any licensed facilities in Nunavut. Therefore, the asbestos would have to be sent south.
I would like to refer back to the question that was posed by Mr. Keyootak and the minister’s response that there will be an increase of $1 million that we can access by way of a request.
Can that money be used for roads?
Yes, it was $500,000. With your approval, we will add another $1 million and you can access it for roads. Over and above that, it could also include the small craft harbours.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): You have already responded to a question I wanted to ask, but the two communities that I represent, Repulse Bay and Coral Harbour, use a lot of this money that is made available for building roads. It is very useful and beneficial to the communities.
There is a high unemployment rate in our community. It also benefits and is utilized with the small amount of tourists received.
If we make a request, is there a cap to how much money we can access from this pot of money if we are going to use it for roads?
At this time, if there is an increase in the funds, one community can access up to $100,000.
We use quite a lot of money for building roads and access roads because of the benefits it provides to the community.
In the other community, the road that they are building has been stopped because it has to be inspected first. They have to survey the land prior to continuation of the building of the road.
Can we use that money for surveys such as that?
In Repulse Bay, there’s the (interpretation ends) North Star Road. (interpretation) They are not asking for funds from that program.
We are not sure what is going to be happening there right now.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s called (interpretation ends) the North Pole River. (interpretation) We are trying to build a road up to that river.
We call it Niaqunnguut in Inuktitut.
In the other community, they have a very long road in Coral Harbour. You can drive for at least five hours and just keep going. Because they have accessed very little money, it has taken a long time to build that road.
Even $100,000 is not enough to complete the building of the road. If there is a cap of $100,000, would it be possible for the communities to ask for more money or to access more money from that pot if there is a surplus in that fiscal year?
All communities make requests for money from that pot of money.
With the program currently at $500,000, the previous cap was $50,000 for each community.
Therefore, if we increase that by $1 million, each community would then be eligible for up to $100,000. Most communities usually request this cap.
I just have a few questions. One is on a topic that is talked about a lot, the Motor Vehicle Information System, MVIS, I think it’s called. I would just like to ask the minister if all of the hardware, software, equipment, everything is purchased now.
Chairman (Mr. Mikkungwak) (interpretation): Thank you very much. Minister Ell.
The request for proposals has been prepared and it is currently being advertised. It is set to close on Friday, March 27, 2015.
I was under the understanding that this would all be operational in the 2014-15 fiscal year. Was I mistaken?
Under the 2014-15 capital estimates, targets were $2.8 million and was proposed for 2014-15, $1.2 million in 2015-16, and $500,000 for 2016-17.
Just for the information of the audience, this equipment will also be used to make general identification cards.
If it’s used for that, will the people who go in for general identification cards be able to walk in and walk out with their card?
They would be able to walk out with a temporary document.
Can the minister explain document? From previously questioning the previous minister, I know that the driver’s licence will still be outsourced and they still have to be mailed in from out of Nunavut, but I thought that the general identification cards would be able to be a walk in and walk out.
The document would look like a GIC and it would look like the real card, but the actual card would come after.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will just go on to a different topic now about airports and GPS approaches too.
The minister informed my counterpart that they are working on Baker Lake’s GPS approach right now as we speak. I did ask your predecessor before about this and was informed at the time that Arviat was going to be first one.
I would like to ask the minister if Arviat is done.
The Arviat Airport has a GPS instrument approach procedure and currently, NAV Canada is designing to improve the GPS/LPV instrument procedures and should be published August 2015.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I thank the minister for that because when I’m here for long time and I’m on my way home, a missed approach just makes it that much longer.
It just makes it easier to get home, so I thank the minister for that.
I have more questions, but they are on grants and contributions, if I would be allowed and if I’m not, then the Chairman will let me know.
Going through these grants and contributions for 2013-14 because 2014-15, I believe, is not published yet, there are a couple of grants that I would just like a little clarification on. There was one for a numbered company that is for $500,000, it’s a private business, and it is under the Strategic Investments Program.
I know there are confidentiality issues, but what are the strategic investment programs that a private numbered company can get half a million dollars?
So we can follow the member, can I get clarity on the question?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. Please clarify your question, Mr. Savikataaq.
I’m reading from the tabled document from October 28, 2014, grants and contributions, tabled by the Department of Finance, all the grants and contributions that this government has made in 2013-14.
I don’t think there is a page number here, but under Economic Development and Transportation under grants, there is a numbered company that received $500,000 under the Strategic Investments Program. It states that it is a private business under the category.
I would just like to know what the Strategic Investments Program is.
I don’t have Strategic Investments Program briefing in front of me and I could get back to the member on the details of that program.
I look forward to getting that because it just seems like red flags should or might go up when it’s a numbered company.
Staying on with grants, there is a number of municipalities that got grants under anti-poverty. It totals almost $900,000.
There was one for the Municipality of Igloolik for $497,000 and a bit.
I’m just wondering if the minister can explain how other communities like Arviat can apply for half a million dollars in grants for anti-poverty.
Hon. Monica Ell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It would depend on the application. The funding I believe he is referring to was when anti-poverty was under the Economic Development portfolio; it’s now under Family Services.
I guess I will be asking Family Services because in 2013-14, almost $900,000 was given out to municipalities for anti-poverty programs.
I have some more questions on some more companies that received funding under the Strategic Investments Program, but I believe the minister said that she doesn’t have that or she didn’t have it just for the numbered company or for all of them. Clarity, please.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) If you can explain that further, Minister Ell.
I’ll have Deputy Minister Mr. Suvega answer that question.
In terms of the funding provided through grants and contributions to businesses and organizations, we do have program guidelines that are outlined and approved on our website.
Specifically for the Strategic Investments Program, there are two schedules to that, Nunavut Economic Foundations Fund and Nunavut Equity Investment Fund. One would be for profit and the other one would be for a non-profit. As for numbered companies, that depends on how the companies are registered to do business within Nunavut.
On the application amounts or funding amounts, that depends on the applications and the conditions within that program application.
We will have to perhaps ask for some clarity on what specific amounts and numbered company you are referring to and we would be happy to get back to the member on them.
I sort of get his explanation. I know he said that there is an application process for these companies and they get money. Some of them are quite huge amounts.
It would be nice if we could get some information on what the money was going to be used for, like another column there. Was it used to make jobs?
Was it used to bring in products to sell cheaper?
Some of the strategic investment amounts are huge amounts.
The government gives out lots of money in grants and contributions.
We are accountable to government public money. We don’t get to see it.
I guess they get to see it.
My short question would be: do you check to see if you actually get results for the money that you have given companies and that they actually do what they stated they were going to do?
The grants and contributions, the way those programs work is that most of the time, contributions are provided to the various organizations or businesses. Most of the time, they are given a certain amount with a withheld [amount]. After a reporting period and if it’s satisfactory, then the withheld amount is given to the company.
Just by looking at more companies here, there is a company called Arctic Kingdom that received grants four times.
I assume that you can apply as often as you want because this company received grants on four different occasions. I guess a company can apply as often as they want.
It would depend on which type of application they’re providing to and which program they’re requesting funding for.
The Government of Nunavut supports business development in the territory in five principle ways.
It’s either through financial contributions for business development projects; access to credit for investment in business development projects; information and advice, including efforts to reduce the burden of red tape; support for business and trade associations; and preferential treatment for Inuit and Nunavut business in government contracting through the application of the NNI Policy.
We also have $21.7 million that the department allocates through contributions.
That was in 2014-15 and they were aimed at assisting small businesses, which includes the Small Business Support Program of $823,000; the Strategic Investments Program, a large part of $3.9 million; the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, $600,000; business development centres, $1.5 million; and the Baffin Chamber of Commerce at $195,000.
Do you have to be a registered business and do business in Nunavut to receive grants under your department?
I know Mr. Suvega touched on this a bit, but I didn’t get the gist of it.
Can he just explain what the Strategic Investments Program is? What is the purpose of it?
The Strategic Investments Program is largely aimed at the more mature business sector or business organizations, both for profit and non-profit.
It could be a municipal corporation. It could be a not-for-profit hunters and trappers organization, just as an example.
The types of projects that are starting to surface throughout Nunavut, depending on the types of activities, are starting to get more and more mature as development starts to occur across the various economic sectors.
Fisheries, for example, we’re starting to see some pretty exciting things across the board. There are some tourism-related activities as well and some business growth activities.
Again, it depends on what type of applications that applicants are seeking.
We also try and look to partner with other lending organizations to see if we can partner up or match up on dollars that we can provide to various organizations and/or companies within Nunavut.
I heard the explanation. I’ll ask it simply.
Can it be used to buy capital or does it have to be used just to create jobs or can it be used to buy a boat or help buy another restaurant or another hotel?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like Mr. Suvega to respond.
Typically with the type and nature of this program, most times, I think new organizations will utilize it for things like business start-up, match funding from other lending organizations. Again, a lot of organizations that are, let’s say for example, not-for-profit tend to look at this program to augment some of their activities.
It really depends on the types of applications that we receive. As I mentioned, it does touch across most, if not all, economic sectors.
I think he stated that it could be used for almost anything.
Earlier, he said that it was used for mature companies, but now he just stated that it is for new start-ups. Can he just clarify the statement?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask my colleagues if Tanya Winmill can go to the witness table so that she can respond to the question and sit to the right of me.
Chairman: Does the committee agree for the new official to enter the witness table?
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation): Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the new witness in and the other witness out.
Mr. Savikataaq, please repeat your question so that you can get your response.
Ms. Winmill, welcome back.
My question was, earlier Mr. Suvega said that the Strategic Investments Program is for mature companies and later on, he said it is for new start-ups.
I was asking on exactly what it can be used for. Can it be used to buy capital like a new boat, a hotel, a restaurant, or additions?
I just want a general description of what these funds can be used for and what it is used for.
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like Ms. Winmill to respond to that question.
The Strategic Investments Program provides funding for a variety of things.
For example, the project that you were asking about earlier about the numbered company is actually the Arctic Haven Wilderness Lodge in Arviat.
We have also funded for the purchase of a boat in another program. We have provided additional funding to support training in a wide array of fields throughout the territory.
Rehabilitation work, for example, there was a company and their building didn’t pass the code, so we assisted them with partnering with lending organizations like the deputy minister alluded to previously.
There are many different projects that can be considered under this program and looked at by the department.
This numbered company that is apparently in Arviat must be Arctic Haven. They’re well camouflaged, I’ll tell you. I live there and I don’t know about it.
I think there would be fewer questions here if we knew exactly what this money was being used for.
The Minister of Finance produces the report and he tables it, the grants and contributions.
Maybe through you, could I ask him if he would be willing to add another column for the next time that the grants and contributions report comes out?
Chairman (interpretation): Are you done with your questions?
Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) We are on Economic Development and Transportation. Branch Summary. Transportation.
I want to talk about transportation. I want to talk about the limited marine infrastructure that we have in Iqaluit. I don’t see it mentioned anywhere in the business plan, yet I think everybody knows how much we need better marine support for our hunters and those who enjoy boating.
What we do have is really inadequate.
I don’t even want to call it a loading dock because it’s basically just a gravel road kind of going down into the water.
The causeway is almost unusable.
I’m wondering what plans the department has in regard to fixing that to where it’s actually usable. I know that sometimes the department puts a few thousand dollars into it and throws down some gravel, but I think we need a lot more than that.
Chairman (Mr. Enook)(interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Angnakak.