EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, as we have heard in this House, it is important that we train our residents for the employment opportunities that come from mining.
Some of the training that they receive should be transferable to other careers should they choose to pursue other opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I have spoken about our high school students who will soon be graduating and looking ahead to future education and training.
I see no reason why they cannot become future engineers, geologists, mine managers, geophysicists, helicopter pilots, or a multitude of other careers that mining offers.
We should be encouraging our kids to explore these careers.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that it important that our children receive a solid K to grade 12 education that gives them the option to pursue higher education or employer offered training.
All too often, we hear about kids who graduate from grade 12 who discover that they are unable to get into technical schools, trades professions, colleges, or university because their math, science or reading skills are inadequate.
Mr. Speaker, the future of any province or territory, or country, is largely dependent on its people. Importing people from other countries or parts of Canada works in the short-term, but we are far more likely to grow and prosper if we have a highly educated and skilled home-grown workforce. We must provide our kids with the education to succeed.
Mr. Speaker, my own son attended school from K to grade 12 in Cambridge Bay before he went on to graduate in 2006 from the University of British Columbia with a Metallurgy Engineering Degree.
He is now one of SNC/Lavalin’s project engineers overseeing construction of the Hope Bay Gold Mine.
I know that he believes there are many others coming up in the Cambridge Bay school system who have the potential to succeed.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to join me once again to thank Newmont Mining for investing in Nunavut and wish them success with their gold mine project.
Member for Iqaluit East, Premier Okalik.
Member’s Statement 484 – 2(4): Reflections on Working with Peter Kattuk (Okalik)
We were encouraged by our elders to call you Uqaqtittiji as it would be more appropriate for the Speaker’s role in our House. Unfortunately, we do not use this term as per the request of our elders. Perhaps following the next general election, they will incorporate the term Uqaqtittiji so that we will use the appropriate terminology for the Speaker and mention the correct term.
I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to our colleague, Mr. Kattuk. I have been quite impressed with him because he does his utmost to represent his riding of Sanikiluaq and his constituents here in this House.
He doesn’t just look to argue his case; he looks for solutions to resolve the problems facing his constituents.
Based on his performance, he has stood out in standing for his principles in defending his constituents, but he also tends to collaborate with the government on possible resolutions to the issues and that is one of his strengths as a member. As well, whenever I have undergone stressful and highly charged moments, he has always called me to encourage me and let me know that he supports me.
He has been one of my staunchest supporters and I will truly miss that aspect.
I thank Sanikiluarmiut from the bottom of my heart as they have elected him twice to this House. He has been one of the outstanding and model Members of this House, especially in supporting Nunavut and Nunavummiut, so I would like to acknowledge his contributions to the whole of Nunavut.
Sometimes, as politicians, we experience hardship and it was quite stressful for the two of us at one point.
At that time, he was part of the Cabinet when we were dealing with the issue of bad gasoline and he had made an appointment to meet with me.
When I went to meet with him, this look of utmost concern emanated from his face and his only question was, “What are we going to do now?”
He was completely at a loss for words since he was experiencing this very politically charged matter and he was not sure if he could handle the matter.
So that was a period of immense adversity that we shared and it has passed into a historical note, but we are all thrown into these kinds of situations from time to time.
I would like Sanikiluaq to send another astute politician, someone like Peter Kattuk, to represent them. That would be most beneficial to both this House and to all of Nunavut.
I would like to clarify for the record, since I said that you represented Iqaluit East instead of Iqaluit West, that the Premier represents Iqaluit West.
Member’s Statement 485 – 2(4): Reflections on the Legacy of the Second Legislative Assembly (Tootoo)
I, too, would like to wish Peter a happy belated birthday and the best of luck in the future. With a new knee, he’s going to be running all around the Belcher Islands. I wish him the best and thank him, and echo the comments made by my colleagues here.
I would also like to wish a Happy Birthday today to an individual who is a nurse here in Iqaluit, who has gone through our Nursing Program, she’s from Rankin Inlet, it’s her birthday today and that’s Andrea McLarty. Also, I’m sure watching right now, upstairs on the third floor, is Siobhan Moss and it’s her birthday as well today, so I would like to say Happy Birthday to her.
I would also like to thank Minister Netser for doing the honourable thing and apologizing in the House.
Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of the spring sitting, I rise today to offer some comments in advance of our final sitting this fall.
Before I begin, I would like to first advise members and my constituents that I will be away from the House tomorrow and Thursday, as a consequence of having to accompany a family member who will be undergoing surgery. I appreciate your understanding and that of my constituents.
Mr. Speaker, in less than 150 days from now, our constituents will have chosen the nineteen men and women who will represent them during the Third Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that our legacy to the next Assembly not be one of deferred decisions, debt and delay.
Mr. Speaker, our present sitting is coinciding with that of our sister legislature in the Northwest Territories.
As you will have noted, Members in that Assembly are struggling with difficult choices in the areas of expenditures and priorities.
Mr. Speaker, a number of my questions during our sitting have focused on the issue of how we will address the issue of the rising world price of oil.
It is common knowledge and no secret that this year’s fuel bill will likely be tens of millions of dollars higher than last year’s cost.
I am reminded of the scene from the Titanic when the great vessel ran into an iceberg, but the band played on while the deck chairs were shuffled. In our case, Mr. Speaker, that iceberg is called “oil,” and I don’t want us to be that band.
Mr. Speaker, I am still waiting for a clear explanation from the government as to why it appears not to have used the new fuel price hedging strategy, despite all of the effort that went into producing a policy and drafting regulations to implement it.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is safe to say that when the Members of the Third Assembly swear their oaths of office, there will be a mixture of new and old faces.
Our legacy to the new members must not be one where the difficult decisions were deferred. The next Assembly should not be put in a position where it inherits a situation that leaves no room for choices.
Mr. Speaker, with a few months remaining in our terms of office, we need to take action, take responsibility, and take the initiative to speak frankly to the public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 486 – 2(4): Thanks to Wife Elizabeth Mapsalak (Mapsalak)
I rise today to acknowledge my dearest and closest friend in all of Nunavut, with whom I have spent the last 30 years, my one and only wife, Elizabeth Mapsalak.
Mr. Speaker, my wife has assisted me tremendously over the years and I have not received any assistance on par with what she has offered to me. As well, she has been alone at home all that time, while I have travelled extensively in these last few months in reviewing the bills in our standing committee, sometimes not visiting home for two months.
Mr. Speaker, I am extremely grateful for my wife, Elizabeth Mapsalak, although I am off in Iqaluit on business, where she has to be the sole parent and hardships cross her path, she deals with them and solves the problems by herself.
As well, she also looks after all of my hunting gear and she also tends to our adopted child who is ten years old. She has never shirked her duties; she looks after my gear and puts them in their proper place.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to mention that I am so immensely proud of her, that I love her with all my heart, and even though our children have grown, she still tends to them. She is also tending to our grandchildren, who are now quite numerous, but she looks after their upkeep, including feeding them. She is doing all the work at home.
She also makes clothes and she sews as well.
Ever since we have been a couple, with my many absences, she still provides sufficient care to all of our children and nuclear family.
I wish to thank her with all of my being, my dear Elizabeth, if she is watching the proceedings.
Return to Oral Question 530 – 2(4): Fuel Hedging Strategy (Tapardjuk)
On June 3, 2008, Mr. Tootoo asked Question 530 – 2(4) and the subject was the Fuel Hedging Strategy.
On May 22, 2008, the Member for Iqaluit Centre asked for an update on the status of the implementation of the Affordable Energy Fund.
The ministers responsible for energy and their respective departments, and Crown corporations, including the Qulliq Energy Corporation, the Nunavut Housing Corporation, the Energy Secretariat, at the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Department of Finance, and Community and Government Services are working together to finalize a comprehensive program that will educate consumers on issues related to energy consumption and assist them in reducing consumption.
In addition, Finance is currently developing an action plan to report all direct and indirect energy subsidies government-wide and report them to this House and Nunavummiut in a meaningful manner.
I will update this House as these two projects move forward.
Return to Oral Question 551 – 2(4): GN’s Involvement in Regulatory Process (Okalik)
I have a Return to Oral Question 551 – 2(4): Representation and Protection of Rights, asked by the Member for Tununiq on May 27, 2008.
Mr. Speaker, this return is quite detailed. I have filed it with the Clerk for transcribing into Hansard for the public record and for distribution to all members.
I would like to address the issue Mr. Arvaluk raised about the role the territorial government plays in making sure Nunavummiut participate in and benefit from resource development projects.
Mr. Speaker, this government takes the issue of community concerns, participation and benefits seriously.
Parnautiit, the Nunavut Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy, outlines a number of objectives for engaging Nunavummiut in the mineral exploration and mining industry.
Key is our commitment to maximizing economic and social benefits to communities impacted by mineral industry activities.  We do this through educational initiatives such as curriculum and prospectors programs, and by working with other organizations to coordinate mine training initiatives.
We are also working to make sure any potential negative social or economic impacts of mining are mitigated by ensuring communities have access to important information through our development of regional socio-economic monitoring committees.  Lastly, we use development partnership agreements to coordinate our programs and planning with the commitments industry has made through the environmental assessment process and their IIBAs.
We are supporting and encouraging mining companies in their efforts to provide lasting benefits to Nunavut communities.  Mr. Speaker, this government has said that it respects the right of Inuit under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to negotiate Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreements directly with resource development companies.
These agreements ensure Inuit are able to maximize the benefits that flow from major development projects.  It is not the place of the territorial government to comment on how they are developed.
If Inuit have concerns about these agreements, I suggest they contact their regional Inuit association to voice their opinions.
The honourable member is also reminded of this government’s continued support for the role our institutions of public government play in ensuring Inuit and the public have opportunities to participate in decision-making.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Premier. Can we have the document brought forward to the table, please?
Returns to Oral Questions. If there are no more, Item 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to recognize the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee.
They have been an extremely positive force for the government when dealing with traditional knowledge.
Kananginak Pootoogoo is the Chair and is from Cape Dorset.
Miriam Aglukkaq from Gjoa Haven.
Angnaoyok Alookee from Taloyoak.
Ailic Tologanak from Cambridge Bay.
Jimmy Muckpah from Arviat.
Jackie Napayok from Whale Cove.
Winnie Uvingajaq from Baker Lake.
Susie Angutialuk from Repulse Bay.
Raina Audla from Sanikiluaq.
Jacobie Ikalukjuak from Iqaluit.
Percy Pikuyak from Hall Beach.
Peetooloosie Qappik from Pangnirtung.
Mr. Speaker, the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit members who are not present are: George Qulaut from Igloolik, Marianne Tattuinee from Rankin Inlet, and Simon Nattaq.
They were not able to be here due to other commitments. They will be meeting this week.
I’m sure that my colleagues and ministers welcome the members of the Inuit Qaujimajatugangit Committee.
Please feel welcome in the Gallery.
I would like to welcome all the visitors in the Gallery, as well as staff members.
Question 598 – 2(4): Improvements to Bloody Falls Trail in Kugluktuk (Evyagotailak)
I welcome all the elders to the Gallery and I send my greetings to my constituents in Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Kugluktuk have expressed concern to me about the condition of the trail leading up to Bloody Falls.
Often, at this time of year, the trail is not very accessible and the use of ATVs on the trail has caused damage.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, ED&T has a Community Transportation Initiative Contribution Policy. Can the minister confirm that the Hamlet of Kugluktuk can apply for funding from this program to assist in improving the access road to Bloody Falls?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) The Department of Economic Development and Transportation has $500,000 that could be accessed by the communities to be used for trails and other projects under the Access Road Program. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
When it comes to parks, access roads and tourism-related initiatives, there can be confusion because of the overlap in responsibilities between the Department of Environment and the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Can the minister indicate how the two departments coordinate their activities and indicate if the departments are reviewing this issue?
That brings up a new scenario in terms of that program towards Nunavut Parks, I believe.
I don’t know whether the parks qualify for that Access Road Program, so I would have to consult with my counterpart to see and also with the staff to see how he can benefit from that program.
Summer is fast approaching. Tourists will arrive soon and they will want to visit Bloody Falls.
Local people will be going berry picking and fishing using that trail.
Will the minister commit to working with the Hamlet of Kugluktuk to improve the access road to Bloody Falls?
Tourism is very important to our government and we will gladly work with the hamlet to see how we can improve the tourism access to Bloody Falls the member is talking about.
Question 599 – 2(4): Report of the Auditor General on the Nunavut Housing Corporation (Curley)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation and it’s in regard to the Auditor General’s report.
Mr. Speaker, the report contained a number of observations and recommendations for the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s risk management practices.
I was disturbed to read that the Nunavut Housing Corporation did not plan adequately for dealing with the risks associated with the Nunavut Housing Trust Delivery Strategy.
That’s what the Auditor General reported.
Mr. Speaker, I can say that this $200 million item is the single most important project undertaken by the Housing Corporation since 1999 and it amazes me that proper planning wasn’t done.
Can the minister clearly explain to the House today why this situation was allowed to occur and indicate who is accountable?
Perhaps there wasn’t a proper plan in place when this $200 million was allocated to the Nunavut Housing Corporation. This was the first time our government ever received funds of this size from the federal government and we were caught off guard, so this resulted in the poor planning and additional costs incurred by our department. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
I would like the minister to also indicate who is accountable for this issue.
Whenever a plan is being prepared, one has to look at the objectives, plus any future problems that might surface and incorporate them into the plan.
In a comparative analogy, Inuit who are going camping, along with hunters preparing for a hunt, consider all of the eventualities they may run into and prepare accordingly.
Inside of the Auditor General’s report, there’s a section highlighting the problems faced by the Nunavut Housing Trust Delivery Strategy. The problems stemmed from poor mismanagement, poor planning, and the end results were that not all of the projects were completed, contractors were not overly interested in the contracts due to small margins, and the materials for the projects were shipped to the wrong communities.
These are just a few examples of issues that arose and due to these issues, I would like to ask the minister if he has adhered to the recommendations in the report, such as proper background checks and experience when they were looking at contracts. One has to conduct due diligence when awarding contracts.
Can the minister report to this House on whether or not his department has hired a consultant as per the Auditor General’s report to conduct the review?
Further, how will the consultant be hired, under what terms of reference, and will it be contested, or will you just be sole sourcing the review to a consultant of your choice?
In regard to the Auditor General’s report, it indicates that the Nunavut Housing Corporation had 23 positions vacant in its organization and their responsibilities include all the divisions related to housing.
The mandate of the Nunavut Housing Corporation is fairly large and the vacancies exacerbated the workload of the remaining staff, who, when faced with the overwhelming work, required to complete the project apparently made some errors while trying to complete all of the work.
I wish to apologize for the errors we committed.
With respect to the 13 recommendations listed by the Auditor General, we will deal with each of these recommendations with the members, and we will inform the House as to the developments so that members know exactly where we stand.
In the Auditor General’s report, it recommended that a consultant be hired to conduct a full review of the NHC housing project. As well, management concurred with the recommendation to conduct a review of this project. Our reasoning is that this consultant, who will conduct a thorough review, ought to be sought by way of competition.
It would also strengthen the report’s findings and give us a clearer picture of what deficiencies exist in the project.
Perhaps you should consider that option and perhaps we should ask the RCMP to conduct an investigation on the issue.
Members get concerned when the RCMP conducts investigations into government operations and for this reason, your department should hire an independent consultant to conduct that review.
Can you take that into consideration?
We did hire an independent consultant from the firm, Aarluk Consulting, who has completed their review of the project and their report is currently being assessed as to its findings on the housing project.
I do not know when that contract was let since they were already conducting a review when I was appointed to the portfolio and they had already started their investigations on the matter. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, this is an addendum to my previous question. Whenever the government hires a consultant, they have to follow the terms of reference for the contract, especially if the contract is over $5,000.
For that reason, can the minister assure us that due process was followed for selecting Aarluk Consulting based out of Iqaluit?
Was this contract just sole sourced or did this go through the tendering process?
I’m not exactly sure whether the tender was out for everyone, but I think it was some time in December that they completed the consultation. I can let the member know when they started once I obtain that information.
Question 600 – 2(4): Subsidy for Hunters for Fuel Purchases (Arreak)
I would like to ask my question to my Annuraaqatik, the Minister of Finance, in regard to petroleum pricing.
We know that the price of petroleum products is rising. We have also heard about subsidies for homeowners, but hunters in the communities, who provide food for everyone, have not received any increase in their gasoline subsidies, it’s still at 6.4 cents per liter.
I would like to know if hunters in the communities also be getting an additional subsidy as well.
Through the Department of Finance, we provide a gas tax rebate for the hunters who go out hunting and fishing, as well as for outfitters who apply for that tax rebate.
We have targeted some money for gas tax rebates, Mr. Speaker.
It’s unfortunate that there’s nothing for the hunters, despite the fact that they really help out by hunting for a great many people, such as those who don’t have husbands or for the elderly, and they do so despite high costs operation.
Will there be some subsidy for the hunters or will they be getting a gas tax rebate – yes or no?
What we’re doing is we’re considering whom we should target for assistance, but hunters are more of a responsibility of the Department of Environment.
I have not talked to the Department of Environment, but as a government, we have been working with the Department of Environment to do that.
I will be talking to my colleagues to see whether hunters can be assisted, Mr. Speaker.
I know that they will be impacted by the high price of gas, especially the ones who have no employment and they will be in a difficult position when it’s time to go out hunting.
The government has stated that they would review the prices of petroleum products, so will there be a report at our next session so that we can assist the hunters to buy gas?
Like I said, as a government, we have to deal with the high cost of petroleum products and it will impact on all government departments that I mentioned - CG&S, Qulliq Energy, the Department of Economic Development, and others.
They will have to work together with the departments to determine if and how we can help the hunters of Nunavut.
Nunavummiut will be informed as to our decision.
Oral Questions. Member for Baker Lake, Mr. Simailak.
Question 601 – 2(4): Summer Student Employment Program in Baker Lake (Simailak)
I have a question for the Minister of Human Resources.
Every year, the government delivers the Summer Student Employment Equity Program for students.
Can the minister tell us how many student employment positions will be available in Baker Lake this spring and summer?