EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, they have already discussed the routes and in discussions with the contractor, the contractor has indicated that they have looked at every way of doing it, but there is no way of changing the routes to accommodate the existing services.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister to commit to ensuring that there are additional resources supplied through the Baffin Education Council to the DEA of Iqaluit for the additional buses that it will require in the fall.
The member knows that in the budget session , we cannot commit single handily for additional resources to purchase two more buses that have been identified by the member.
However I will assure the member that my department; I have told my department to work with the education authorities to find the most suitable way to resolve that problem.
One way is to have a discussion with the Baffin Divisional Education Council to find if they have provision in there to be able to combat an unexpected increase or requirement for bussing service for Iqaluit.
All of these have been under discussion and I am waiting for my department to give me the most suitable way to resolve that.
That is all I could tell the member right now because I don’t want to undermine the authority of the Divisional Boards, Local Education Council, who are having a discussion with my department.
I don’t want to undermine the best recommendations that they could give me , in the meantime.
Mr. Speaker, I am not asking the Minister to undermine the process that is underway, but it is my understanding that the DEA, the Baffin Divisional Education Council, has gone through all of this process, they have determined that the only way that they can meet their bussing requirements that are going to be necessary next year, will be with two additional buses.
All these other options have already been looked at, they have been doing it for some time.
Mr. Speaker, next fall we are going to have a problem.
The new middle school up there are going to be taking students from all over Iqaluit. 163 of the students of the 177, that we know for sure will be attending that school next year, will require bussing.
The only way to accommodate that, after thorough review by the DEA, by the Education Council, is going to be the requirement to have additional buses.
Mr. Speaker, I would like a commitment from the Minister that if, and I am pretty sure that this will be the only option that is available, that the commitment be there so that we don’t have students having to walk in 40 below weather to school next fall and also that we don’t have, as we currently have, students being turned away from the buses because there is no room on them.
I will commit to the member and the residents of Iqaluit that if and when those students qualify under the formula for bussing services, then I will work diligently with the department and the Education Councils to address that issue.
In fact, if the member could give me a couple of hours, my information is from May, and it is June 1 today, I will have the information probably within the hour, up to date information, as my information is from May.
Also I will instruct my staff, because we are participating in the Committee of the Whole, later on, I will instruct my staff in the meantime to have this answer for the member during the Committee of the Whole discussion of the school programs.
Final supplementary Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the Ministers’ remarks and I look forward to addressing this issue along with a few other ones in the Committee of the Whole.
Hopefully we can get this problem resolved so that we don’t see kids walking in cold weather.
Also I would just like to ask the Minister, he had mentioned if they would qualify based on the funding formula.
Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the department is going to be looking at whether or not the existing formula meets the needs in the communities and if the department is taking a look at that formula so that it's more accurate.
Hon. James Arvaluk: Mr. Speaker, all programs and services of the department that were inherited from the GNWT are subject to review.
We cannot deem to be 100% satisfied just having GNWT programs that were inherited by Nunavut Government.
In this case, yes, all of that area will be reviewed and recommendations put forth, perhaps some of them to the Cabinet and perhaps the other ones, long term plan requirements will be discussed with the regular members in their Standing Committees through time.
Question 167 - 1 (2): Use of Government Facilities by Private Business
Regarding the reply I just received , I have another question on the same subject.
I would like a clear answer.
Perhaps I should be asking this to the Minister of Finance , I don’t want to embarrass Ms. Thompson, even though it is regarding the same subject that she just replied to.
I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if this government , if I want to , as a private businessman use the government facilities, for example, if I had a contract as a private business and I needed to go repair a piece of equipment, could I just go to the government property to make the repairs using their tools that may not exist elsewhere in the community.
I am asking the government if I can just go to the garage staff and tell them that I can remove the snow for you if I can use your facility and your tools.
So I can make an agreement of that kind for Public Works, Telecommunications & Technical Services facilities?
Speaker: Mr. Ng, Minister of Finance.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, the responsibility for GN capital assets rests with the department of Public Works, so I will ask the appropriate Minister to respond.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ng. Ms. Thompson, Minister for Public Works, Telecommunications & Technical Services.
Regarding the question being asked by the member for Hall Beach , let me tell him first that I am not embarrassed by his remark , contrary to his suggestion.
I looked into this matter earlier and I looked into whether or not Public Works, Telecommunications & Technical Services made a mistake with the contractor in Hall Beach building the water reservoir.
They are not using our facilities.
I asked why they were repairing their heavy equipment in a government facility and that is why I answered the question this morning; that they had made an agreement with the Arctic Airport facility and in return they would provide gravel to Arctic Airports for their needs.
By the way, the Arctic Airports’ facility is not under my Ministerial responsibility but it is up to these two organizations to make agreements for such a service.
I can further respond by saying that I had a short discussion with the Minister responsible for Arctic Airports, Mr. Anawak , this morning, regarding this.
I don’t know if he has had a chance to communicate what we talked about with his officials yet.
I made my response earlier based on the information that I was able to obtain.
There was an agreement between Arctic Airports and the contractor.
This facility is not under my responsibility.
Speaker (interpretation): Oral questions, Mr. Irqittuq.
Mr. Speaker, I have another question along the same line.
In the replies provided to me by the Minister, it says that there was an agreement between Arctic Airports and the contractor; that they would provide gravel in return for repairing their heavy equipment in the airport garage.
I don’t know , or I have not seen ,who requires gravel in Hall Beach although I am from that community.
The road between the airport and the community belongs to Arctic Airports and it is in good order.
I don’t know Mr. Speaker, maybe I should ask this question, who was requiring this gravel from Arctic Airports and where this gravel would be used.
I have no details about how this gravel would be used.
Even though our department awarded this contract, Arctic Airports operations are not under my department.
I think that Arctic Airports can be asked where this gravel was going to be used.
Once the contract was awarded it is no longer under my Ministerial responsibilities.
Perhaps this question should be asked to Mr. Anawak.
The subject is changing here, we were talking about whether the contractor could work in the warehouse, the original question did not talk about moving of gravel to certain places.
Mr. Speaker, I just want clarification about that, I am not talking about gravel, but that is mentioned in the reply made by the Minister.
My question is whether or not they are going to be looking into the details sometime this week regarding this contract.
Speaker (interpretation): Are you directing this question to the same Minister , Mr. Irqittuq?
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Mr. Speaker.
Yes , I wanted to know if this Minister will speak with the Transportation Minister about this.
I understand exactly what the member is talking about and I will have further discussions with him as to what further details he may need.
I can also find out what the gravel is to be used for.
I will also be having a discussion with Minister Anawak, and we will give a clear reply to the member and try to give that right away.
We will try to give these answers before Friday.
Mr. McLean..
Question 168 - 1 (2): Ambulance Services in Nunavut
Yesterday Mr. Speaker, in Committee of the Whole I was so infatuated with the Honourable Ministers’ story about the Newfoundland tooth fairy, that I forgot to ask a question.
In regards to ambulance service in Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is, is he developing any kind of ambulance policy for the residents of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the member is a little bit mistaken, indeed there was no talk about tooth fairies, indeed it was tooth charmers, there is a considerable difference.
On the ambulance policy, Mr. Speaker, depending on operational requirements, for example , in a community like Iqaluit there is an ambulance service provided through the Town itself.
As a specific policy within the department maybe the member could explain or give some clarification on it, is he talking about community based, is he talking about ambulance services for transportation to the airports, exactly what type of ambulance services is the member asking about.
Rephrase your question Mr. McLean, I will allow you the same question.
Mr. Speaker, we all realize that times have changed in Nunavut, and the days of taking our elderly, our sick and our injured people to the airport on the back of snow machines , pickup trucks and in some cases dog teams , that I realize that in the large regional centres like Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay, they have ambulances that take people right to the airplane.
My community is sort of distressed that we don’t have that type and level of service that they do have in the large regional centres.
Will the Minister please answer me, if Nunavut Government has a policy in regards to providing ambulance services to the rest of us?
Mr. Speaker, as the member is aware, indeed in many communities there are contracts at the local health centre with local cartage companies and indeed in some cases with taxi service to take patients to and from the Health Centre to the airport , if there is trouble with a medivac.
Some other communities are a long distance away from the airport.
For example in Arctic Bay the airport is 25 kilometres away from the community itself.
So under the direction of the department do we have a specific policy for ambulances per community?
But under the regional health boards where operational requirements need and dictate an ambulance service or indeed the transportation of patients to the airport to be medivaced, then indeed there is a policy in place for that based on operational requirements of each individual circumstance.
Mr. McLean: Mr. Speaker, I think that I am getting the answer that I want.
Is the Nunavut government going to formulate a policy or redefine the policy so that it will provide the same level of service of ambulance delivery, or actual ambulance service for the rest of Nunavut as they do in the large regional centres.
Minister of Health, Minister Picco.
Mr. Speaker, I have had a couple of conversations with the Member on this issue, I know that it is a serious issue, indeed in the larger centres like Cambridge Bay or in Iqaluit or in Rankin Inlet , those three communities out of 26 in Nunavut there is a standardized ambulance care.
So it is something that I will direct the department to review and get back to the member, I know that when we go to Baker Lake next week it will be a topic of concern and at that time have an opportunity to discuss it with the member and his Council there.
Question 169 - 1 (2): Local Accommodation Policy
I was going to ask this question yesterday but we ran out of time.
This question will be directed to the Minister of Public Works, Telecommunications & Technical Services, the Honourable Ms. Thompson.
The GNWT had a policy requiring the use local hotels , by contractors, when they were available.
They were required to use the local hotel facilities to accommodate their workers who came to work in our community.
I wonder if that policy is still in place.
The Minister of Public Works, Ms. Thompson.
The policy that was in place with the last government is still in effect so when the contractors are going into a community to work on a project if there is a hotel facility in that community they are required to use that facility in support of the local businesses.
They are prevented from building their own accommodation facility, so the policy is still in place, Mr. Speaker.
My question to the same Minister on the same subject.
So when there is a contract in the same community, the contractors who are based in the communities, are we still going to see importation of private contractors.
Speaker (interpretation): Ms. Thompson.
The contractors I think all know the hiring policy, for example.
Communities like Sanikiluaq have the same opportunity to bid on contracts and we can further give a reminder of this issue to contractors.
Question 170 - 1 (2):Restoration of Construction Sites
Perhaps this question is directed to the Minister of Transportation.
The sites for building construction are drilled using piles and the access roads that are built near these sites are absolutely ruined.
I wonder if those areas are going to be restored following the drilling of piles.
The community governments such as Hamlets are responsible for that area.
I know that many communities are concerned about restoration of access roads and site restoration.
I think that Hamlets should be considering how they should do that.
I think the Municipal Governments are in a better position to talk with the member about that rather than my department.
Question 171 - 1 (2): Members' Input to Housing Committee
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that we were all pleased yesterday to hear his announcement of his corrections planning committee.
Mr. Speaker, in numerous occasions and requests in regards to a committee to look at housing in Nunavut, the Minister has indicated on numerous occasions that he will be keeping close consultations with members and seeking input.
Mr. Speaker, this Justice Committee was a nice surprise, but that again was what it was, Mr. Speaker, a surprise.
I would like to ask the Minister if he plans on seeking any input from regular members prior to anything happening with the Housing Committee.
In regards to the corrections committee that was struck, I believe that was done way back in October.
The Assistant Deputy Minister initiated this process on her own prior to the Nunavut Government coming about.
I would like to tell the regular members that yes, regarding input on housing, that’s what I said and that’s what I am going to do.
Right after this session we are going to start working and I will make sure that I will consult with the regular members even when we are back in our constituency.
Mr. Speaker, am I correct in hearing that the Minister is saying that he has not yet started work on this committee to look at housing.
Mr. Speaker, I just said that the corrections committee that was already formed was operating long before April 1.
On the issue of housing I mentioned a couple of days ago that I was still in discussions with the Minister of Finance on whether we will be looking at two committees because of the possibility that we also have to discuss the issue of staff housing for the Government of Nunavut employees; as well as social housing.
So as I said, there have been discussions ongoing but on the actual issue of the makeup I will be consulting with the regular members before commencing.
Mr. Speaker, I guess what I have been planning on all along is not only the makeup of this Committee but also actually what the committee will be looking at.
Mr. Speaker, am I correct in hearing that the Minister just stated that once they decide what the committee is going to do , they are going to come and seek input from us as to who we want to see doing , what they’ve decided the committee is going to look at.
Minister of Housing, Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker . …as an Inuk , when we say we want to work together, we mean just that; working together.
I am not trying to put hidden meaning into the comments when I say that I am going to work and seek input from the regular members…
Sorry , I think the interpreters were on a different channel.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I missed the majority of what he said, technical problems I guess.
If I could just ask the Minister if he could repeat.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Anawak. Please repeat.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Like I said, I said that I would seek input from the regular members and I am going to follow through on what I said.
We haven’t put together what the committees are going to be doing and when we start that process, we will be seeking your input.
They know a lot more about the housing issues than I do and once they are in place they will know what they have to do, how long it would take and where they will go.
They will be getting input from the public and others.
Before we proceed I would like to recognize Mr. Pauloosie Paniloo who used to be a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Baffin Central.
Welcome to our Gallery.
Speaker: Oral questions, Mr. Alakannuark.
Question 172 - 1(2): Changes to Income Support Policy
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Are we going to be seeing any changes to the Income Support Policy.
Minister Responsible for Income Support, Mr. Kilabuk.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): I apologize Mr. Speaker I wasn’t listening; I thought the question was directed to another Minister.
But in regards to the Income Support policy that is done through Sustainable Development.
We are presently reviewing the policies and I would like to say that it is twofold, there are monies that are run through the Department of Education and the regulations are done through Sustainable Development.
We are presently doing a review of the whole policy issue.
The reason why I am asking is that the recipients receive a cheque and some of the money is used to pay for rent.
Women who are single parents have a hard time paying for everything with the amount of dollars that they get through the Income Support Program and they cannot get another cheque until the following month.
They have a hard time keeping up with their budget.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Alakannuark, Mr. Kilabuk.
In regards to your question we are presently doing a review in regards to the monthly payments.
We are presently reviewing it and we have already identified some of the problems that we have with this program.
Question 173 - 1 (2): Dog Picked up by Charter a Mystery
My question is for the Minister of Justice, in my community, well it’s not really a major concern, but a source of wonder.
I would like to repeat a question that I had asked previously, in regards to a dog that was picked up by an airplane charter this winter and most of the people of Sanikiluaq are wondering, why they would get a dog by charter and who paid for it.
That’s my question Mr. Speaker.
I guess I didn’t make it clear the first time, but I thought the letter of explanation was sent to the Mayor of Sanikiluaq.
The RCMP were going down to Sanikiluaq anyway when this happened.
I could talk to you further personally afterwards about this.
Question 174 - 1 (2): Support for Unilingual Businesspersons
I would like to direct my question to Sustainable Development.
Regarding economic development;
Starting your own business is cumbersome especially to the Inuktitut unilingual's who have to go through a lot of barriers set up when you try to apply through the business program.
Are you going to be making any changes.
Minister of Sustainable Development Mr. Kilabuk
I will be talking about this later when my department takes their turn at the witness table, we are presently working on it.
In regards to the applications for business loans or business grants, most of the problems was that there were so many programs set under one department.
We are presently reviewing the process on what we can put it in one part instead of having them all separated.
People out there can apply through this one process and that would be set up at the community level, will presently try to set up the system.
Question 175 - 1 (2): Three Ministers Dealing with Income Support
When we were having a committee meeting , dealing with income support , one of the questions that was brought up was if they’re going to be reviewing the guidelines for the regulations.
I didn’t know exactly who to direct my question in regards to income support program, I think there’s 3 Ministers’ who are responsible maybe I should direct my question to the Premier.
It creates a problem when your trying to ask question regarding the income support program because so many Ministers’ are responsible for it.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Nutarak.
Mr. Okalik
Hon. Paul Okalik: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Like the Minister said it is presently under review and we're looking at the how it can be better set up for Nunavut.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.  Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Okalik.
Question 176 - 1 (2): Artifact Repatriation
My question is directed to Minister of CLEY, in relation to community such as mine ; trying to obtain pieces of history, our pieces had been taken away from the community. For example in my case these historical pieces that are located in Rankin Inlet at the ICI complex and the community had tried to get some of these pieces back.
I’ve been told that we have to pay for it but the pieces belong to the community, I know were talking about a large complex here in Iqaluit as an archive centre but I think it’s more important for examples in a smaller communities which may not have opportunity to come here or go Rankin Inlet to have these history in their own community.
I’m wondering if the minister can speak this as to how the communities can get some of these pieces of history back in their community.
Minister responsible for Culture Language and Elders and Youth Mr. Havioyak
Hon. Donald Havioyak: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I am quite happy that you ask that question, because we are trying to get everybody involved in what is happening.
The only way we can work together is by sharing ideas and we will be doing this in all the communities of Nunavut today .
For an example if you are in Arviat that you would be working directly with the people of Arviat and we can start sharing ideas.
Since we are very new from what you are saying right now, we will be able to come up with the solution on how we want to start getting our artifacts back to the community.
As I stated before we have to share ideas in order to compete what we would like to do.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Havioyak.
By creating a large archive here in Iqaluit, I would assume that many of the artifacts would then be taken from the smaller communities and put in this large centre here.
I’d like the Minister to speak to this how he would see this supporting the smaller that would like to see their artifacts stay in their community.