EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So I would like to ask the minister if he can start making plans for the future.
I’m sure the member is aware that it’s a serious issue throughout the territory.
I believe in the last government, the Department of Community and Government Services did put together an information package to support homeowners on how to inspect their fuel tanks to make sure that they could check everything out and what to look for to see if they were going to have any potential problems with their fuel tanks and if they needed to replace it.
I think one of the other things that also kick in here is the fact that in some situations, under the homeowners insurance program, if there is any damage of some kind, some of those costs could be covered off by the homeowners insurance package.
He didn’t respond to my question. I was asking him if he can start looking for plans to support the homeowners.
Before there are emergency cases with homeowners’ fuel tanks, as they age now, I don’t want to see any fuel leakage to our environment no matter where it is.
I was asking the minister if they can start planning to provide support for homeowners perhaps in the next fiscal year.
I want to correct myself from my previous response, I had indicated that the information in question on advising homeowners how to inspect their fuel tank to see if it’s still in good shape or not, that came from the Department of Environment, not from the Department of Community and Government Services.
I apologize to my colleague and the Minister of Environment for that.
I think that’s like a joint issue between the Department of Environment and the government. The government has taken steps to bring homeowners to be aware that that’s an issue by putting that questionnaire out there to homeowners.
Like I said, if something does happen, if some unfortunate incident happens, the individuals can apply under the Emergency Repair Program.
Also, as I indicated, in a lot of cases, this could be covered under their homeowner’s insurance as well.
He’s not responding to my question and I have been asking the same question.
If there was a homeowner that had a fuel leak, they have to pay close to $60,000 and that’s a very expensive cost.
Perhaps the cost is about $3,000 to $4,000 to install a new tank.
Sometimes things happen that we didn’t anticipate.
We should institute a program in order to alleviate the problem and which is easily and quickly implemented.
The current assistance program has a $15,000 limit which is nowhere near what has to be paid.
Sometimes they are covered by their insurance, but the majority of the homeowners are not provided support through insurance.
That’s why I’m asking the minister if he can come up or look to see if hecan up with a new program to provide support to the homeowners.
As a government, we let the homeowners pay expensive costs.
I would like to ask the minister if he’s willing to see if he can come up with a new program some time in the near future.
As I indicated to the member’s question earlier, any suggestions or ideas that he has to try and help in this area that we would most definitely look into.
Having said that, Mr. Chairman, I take the member’s recommendation and I guess that’s what he’s recommending.
I would say that something like that, it sounds like it would be more of a capital type program offered by the corporation, so we will take a look.
As I said, with any suggestions that the members make for us to look into, we would be more than happy to do that.
Yes, we would look at something.
I won’t ask questions now and allow other members to ask questions.
Chairman: Mr. Rumbolt.
Was the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2008-09 budget for homeownership programs sufficient to meet public demand? If yes, just please say yes. If not, which program received more applications than it could be funded?
The first answer is no and the second answer, I would have to sit here and look at the numbers before I can give him an answer.
Maybe what I’ll do is as I had indicated earlier, there were 835 applicants for the different programs that the corporation has.
Under the NDAP program, there were 69 applications; for the Material Assistance Program, there were 9 applications; for the Home Renovation Program, there were 300 applications; for the Emergency Repair Program, there were 150 applications; for the Senior Citizens Home Repair Program, there were 11 applications; for the Seniors and Disabled Persons Preventative Maintenance Program, that one had 98 applications; and for the Homeowners Energy Efficiency Rebate, there were 198 applications.
Of the 835 applications that were received, there were 631 that were approved.
Does the Nunavut Housing Corporation anticipate that its 2009-2010 budget for homeownership programs will be sufficient to meet public demand for those programs?
If the continued demand grows as it has in the past, I would have to say no.
This is in addition to my colleague’s, Mr. Komoartok, opening comments on behalf of the committee in regard to the rent scale.
Last year’s business plan for the Nunavut Housing Corporation indicated that a workshop was held in Rankin Inlet in April of 2007 where the managers of all local housing organizations met with Nunavut Housing Corporation staff to provide input on how to revise the public housing rent scale.
Findings of this workshop will be analyzed and submitted to cabinet for approval for implementation in 2008.
What were the findings of this workshop and does the Nunavut Housing Corporation plan to make any changes to the current housing rent scale?
I’m just trying to get the correct dates.
Mr. Chairman, the results of that workshop were included in a submission that the corporation had made to the cabinet and I believe it was in March of 2008.
Prior to anything happening as far changes to the rent scale or anything like that, it needs cabinet approval.
Like I said, in the last Assembly, it was submitted to cabinet to make recommendations and the corporation has yet to hear anything back on that.
There was no movement on it since it was sent down for review of the cabinet in the last Assembly.
What were some of the findings of this workshop; can you give us some examples?
Everyone that was at the workshop said the rent scale was great and just wanted to keep it the same.
I’m just kidding, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, I don’t think I’m at the liberty to discuss some of the recommendations that were put forward because, like I said, any changes from there require cabinet approval and I wouldn’t want to put any information out there that could put new pressure, one way or another, on any decisions to be made in regard to those.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s draft 2009-2010 business plan indicates that “There are approximately 261 leased public units throughout the territory.
They create an opportunity for the private sector to provide much needed public housing rent supplement units without the capital expenditure required for the construction of new units.”
Is the NHC considering leasing any additional units from the private sector for use as public housing?
I would like to inform the member at this time that the corporation is not looking at leasing any new units for public housing.
I must say that if the corporation were going that route, there would be a request for proposals put out there so that anyone interested in putting in a proposal for a leaseback unit would have an opportunity to do that.
The last time around when I had asked you a question, you had some housing units that were leased, that were boarded up, and you were paying the leases on them.
I was just wondering if you checked into how many units there are and if you stopped paying the leases on them.
Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Sorry.
I would like to inform the member and I am very happy to inform the member that all of the leased units that the member was referring to that are leased by the corporation are now occupied and inhabited.
The boarded-up units that he referred to are not leased by the Housing Corporation I’m not sure who else has leases on them, but it’s not us.
Earlier this year, you announced that the Nunavut housing survey would be conducted in March and April in order to provide current and real data to update the Nunavut 10-Year Inuit Housing Action Plan in order to secure additional funding that will address the growing housing crisis in Nunavut.
As of today, what is the status of the housing survey?
I think the collection and provision of being able to have current and accurate data will really help the corporation, as he indicated, in identifying our needs and also help us as far as planning goes as to where to direct our limited resources.
We had hoped to have the survey completed this spring.
There was an initial partnership between Statistics Canada, the Nunavut Housing Corporation, and the Nunavut Association of Municipalities. There was an ad put out to look for individuals to go around and do the surveys in the communities.
My understanding is they needed 60 to 70 individuals to be able to go out and do that, and there were only 16 applications received to do that work.
So the Housing Corporation is now pursuing a different partnership with the Nunavut Statistics Bureau to be able to assist us, along with Statistics Canada, to be able to hopefully or we should be able to get that questionnaire done this fall and have the results in the fall or winter.
NHC’s response to the Auditor General’s recent report indicated that the corporation agreed with the recommendation that the finalization of an overall Nunavut Housing Strategy is important. It also indicated that it has been working with a proponent on their proposal and expects a report in the fall of 2008.
NHC’s December 2008 action plan indicated that it had been working with third party consultants to develop the framework for a strategic plan for housing delivery in Nunavut.
This report should be finalized in the spring of 2009.
Which company was awarded the contract to develop a Nunavut-wide housing strategy and when will the strategy be tabled in the Legislative Assembly?
It’s my understanding that a company called Nuna Burnside was awarded the contract to do that work and we’re still working with them.
We’re hoping that we can have something by this fall to be able to bring forward in regard to that.
Chairman: I would like to thank the minister and his officials for being before the Committee of the Whole.
I would like to ask Minister Tootoo if he has any closing comments.
I would like to just take this opportunity to thank the members. I believe there have been some very constructive questions and comments by them in order to support the Housing Corporation in delivering housing throughout the territory.
I would also like to thank my staff for being here as well and I commend not only the staff that are sitting here with me at the witness table but all of the staff that work for the Housing Corporation for all of the fine work that they do and as I mentioned the other day, all of the LHO staff out there as well.
I would again like to thank the members for the issues and concerns that they have raised. They are very important issues throughout in every single one of our constituencies and I look forward to continuing to work with them to try and help address some of those needs.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Tootoo and your officials. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses out.
I’m getting a bit tired, so I would like to move to report progress if that’s okay with you.
Mr. Ningeongan: Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 1 and the main estimates, and would like to report progress. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
The motion is in order and Mr. Ningark is the seconder.
Orders of the Day for June 12:
This House stands adjourned until Friday, June 12, at 10:00 a.m. (interpretation) in the morning.
>>House adjourned at 17:49
Friday, June 12, 2009
Pages 355 – 391
Opening Prayer 355
Ministers’ Statements 355
Members’ Statements 359
Returns to Oral Questions 365
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 365
Oral Questions 365
Replies to Budget Address 382
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 389
Petitions 389
Tabling of Documents 390
Orders of the Day 390
Friday, June 12, 2009 355
026 – 3(2): Parliamentary Concurrence for Nunavut Official Languages Act (Tapardjuk) 355
027 – 3(2): Congratulations to Fur Production and Design Students (Shewchuk) 356
028 – 3(2): Labour Market Training (Tapardjuk) 357
029 – 3(2): Nunavut Advanced Management Diploma Program (Rankin Inlet) (Shewchuk) 358
030 – 3(2): Fuel Price Reduction (Kusugak) 358
039 – 3(2): Happy Fifth Birthday Hailey Qatsiya (Schell) 359
040 – 3(2): Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Tapardjuk) 359
041 – 3(2): Happy 50th Anniversary Donald Uluadluak and Wife (Shewchuk) 360
042 – 3(2): Sylvia Grinnell Bridge (Okalik) 361
043 – 3(2): Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Ningark) 361
044 – 3(2): Rankin Inlet Graduates of the Advanced Management Program (Kusugak) 362
045 – 3(2): Polar Continental Shelf Project (Elliott) 362
046 – 3(2): Residential Schools Legacy (Komoartok) 363
Return to Oral Question 057 – 3(2): Daycare Space in Chesterfield Inlet (Tapardjuk) 365
062 – 3(2): Residential Schools; Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Okalik) 366
063 – 3(2): Status of Study of Access Houses (Ningeongan) 367
064 – 3(2): Funding for Sports and Special Occasions (Ningark) 369
065 – 3(2): Dry Cargo Resupply Program (Aupaluktuq) 370
066 – 3(2): Status of Sealskins in North Bay (Komoartok) 371
067 – 3(2): H1N1 Virus Update (Rumbolt) 372
068 – 3(2): Home Care Workers for High Arctic Communities (Elliott) 374
069 – 3(2): Official Languages Act (Okalik) 375
070 – 3(2): Regulations for Official Languages Act (Elliott) 376
071 – 3(2): Inuktitut Language Instruction in Schools (Ningark) 378
072 – 3(2): GN Response to PETA’s Cartoon (Aupaluktuq) 380
073 – 3(2): Further Review of Fuel Prices (Okalik) 381
074 – 3(2): Structurally Insulated Panelized System Housing Units (Schell) 381
Reply to Budget Address 001 – 3(2): Mr. Ron Elliott (Elliott) 383
001 – 3(2): Proposed Sylvia Grinnell Bridge (Tootoo) 389
030 – 3(2): 2009 Annual Report of the Utility Rates Review Council of Nunavut (Curley) 390
031 – 3(2): Public Service Annual Report for 2007-2008 (Shewchuk) 390
005 – 3(2): Early Adjournment (Aupaluktuq) 390
Speaker (Hon. James Arreak)  (interpretation): Before we proceed, I would like to ask Mr. Elliott to say the opening prayer.
Speaker (interpretation): A very good morning, Premier, Ministers, and Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Minister’s Statement 026 – 3(2): Parliamentary Concurrence for Nunavut Official Languages Act (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you and a very good morning.
I’ll be quite boastful in making my statement to you.
I am proud to report that Nunavut has written a new page of history on Parliament Hill this week.
At both the House of Commons and the Senate, the Official Languages Act for Nunavut obtained formal concurrence from the Parliament of Canada.
To recapitulate, our Member of Parliament for Nunavut, Leona Aglukkaq, moved a motion for concurrence on June 1 of last week, which was unanimously supported by all sides of the House of Commons.
I sincerely thank her for her leadership on this file.
The following day, Senator Comeau from the government moved the motion to the Senate and was seconded by our Nunavut Senator, Willie Adams, who spoke Inuktitut in the Senate Chamber with simultaneous interpretation to English and French.
After some questions and concerns arose during debate, Senator Joyal moved a motion to refer the Nunavut Official Languages Act to the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for further study.
The day before yesterday, I made a special appearance before that Senate Committee along with the Member for Iqaluit West, Mr. Paul Okalik, and my officials.
We delivered Nunavummiut’s message that language rights are essential to human dignity whether you are Inuktitut, French, or English-speaking.
We encouraged the Senate of Canada to swiftly conclude its study of our Official Languages Act and adopt the motion for concurrence at the earliest possibility.
The Senate Committee reported back to the Senate Chamber yesterday afternoon and I am pleased to report that Senators have now concurred with our made-in-Nunavut Official Languages Act.
On the first anniversary of the Prime Minister’s apology to students of residential schools, it is now Nunavut that is writing a new chapter of Canadian history on Parliament Hill.
I want to thank all of those that appeared before the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, including Paul Okalik, Member for Iqaluit West, Daniel Cuerrier of the Association des francophones du Nunavut, and Graham Fraser, Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada, Alexina Kublu, Nunavut’s Languages Commissioner, Joe Attaguttaluk from Qikiqtani Inuit Association and Legal Counsel for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and all of our supporting and dedicated officials.
The new Official Languages Act, along with its legislative companion, the Inuit Language Protection Act, will provide important legislative tools to protect and promote the Inuit language in the most significant way while ensuring respect and protection of the rights of our fellow francophones and anglophones in Nunavut.
Now, let’s all work together to implement our made-in-Nunavut language legislation, and show Canada and the rest of the world that we can make a difference, and achieve substantive equality between our language communities.
I would like to thank all of those that have worked hard in making this accomplishment.
We can stop dreaming now that it has become a reality and Nunavut Inuit should be proud that their language rights have been reinforced.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you very much, Minister.
Minister’s Statement 027 – 3(2): Congratulations to Fur Production and Design Students (Shewchuk)
Each year, Mr. Speaker, the Fur Council of Canada hosts its Fur Reinvented design competition.
Three wining designs from the Nunavut Arctic College Fur Production and Design Program were featured at this year’s North American Fur and Fashion Exhibition in Montreal from May 3 to 5, 2009.
This unique competition allows design students to include their fur collections and experience the versatility of this sustainable, natural, and ecological component.
Participating schools included Ryerson University, École Supérior de mode de Montréal, Cégep Marie-Victorin, and Nunavut Arctic College.
Each participant submitted a sketch presenting a fur garment made with Canadian furs.
The winning sketches were selected by a jury of industry professionals for the originality and marketability of their design.
Mr. Speaker, this year’s winners from Nunavut Arctic College were Karliin Aariak, Meeka Kilabuk, and Connie Pewatualuk.
Karliin Aariak’s design for a woman’s jacket won first prize, Meeka Kilabuk’s design for a man’s jacket won second prize, and Connie Pewatualuk’s design for a man’s jacket placed third.
As a prizewinning design, each student can keep their winning garment.
The North American Fur and Fashion Exposition in Montreal is the largest luxury show in Canada, the only high-end fur fashion fair of its type in North America, and one of the most important fur marketing events in the world.
The Fur Council of Canada will promote their finished garments.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to mention the fur design and production students will also be participating in the TransCanada Runway fashion show on Thursday, June 18, 2009, during Montreal Fashion Week.
Canadian designers from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Nunavut, Toronto, Montreal, and the Maritimes will unite on the same stage to share their vision.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Nunavut Arctic College, I would like to acknowledge the very generous support of the Government of Nunavut, Department of Environment, and the Kakivak Association.
The Fur Production and Design Program could not exist without their support.
Minister’s Statement 028 – 3(2): Labour Market Training (Tapardjuk)
I rise again today to inform my colleagues about additional funding for training coming to our territory.
Staff in my department are close to finalizing two different agreements with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada that will provide our territory with approximately $2.3 million in additional funding in 2009-2010 and notional amounts until 2013-14.
These initiatives were made possible under the Canada Skills and Transition Strategy announced in Budget 2009.
The funding will be used in the provision of training and work experience to help workers develop new skills that are in demand in today’s labour market, increasing their chances of finding suitable employment.
Mr. Speaker, this funding will allow my department to build on programs and services already offered in the territory, as well as ensure that individuals who have lower levels of education and/or literacy levels have access to support under the new arrangements.
Provisions in one of the agreements will allow greater flexibility with respect to eligible activities, which could include items such as literacy and basic skills upgrading, on-the-job training, job readiness assistance, wage subsidies and earning supplementation, employment counselling and services, and skill enhancement and training.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to reporting on these initiatives once the agreements have been finalized.
I wanted to inform you of the mastery of this training.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Daniel Shewchuk.
Minister’s Statement 029 – 3(2): Nunavut Advanced Management Diploma Program (Rankin Inlet) (Shewchuk)
Today, I am pleased to rise in the House and offer my congratulations to the 20 graduates from the Nunavut Advanced Management Diploma Program offered in Rankin Inlet.
The graduation ceremony will take place this evening in Rankin Inlet.
My department, in partnership with Saint Mary’s University, has delivered the Nunavut Advanced Management Diploma Program since January of 2002.
This diploma program was specifically designed for delivery in the north.
In 2008-09, for the first time, the Government of Nunavut was able to offer this program in the Kivalliq region.
Having faculty from Saint Mary’s University travel to Rankin Inlet to deliver all ten modules allowed our participants to study close to home and gain hands-on managerial tools back to their workplace.
Mr. Speaker, the professional development program consists of ten modules providing hands-on managerial experience.
Participants must attend in-class lectures and submit assignments at the end of each module.
Participants completing the program earn the Nunavut Advanced Management Diploma from the Government of Nunavut and Saint Mary’s University.
Mr. Speaker, including the 20 graduates from the program offered in Rankin Inlet, a total of 56 GN employees have completed the program and obtained their diplomas.
Of these employees, I am pleased to announce that 45, or 80 percent, have been beneficiaries.
Minister’s Statement 030 – 3(2): Fuel Price Reduction (Kusugak)
I’m now wearing a different tie, so I’m a little more awake this morning.
Mr. Speaker, as a result of completing an early purchase of our gasoline and diesel requirements for the eastern Arctic, we have been able to achieve considerable savings. By strategically purchasing fuel, the government has been able to capitalize on the low prices we have seen over the last few months.
Mr. Speaker, on March 21 of this year, we were able to reduce prices at the pump for gasoline.
At that time, we made a commitment to continue to monitor the price of fuel and the additional requirements for Nunavut.
We all know fuel plays an essential role in the lives of Nunavummiut and the cost of fuel consumes a large portion of our families’ disposable income. Mr. Speaker, we are very pleased to be able to pass these savings on to all Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, as Minister responsible for the Petroleum Products Division, I rise today to announce that we are further reducing the price of gasoline, heating fuel, and diesel by 10 cents per litre effective June 15, 2009.