EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Currently, our terminal doesn’t have the capacity to handle its existing operational requirements, which is disconcerting and becoming a major concern. The Iqaluit terminal is too small for the number of travellers passing through it.
It’s obvious that we’re not implementing all of the transportation regulations due to the number of people in the terminal and we’re perhaps not in full compliance with existing fire code regulations.
Based on the high numbers of passengers who are in the terminal, I believe that we are in contravention of several regulatory requirements.
He indicated last time that the replacement plan was still under review.
I would like to ask the minister what the status is with regard to the plans for the replacement terminal building in Iqaluit.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Hon. Peter Taptuna.
Yes, I recall that the question was asked previously. The federal government and the Nunavut government both recognize that the volume of aircraft and passengers at the Iqaluit International Airport has obviously outgrown itself over the last several years.
Once again, the department supports the implementation of the Iqaluit International Airport Master Plan.
Within the department, we are hoping that the master plan will be completed within six months.
The master plan has been in the government’s hands for quite a while.
After the review has been completed, will the master plan be prepared in time for it to be included in the capital estimates that we will be dealing with in the fall?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Taptuna.
The first step of course was done with the paving of Apron 1 and the opening of Taxiway A. That’s already been completed in the last couple of years.
The next step is going to be for the paving from Apron 3 to Apron 1, extending the taxiways and parking spots there.
At this time, we are awaiting the final completion of the master plan as I had indicated and from there, we will take a look at what is necessary to upgrade or even build to make things safe.
I understand, having used their facilities myself several times, you are correct. The waiting room for security is small and it creates a lot of hardship for elders and people with disabilities, and we are prioritizing that to get a better handle and move it further quickly.
We would like to welcome everybody to Iqaluit and obviously, my colleagues depend on the terminal quite often.
We know the terminal here in Iqaluit requires an upgrade, especially since we get many visitors from outside the territory.
We would like their stay or stopover in Iqaluit to be one that is memorable.
I urge the minister to speed up the process.
We don’t want to be in the planning stage indefinitely, so I would like the minister to provide an update with substance at our next sitting.
The initial estimate for renovating and upgrading the airport facility is $40 million and of course, it’s a priority to access funds from the Building Canada Fund.
Time to complete the master plan will give us a better estimate, a better idea, and a better plan. So we are awaiting that and as I mentioned earlier, we are hoping to have the master plan completed within six months.
Question 012 – 3(2): H1N1 Flu Virus (Rumbolt)
In his Minister’s Statement, he indicated that there were five confirmed cases of H1N1 flu virus in Nunavut.
Can the minister update the House on whether there are any suspected cases in Nunavut?
I would like to thank the member for posing that question. I know that the people of Nunavut are well aware of the H1N1 flu virus, but we can’t identify where there are suspected cases.
We tell our employees that if children are having flu-like symptoms, they are to be reported and we are also getting the information out to the public via the radio about illness prevention and the importance of keeping their environment clean and washing regularly.
We don’t want to indicate which communities have suspected cases.
It’s only after the swabs are sent down to a lab in Alberta that we can confirm the cases.
But we tell our employees that if anyone has suspected flu-like symptoms, they should stay at home until they are fully recovered.
We will not be releasing information on which communities have either suspected or confirmed cases.
I wasn’t looking for names or communities with suspected cases, I’m just wondering if there’s an indication of suspected cases throughout Nunavut.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman... Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you. Minister Curley.
As I indicated in my Inuktitut comments, we don’t want to be pointing fingers and so on at any particular community.
The public advisories that are coming in from Dr. Sobol’s office, our Chief Medical Health Officer, result from communications with all of the communities’ frontline health workers and indicate that if there is any evidence of flu-like symptoms that they are to take precautions of every kind and so on. That message is getting out to all of the nursing stations throughout Nunavut and I believe that that information can be pretty well obtained in communities.
We do not want to name which community or whatnot because it’s difficult to track this outbreak at this moment, but we are cautioning all Nunavutmiut that we have to be vigilant.
If flu-like symptoms are occurring, if it gets quite severe, they are to advise their local health centre.
I wonder if the minister can indicate if there’s an increase in flu-like symptoms throughout Nunavut in communities.
Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Personally, I could not but I can certainly provide more information to the member after consulting with our chief medical health officer.
Particularly at this time of the year, we know that particularly with the school kids, there appears to be more flu-like symptoms that are going on throughout. As a result of that, I believe that some of this particular strain is spreading everywhere.
But I will provide more information, so I will take the question as notice.
Oral Questions. Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. Elliott.
Question 013 – 3(2): Contribution Agreement with Makinnasuaqtiit Society (Elliott)
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed towards the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Yesterday, in my Member’s Statement, I was bringing up the issues about people with disabilities and the Disability Council. Each year since 2004, the contribution grant is awarded to the Inuit association in the amount of $90,000.
I was just wondering if the minister could explain what that $90,000 goes towards.
I believe that the contribution that the department provides to the Makinnasuaqtiit Society is really to help them establish office facilities and whatnot, to contribute in whatever shape or form they wish, one of which is to maybe have a part-time worker to assist them in advocacy issues that they feel should be raised throughout Nunavut.
I believe we are not particularly controlling that funding, but it is provided to ensure that they at least have core funding to establish their advocacy role for Nunavutmiut.
With all of the increases we have seen with budgets for the government departments and with the Nunavut Housing Corporation and HR talking about capacity issues, “With capacity issues, we are continuing to hire more people and increase PYs,” has the government thought of potentially increasing that $90,000?
As I mentioned yesterday, office space is not actually being provided for this position, so is there any thought to increasing that?
Mr. Speaker, I cannot indicate whether or not we have thought about it, but what I can say to the member is that we review their application annually.
They normally submit it in excess of $200,000, for instance, as their first request.
But one thing that the member should understand is I believe that Nunavut Tunngavik is also helping out with accommodating some of the services that they need because we can’t really establish an office facility, I can understand that, with $90,000.
We are partnering with groups like NTI and others.
We hope that others would also come in and help out with some of the assistance that these groups require because I understand that the Makinnasuaqtiit Society is really underfunded.
At this moment, we would like to ensure that the other organizations should also help out in this case.
I, no doubt, will be speaking with the other groups throughout Nunavut to ensure that they are represented fairly.
Again to the Minister of Health and Social Services, he mentioned NTI as the funding body that receives the money.
If the government is providing $90,000, is there a matching funding of another $90,000 from NTI as part of their contribution?
I’m not exactly sure whether or not the funds go directly to NTI.
As an independent registered organization, my understanding is that it goes to the Makinnasuaqtiit Society.
But I know that NTI is helping out with their offices and to that extent, I’m not fully aware of exactly what NTI does, but I certainly appreciate all of the help that they try to provide to that group. I’m not in the position right now to indicate whether or not any other group is providing or matching funds to that effect.
There are other services that we provide for disabled persons, including our continuing care facilities throughout Nunavut, which also assist elders because there are senior citizens who are disabled.
They are provided with services by these groups and also our home care workers all across Nunavut do help out with people with disabilities who cannot, for instance, clean up their houses and so on.
In terms of other services that we should be doing, yes, I concur, we should be doing more, particularly for the younger disabled groups. Surely, somewhere along the road, they might be interested in finding jobs vocationally.
But at this moment, we don’t have a comprehensive report or strategy to address all of that.
As for the contribution agreement to NTI through the Government of Nunavut, I think I understand how the process works.
There are obviously final reports and accounting that’s provided at the end of every year.
I’m just wondering if the minister could make a commitment to provide that information to me with the final report for the fiscal year of 2008-09.
That way, I would have a better understanding of matching dollars and also a report as to what the committee was able to do with the $90,000.
I will commit to that and provide the member and my colleagues with any reports that our department may have as soon as we can get it.
Oral Questions. Member for Pangnirtung, Mr. Komoartok.
Question 014 – 3(2): Aviation Regulations for Pangnirtung (Komoartok)
In Pangnirtung, we have two airlines serving our community, First Air and Canadian North.
First Air is usually able to land even when the weather is not ideal since they have familiarity with our airstrip and weather.
There was a time where we tried to go home for a three-week period.
Canadian North couldn’t land in Pangnirtung due to high winds, at least when our last session was done.
However, even after the winds died down, it took approximately two weeks for Canadian North to return, although First Air was able to land throughout that same period.
My question to the minister is in regard to the minimum standards for any flights coming into Pangnirtung.
What are the minimum visibility, ceiling, and runway length requirements for flights? It seems that the rules have changed. According to Canadian North, when the ceiling is at certain altitudes, they are supposed to turn back and not attempt to land.
As community members, we haven’t been informed about any changes to the regulations, but it looks as though one of the airlines has been following a different set of rules that weren’t used previously.
Mr. Speaker, I’m asking the minister if that is indeed the case.
Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, (interpretation ends) Hon. Peter Taptuna.
I’m not aware of the ceiling, that’s a highly technical question, and again it depends on the season, whether it’s winter, fall or summer.
According to First Air’s research that they have done, the ATR 42, under the standards of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, cannot operate into Pangnirtung during the summer season.
And again, there are a lot of technical and regulatory issues with Pangnirtung with geology, terrain, winds, and mountains.
The ATR is just not technically feasible to fly in there on a regular basis, but the department recognizes the high importance of maintaining services to Pangnirtung.
Again, the department is committed to a long-term solution and solving some of these issues in Pangnirtung.
Member for (interpretation ends) South Baffin, Mr. Schell.
Question 015 – 3(2): Update on Annual Fuel Purchase (Schell)
I think my question is for CG&S in regard to the fuel. Has the government bought all of the diesel fuel and gasoline for the year?
We’re in the process of trying to get as much fuel as we possibly can at this time.
I guess my next question is going back to the hedging program.
If the government were to hedge the fuel at $37 a barrel and now that the price is $68 a barrel, what would it have cost to hedge per barrel and what would have been the savings to the government?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Off the top of my head, Mr. Speaker, I do not know, but I can get back to the member on trying to get as much information about that as possible.
At this time, I don’t know.
Speaker: Your second supplementary, Mr. Schell.
I appreciate that answer. The only reason that I’m saying it is that in the booklet we got here yesterday, it gives a definition of hedging here, and the government has always been complaining and saying that they can’t buy the fuel ahead of time because there’s no storage and they don’t have the money to do it.
But under the hedging program, you don’t have to buy it, you don’t have to pay for it, and you don’t have to store it. It’s kind of like an insurance policy that you can buy it at a certain price and that’s the reason I asked that question, so I would appreciate it if I could get an answer on it.
Like I said, I don’t think there was a question there but we will get back to the member.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Is that all?
Question 016 – 3(2): Status of Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program (Ningeongan)
In March of this year, I asked the minister several questions concerning the new $500 million federal Recreational Infrastructure Canada program, which is known as “RInC.” The three territories will share approximately $567,000 of this fund to upgrade their facilities.
It is my understanding that Nunavut will receive funding on a per capita basis. Can the minister update the House on exactly how much Nunavut will receive under this program?
I also thank the member for asking that question.
I cannot state exactly how much funding will be provided or how we will disseminate those funds, but as soon as we get that information, we will provide it to the member.
When I posed that question at that time, I also stated that in Nunavut, the communities are not fully utilizing their arena facilities due to constraints. For that reason, I had asked if the minister was willing to support the communities of Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet in identifying funds to upgrade their arenas.
Mr. Speaker, it’s evident that arenas using artificial ice are available for longer periods of time during the year.
At this time, I would like to find out if the minister has considered the possibility of purchasing artificial ice for the arenas in Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet as per my previous question. Will he be pursuing this option?
Yes, his observation is quite true.
At the time, communities just wanted to get arenas to start with and most communities were satisfied with that. However, due to the continuing late start of the winter season in Nunavut, there are more requests for artificial ice. Some communities haven’t been able to open their arenas until after Christmas due to the ice being unable to freeze up.
We all know about the changing conditions that he alluded to. For example, in one of my constituency communities, Rankin Inlet, and here in Iqaluit, they start playing hockey in October as a result of having artificial ice in those arenas.
With artificial ice equipment in the arenas, it’s very beneficial to communities but the equipment varies from community to community.
If there were no artificial ice down south, it’s obvious that southerners couldn’t play hockey since their warm seasons are much longer than up north and they don’t have the permafrost we do.
Up here, once the ice is frozen, it’s usable until it melts and that is why the freezing equipment is not quite the same, as some communities just require this to freeze the ice.
I’m working with my officials at CGS to procure funds for setting up a study to look into what is required to purchase this equipment and to determine what kinds of artificial ice equipment would be required for the communities.
I would also like the member to know that we will be doing a review on two communities this coming summer, Coral Harbour and Arviat. The communities will be visited and a feasibility study will be initiated to see if artificial ice equipment in those communities is a viable option.
So that pilot project will be in those two communities, with the goal of expanding to all of the communities in Nunavut.
So that is our current work to date, which includes a study in Coral Harbour and Arviat to figure out how to set up the artificial ice equipment efficiently and effectively. Experts who are able to provide answers to these questions will be visiting their communities this summer.
I would like to thank the minister for his response. I remind the minister that I also mentioned Chesterfield Inlet in my question. He didn’t mention that it will be included in the study, so I would like him to consider that community for future studies.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask an additional question to the minister. This new federal program also allows municipalities to apply directly to the federal government for funding for specific projects under this fund.
Can the minister indicate if his department will be willing to provide technical assistance to municipalities in completing these applications?
Although I didn’t mention the community of Chesterfield Inlet, it wasn’t intentional.
However, the two communities I mentioned will serve as pilot project locations. Once the findings have been completed and reviewed, we hope to use the findings to benefit all community facilities in Nunavut.
We would like to see arenas to be used for other purposes besides hockey. During the review, perhaps we can look at the feasibility of putting in concrete flooring.
Those types of things will be considered in the review, along with the impacts and how it can be expanded to other communities in Nunavut, large and small, such as Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Whale Cove, all the way up to Resolute Bay.
In response to part of your question, our officials have informed the municipalities of their availability to provide assistance in filling out application forms for funding.
Yes, they’re able to assist communities to work together to complete the forms. Some forms are quite simple and all you need to do is provide numbers.
Our department is willing to work with and assist hamlets when they are applying for funding.
The reason why I asked this question to the minister, and I’m sure he is aware, is that we have to submit our applications prior to June 15, 2009.
I have taken the initiative to provide copies of the application forms to municipal authorities in Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet.
That was the main reason why I asked the question and I’m just clarifying it further.
I doubt that there was a question, but if you would like to respond, Minister Kusugak.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Although it may not be a question, the deadline to submit applications is known by all local SAOs.
Our office is open and they have been working very closely with SAOs, and would like to continue to do so prior to the deadline so that they can submit their applications.  If anyone needs assistance in filling out application forms, please don’t hesitate to contact our staff.
The SAOs in the communities know how to get a hold of officials from our department.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to thank the member for asking those questions.
Question 017 – 3(2): Vacant Positions in Quttiktuq (Elliott)
On my recent constituency visit up to Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay, it was brought to my attention once again that there are two very important positions that haven’t been filled for quite a while.
One is the position of social worker in both Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord, and a community health representative in both communities.
I was just wondering if the minister can give me some progress on what’s happening with advertising and the filling of those positions.
Yes, I can understand. There are vacant positions throughout Nunavut and apparently as well as a nursing shortage all over Canada. Social services are also experiencing a shortage of social workers throughout.
There are a number of positions that are vacant throughout Nunavut and the department is attempting to ensure that these positions are filled.
But with respect to that particular community, I will have to get back to you on that during this session and provide more details to you because I’m not particularly up to date on the exact reason why the social workers are not filled in Grise Fiord.
Question 018 – 3(2): Clean-up of Creek (Ningark)
Our municipality holds an annual clean-up in the community, generally in the vicinity of a creek within hamlet boundaries. Perhaps I’ll direct this question to Minister Kusugak.
There’s a local woman, with children, who wrote to me about this matter. She stated that she had raised her concerns during the hamlet’s AGM.
She was referring to the creek adjacent to her house. Due to the accumulation of snow in that area, during the spring thaw, garbage piles up there. Children often play in that creek, obviously some of her children and others play there, and it could be dangerous to their health.
I would like to ask the Minister of CGS if he could urge the municipality to deal with this issue. This woman has been mentioning this numerous times during AGMs and nothing has ever been done. I believe some clean-up of that creek has occurred sporadically, but I think that they need to rectify this ongoing problem.
As a department, we don’t like to dictate what hamlets do as they have their own method of operations and regulations.
What we would like to see is the hamlet council, staff and local residents collaborating to clean up their community.
That’s the only response I can provide at this time.
That woman and her husband requested help since they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They have no other place to turn to.
Perhaps I’ll bring this issue up with the Department of Health and Social Services.
I thank the minister for his response. However, my suspicion is that they don’t have enough funds for this activity. Do the hamlets receive adequate funding to clean up their communities?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Hamlet councils are provided funding and some budget line items are at their discretion.
I know that communities are starting to do their clean-up at this time and there are funds available for that within the operating budgets of municipalities.
If the member wishes us to look into how our department can work with the community to deal with this issue, I can task a staff member to report on it. I don’t have any idea as to what level of cleanup we are talking about nor have I seen any reports on that issue which outline the situation.
However, if the member wishes us to look into this matter, we can do that, Mr. Speaker.
This woman has exhausted all avenues available to her.
So at a minimum, the minister could look into it.
Will you be able to look into this in conjunction with our hamlet council?
Question 019 – 3(2): Review of NHC Maintenance Management Programs and Operations (Rumbolt)