EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The extent to which the terms of reference of the Tuttarviit Committee include explicitly clear provisions in relation to its structure, roles, and responsibilities, especially given that this committee is the primary source of communication between the IQ committee and the Government of Nunavut departments.
Mr. Speaker, I would note for the record that the standing committee is requesting that the government provide a comprehensive response to this report pursuant to Rule 91(5) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
Item 13. (interpretation) Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Justice, Mr. Okalik.
Tabled Document 028 – 4(3): Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report 2014-2015 (Okalik)
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to table the 2014-15 Annual Report of the Legal Services Board of Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 029 – 4(3): Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Nunavut and the Government of the Northwest Territories to Co-administer the Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan Act (Mike)
I am pleased to table the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Nunavut and the Government of the Northwest Territories to Co-administer the Northern Employees Benefits Services Pension Plan Act. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and Tabled Documents 107 – 4(2) and 149 – 4(2) with Mr. Mikkungwak in the Chair.
In accordance with the authority provided to me by Motion 4 – 4(3), the committee will stay in session until it reports itself out.  Before proceeding further, we will take a 20-minute break.
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and Tabled Documents 107 – 4(2) and 149 – 4(2).
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with Bill 3 and the review of Nunavut Arctic College, followed by the departments of Justice, Environment, Family Services, Culture and Heritage, and concluding with the Legislative Assembly.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with the capital estimates of Nunavut Arctic College?
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the minister’s official in.
Sitting to my right is the President of Nunavut Arctic College, Peter Ma. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We were on page M-3.
This afternoon, I wish to welcome the visitors in front of us.
With respect to Nunavut Arctic College, I hope the witness is listening.
As I tried to state, Nunavut Arctic College is an important institution and based on the goals set by the administrators for the programming.
Does NAC have plans in effect for students who graduate from their courses to have them be hired? Is there any way to alleviate our employment shortfall through plans such as this?
Hopefully I was understandable.
Please remember that we are on capital estimates.
That is always the goal of our department, to make sure that there is employment attained at the end of their courses.
If we could focus on the capital estimates, I would be more pleased to answer the question.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): I will leave it at that for now.
My question is on your draft capital estimates for 2016-17. Again, it includes $1 million for ongoing lifecycle repairs and maintenance.
The supporting documentation does not list any projects which have been identified as a priority for the upcoming fiscal year.
Do you have any specific projects in mind that will be funded under this budget item?
I could give you a list of what we have in mind.
I don’t think you mind if I say it in English.
(interpretation ends) Ongoing lifecycle for 2015-16, again, I think we mentioned in our opening remarks that we do have quite a bit of carryover. Carryover from 2014-15 is approximately $727,000.
For the other ongoing lifecycles, 515F cabling is $20,000, campus relocation, $170,000.
For Q units phase 1, which is a study, it will be up to $12,000.
Again Q units, so that everybody understands what Q units is, this is the residential area that we have here in Iqaluit. For phase 2 design, we allocated $100,000; for student records system, another $500,000; Nunavut Trades School, $294,000.
For the Sanikiluaq Community Learning Centre, we have about $115,000.
If I break it down, carryover from 2014-15 is $95,000, but in total, $115,000.
The remaining total for 2015-16 is $379,000.
(interpretation) I hope I have responded to his question.
The college’s 2016-17 draft capital estimates include $250,000 for small capital projects.
The information provided indicates the need for new information technology hardware in communities and campuses.
What specific technology will be purchased with this funding and for which communities or campuses?
First of all, the monies that are estimated are for Qikiqtaaluk, Kivalliq, and Kitikmeot and they’re going to be used for community learning centres.
For the specific technology and if it’s okay with you, Mr. Chairman, I would like to refer this question to the president of Nunavut Arctic College so that he can give you detailed information.
I think the minister has answered the question pretty good. I’m just going to fill in the details a little bit more.
As he mentioned, the computer replacement is for every community learning centre in Nunavut. It’s also for all three campuses in terms of the computer labs.
I don’t remember for sure, but off the top of my head, I think we have about 450 computers in play here. That’s a significant number of computers. If I recall correctly, in his opening comments, he mentioned that would be at a cost of about $650,000.
This is not a small undertaking by any stretch of the imagination.
We would anticipate that this would take us a year to two years to complete just because of the shear magnitude and volume.
Many of these computers are very outdated and we won’t be able to do this without the assistance and support of our colleagues at the Department of Community and Government Services, whom we are grateful for in terms of this particular project.
Is it just for campuses that you’re replacing computers?
Would this also not include the CLCs?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is also for all community learning centres, (interpretation ends) all CLCs, not just the campuses.
We are looking at all the CLCs in our communities. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The community learning centre in Gjoa Haven is a very old building.
In the 1970s, two portable classrooms were joined together to make what is now the community learning centre.
The community of Gjoa Haven has never had a new facility built to deliver Nunavut Arctic College programs.
Will the government commit to bringing forward a project to build a new community learning centre in the community of Gjoa Haven in its next capital plan?
As my colleague is aware, we are considering the community learning centre in Gjoa Haven right now as to the future of it.
In the 2015-16 year, (interpretation ends) we’re looking at putting in new windows and painting. We’re also looking at new flooring, water pump, windows, and an air exchanger.
These are under the ongoing lifecycle. This is what we’re doing in Gjoa Haven.
To his question, those projects are under consideration. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Following the list of names, Mr. A. Sammurtok.
I would like to direct this question to the minister. We are aware and we have heard that in Rankin Inlet, a gold mine will be opening soon.
Have you thought about bringing to Rankin Inlet (interpretation ends) what they call a campus mining training centre project so that they will be able to get the employed when the mine opens up in the Rankin Inlet region?
I also thank my colleague for raising that issue through his question.
In relation to that, I should start off with stating that in Cambridge Bay, with the (interpretation ends) mine training (interpretation) program or rather, the training facility is under construction.
However, regarding the facility in Rankin Inlet, this is specific to providing trained workers for the mining industry, especially related to heavy equipment training using the (interpretation ends) simulator. (interpretation) It is being utilized to teach students in Rankin Inlet mining skills training and I refer to the (interpretation ends) trade centre (interpretation) that provides this type of specialized training.
Nonetheless, this facility is geared more towards mine training, but we continue to review the parameters as to what kind of training should be offered at the facility in Cambridge Bay.
I believe that the minister was speaking about the facility called (interpretation ends) the Rankin Inlet Training Centre for heavy equipment (interpretation) and his reference to the simulator that used to be at the facility.
It was going to be the subject of deliberation, but at this time, with respect to the plans of the department regarding that, (interpretation ends) what is the status of these projects and whether they no longer appear on the capital plan?
Community and Government Services is now working with my department to do a pre-feasibility study.
That’s what we’re looking at right now.
To respond to your question, we’re doing a pre-feasibility study for that.
Nunavut Arctic College. Following my list of names on capital estimates, Mr. Shooyook.
Hopefully for real this time, and my question is regarding the facility in Grise Fiord that I am directing to the minister.
The future CLC is listed in the capital plan with a background that it has been many years to date where no work has been undertaken for planning or rather nothing has transpired.
What is the status of this project for the community?
Yes, we have been working on that for quite a while now.
If you remember correctly, we first looked at an independent or a standalone community learning centre. There is an old nursing station there that we looked at for that purpose.
The Department of Community and Government Services works on big buildings like that and we work with them to review the buildings.
One of them was the old health centre and it looked like it would be too expensive to renovate.
Right now, we’re looking at it with the Department of Education to see if we can use a part of the school, if we added two rooms to the existing school, to see if that would be a cheaper and faster way of producing a community learning centre.
We’re looking at this along with the Department of Community and Government Services.
We may put out a request for proposals in April 2016 for tendering.
As I stated earlier, we’re looking at different options.
It has been put together so that it can be presented in December.
Thank you, the one who sits.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for clarifying that.
We know that money is always the issue.
Following along with what you said, you reviewed the school to see if you can produce space there.
I hope that proceeds.
Will this proceed now the way that you spoke about? Are you going to make a plan to add two rooms to the existing school?
Is that really going to go ahead now?
We try to make sure that all communities have a community learning centre. We know that all of the communities need to have community learning centres.
We’re going to have to proceed with this project.
As to the financial estimates, we’re looking at $700,000.
That is just a first estimate, but like I said, it will proceed because all communities need to have a community learning centre.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that response.
If the $700,000 that you mentioned is not enough, will you be asking for a supplementary request or do you think that $700,000 will be adequate?
As I stated earlier, it’s a first estimate of $700,000. It may be more.
We have set aside $2 million for purposes like that.
It may be more than $700,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College. Branch Summary.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, minister and welcome, Mr. Ma. I would like to go back and ask for clarification on your opening comments, if you can allow me to ask questions all over the place, Mr. Chairman.
In the minister’s opening comments on page 1 of the English version, you stated that “The next phase of the Kitikmeot Campus is a mine training facility.” I believe it’s for the purpose of training for mine jobs.
I like that, but I would like it even more if you could announce something like that in Pond Inlet.
You know that Pond Inlet is the closest community to the largest mine that is going to be operating, and more and more mine jobs are coming up all the time as that project proceeds in the Mary River area.
To date, have you put any thought at all to set up a mine training facility close to the Mary River Baffinland mine?
I thank my colleague from Pond Inlet.
On May 5, 2015 this past spring, the Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation representatives and representatives from Nunavut Arctic College discussed how we can work together to get heavy equipment drivers trained, training them on air brakes and things like that, to see if we can start something like that.
We are looking into it, but we are all aware that at the Baffinland iron mines project, they have simulators and we will be working with them to train heavy equipment operators, including air brake courses.
I hope I responded to your question properly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Yes, I’m sure you responded well to my question.
However, I was asking more along the lines of not just for drivers. Anyway, I’m happy that you’re trying to work with those groups, but they don’t just have driving jobs; they have many other jobs at the mine.
The reason why I’m posing this question is if there will be many jobs, then won’t we have too few training centres?
The mine will have so many jobs available and we won’t have enough trainers.
I’m not just asking about driver training.
There are different types of jobs in the Baffin region, especially in Pond Inlet. Perhaps something like a mine training facility could be created. Have you put any thought into it up to now, other than driver training?
Yes, when we first started on this, we noticed that it was geared towards the Kitikmeot region.
They opened mining sectors in other regions when we first opened the heavy equipment operator course.
As time went by, we noticed that other mines were opening, not just for gold, iron, or diamond mines, which have been developing in Nunavut.
We are now looking at other possible training courses.
For example, we noted that in the Kivalliq, the Meadowbank mine is a gold mine and they require a different labour force. Agnico-Eagle mines, as an example, if they require a different set of workers, yes, I agree with you that we have to focus on other careers and not just heavy equipment training.
Our department offers courses in Rankin Inlet separate from heavy equipment for other sectors in mining, not just drivers.
It is also clear that the mining sector is continuing to change here in Nunavut.
Yes, as per my previous statements, we have conducted a further needs assessment review of the mining projects and what work they require, not just the number of drivers.
These are some of the items we will be working with other departments, such as Family Services and Economic Development and Transportation.
In collaboration with these departments, we hope to identify the needs and assess what type of training we should offer, especially since the mining sector is growing here in Nunavut.
Yes, these items were what I wanted to mention.
Yes, it is good to hear, and further, I am pleased that your department has started to focus on that.
Obviously, in the Baffin region, Pond Inlet is the closest adjacent community to one of the biggest mines in the territory.
Some comments are occasionally spouted about the possibility of this mine having a lifespan of 100 years.
Clearly in discussing these matters, the subject of Pond Inlet probably rises and of it being the best place for a possible training facility. Have you ever had discussions about a possible facility in the closest community?
Minister of Arctic College, Mr. Quassa.
Indeed, it seems clear in this case that many workers can be accommodated in this North Baffin project as there are five communities that are impacted by the Mary River project: Igloolik, Hall Beach, Pond Inlet, Arctic Bay, and Clyde River.
These are the listed impacted communities. For example, the entire Kivalliq region has been impacted by their mining projects.
If we are to look forward to our future, these are some of the issues we have to deliberate on.
It is clear that even if we don’t start that immediately, we can at least initiate a small step, as per my earlier comments about trying to work with Baffinland to try to establish more training programs.
In projecting forward to the future, it seems obvious that here in the South Baffin, they may develop a diamond mine eventually and this has been discussed in possible developments.
These are the types of issues we will try to face now and down the road.
I will patiently await the results of the discussions then.
To turn to page 2 of your opening comments in the English version, I want clarification on this written text about the community learning centre for Whale Cove.
It states that “Drilling of the piles was not able to be started due to site conditions, but the construction schedule is not expected to be affected.”
I just want clarification on this point here about the site conditions. Even though that is the case, the project will commence without a delay.
I didn’t quite understand it, as it seemed to also state that land issues cropped up. In comparison to other delayed projects, it is good to hear it is on schedule.
I just wanted clarification on how you were able to keep this project unaffected by these challenges.
They’re going to build it at the same site that was already planned.
Although it seems to be delayed a bit, the Department of CGS has informed us that it will be completed by October 31, 2016.
Canadrill, the company, was going to start drilling the piles although the permafrost was already set because it was fall time.
The ship arrived with the piles for the community and they’re going to stay on the same lot.
We expect to see the completion because the Department of CGS stated that it will be completed and although we expected it to be delayed, we were told that it will not be delayed and it will be completed.
I do understand that Whale Cove need not to be concerned as this will not be delayed.
Thank you for elaborating this and I believe that I will expect, along with Whale Cove residents, to get that going.
Also, I have another one in regard to the Grise Fiord Community Learning Centre. In the opening comments, it states that “Progress on the Grise Fiord Community Learning Centre was stalled by weather in 2014-15.
The Department of Community and Government Services has recently proposed options to the college as it thinks that the current plan to renovate the old hamlet office/community centre may exceed the current budget.”
What options have been given to you and what is the reason why it may exceed the current budget?
Perhaps you understand my question.
Yes, the old hamlet office is very old and because of its condition, the CGS department believed it would have been more expensive to renovate it. We keep up to date with the Department of CGS in regard to this.
Because it would be very expensive to renovate due to its age, what we’re looking at now as the Department of Education is to have a two-room addition built on the school with a different exit.
Because it will be a CLC, it will not have the same exit as the school students.
It would be cheaper and it would be quicker to construct this way and we’re leaning more towards supporting that idea.
Headquarters. (interpretation) Following my list of names, Mr. Keyootak.
First of all, I would like to ask the minister about the Piqqusilirivvik Cultural School in Clyde River.
Is that under the responsibility of Nunavut Arctic College?
Yes, Piqqusilirivvik is under our responsibility.
Now, within the historic plans for Piqqusilirivvik, when construction first began, there was a planning committee struck that oversaw the project onto the completion of this facility and in hiring the first employees of the centre.
Within the original plans, there is a statement included stating that the Piqqusilirivvik centre would always remain independent from the government due to its role as an Inuit cultural learning centre.
This was the core of the plans from the inception. However, at this time, the facility is now under the auspices of the government. Does this mean that all future hiring of employees for the facility will follow the CLC hiring policies?
I would also like to thank my colleague for his concern.
Although his question is outside of capital estimates, I can tell you that the previous Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth was responsible for the facility. From there, it was moved to Nunavut Arctic College.
The government was responsible for the whole time and it was under the Department of CLEY at the beginning.
Mr. Chairman, I’m just expecting questions on the capital estimates.
We are at Nunavut Arctic College’s capital estimates.
I have recognized you twice. Using my discretion as the Chair, I’ll give you another opportunity, Mr. Shooyook.
As Joe Enook alluded to earlier, Pond Inlet is the closest affected community.
Now I’m asking the minister: since Arctic Bay is one of the nearer communities to a mine as well, are you looking in the future that Arctic Bay will be prepared for the heavy equipment operator training?
Will there be a facility there too? The mining will not stop soon.
Have you come to any decisions on this?
We have had discussions. How can I word this? We have had discussions on this machinery simulator and that is the only thing I will talk about, which is the (interpretation ends) simulator (interpretation) and how we can benefit from the portability of the equipment.
We have deliberated on these issues, but the simulator hasn’t been purchased yet and it’s obvious that we can’t provide a simulator to every community.
However, the usage of the simulator would be open to everyone who is undertaking training, whether it is training towards Mary River or any other mining or construction project.
I noted the five communities that will be most impacted, but this would still be open to everyone. I speak of Arctic Bay, Igloolik, Hall Beach, Pond Inlet, and Clyde River.
Yes, the equipment would be available to everyone who is taking the training and it will continue to be so obviously.
Nonetheless, the earlier subject I spoke to was related to the earlier discussions we had about purchasing a (interpretation ends) mobile simulator (interpretation) in order to meet our needs.
I can only respond with that, but, yes, anyone can take the training, including Arctic Bay specific needs for heavy equipment training.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College.
Branch Summary. Headquarters. Total Capital Expenditures. $5,923,000.
Chairman: Back to page M-2. Department Summary.
Nunavut Arctic College. Detail of Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $5,923,000.
Does the committee agree that Nunavut Arctic College is concluded?
We have concluded with that. You can now make your closing remarks. Mr. Quassa.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also wish to thank my esteemed colleagues for their continued support for the operations of Nunavut Arctic College.
It is also apparent that both the students and staff, especially here in Iqaluit, were able to be patient because if you can recall the North 40 Old Residence, after a fire ripped through the facility and caused hardship, we were able to adapt the operations.
I firstly thank the students and staff here.