EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would like to say “good afternoon” to my constituents in Pangnirtung as well as Nunavummiut who know me. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Development Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Development Corporation’s current business plan indicates that one of its priorities is to “Pursue divestment of majority ownership at Pangnirtung Fisheries.”
In February of this year, I asked the minister for an update on the status of this issue. At that time, he indicated that the work was underway to develop a timetable for this initiative.
Can the minister inform me today that work has been accomplished to achieve this goal?
The work is ongoing. The feasibility assessment continues and we’re working very closely with the other parties involved.
The minister’s 2012-13 Letter of Expectation to the Chairperson of the Nunavut Development Corporation requested quarterly updates on its priorities, including divestment of majority ownership at Pangnirtung Fisheries.
Can the minister indicate if the corporation has been providing quarterly updates and, if it has, will he commit to table copies of them in the Legislative Assembly?
Mr. Speaker, the corporations are required to report quarterly through the Crown corporations to the Crown council and to my Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
If the reports are available for tabling, I will certainly do that.
On March 2, 2005, the Nunavut Development Corporation’s investment policy and guidelines were tabled in the Legislative Assembly. These guidelines outline the corporation’s divestment procedures.
Can the minister confirm that these guidelines remain in place?
The guidelines in divestment are under the Act.
Certainly, the corporation abides by the guidelines that are set out within the Act for divestment.
As I indicated earlier, the work is ongoing for the feasibility assessment of divestment.
Question 682 – 3(3): Homelessness in Nunavut (Ugyuk)
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Homelessness.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my Member’s Statement, homelessness is a serious and growing issue of concern in Nunavut.
Can the minister indicate whether there are comprehensive and updated statistics on homelessness across Nunavut and, if so, would she be willing to make those numbers available?
Minister with the responsibility of Homelessness, Minister Ell.
In my Minister’s Statement in the March session, I had invited my colleagues to the soup kitchen, and I would like to thank Jeannie and other members who had attended there.
At that time, I mentioned in my statement that we were experiencing homelessness in Nunavut at an alarming rate of 1,200 Nunavummiut who are in need of shelter.
Acute overcrowding presents additional challenges to those individuals who are in our housing and are vulnerable.
At this time, I do not have current statistics, but at which time I do have new data, I would be more than pleased to share it with my colleagues and other people.
Thank you for your response. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that local housing authorities can allocate units for those who are homeless.
Can the minister confirm whether or not any local housing authorities have appropriated any social housing to meet the needs of the homeless?
The answer at this current time is that I have not heard of any local housing authorities or hamlets coming forward with any initiatives to address homelessness in the communities.
This is also shared with my colleague, Minister Taptuna.
I would appreciate getting that information. (interpretation ends) Can the minister indicate whether the Government of Nunavut has a target year for their plan to end homelessness and, if not, why not?
Hon. Monica Ell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, we don’t have a specific strategy just on addressing homelessness under the Homelessness portfolio.
I can’t really speak for my colleagues under the Minister of Housing who are working on some strategies that may include some of that aspect.
This is something that could be addressed perhaps with the new government, if they so wished.
Question 683 – 3(3): Status of the Resolute Bay Utilidor (Elliott)
On May 16 of this year, I asked the minister for an update on the status of Resolute Bay’s new utilidor system. At that time, he indicated that the tender for the project had been cancelled due to the bids having come in over the cost of the project.
As the minister will appreciate, my constituents are extremely concerned about this situation.
Over the course of this summer, at least one incident has come to my attention where an elder’s house went without water for many weeks.
Can the minister update me today on the status of the Resolute Bay utilidor project?
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague and this House are aware, the scope of work or the costs that came in for replacing the utilidor project in Resolute Bay were enormous.
As such, our department has taken a step back to see how we could accomplish the replacement of the utilidor system. Our department is looking at a two-phase system.
Phase 1 of the work would be to re-tender the project, which is happening now.
They will review the scope of work and re-tender the project this fall to reduce the scope of work to meet the current budget for that, Mr. Speaker.
That is where we are at.
As the minister is aware, the Resolute Bay utilidor, which is being partially supported through the federal Building Canada Fund, is budgeted at approximately $32 million. During our recent spring sitting, we approved $4.5 million in capital carryover funds for the project.
Can the minister give me an idea of what the current cost estimates are for this project?
The plan in phase 1 is to expend those funds that my colleague talks about, the $30 million budget from the Building Canada Fund, which would include utilidor pipes and filtration works, and so on.
When I asked the minister questions about this issue during our recent spring sitting, he indicated that his department is again reviewing the community’s solid waste and water works system.
As the minister will appreciate, ensuring that all Nunavut communities have adequate water and waste systems is not a frill or a luxury; it is a basic need for human life and safety.
Will the minister commit to tabling a detailed status report on the Resolute Bay situation before the end of the final sitting of this current Legislative Assembly?
Question 684 – 3(3): Safety in the Tourism Sector (Curley)
On May 16 of this year, the minister announced the Government of Nunavut’s new tourism strategy.
Now, Mr. Speaker, most of us know that safety of tourism is not one of them.
As the minister is aware, a number of incidents have occurred this summer. One of these involved the deaths of two American tourists in the vicinity of Dubawnt Lake in the Kivalliq.
Another was the rescue of almost two dozen stranded tourists from an ice floe in the High Arctic.
Can the minister clearly explain how the government’s new tourism strategy addresses the issue of regulating, enforcing, and maintaining safety standards in this critical sector of our economy?
Mr. Speaker, it is a sad state of affairs when accidents like that do happen.
Throughout the whole process, we do have safety inspectors within the government and they are named. There are guidelines and regulations that the operators do have to follow, and that’s exactly what we expect the tourism operators to do.
In most cases, there are some unforeseen circumstances when it is way out of town or certain rules aren’t followed within some of these operations that are out there beyond the control of the inspectors that are located in offices.
Mr. Speaker, we’re aware of the situation and we will definitely work to try and address some of these unfortunate situations.
Mr. Curley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s serious that the operators should be entitled to proper business licences, as well as having guides so that these tourists are not taking tourism programs at their own ways and trying to operate tourism programs.
Mr. Speaker, my supplementary is this: the Department of Economic Development and Transportation’s business plan indicates that one of its priorities is to consider amendments to the Travel and Tourism Act.
Can the minister indicate what progress his department has made in reviewing this legislation to ensure that it addresses the issue of regulating and enforcing safety standards in the tourism sector?
It is paramount that the safety of tourists who do come up here is taken into serious consideration.
Some of the tourists who do come up here, whether it’s a wildlife adventure or an eco adventure, at times, request that they go out there alone without guides.
We’re definitely looking at that for operators to make sure that these regulations be looked at very carefully not only to create some safety nets there for the operators and the tourists that are out there, but to make sure that these rules are enforced for the outfitters and make it well known to the tourists who do come up here that these rules and regulations will be abided by.
The tourism industry is very important to Nunavutmiut and safety definitely is one of them.
As I noted in the preamble to my question, a number of tourists were stranded in the High Arctic this summer.
Rescuing these individuals required the efforts of the military, in some respects, the territorial government, the RCMP, and local authorities.
Ensuring that such expeditions have adequate insurance to cover the costs of such rescues has been an ongoing issue.
Can the minister indicate what progress has been made by the government on this issue?
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I cannot assume that some of these things are being done right now.
I can’t go step by step through the level of completion for some of these consultations that are taking place with all our partners out there, the operators with Nunavut Tourism, and other partners that are out there.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I’ve got to stress that safety is paramount when it comes to a number of different things.
We expect out-of-the-country cruise ships that come in from another jurisdiction to have insurance coverage for such accidents or even unforeseen circumstances like that.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that our department is working hard with other partners to make sure that if incidents like that do occur, there is a plan put in place for all partners to partake in or have a system in place that will make these kinds of operations for rescue a lot safer for everybody involved.
Question 685 – 3(3): Abuse of Income Support (Enook)
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, people of Pond Inlet and Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Family Services, Hon. Monica Ell.
We realize that there are people who are on income support. It seems that there has been some abuse of the usage of the Income Support Program.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): In some cases, they are being used for other things that are not covered under the program, especially when elders are intimidated by their children or grandchildren. It is not the first time that you hear of these incidents.
How is the Act going to protect the proper usage of the Income Support Program, or are you going to be doing a review and amending the Act?
Hon. Monica Ell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague for bringing up that question.
As I became Minister of Family Services, income support staff, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, has begun initial work on looking at what can be done to revise the Social Assistance Act and regulations with the goal of identifying and correcting gaps and inconsistencies in current legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures.
These revisions are urgently needed before a program review can take place.
At this time, the Department of Family Services is going through internal processes to start discussing with other staff members across Nunavut to look at and identify what processes are needed to begin revisions and first off, finding gaps and trying to identify these and other issues.
For clarity, if there is going to be a review done of the program, are you going to be looking at the problem areas or do you have an idea of how the process is going to be handled?
It is expected that the proposed program changes and initiatives in the near future will largely depend on the direction coming out of the work of the development of the Poverty Reduction Strategy that is currently being identified at this time. We are moving as a new department and we will be requiring an adaptation phase. As you know, we became Family Services on April 1 of this year and the new structure might affect the income assistance operations.
As we’re all well aware, Family Services is a new department. All of us sure know that this have been an ongoing problem for many years.
I am sure that there have been reviews done in the past, but there has been no improvement. As a new department, Family Services should not be part of the problem.
Can the minister indicate to the House how soon the review process is going to be completed and how soon the implementation stage will start?
At this time, we are starting the review process.
The Department of Family Services follows the Social Assistance Act and regulations carried over from the Government of the Northwest Territories before 1999. We inherited the programs with no changes from that time on.
I can only say that in 2001, a review was started and there have been ongoing discussions on the program from there. I can’t tell you when the review process is going to be completed because, of course, we’re near the end of our term. I can only tell you that it is not going to be completed before the next government.
Question 686 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut’s Intervention Respecting Senate Reform Reference Questions (Elliott)
In February of this year, the Government of Nunavut made a formal notice of intervention to the Supreme Court of Canada concerning the Government of Nunavut’s submission to the Supreme Court of Canada concerning the federal government’s reference questions regarding Senate reform.
On March 11 of this year, I asked the Minister of Justice and Attorney General to explain our government’s position on Senate reform. At that time, the minister took my questions as notice.
I think it is very timely that we have Senator Patterson sitting in the House with us today so that he can listen to my answer too.
Mr. Speaker, this is more about not Senate reform, but the process of Senate reform. The member is correct. In February, the Government of Canada had gone to the Supreme Court of Canada asking the Supreme Court to see if they can unilaterally, under the amendments to the Constitution, do some reform without involving other jurisdictions.
The Supreme Court of Canada had commented to all jurisdictions, me, as the Minister of Justice, and the Attorney General asking if we are interested in the process and being part of that process and intervention of Senate reform.
We filed the proper documents on the proper dates, and then on August 30, we submitted our factum with our position.
We are interested in any process that happens with Senate reform or any Senate reform that is to take place. We feel that the Government of Nunavut, all the Members in the House, and all residents of this beautiful territory need to be involved in this process.
It is also more than Senate reform and I will add to this. Currently, the amendments that are going to happen with the Constitution under the amending formula do not include territories of this country.
So we are also interested in having an amendment to the amending formula that does legally include all the territories involved in any reform, not only Senate reform, that is going to happen in the Constitution.
For the benefit of all Members of this House, will the minister commit to tabling a copy of the Government of Nunavut’s submission to the Supreme Court of Canada concerning Senate reform?
Yes, I could table that to the House.
Does the Government of Nunavut support abolition of the Senate or reform of the Senate and, if it supports reform, what specific reforms does it support?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Minister of Justice, Minister Shewchuk.
At this point in time, as I said, there is no position of the government on the reform or abolishment of the Senate or what the Senate should look like.
It’s about the process and being involved in decisions that will happen with the Senate in the future, not only decisions in the Senate, but any decisions that are going to happen under the Constitution of Canada.
Question 687 – 3(3): Status of New Child and Family Services Act (Curley)
It seems mundane, but we are the Nunavut government and we have also set a mandate.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, although a number of minor amendments were made to the territorial Child and Family Services Act during the recent spring sitting of the House, Nunavutmiut are still waiting for a new statute to be introduced which better reflects our values, Inuit values and cultural values.
Can the minister clearly explain today why the government has not introduced, as committed, a new Child and Family Services Act?
I would like to thank my colleague for that question. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Department of Family Services is committed to transforming the Nunavut social services system to reflect Inuit knowledge and family values, providing services and support that strengthens families, and protecting Nunavut’s children and youth from abuse and neglect.
We have made a commitment to amend the Child and Family Services Act based on the extensive consultations that have been done regarding child welfare reform. Nunavummiut have asked for changes in how social services are delivered. Most of these are changes in practice that can be implemented without amending the Child and Family Services Act.
Those changes which are required to update the Act are minor in nature, and extensive consultations with Nunavummiut regarding child welfare reform have taken place in the past two years.
The issues that the minister indicated are not minor. Nunavutmiut have spoken during the last four years that issues facing the Family Services Act are deadly serious.
There are too many children who are in foster care and on occasion, there are families who experience their children being taken away without a real involvement of the elders in the community.
Mr. Speaker, it was committed by the cabinet that the Family Services Act would be amended during the 2012 period.
Later, if that was changed, the changes would be introduced during the fall sitting of 2013 by one of the ministers then.
Mr. Speaker, both the Tamapta Mandate document and the 2011 Nunavut Social Services Review report addressed the need for comprehensive reform of our territory’s child and family services legislation.
Is the Department of Family Services currently working to develop a new and genuinely made-in-Nunavut Child and Family Services Act, yes or no?
I think the answer to Mr. Curley’s question is that we are making amendments to an Act. I think that’s what we are doing at this time, not making a new one.
Mr. Curley: Mr. Speaker, I think Nunavutmiut have been made to believe and understand that one of the cabinet’s priorities were to transform and introduce legislation so that the communities are better involved in handling family services in Nunavut communities.
Is the minister indicating to the House right now that this is no longer the priority of this government?
I think this is still a priority for this government. Currently, we are still going ahead with trying to move forward with the changes to the Child and Family Services Act.
I think this will have to continue.
Members will note that the question period clock has run out of time. We will move on in our orders of the day.
Return to Written Question 028 – 3(3): Management of the M’Clintock Channel and Gulf of Boothia Polar Bear Populations (Clerk)
I wish to table the return to Written Question 28 – 3(3).
*See Appendix for full text of Return to Written Question 28 – 3(3) filed with the Clerk.
Response to Petition 006 – 3(3): Gjoa Haven Sewage Lagoon (Clerk)
I wish to table a response to Petition 6 – 3(3).
Committee Report 038 – 3(3): Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Legal Services Act (Ningeongan)
I wish to report that Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Legal Services Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and that the bill, as amended and reprinted, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 32 immediately moved into the Committee of the Whole.
There is a request for unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) so that Bill 32 can immediately be referred to Committee of the Whole.
There is a nay. Unanimous consent is not granted.
*See Appendix for full text of Response to Petition 6 – 3(3) filed with the Clerk.
As such, Bill 32 will appear on the order paper for Monday, September 9.
Committee Report 039 – 3(3): Bill 40, Representative for Children and Youth Act (Ningeongan)
I wish to report that Bill 40, Representative for Children and Youth Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and that the bill, as amended and reprinted, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 40 immediately moved into the Committee of the Whole.
There is a request for unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) so that Bill 40 can be immediately referred to Committee of the Whole.
As such, Bill 40 will appear on the order paper on Monday, September 9.
Tabled Document 382 – 3(3): Correspondence Concerning Housing Situation in Repulse Bay (Ningark)
I wish to table a copy of correspondence that was provided to me this week by the constituents in Repulse Bay.
Mr. Speaker, the correspondence describes a situation in Repulse Bay which involves extreme overcrowding in our community housing.
I urge the minister and all the hon. colleagues of the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation to review this with care.
Tabled Document 383 – 3(3): Photographs and Editorial Concerning Marine Disaster in Pond Inlet (Enook)
I wish to table today a copy of a recent editorial from News/North concerning the marine disaster that struck Pond Inlet last month, in addition to a number of shocking photographs which clearly reveal the extent of the damage to boats in the community.
Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that I will be addressing in detail during our current sitting, and I encourage all members to review these items with care.
Tabled Document 384 – 3(3): Correspondence Concerning the Disappearance of Qanngualuk and Family (Curley)
I wish to table a copy of the letter I received from the Minister of Justice concerning some of the initiatives that he has taken on with respect to the disappearance of Qanngualuk and family.
This is a very important piece of record that, I think, should be in the public profile.
Bill 68 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2013-2014 – Notice
Bill 69 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2013-2014 – Notice
I give notice that on Monday, September 9, 2013, that Bill 68, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2013-2014, be read for the first time.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, September 9, that Bill 69, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2013-2014, be read for the first time.
Motion 052 – 3(3): Minister’s Statement 299 – 3(3) to Committee of the Whole (Tapardjuk)
Pursuant to Rule 34(5), I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Tununiq, that Minister’s Statement 299 – 3(3) be referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.
As a result, Minister’s Statement 299 – 3(3) is referred to Committee of the Whole.