EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I don’t know where the city stands on things. I know that they’re pointing the finger over back to the government and saying, “We don’t have the money to build this.”
I’m hoping somebody has a solution.
It would be terrible, really, to have an airport that’s worth that amount of money, millions and millions, and then have such a terrible road going to it.
All that is going to stick out is the road and maybe not the nice, beautiful airport that we’ve got but more like the terrible road condition leading to it.
In terms of the proponent that she enquired about, it’s outside of their project scope. In terms of involvement, I’ll ask Ms. Rowe to answer the question.
I will look into that and get back to you.
I think it’s a really important issue. Perhaps the department can write maybe through our Chairman about what’s going on with this. I think it’s important enough.
It’s such a huge project. I know that you say that it’s out of the scope, but in some sense I wish it would have been included as part of the overall thing. I think that was just perhaps an issue of maybe… .
Well, hindsight is always 20/20.
I think it’s an issue that needs to be solved sooner than later.
We need to ensure that we don’t have this beautiful, new airport and then have everybody grumbling about who is going to pay for the road that we end up having a terrible road system that sticks out more than the new airport.
Just the other thing, as the minister knows, we had a meeting with the city councillors in Iqaluit and one of the issues that was raised to us in regard to the airport was the fact that they had not really been consulted before the project began and were sort of told almost the day before the announcement came out that this was happening in Iqaluit.
Their concern is they are left to deal with the supporting infrastructure like the sewer lines and all of that that have to be changed.
They said that that’s a big cost to them that they didn’t anticipate. Although I think they get their money back after a certain date, they have to pay for it up front. That was one of their concerns.
I wonder, as a department, what you would have to say to that.
I can only say that officials have told me that they have worked with the city officials and have had consultations with them way before the project was in place.
I guess there has to be some kind of miscommunication somewhere because both are saying different things.
As an MLA, we are kind of in the middle.
We don’t always hear or see both sides, but I’m just bringing that up as a concern.
That is a concern from the City of Iqaluit and maybe somebody should get in touch with them to find out what’s going on just keep it at that point.
That’s all from me.
I don’t believe the member had a question.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation); Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the table.
Just a reminder for this afternoon there is a meeting of the Standing Committee on Legislation commencing at half past one, followed by a meeting of the Regular Caucus, followed by another meeting of the Standing Committee on Legislation, and followed by another meeting of the Regular Caucus.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) In accordance with the authority provided to me by Motion 41 – 4(3), this House stands adjourned until Saturday, March 11, at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Pages 3972 – 4073
Opening Prayer 3972
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3972
Report of the Committee of the Whole 4072
Third Reading of Bills 4072
Orders of the Day 4072
Saturday, March 11, 2017 3972
Bill 34 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2017-2018 – Economic Development and Transportation – Consideration in Committee 3973
Bill 34 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2017-2018 – Nunavut Arctic College – Consideration in Committee 3992
Bill 34 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2017-2018 – Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs – Consideration in Committee 4016
Bill 34 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2017-2018 – Environment – Consideration in Committee 4036
Bill 34 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2017-2018 – Culture and Heritage – Consideration in Committee 4063
Bill 34 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2017-2018 – Legislative Assembly – Consideration in Committee 4069
Bill 34 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2017-2018 – Third Reading 4072
Speaker (Hon. George Qulaut) (interpretation): Can you say the opening prayer, please, Mr. Emiliano Qirngnuq.
Speaker (interpretation): Good afternoon, my fellow Nunavummiut. Members, ministers, and visitors, welcome to the House.
Bills 19, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 41, 42, and 43 with Mr. Mikkungwak in the Chair.
Chairman (Mr. Mikkungwak) (interpretation): Good day, Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) I would like to call the committee meeting to order.
In Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: 19, 26, 27, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41, and 43.
We wish to continue with Bill 34 and continue with the review of the main estimates of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, followed by Nunavut Arctic College, and then the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Environment, Culture and Heritage, and ending with the Legislation Assembly.
Chairman: I would now like to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation if she has officials that she would like to appear before the committee.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Does the committee agree to let the minister’s officials to the witness table?
Minister Ell-Kanayuk, please introduce your officials.
To my left is my Deputy Minister, Sherri Rowe, and to my right is my Acting Assistant Deputy Minister of Transportation, John Hawkins.
We will now proceed with the review of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation. Transportation. Page K-6.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome, Minister Ell-Kanayuk, Mr. Hawkins, and Ms. Rowe.
I want to get back to the question that I was trying to ask on page 200.
One of the priorities for 2016-17 the third bullet from the top is to “Conduct studies which will determine the improvements required in order to initiate the re-design of instrument approach procedures at several Nunavut airports.
In May 2016, NAV Canada indicated that it will assume responsibility for the approach designs...” I was trying to ask that question, but I was asked to wait, so I’m asking about the status of that.
At this time they have done a feasibility study on that.
I would also like to get clarification on what that means. NAV CANADA indicated that it will assume responsibility. Does that mean that the Nunavut Airports Division is no longer responsible for the airports in Kimmirut, Pangnirtung, and Qikiqtarjuaq?
Are they doing that for the approach designs by NAV CANADA?
NAV CANADA assumes the responsibilities for the publications and their date has been on June 22, 2017. We don’t have control over that.
Moving on to a different topic in regard to the driver’s licence, as we are aware, it takes a very long time to obtain or renew a driver’s licence.
I have been asking whether you have considered the temporary driver’s licence. They also have expiry dates. They could be used for three months and then you’re no longer able to use the temporary driver’s licence when it expires.
They have to reapply for a temporary driver’s licence after it expires. They have to wait a long time again to get the temporary driver’s licence.
Nunavummiut will have to keep going back and forth. While they’re waiting for their driver’s licence, perhaps leave the temporary driver’s licence open without an expiry date.
I would like to ask the minister if they can do that while we’re waiting for the new driver’s licence.
We wouldn’t be able to do that. We have signed agreements with the provinces and also, we’re expecting that we would be able to do the turnaround for the three months when we get the new Motor Vehicle Information System in place next year.
I know that Nunavummiut will now expect that.
This will most likely be my last question. On page 215 of the business plan, specific to the Iqaluit International Airport, it lists the P3 contract requirements. There are also specific requirements for Inuit employment and training initiatives, including contract figures.
I seem to recall the minister stating that reports would be available and I wonder what the status is, as we have yet to see a report.
I wonder if the minister can speak to some of the details related to this, as last year, I asked the minister about the reports, but no reports have been tabled in the House to date, although they seemed to commit to be providing reports.
The report is ready, but we have to do internal processes before we’re able to table it.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): When will you be able to table the report in the House?
We’re not sure at this time.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It sounds like the airport is on schedule for the opening this coming summer. Is the construction of the international airport in Iqaluit on schedule?
August 9, 2017. (interpretation) Thank you.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to urge the minister to table the Inuit employment and training contracting report as soon as possible. That’s just a comment and I’m done for now.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. That was just a general comment.
Following my list of names, we are on page K-6, Mr. Keyootak.
I may have just glossed over it or perhaps I didn’t see it. Actually I have asked about this matter in the House to the department dealing with transportation.
Today the old HF radios are no longer in much use as people have started to use other forms of radio communication devices, such as VHF and CB radios.
In our community most Inuit have just started using these radios recently. I believe practically every boat has CB radios in the summer. The usage of CBs is more prevalent in the summer.
However, we run into limited range issues with these radios as the radio waves can be blocked by mountainous terrain. The eastern coast of Baffin Island has high mountains and the radio range isn’t sufficient for hunters who go far field. When the hunters are off at the far reaches of our hunting ranges, they can no longer communicate with the community or when mountainous terrain blocks the radio signals.
In our community we only have one radio repeater antenna in our community for radios that is used by boats. It’s very useful in our community and the two communities I represent have concerns about that. They have been asking if more VHF repeaters can be installed.
Has this been considered to date?
I apologize. We’re not responsible for that.
This is a necessity for communication purposes and the communities have been really concerned about that.
Who can be approached for assistance?
We will discuss the member’s question. I’ll talk to Community and Government Services.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Economic Development and Transportation.
Transportation. K-6. Following the list of names, Mr. Enook.
Good afternoon, fellow Nunavummiut who are watching and listening to the proceedings.
The minister was asked questions before by Mr. Joanasie about NAV CANADA and I would like clarification if I can go back to that. I think NAV CANADA is responsible for transportation in Canada.
There seem to be reports that they will be in control or have new responsibilities. Is there a new entity or a new operation that’s coming up?
So that it will be clear, I will ask my Assistant Deputy Minister, Mr. Hawkins, to respond.
Mr. Hawkins: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. NAV CANADA is responsible for all air navigational aids, all public air navigational aids. They are responsible for the approaches.
They are responsible for the waypoints in between communities. They are responsible for the radar and basically the entire navigational system in Canada. They have been for 25 or so years.
What we have been trying to do with our program is to incense them to come forward and design approaches into our communities and get them sort of moved up in their list of priorities. It has had limited success. We have advanced a couple.
Basically, though, they do set the priorities on it and their main clients are the air carriers. NAV CANADA is a private company. They set their priorities a little bit differently than governments do.
We do try to incense them with the approaches we design.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Also, while on the subject of Nunavut Airports, your department used to have several employees in Pond Inlet, but I can’t recall the exact number, perhaps three positions.
Where did these positions go?
Did you close down that office?
This is presently being worked on.
One of the positions will not be advertised. What was it called? It had to do with CARS.
We’re not responsible for that anymore. One of them passed away suddenly, unfortunately. We know we will need to advertise for one more position.
I hear that one position will not be advertised.
What will you replace it with? The Nunavut government has stated that if any position is transferred or taken out from our decentralized communities, it would be replaced with a different position. What kind of position will replace the one being closed?
Additionally, with respect to the position where the employee suddenly passed away, (interpretation ends) that was two years ago. (interpretation) When will this position be dealt with?
It has been vacant for two years. Will this ever come about?
I think it’s a complicated matter. I’ll refer this to my deputy minister for a clearer answer.
We don’t have that information with us. We will get back to the member.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, can someone tell me why this position has disappeared?
Ever since this position became vacant, I have asked the minister about it.
Is it no longer within your organizational chart?
We don’t have that information with us. I’ll go through you and I’ll inform the members once I have it.
I had asked two questions at the same time and you said you can give us the information on my two questions.
When can we get the information?
We can give you the information on Monday.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will look forward to receiving it.
Also related to a question raised earlier and one I have asked you, madam minister, just recently are related to driver’s licences.
Sometimes we have to wait over a year to receive our licence. Here you were not aware of it.
I reminded you at that time that some residents received their licences over a year after their application, even with properly filled forms.
With respect to your earlier response, I may have been so expectant that I may have heard words not spoken. I would like to ask about it further. You seem to state and I may be mistaken here, but I seemed to understand that once the new system is in place for your department, licence applications will be processed within three months.
Did you state that or maybe I so wanted to hear your reference to that matter that I may have misheard you?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Yes, once the new computer system is in place, which is what our expectations are, it will simplify the process.
Further, to provide some background for Pond Inlet, the municipality runs the driver’s licence program through an agreement.
We were informed that within a calendar year three separate people held that position and with resignations some of the paperwork was never processed.
It is unfortunate when paperwork falls through the cracks between staff and unfinished forms as they have to be completely filled out. In some cases a birth certificate, which is a requirement, wasn’t included. Furthermore, at this time you cannot submit the application via Internet nor through facsimiles, as they use the postal system to send them out.
This also applies to the licences being sent back via postal service.
Once we have the new system in place, it will allow the processing of an application to be submitted online the same day.
Although I am a resident of Pond Inlet, apparently you know more about the situation than I do as you knew that three different people have held the position already, although I doubt it and strongly disagree with you.
Nonetheless, although I am from Pond Inlet, I may not have that information, but that is beside the point.
This situation doesn’t just exist in Pond Inlet. As I stated previously when asking you about this issue in this House, pretty well every community has issues, as we have heard, not just Pond Inlet.
Occasionally we mention that even proper applications take a long time and they’re not told that the application needs more information or is lacking something. They’re not informed and they just wait and wait.
I’m happy that they will be able to deal with it on the same day.
What is the big problem today?
In Pond Inlet, Arctic Bay, Kugaaruk, everywhere, what is the problem there?
When the application is filled out properly, why do we wait for so long?
The present system has been in place and they’re still using 1980s equipment and that’s the reason it’s so slow. They have to send them through the mail system. It’s for those reasons that we worked so hard to get the new system and members approved it.
Thanks to you, we will be able to initiate that program.
In 2018 all of the communities will have the system installed.
When in 2018, at the end, middle, or beginning of the year?
When can we expect it?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Only at the end of 2018.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): I would like to understand why it’s going to take so long.
We approved the money quite a while ago.
Why does it have to be at the end of 2018? It’s almost two years.
Is it because it’s so complex?
This is a massive system that we are talking about. The system has to be designed, tested, and rolled out to all the communities.
Are you telling me that we approved the money without knowing what we were going to buy?
We just knew that it will be used for a certain purpose, but we had no idea what capabilities that system had or what problems it may have.
Did we have no idea what we were buying?
I’m going to have Deputy Minister Ms. Rowe answer that question.
This is not a computer software system that we’re buying off the shelf. This is one that we set up the specifications for the system on what the system needs to do when we went out to tender and to purchase this system.
Now they are building the system to meet the needs that we have requested.
It’s not a situation where we didn’t know what we needed. We know what we needed and now it’s up to them to build it to our specifications.
The system needs to be built from nothing and you have to tell them what specifications you want. You told them that if someone wants a licence, it will pop out a licence in one day. We wish to realize the day where anyone applying for a licence can receive one in a day.
The priorities members wanted and as per the minister’s response, once the system is up and running, applications will be sent immediately.
With that in mind, is the funding sufficient for this system? I know that it hasn’t been installed yet. Nevertheless, the department has requested supplementary appropriations several times for this system.
Since I became a member, I seem to recall three separate supplementary appropriation requests over time.
I wonder if the funding is enough to complete the system now.
We collaborated with Community and Government Services on this initiative. Yes, our expectations are that the work requirements will be met based on the directions we have provided and that this system will be implemented fully.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Transportation. Following the list of names, Mr. Akoak.
My questions are about the same as the line of questioning of my colleague, Mr. Enook.
On page 200 of your business plan the fifth bullet says, “Review the capacity of the Transportation Policy and Planning division to determine the optimal staffing required…” When I first got to Gjoa Haven in 2004, the department was fully staffed and three people were working there, but now there is only one.
Will you be filling those positions?
That was completed in December 2016. However, one person quit last week and we will have to fill that position.
So do I understand now that there is nobody working there?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk: That is correct.
Mr. Akoak: When do you anticipate getting the staff in there?
Tomorrow, next week, or next month?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk: I, too, would like a crystal ball, but I don’t have one, so I can’t say exactly when. Mr. Chairman, it will have to go through the proper competitive process.
Also in the motor vehicles department, they had a driver inspector, I believe they call it. He moved out of the community. Will that be filled also?
On page 215, Priorities (2016-17), it says, “Monitor the P3 Partner’s compliance with all provisions of the construction and operations plans for the Iqaluit airport...”
Why have the Inuit employment and training reports taken so long to produce or publish given that there are monthly reports which include sections on Inuit employment and training?
We just discussed that this morning.
Someone else asked that same question and I believe I said the reports are done. As soon as we go through the proper internal processes, we will able to table the report.
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Why is it taking so long?
The NNI staff have to go through each and every report.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Following the list of names, Ms. Angnakak, second time around.
Ms. Angnakak: Today’s a new day.
I just want to ask a couple of questions about the access road projects.
Basically my first question is: how are these projects awarded?
I’ll take a break from answering and I’ll ask Ms. Rowe to answer that question.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. Ms. Rowe.
We send out a call letter each year and then what happens is it’s application-based, so then we ask for applications and then we go through them.
Can the department tell us how they grade them? How do you pick what you’re going to fund and what you’re not going to fund?
The proposals are rated in the following criteria: how well the proposal meets the program objective, the capacity of the community to carry out the work, the extent to which the community is prepared to contribute its own resources, and the extent to which the local labour and municipal equipment is used.
Is there a limit on funding per community? I know there’s a limit to the overall total amount, but is there a limit that a community can access?
Chairman: Thank you. Minister Ell-Kanayuk.
Currently it’s at $300,000, but we’re reviewing that.
Can the department tell us if a letter was sent to the City of Iqaluit?
The letters are being translated right now and they will be sent out to each and every community, including Iqaluit.
Was the letter out sent to the City of Iqaluit the last time around?
In regard to your Community Transportation Initiatives Program Report 2016-17, you gave a little over $1.5 million out that was awarded, but the City of Iqaluit is not on this list.
My first question is: did you send a letter to the City of Iqaluit and, if you did, did you get a reply?
I believe they’re sent to each and every community.
I can double-check with Iqaluit, but I’m pretty sure they were sent there too.
If you don’t get a response back from the community, does the staff do like a follow-up, “You know, we sent you this letter and we haven’t received anything back from you”?
Who is responsible for doing that?
I don’t believe we do that.
I wonder at times if you don’t get a response, it’s because of a capacity issue and that the community might really lose out on something that could be very good and beneficial for that community. It makes me think that perhaps something should be done just to figure out “Why aren’t you responding back?”