EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It is not just the cold weather but perhaps other problems so I just wondered whether the Minister’s Department will be doing another study on what other causes there might be for the problem with the heating fuel.
The Minister stated that he will be doing a study on other possible sources of the problem; will we as members of that community be informed?
I understand that the member is asking whether there is going to be some testing on other sources of problems besides the cold weather on the heating fuel. I can confirm that we will be testing the future sources of heating fuel in greater detail to ensure that we do not experience the same kind of problem in Nunavut.
Yes, I will commit to informing the member as soon as the results have been done.
Question 539 – 1(6): Update on Manitoba to Kivalliq Road
In the Kivalliq Region, when we were getting our deal for Nunavut, we wanted to get a highway built from the south to the Kivalliq communities.
This has always been an issue for our region.
I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation, because we have discussed the highway, from Manitoba to the Kivalliq Region, I have a feeling that the Manitoba Government will have the same government in the near future and they are very interested in building this highway.
I just wondered if the department has been working diligently with the Government of Manitoba for the building of the highway to one of the Kivalliq communities and have they talked with the Federal Government in regards to getting funding for that highway?
Speaker: Minister responsible for Transportation, Minister Kilabuk.
I am very close to Mr. Anawak, so I have to protect my papers because they are confidential and I did not want him to read my responses from the paper.
Mr. Speaker, the highway from Manitoba to Kivalliq communities, has not been abandoned, it’s still continuing and we are still talking with the Government of Manitoba in regards to the construction of the highway.
We have asked some officials from the government and we have been given a response.
We would like to be able to meet with all parties concerned and we have not been given any answer as of yet, as to whether the meetings would proceed.
We all know if there was to be a highway to the Kivalliq community from Manitoba; it would affect all the communities of Nunavut.
The freight would be cheaper.
The materials shipped over here would be cheaper and we would become more a part of Canada.
The premier stated just recently, I think he was talking about the Bathurst Docking Facility, I just read what I heard on the news, in the paper so I cannot ascertain its validity but I am just talking about the Kivalliq highway.
It would be us being connected to the rest of the provinces.
I just wondered whether the highway that should be constructed to the Kivalliq communities from Manitoba, or whether that Bathurst Docking Facility, which one is more important for the whole of Nunavut.
One is mainly for resource extraction and is being developed with the future revenue from the mines while one is for connection to Canada.
Which one is going to be a priority?
The Bathurst one or the Kivalliq, Manitoba highway?
Mr. Speaker, at this point, the projects are ongoing for the road and port.
An environmental study was just completed and there is still intent to continue with the projects and to find further funding to complete the projects.
We also require more partnerships.
For instance, we would rely heavily on the Federal Government to build these two projects, we need further environmental assessment as to the projects, and we need to discuss these issues with the communities so we are just waiting for them.
I am not expecting that we will have a road in the next couple of weeks the importance of getting the environmental assessments done to ensure the project is ongoing because it is very desirable and from what I know, the Manitoba government will be re-elected and they are really pushing for this project to go ahead.
Therefore, the intent for the people of Manitoba is there, perhaps there are also other implications for the people of Nunavut in building this road to Manitoba.
With that in mind, the Bathurst road and port project is receiving funding from the federal government.
Is the funding for the actual project or is there money flowing towards the assessment for the Kivalliq road project?
Yes, the memorandum of understanding with the Manitoba Government and Nunavummiut was signed in December 2001. In that agreement there was a provision to ensure any projects involve the Kivalliq Inuit Association, so we have asked them as a government to be involved and the funding for their particular project have not been allocated.
The studies on the environmental impacts and base data for the different assessments on the road project are ongoing.
This funding would likely come from the Federal Government for the study so the whole project relies on these upcoming studies that are still needed so I can’t respond to you at this time but as a government we are in support of it.
Can I move that question period be extended?
Speaker: The member for Baker Lake is seeking unanimous consent to continue with question period to extend it.
Question 540 – 1(6): Lifting Food Ban to the Rest of Canada
I was the first Member to raise my hand and last to ask a question.
Regarding the Coral Harbour caribou harvest, it was very successful and I am very pleased with the Government of Sustainable Development. (Interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Sustainable Development.
Mr. Speaker, we know that mad cow disease has seriously hurt the Canadian Beef Industry.
We also know that Nunavut is suffering because of the ridiculous ban on the import of caribou meat in the United States.
My question to the minister is: what is the government doing to make sure that the ban is lifted as soon as possible.
Speaker: Just for the record, Mr. Arvaluk, Mr. Tootoo, was the first to raise his hand for question period.
As soon as we heard about the ban last week, we wrote a letter to the American Food Agency and also the Government of Canada asking for support to lift the ban for Nunavut.
We assured them that the food products from Nunavut are not raised in farms and that they are wild animals.
We will watch the issue very closely and do the best we can to inform these people to lift the ban.
With the ban in place, the food products that are coming out of Nunavut, how many jobs does Nunavut stand to lose regarding the food product industries?
Just to respond further to his earlier question, our premier is meeting with the U.S. ambassador regarding that matter.
There are quite a few jobs created that are seasonally in the caribou harvest.
There would be quite a few people impacted in the ban.
I think there’s anywhere from 49 to 50 employees that would be impacted with this ban.
But we will work diligently to ensure this issue does not have long term effects because we’ve assured them that there are no threats for mad cow disease up in the north as they are wild animals.
I will try to get the message across but the seasonal jobs; there are 49 to 50 people that stand to lose their jobs if the ban is still in place.
It’s not only those caribou harvesters out of Coral Harbour, there are also the Rankin Inlet Meat Plant workers and in Cambridge Bay, there’s the project with the Muskox that also have quite a few jobs created.
If this ban is still in place, this import ban to the States, once these jobs are lost and there are no long any other economic opportunities in the communities, what has the Government of Nunavut planned to ensure there is compensation help for these people that will stand to lose jobs.
Yes, we have to be prepared for any eventuality that may arise.
We will have to plan for any upcoming things and especially if the economic opportunities are lost, I will work with the regular members as to what other type of compensation or programs we can have and as well, we will rely on the economic strategy to ensure those opportunities still remain in the effected communities.
Final supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.
The Minister did not answer my question.
My question, Mr. Speaker, was: What will the Government do to help Nunavummiut who lose income as a result of this situation?
I did not ask whether the Government have different options of making plans to help those people who have lost jobs, who would lose jobs.
What are the present plans in place, in case the mad cow disease ban on beef, caribou and musk ox is prolonged by the United States?
Yes, I will be working on that matter until it is resolved and we have to look at different options, but because we do not know exactly what is upcoming, we will be watching very closely what is going on regarding the mad cow disease fiasco in Canada and once we have a better idea of these things, then we will really work on what we can do to assist those people that will be losing those jobs.
Question 541 – 1(6): Completion of Decentralization Program
Mr. Speaker, the Member for Nanulik said he was the last one, but I am probably the last one.
I would like to ask our Premier regarding decentralization, the Minister responsible for Decentralization, has the decentralization program been completed?
We have still not concluded the decentralization project, but we are hoping to finish it soon.
Those communities that are smaller, we are not receiving the benefits from decentralization and you have stated that we would be dealing with other types of benefits.
But with the upcoming elections, we have only one year left in our Mandate.
What economic opportunities are being discussed for those smaller communities that have not benefited from the decentralization program?
We will not stop any programs.
The Department of Sustainable Development is looking into different economic opportunities through their strategy and they have held meetings regarding this and it will be ongoing and it is good if we find further economic opportunities regardless of when our Mandate ends. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
However, the Department of Sustainable Development, which he eluded to, some of the communities do not have many economic opportunities and really do not have an idea as to how they can create these opportunities.
And so, with that, I am wondering if these smaller communities, what economic strategies have you been discussing for these communities?
Yes, the different communities have different situations and we try to help them.
For instance, there is the Caribou Harvesting Program in Coral Harbour which we are supporting.
Outside Hall Beach, the mining industry is sounding promising.
There are different issues such as the fisheries and outside Broughton Island, by one of the communities, especially when shrimp quotas are being given to other jurisdictions and we are just sitting here.
Those are some economic opportunities that we can pursue for the communities.
We will still continue to work hard to find some economic opportunities.
The work will still be ongoing and figure out ways to ensure that the communities are self-sustaining and to ensure that our resources are not being taken by other jurisdictions in Canada.
With the recent events, we will fight even harder for an economic development agreement and I will let you know of any other upcoming economic opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, his response is very interesting to hear, but I have another question.
In the smaller communities I am sure they did not find economic opportunities to develop.
Some smaller communities do not even know what kind of economic opportunities are there to develop.
I do want to ask another question in regards to that.
In the communities that did not identify what kinds of economic opportunities there are, how are you going to help those communities, so that they can stand on their own two feet economically?
Yes, the Department of Sustainable Development has and our department have been working for a long time to identify some economic opportunities in some communities as to what they would like to develop economically.
Yes, we do need to help them.
We cannot just give handouts to the communities just like that.
Yes, I am very glad to see economic opportunities existing right now and yes I will have to look for more economic opportunities.
I am sure that we can find more economic opportunities, but the Department of Sustainable Development will be completing their economic strategy.
Question 542 – 1(6): Tabling of Public Accounts
It is hard to hear sometimes.
I have been asked to go quickly from my honourable colleague from Baker Lake.
He said that he is next on the list and he wants to get a question in too.
My question, Mr. Speaker, is for the Minister responsible for Finance.
Mr. Speaker, we all know that the Government is again in violation of our own Financial Administration Act with respect to the tabling of the Government’s Public Accounts.
I would like to ask the Minister if he can commit to tabling these over here in Baker Lake.
Speaker: Minister responsible for Finance. Minister Ng.
Mr. Speaker, the Finance Public Accounts are in transit right now as we speak, it should be here tonight for tabling tomorrow.
Speaker: Oral Questions. Oral Questions. Mr. McLean.
Question 543 – 1(6): Reward of RFP for Medivac Travel
Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, my question today to the Minister is there was an RFP out for Medivac service in the Kivalliq region.
Can the Minister tell me today if that contract has been awarded and to whom?
Speaker: Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Picco.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I appreciate the Member passing around many of these interesting envelopes and I think everyone has enjoyed reading the position taken by a certain corporation or company.
The Member is correct, Mr. Speaker.
There was an RFP done, which included scheduled medical travel as well as medivac travel for the Keewatin Region. I wonder if the Member could clarify which contract he is speaking about.
I will have to go back and check the Hansard tomorrow, but I am sure that I specifically said medivac contract.
And I hope this does not cost me a question.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to clarify because by being in Baker Lake today, I would not want to give the Member the wrong answer.
If the Member is talking about the Medivac Contract, and that is the medivac, where for example, if there is an emergency in a community and because of that emergency, you need to send a specific plane in to take that person out as an emergency medivac, if that is the contract that the Member is talking about, then, Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct.
The evaluations and everything have been complete.
There has been some negotiation with the contract award to a particular company, but my understanding is today, Mr. Speaker, as of today, as we speak, I believe it is after five eastern time right now.
There are negotiations continuing with two of the carriers on the actual price and so on.
So, I am not able to say if the contract has been specifically awarded or not, I know there negotiations underway and continuing, but that is my understanding.
Oral Questions. Supplementary. Mr. McLean.
I would like to thank Ed for hauling me out of the slush yesterday, by the way.
I was stuck and I seem to be stuck on this question.
On this, I want to make it very clear that I am asking specifically on the medical evacuations emergencies, not the medical scheduled travel. So, I am hoping to make it very clear.
On that, Mr. Speaker, there are serious issues when it comes to awarding contracts for medivac services or scheduled air services.
It is no secret that there are two medivac companies in the Kivalliq and we all talk about the level of service when it comes to the airline business and sharing the business.
If the Minister has not awarded the contract, would he consider sharing the business between the two carriers?
Hon. Ed. Picco: Mr. Speaker, during question period, it does not give us an opportunity to go right into detail on the whole process for this evaluation for this contract, needless to say, we hired KPMG about a year ago to look at economies to scale for medical travel and medivac travel.
We have done that for all across Nunavut.
Part of that proposal was to come up with the best price that we can get from the competing airlines and yes, Mr. Speaker, there has been some concerns raised by some of the airlines in this region because they will not be given the contract.
Because of that, negotiations are ongoing and I am, as the Member has pointed out, willing to look at some opportunities, at the same time, to ensure that the Government Nunavut gets the best deal possible and at the same time, make sure that the patients come first, that indeed, no patient is jeopardized by any contract that are signed and indeed that the people of Kivalliq are well serviced by that contract.
So, we have a multi-tasked, multi-faceted way of looking at the contract and we are doing that as we speak.
I know it is hard to get into detail of an RFP or a tender or things like that, but at the end of the day, he said that medical patients, the patient comes first at the end of it.
My fear is a no, according to some documents that I have, that the contractor, the current contractor providing service, which I think is Kivalliq Air has been unable to supply, on numerous occasions, at least eight medivac were having been given to the other carrier.
I'm sure the minister is aware of that.
And also, in proposal, it’s clearly stated that there has to be a multi-engine aircraft and on numerous occasions, the multi-engine aircraft hasn’t been providing that function.
Who is monitoring what these contractors are doing and if they are providing the level of service that they say they are according to the RFPs.
Mr. Speaker, well phrased, well articulated, well pointed out.
I would suggest to you Mr. Speaker, that the member has been studying some questions from this member four years ago in Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister it is very difficult to answer that question, but I can and I would suggest to you that under the RFP/RFD, in this case it’s an RFP, there were concerns that conditions were not being met by the airlines.
One of those conditions was the invigilation.
Invigilation means the testing or the auditing of the equipment that was being used.
In this case, the invigilator is the Department of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Best is actually right here in Baker Lake, one of the good friends and people of Baker Lake, Mr. Best.
And Mr. Best and I actually met this morning concerning some of the concerns that the member just raised about the RFP and that is being looked into right now.
So the Department of Health is the auditor of first resort.
I whole heartedly agree with them.
He has to get the best price possible because it affects, in this contract it affects the whole Kivalliq, not just my community.
It affects Arviat, Coral Harbour, Repulse Bay, Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove, Rankin Inlet and Baker Lake.
When I am saying that, the consequences of awarding a contract in this region to another carrier exclusively means that the other carrier depends on some of that business to keep operating.
If the contract is awarded to another carrier, sure, they can provide the service cheaper, but if there is only one carrier in the region, the price goes up for all of us which we have been talking about sharing the business over in the Baffin area.
Can the minister agree in this house, that when he is making his decision, that he takes into consideration that by awarding all the business to one contractor could jeopardize the service to the other contractor in the region and shut down the operation.
Mr. Speaker, I can’t pre-suppose what is going to occur on the awarding of a contract.
What I can say to is that when you do an RFP, you ask for the type of plane that will be used, the number of planes that will be used, the medical crew that will be used and so on.
At the end of the day, the respondents propose a price based on what you have asked for.
And then you have an opportunity to look at the very best value, price and so on.
I can’t predispose that if I give the contract to Glenn McLean Air that means Ed Picco Air is going to have to pull out just based on medical emergency travel.
Because we are not talking about scheduled travel, we are just talking about the medical emergency travel.
You have to look at what percentage of medical travel in this region is medical emergency travel.
As the member knows, it is less than 50 percent on that amount of travel.
However, the dollar values are a little bit closer to an equilibrium point.
So, Mr. Speaker, I can say, what the member has raised, we’re cognizant of and that we will review that in the context of the discussions that are ongoing with the different airlines that are involved in the RFP for medical emergency medivac travel in this region.
Question 544 – 1(6): Airline Policy When Flying for Medical Travel
My colleague here just asked a question in regards to the medivacs but I would like to ask a question about transporting patients through scheduled flights.
We did have a problem occurring.
Our airline, Calm Air, did not service some communities.
So, therefore, they no longer could take patients on scheduled flights.
I will ask my question in English.
(interpretation end) My question is for the Minister of Health since maybe two sittings ago has the department developed a policy concerning what kind of airplanes equipment, medical patients need to travel in, in order to ensure that we give the best possible service the patients?
Speaker: Minister of Health. Minister Picco.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the member for question and say that the many discussions that we’ve had the member has been a very strong advocate on patient and patient service in travel.
With regards to that Mr. Speaker, the member is correct.
We have put in our RFPs and RFDs area surrounding patient travel and patient comfort and so on.
So if a flight is over one hour, part of the RFP that was put out was that the planes that the patient would travel on would have a bathroom.
The patient would actually be able to stand up in the plane and so on.
That was one thing that was being raised here in this House by the members and we put things like that into the contracts.
The patient, when they are travelling on medical travel, those conditions had to be met by the airlines with they plane that they are using.
As we are aware I know that it does not take an hour from Rankin Inlet to Repulse Bay or to Coral Harbour.
It is a little bit less than an hour but I do want to ask a question because he knows after experiencing that leg.
Have you changed the medical travel and that these patients could be transported by a single engine plane?
Mr. Speaker, it all depends on the issue that the person is travelling for.
In most cases Mr. Speaker, most planes are turbo props, two engine aircraft when they are flying in for medical travel and those cases Mr. Speaker, we try to ensure that in the planes that are using that are scheduled, that are under contract with the Government of Nunavut that they have the best conditions aboard including washroom facilities and so on.
However, I am not precluding that at some point there may have to be a different plane used that may not be a turbo prop for example, which would have some of the other amenities.
A good example would be, Kimmirut where the only plane that can land in Kimmirut is a Twin Otter.
So, it is not realistic for example, to look at the community and say you have something that I can’t facilitate the airport.
In most cases that I’m aware of the planes would be suited properly that have a twin engine and so on.
In remote cases, for example, in Kimmirut one or the other places where there may be a problem with the shortness of the runway or something, there may be a different type of plane used.
But it has to follow the specifications that we have outlined unless there has been an extenuating circumstance on the medical travel.
I guess my questions were based more on patients traveling south but we also have patients, people getting out of the hospital from Winnipeg going up to Coral Harbour.