EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I expect this will be completed by December 2015.
The Department of Community and Government Services is working closely with other departments to make sure that we have adequate office space. We are also reviewing our lease agreements as a part of this.
In December of 2015, I am expecting to see the results along with a decision at that time.
The minister must be a great mind-reader. He went on and answered my supplementary question about what the government was going to do, but he failed to answer my initial question.
I’ll ask my initial question again: will the minister commit to tabling in the House a summary of the Office Space Needs Assessment for Nunavut, including the main findings and conclusions of the study for each community?
Since I could see his face getting ready to ask a question, I tried to proactively answer it.
Yes, once the assessment has been completed and is available, his question of when I could table the results of the assessment depends on the when the report has been completed and reviewed. Due to this reason, when looking at the office space issues related to government, I want to be understood clearly here.
We are currently working on this process and once it has been finalized, the assessment results once completed will come to me for consideration as to whether I can table that information in the House.
In my community, employees are required to work in unreasonable conditions.
As I mentioned earlier in my Member’s Statement, the office for Sanikiluaq’s income support worker is placed in what was intended to be a storage area for the building and staff at Sanikiluaq’s health centre are working in overcrowded conditions.
Mr. Speaker, the government must ensure that it provides employees with adequate space to carry out their duties, especially as its workforce continues to grow.
Can the minister indicate if he is willing to consider entering into long-term lease agreements with companies that are willing to construct facilities and lease office space back to the Government of Nunavut?
If the government is not willing to enter into such agreements, please explain why.
For that reason, in regard to the office implementation plan, we are trying to work on the office space issue.
We want to know which communities are in most need of office space and they will be a priority. We need to get the results from the assessment first, but I can say that in those places where there is a shortage of office space, they will be our priority during the decision stage.
Question 069 – 4(3): Land Availability for Housing in Iqaluit (Hickes)
Minister Mike might feel he’s on the hot seat today, but I also have a question for him under the Community and Government Services portfolio he holds.
We recently completed the capital budget for the Nunavut Housing Corporation. In one of the documents that were provided, in the background around NHC’s housing allocation system, it makes a statement on the last page that states, “If your community is in the greatest core need at the time of allocation, then it will receive housing construction.”
Mr. Speaker, over the course of the minister being at the witness [table] with his officials, we talked about the land unavailability in certain communities across this territory.
My initial question to the minister would be: what communications have CGS and the City of Iqaluit had to address the ongoing situation of land availability?
The City of Iqaluit is different; the operation is different in regard to land management.
I cannot respond to the member’s question at this time and I’ll have to review it, and I am sorry.
This land availability issue has been going on for a number of years.
In that same document, there’s a chart that shows the waitlist as a percent of stock, pre-allocation of a number of investments into our housing portfolio, and from the number I see, Iqaluit was at about 54 percent of stock, now it’s at 72 percent after literally hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in this territory for housing.
I find it very hard to believe that this land availability issue has just arisen in the very recent past.
There have been some discussions of the delay of the Road to Nowhere subdivision, and there has been some speculation that the city deficit is contributing to the delay of the ongoing subdivision in that area.
Would the minister be able to provide the viewing audience what options are being considered to access more land here in the city of Iqaluit?
Yes, Iqaluit is a bit different, as always, from other communities because it has city status. The city status gives more discretion to operate or deal with the land parcels.
I can tell you that in Nunavut, when we deal with land lots, our lands division works with them.
With respect to Iqaluit, since I became the Minister of Community and Government Services, I have rarely heard about the land issue. I will look into that and once I have done that, I will be able to provide that information to the member, as I stated before.
This has been such a crucial need on an ongoing basis of availability for developing much needed housing, and I realize that the City of Iqaluit does have a slightly different funding process and that Community and Government Services provides it.
Another example is my colleague from Pond Inlet. They’re currently also well over 50 percent at 60 percent of the waitlist as a percentage of stock.
I find it hard to believe, as the Minister of Housing has stated that it’s such a crucial need, that there hasn’t some dialogue, whether it be at the cabinet table, a ministerial discussion, or from the community, from the hamlets’ offices or from the City of Iqaluit. I would like to get an answer on where this is on the priority list of Community and Government Services to deal with this issue.
In regard to having discussions together, as I stated before, Iqaluit is slightly different in the way they deal with land.
As I stated before, I will look into it and then I will be able to provide a response.
For land selection, if there’s a land issue with other departments, I am willing to work with the cabinet.
I haven’t heard from the minister in regard to the status of Iqaluit. I haven’t heard from the Nunavut Housing Corporation in regard to the land.
That’s why I said that I will look into this first and I will consult with them.
I know that they discussed this topic through the news media in Iqaluit and that’s all I have heard so far through the media about the land development issue.
As I stated before, I will look into it and I will provide some information.
Question 070 – 4(3): Breakfast Programs for Nunavut’s School Children (Angnakak)
I would like to talk about something that’s near and dear to me.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I was very pleased that the Department of Education provided additional funding to schools across Nunavut to provide breakfast programs for its students.
As we all know, being tired and hungry is not the best recipe for learning and succeeding.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister provide an update on his department’s long-term strategy to address hunger and food insecurity for school-aged children?
I agree with the member. Yes, our students need to be fed properly so that they can learn and succeed.
As I stated before, to date, I can state that the Department of Health has provided support to us and we now have a nutrition policy, including the national guidelines.
We will be following the national guidelines because they were just recently released.
Also, it’s evident that breakfast programs are very beneficial for students’ learning.
In the Qanukkanniq report card, it was No. 26 in the recommendations under food and snack programs. We will try and follow that recommendation from the Qanukkanniq report card.
I can say that through the Department of Health’s (interpretation ends) Breakfast Program Enhancement Project, (interpretation) $5,000 is provided. They pay for everything else.
As I stated before, we have to abide by the national guidelines which were recently announced and the Government of Nunavut’s nutrition guidelines are also used.
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for his good response.
Mr. Speaker, in some schools, parents and even students volunteer to run breakfast programs.
In other schools, teachers volunteer to run such programs, but in some schools, teachers are directed by the principal.
Can the minister clarify what his departmental policies are when it comes to working to provide school breakfast programs?
Parents of students and teachers volunteer to help with the breakfast program and we do look for individuals in the communities to volunteer.
The teachers have to teach. They’re not nutritionists or breakfast providers.
For that reason, we get parents and other community members to volunteer. Teachers have to provide instruction to students and it’s up to community members to volunteer.
We thank them very much for doing their part in volunteering to provide the breakfast programs. We do thank the teachers for providing instruction and for volunteering with the breakfast programs, but the teachers are there to teach.
It is quite clear that children who are tired and hungry often do not perform well at school.
Can the minister indicate whether his department tracks and monitors whether attendance or academic performance by Nunavut students is linked to the availability of breakfast programs in Nunavut schools?
When we started the breakfast program, we saw that it was beneficial to students.
The students tend to have better attendance and academic performance when they are provided with the breakfast program.
Even if you’re going to go to work, you have to have a good breakfast in order to enhance your performance.
It’s the same with the students.
Again, we would like to thank the Department of Health, who supports the Department of Education on this subject.
Question 071 – 4(3): Counselling Services for Grise Fiord (Shooyook)
Mr. Speaker, the community of Grise Fiord, which is the smallest community in Nunavut, has less than 150 residents.
The community lacks important services such as a social worker or a mental health worker.
Many years ago, there was a full-time social worker who had housing in the community.
These days, a mental health worker visits the community for less than three months at a time.
Can the minister clearly explain why the community of Grise Fiord no longer has a full-time professional to provide counselling services to the community?
I would like to be clear that mental health workers are under our department, but social workers are under the Department of Family Services, so I cannot really respond to that part of your question.
From what I know, the people of Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord share a mental health worker.
When the mental health worker visits Grise Fiord, he has to stay in the health centre transient apartment, which is also used by visiting professionals, such as the doctor, dentist, eye team, and social worker.
There are vacant houses in the community which could be allocated to a permanent mental health worker.
Can the minister clarify whether the lack of housing is a reason why there is no permanent mental health worker in the community of Grise Fiord?
We have started to provide professional services to Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord by sharing the mental health nurse.
If there is a need to realign their arrangement, then we can look into it and look at the options.
As I indicated earlier, as the Department of Health, we don’t deal with the social workers, who are under a different department.
I can respond to questions regarding mental health workers.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, there are individuals in the community of Grise Fiord who face mental health issues and need help. To get counselling, they have to travel to Iqaluit or even farther to the south. Leaving home is not good for their well-being or the well-being of their families.
Will the minister commit to establishing a full-time mental health worker in the community of Grise Fiord?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mental health is something that is very important to this government.
We are working on mental health issues and I’m sure that we will be developing more services and programs. I would like to have a good look at the issue of mental health workers, programs and services that are provided.
Question 072 – 4(3): Suicide Crisis in Nunavut (Joanasie)
I would like to direct my questions to the Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, the Office of the Chief Coroner for Nunavut held a public inquest on suicides in Nunavut.
The inquest took place at the Nunavut Court of Justice this past September 2015.
The Government of Nunavut has started responding to some of the recommendations of the inquest by designating suicide as a crisis and appointing a Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention.
I would first like to ask the minister: can the Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention outline his first order of business under this portfolio?
Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention, Mr. Okalik.
I’m not going to be working alone on suicide prevention. I will work closely with my ministerial colleagues.
We have not had our first meeting yet and we will make sure that we keep you updated on the progress once we get a senior official.
We will have to work with all government departments.
Once it gets underway, we will start the planning process some time very shortly. We will do a review first to see what’s available and take it from there.
Can the minister indicate when he expects to respond to all of the recommendations from the jury that presided over the inquest into suicides in Nunavut?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention, Mr. Okalik.
From what I know, the Department of Health is working very hard right now. They are at the planning stage and I know that the other ministers are proceeding again with their plans.
The Minister of Education is keeping us updated as to what they’re doing in their department. Once the committee is fully in place, we will be doing a review of the recommendations from the jury.
As the minister indicated, he cannot do it alone. I would also like to recognize the Inuit Embrace Life Council, the youth representatives from the regional Inuit associations, the RCMP, the social workers, health professionals, and Arctic College with the ASIST program.
With that, can the minister describe how Nunavummiut can participate and work with his ministry to curb the suicide crisis in Nunavut?
I cannot do it alone.
We have to work with all entities out there. We are going to ensure that we work on the recommendations directed to our government and show our partners we are committed to the work.
Once we show we are serious, it will give us more authority to persuade others to follow like our counterparts at the federal level. All levels of government should work together to implement the recommendations that were made by the jury during the inquest.
That’s our goal with this program.
Question 073 – 4(3): Status of New Building Canada Fund (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Good day to my fellow residents of Rankin Inlet, Nunavummiut, and my colleagues.
As the minister is aware, the Department of CGS worked with all of Nunavut’s municipalities to develop integrated community infrastructure sustainability plans.
Two of the priorities that have been identified by Rankin Inlet are improvements to the community’s solid waste management and drinking water infrastructure.
In June of this year, I wrote to the minister and encouraged him to work with the municipality to develop an appropriate proposal for submission to the federal government under the New Building Canada Fund.
Did the minister act on this request, yes or no?
Yes, that’s how I can respond.
Can the minister indicate how many formal proposals have been submitted to date by the Government of Nunavut to the New Building Canada Fund?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): I cannot say exactly how many there are, but we submitted all those proposals for projects that will be funded through this fund to the government quite a while ago.
My officials have been informed that due to the recent election, they cannot identify which project is where.
I can’t answer his question on exactly how many projects from the communities will be funded through the New Building Canada Fund.
As the minister is aware, I wrote to him on June 30, 2015 concerning the issue of Rankin Inlet’s infrastructure needs and the New Building Canada Fund.
Why has the minister not replied to my letter?
We are working on this.
Concerning the letter, as I indicated earlier, we are waiting for indication from the federal government, but the letter he is referring to right now, I recently dealt with that in my office. Right now, my officials are working on the reply.
It’s not that they’re not working on it; they’re working on it right now.
Question 074 – 4(3): Local Housing Organization’s Operations (Mapsalak)
Mr. Speaker, as I questioned earlier, I would just like clarification with my question.
Mr. Speaker, I have been informed personally by the recent chairperson of the local housing association that they have no leeway whatsoever as a board of housing, and that’s the reason why he resigned.
That being the case, they are being run by the housing corporation and they can’t run themselves.
Can the minister look into why it is the case in Naujaat that the manager was hired by the housing corporation?
I almost called you the Chairman, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for that question.
Mr. Speaker, he asked the question earlier about how the housing association managers conduct the management of the local associations.
The local housing association uses our management (interpretation ends) agreement (interpretation) which sets out the mandate for the (interpretation ends) local association (interpretation) or if they have been converted to an (interpretation ends) authority (interpretation) that has their own legal mandate under the agreement.
However, with respect to the actual subject of his question, I do not have the information in front of me.
I will have to look into that matter and if our departmental officials have experience with the subject he raised, I will request the information.
In any event, I will ask my officials at NHC to look into that matter.
If local housing associations want to make decisions, they can do so because they are elected.
As I stated earlier, I wanted him to look into why it is being run that way in Naujaat. It seems like the housing corporation is running things now.
Can he get a response to me before the end of this sitting?
I’m not sure whether I can get back to him before the end of this sitting, but I will look into his question and I will try to have it dealt with by my officials.
I’m just thinking that he can respond to my question before the end of the sitting even face to face, not necessarily in the Assembly.
He doesn’t necessarily need to look into it himself; I will ask him again.
Can he respond to me, even though it’s not at the Assembly physically, before the end of the sitting, even face to face?
As I said earlier, my officials at the housing corporation are here right now and listening to this and we will try to have it dealt with.
Concerning his exact question, even if I don’t respond to him personally, I’ll have my department look into it.
Members, the time for question period has expired.
Moving on to Item 7. (interpretation ends) Written Questions.
Item 10.Petitions.
Committee Report 001 – 4(3): Bill 4, Write-off of Assets Act (Savikataaq)
Committee Report 002 – 4(3): Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Safety Act (Savikataaq)
Bill 4, Write-off of Assets Act, 2014-2015; and
Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Safety Act.
Bill 4 and Bill 5 will appear on the order paper for October 29.
Hon. Minister, Ms. Ugyuk.
Tabled Document 019 – 4(3): Schedule for the Student Loan Fund March 31, 2014 (Ugyuk)
I am pleased to table the schedule for the Student Loan Fund for the year ending March 31, 2014.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents. Hon. Minister, Ms. Ugyuk.
Tabled Document 020 – 4(3): Schedule for the Student Loan Fund March 31, 2015 (Ugyuk)
I am pleased to table the schedule for the Student Loan Fund for the year ending March 31, 2015.
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills Item 16. (interpretation) Motions. (interpretation ends) Item 17.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 1, 2, 3, and 6 and Tabled Documents 107 – 4 (2) and 149 – 4(2) with Mr. Akoak in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:20 and Committee resumed at 15:48
Welcome to the sitting. Welcome, Nunavummiut (interpretation) and those listening to the proceedings.
In the Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: Bills 1, 2, 3, and 6 and Tabled Documents 107 – 4(2) and 149 – 4(2).
We wish to continue with Bill 3 and the review of the Department of Community and Government Services, followed by the Department of Education.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with the capital estimates for Community and Government Services?
Bill 03 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2016-2017 – Community and Government Services – Consideration in Committee
I would now like to ask the Minister of Community and Government Services if he has officials that he would like to appear before the committee.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Yes.
For the record, Minister, please introduce your officials.
On my right, my Deputy Minister, Roy Green, and my Assistant Deputy Minister, Darren Flynn, and myself, Minister Mike.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to have this opportunity today to update committee members on the 2017-21 five-year capital plan and in particular the 2016-17 Capital Estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services.
With me today are Roy Green, Deputy Minister and Darren Flynn, Assistant Deputy Minister, Community Services.
In addition to assisting government departments, Community and Government Services is also responsible for assisting all Nunavut communities in the long-term planning and delivery of capital projects.
These efforts have forged strong collaborations with our communities and these relationships continue to strengthen day by day.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, the proposed capital budget for the Department of Community and Government Services in fiscal year 2016-17 is $31,852,000.
(interpretation) Our proposed capital budget for the upcoming year includes:
$2,200,000 for capacity increases to fuel storage facilities in Igloolik, Sanikiluaq, and Gjoa Haven;
(interpretation ends) $4,750,000 for code compliance upgrades for Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, and Coral Harbour fuel storage [facilities];
$5 million for minor capital projects which will primarily be used to assist communities with minor infrastructure upgrades and repairs, and for lifecycle renewal of GN owned assets;
(interpretation) $2 million for upgrades to communication technology infrastructure, funding that will support ongoing improvements to telecommunications for all GN departments and municipalities; and
(interpretation ends) $14,502,000 for municipal infrastructure projects in various communities across the three regions.
(interpretation) Mr. Chairman, the infrastructure needs across the territory are simply too vast to adequately address in the short term with the limited capital funding available. (interpretation ends) Regrettably, this is the infrastructure reality facing our territory. It is therefore paramount that scarce capital funding is administered as effectively as possible to best address the core needs of our communities.
(interpretation) To ensure our approach in identifying priority projects is prudent, officials in my department work very closely with municipalities, the Nunavut Community Infrastructure Advisory Committee, and other branches of government to rank and prioritize infrastructure projects. (interpretation ends) This approach allows us to address the most urgent and critical projects in the short term to support our government and our communities.