EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
(interpretation) Mr. Chairman, I want to be clear that what I said was at this time the communities that are not getting any housing, will probably be in a priority list for the following year.
What I’m committed to do is we’ll have to do a study after the new houses have been built in those communities, and do a study again, do a priority listing once again.
The monies from the federal government will be coming, probably not the same amount of monies we have been receiving, probably half of them, as long as we don’t find any other funding from other sources.
We have no plans to stop building houses.
I want to be clear as well.
I fully support every community in Nunavut requiring housing.
I know there is a great need.
We talked about the great need across Nunavut.
There probably won’t be enough money from anywhere to achieve on the housing levels that we need, unless there is some fairy godfather, a godmother out there that come along with a magic wand and solve our problems for us.
I recognize that the minister has a lot of difficult choices to make.
I have to go back to my riding, and other members have to go back to their ridings, and talk to the people.
We have to give them some kind of assurance that the formula allocation that the Nunavut Housing Corporation will at some point, within a couple of years, hopefully, result in them getting some houses allocated to their communities. to alleviate the local housing crunch in those communities.
That’s what I’m trying to get at if the minister could assure the House that this will be done with the greatest urgency that we as members on this side, and I’m sure some of the other members, the ministers will have to do when they go back to their constituency.
They will have to talk to some very upset and concerned and desperate people as I mentioned that are living in dangerous and overcrowded situations.
Yes, what we want to do is to build as many houses as possible in places where they are in real need.
We will not build the same amount of housing in the same communities, but we’ll do our best with the funding that we have received.
As I have mentioned before, the communities that are not getting houses this year, we will be building houses in those communities.
So, if I was to say there was a lot of people that are in a desperate need of housing, we recognize that.
There are also other communities that are in great need of housing.
In Pangnirtung, there is a great need for housing, but they’re not as desperate as in some other communities.
I just want to make it clear that what we’re trying to do right now is to build houses in these communities and then there will be houses being built in other communities.
I want to make sure that they have hope to get houses.
That is end of my line of questions.
Welcome, Mr. Minister, and your officials.
We have ships coming in from Montreal to the Keewatin communities, and the Housing Corporation is going to have to order from Montreal.
I bought a vehicle from Montreal last summer, a quarter truck, and my nephew ordered one from Churchill.
The little truck was $2,300 for shipping, while my nephew only paid $900.
Kivalliq residents have always requested to order stuff for shipment from Churchill, Manitoba.
With regards to the retrofit program, is there any way we could get the rest of the lumber from Churchill instead of Montreal next shipping season.
When we get to my other portfolio on Community and Government Services items, I can get into further detail.
On the details we are dealing with at this time, we would like to be able to get cheaper rates, but some communities don’t have very much money, and they have to pay for the shipment of those items.
Those are the types of concerns that we will be having.
We will try our best to make sure that we get the cheapest shipment rates from Montreal.
Mr. Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The next question I would like to pose is, in Sanikiluaq, they had students construct a unit for training purposes just not too long ago.
Likewise, that happened in Clyde River.
Once the training program is completed in the fall, I was wondering if this training program is going to continue because the communities would like to see training on construction.
Once the pilot projects are completed, there is no follow up done for the students who did the training.
Last year, there were two individuals who did that training in Coral Harbour and then they went to Goose Bay and they did very good training.
Now that they’ve completed their course, it seems like nobody is worried about them.
Is that going to happen again in Sanikiluaq and Clyde River program?
As I have stated in the House, just to elaborate further, that we are using that initiative to encourage students to get into construction.
That goal was very beneficial to the communities.
I can use them as an example, and I am very proud to see these initiatives.
We can also look to see if students can also do retrofit work on existing buildings.
If the communities would like to have the students trained, they can approach our department.
Once these individuals complete their education, we can encourage them to continue their education after they have taken the construction training part in the community.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Kilabuk. (interpretation) I would like to remind the members that we are on L-11, right now.
I apologize for asking something totally out of the page.
That’s it for my questions.
I know that this question is along the line of my colleague’s in regards to looking at the funding that are presented here.
They are not all too exhorbitantly expensive.
I have a question geared towards the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
I am somewhat concerned whether the capital estimates here will be sufficient.
The local government, I am sure, are always in support of adequate funding for the construction of the units.
Back in the 1980’s and 1990’s, we were not too overly concerned about the price of lots, but when we start constructing apartment buildings now, and when individual hunters have to be housed in these apartment buildings, there is a concern raised.
They have all this winter hunting equipment and summer hunting equipment and they have to abide by municipal bylaws that say they can’t be too close to the units.
They are all restrictive bylaws, and hunters are quite concerned.
I was wondering if the Nunavut Housing Corporation can incorporate those needs while making sure their plans meet municipal regulations and to make sure that the individuals involved accept what is worked out.
I don’t want to overlook this aspect in this capital estimates when we have to consider funding.
I know that looking at the funding that your department is focusing more on apartment buildings, when we should be constructing single dwellings.
With respect to my colleague’s concern on the lots and the plans with the Hamlet Councils in the communities, I’m sure we can work closely with them.
Yes, we’ll need to work with the municipal councils and work closely with the communities.
Thank you, Mr. Alagalak for your questions.
On page L-11 and also the tabled Minister’s statement, I have a question just to get further clarification on the community allocations, on the ranking system.
How long have you been using the ranking system for?
Were you using the ranking system to allocate units.
How long have you been using this ranking system, first of all?
Last year, when we were reviewing housing, for example in one case, we were looking at four items; the housing shortage; the number of children living in one unit and; the number of people living in one household.
So we have four things that we follow.
Grants and Contributions, Kivalliq region.
Questions on page L-11.
Mr. Minister, in your tabled document on the allocation of housing, when we look at it, there is only one community now from the Kivalliq that really qualifies under this new ranking system.
My question is to the minister of the housing corporation.
Given that these seven communities have been allocated up to 15 units each, and the rest of them10.
In view of these allocations, once they were given these top marks, with respect to housing allocation, which rank do they then fit in for next year?
Do they still remain on top, in view of the fact that they may still have overcrowding, and a lot of kids have grown during that year, and have much more colder winter than the rest of them.
I would like to ask the minister exactly how it is going to get applied, because when we look at some communities like Rankin Inlet, we’re ranked 17th, so we probably will never qualify for units of that amount in the future.
Of the total funding available to us, I won’t tell you that Rankin Inlet or any other community will never reach the need for that number of units.
We want to be able to provide housing to all the communities that are in severe shortage, but we have to live within our means.
So we’re trying to allocate housing to communities that are in severe need.
Yes, we will continually look for housing.
In the future we will construct housing in those communities where units weren’t constructed, given the severe shortages.
Mr. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Kilabuk.
The staff has just reminded me that we don’t need a quorum to deal with this unless we are dealing with page-by-page, then we’ll need a quorum.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to ask about your response, although I envy the other communities.
The next question I’d like to ask the minister is on the ranking system.
Once local housing organizations have capacity, I’m sure that it could go further because when there are no more rental arrears, I’m sure tenants can construct their own units, rather than going further into debt with rental arrears.
I think there should be incentive programs for ranking systems so that the communities that have the least arrears and the most efficient maintenance should be rewarded.
There should be a reward system.
Right now, however, there is none, so I was wondering have not considered this.
Perhaps the President of Nunavut Housing Corporation can respond.
Chairman: I had mentioned that if we’re going page-by-page I should have said line-by-line then we’ll need a quorum.
Thank you, for your question Mr. Curley.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) I agree with my colleague, perhaps we can look at incentives for some of the concerns like in our plan, I’m sure this winter we’ll be able to come up with some kind of incentives in the next session.
I would like to thank my colleague for the suggestion and I’m sure that we’ll be able to discuss this.
Yes, I agree with him that we should have more incentives out there.
And thank you, Mr. Curley. (interpretation ends) To page L-12, the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s information item.
Ok, to page L-12, Nunavut Housing Corporation Information Items, Detail of Capital, Grants and Contributions, Kivalliq Region.
Total Kivalliq Region, $5,946,000 agreed?
L-13, any questions?
L-13, any questions? L-14.
Details Capitals.
Grants and Contributions. Kitikmeot Region.
Total, Kitikmeot Region. $3,922,000.
Grants and Contributions. $21,193,000.
Back to L-4.
Capital Expenditure. $21,193,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Are you agreeing?
$21,193,000?
Do members agree that the Nunavut Housing Corporation is concluded?
Thank you, President of Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Scott, thank you.
Mr. Tagalik, Thank you.
You have any more last comments to make, Mr. Minister.
I would like to thank all the members, and once we have digested all the information in regards to the rating system and other information, we will deal with it.
The hamlets and local housing associations are going to be kept informed and up to date on the information.
I forgot to state that Steve Mapsalak will not be here.
He wanted to stay with his family for a moment.
He will inform me tomorrow regarding to this week.
(interpretation ends) I would like now to ask Minister Brown. Mr. Alagalak.
Mr. Alagalak: I would like to suggest that we have 10 minutes break before we go into that because we still have about an hour to work on it.
Chairperson (interpretation): Maybe 5 minutes/ Is that okay?
>>House recessed at 16:58 pm and resumed at 17:13
Chairman (Arreak): Thank you, very much.
At this time we will be dealing with the Department of Health and Social Services.
I would like to ask Minister Brown if she would like to start with her opening comments.
Thank you for the opportunity to present the 2005-06 Capital Estimates for Department of Health and Social Services.
Every concept of our Operation and Maintenance cost. Our Capital Budget is focused on strengthening and building infrastructure to delivery more and stay closer to home Nunavummiut.
This Capital investment will help reduce some of our out of territory costs by helping Nunavummiut stay in their communities while they receive health care also help create future employment for Nunavummiut.
The recent of our Health Council of Canada with an opportunity to show case the state of our healthcare facilities.
I have circulated a sheet with the aid of some of our facilities some construction dating back to 1958.
The average age of our health care facilities in Nunavut is 20 years.
Some of our health care facilities have been slated to be replaced over the next five years. Simply upgrading some facilities to meet the code compliances can cost millions of dollars.
Mr. Chairman, facility replacement requires a substantial amount of money dedicated to health capital expenditures.
To attract and more importantly retain health professionals delivering health care closer to home and to support the Bathurst Mandate priority of healthy communities, Nunavut’s health care facilities need improvement.
Mr. Chairman, members understand that the decision to own, or lease regional health facilities in Cambridge Bay and Iqaluit have not yet been finalized.
The Kitikmeot Development Corporation has submitted a proposal to lease a Kitikmeot Health Center to the Government of Nunavut and the Department of Community and Government Services and finance are analyzing this proposal.
The youth hostel in Cambridge Bay will be renovated to become a boarding home for Kitikmeot residents who will travel to this community for medical care.
For the Kitikmeot Region, the department will issue a proposal for a boarding home and its operation in Rankin Inlet.
In the interim, hotels, bed and breakfast and private business will be used to accommodate medical travelers and their escorts.
Mr. Chairman, in October 2004, an interdepartmental continued care task force was established to address population aging.
I am pleased to report that early in the new year, the department will bring back a plan based on the needs of elders which will address the establishment of 24 hour care facilities for elders in this government’s mandate.
The departmental cost budget for 2005-2006 is $25,392,000.
This includes $22,000,000 for new construction, $380, 000 for equipment and vehicles and $997,000 for renovations and $2,000,000 for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you and the members for the opportunity to speak to you today and I welcome any questions regarding the Department of Health and Social Services capital estimates for 2005-2006.
Chairman: Thank you, Madame Brown.
For the record, could you just check with that on for Kitikmeot Region, you mentioned that on paragraph two on page two, is that Kivalliq, or Kitikmeot?
You said the department will issue a request for proposals in the Kitikmeot.
Is it the Kitikmeot, or the Keewatin?
Hon. Levinia Brown: Okay, thank you. For the Kivalliq Region, the department will issue a request for proposals for a boarding home and its operation in Rankin Inlet.
Do you have witnesses you would like to bring to the table.
Hon. Levinia Brown: Yes.
Chairman: Thank you, Sergeant-at-arms if you would escort the witnesses.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): We have Rosemary Brown, on my left, and she is responsible for capital projects, and my right, Bernie Blais, who is the Deputy Minister.
Does the Chairman of the Committee have any comments?
As the Chair of the Standing Committee on Health and Education, I am pleased to have this opportunity to make some introductory remarks as we begin deliberations on the 2005-2006 capital budgets of the Department of Health and Social Services.
The Capital Estimates for 2005-2006 reveal that the Department of Health and Social Services has a budget of over $25 million, with the greatest proportion being directed towards construction of the Qikiqtani General Hospital.
The Committee has been informed that the final construction and staffing of the Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet health facilities is scheduled to be completed during the current fiscal year.
Members remain concerned about the challenges in hiring and housing qualified full-time staff to provide services at the three new facilities.
Given the Government’s significant financial investment in these projects, Members expect the House to be regularly updated on their progress, including meaningful information on the final ownership or leasing arrangements for these multi-million dollar facilities as well as the final costs for each project.
It would be a tragedy if we were to open these modern new facilities one day, only to have to close beds and cancel services the very next day because we cannot properly staff them.
The Committee notes that a boarding facility in Cambridge Bay is being re-designed to accommodate individuals from neighbouring communities who will be traveling to receive medical services.
Boarding home services provided both within and outside of Nunavut continue to be a source of concern and Members encourage the Minister and her officials to give full consideration to the issues that have been raised while negotiating contracts relating to these services.
Committee Members urge the Minister to proceed as quickly as possible in evaluating, assessing and planning for community-based facilities to provide care for Elders, youth, individuals with disabilities or requiring long-term care, and victims of violence.
This is especially important for those Nunavummiut who are placed outside of Nunavut, away from their homes and family, in order to receive care.
Mr. Chairman, I am confident that all Members will recall from the Arviat Caucus Retreat that one of our goals was to support expanded access to 24-hour care facilities for Elders.
The Committee was pleased to note that the department has committed funds for the replacement of the Arctic Bay Health Centre.
Members encourage the department to undertake its capital planning efforts in consultation with communities to ensure that planning takes into account issues identified by local health committees, local transportation needs, population growth and other factors.
I am sure that individual Members will also have comments and questions.
Before we proceed, I would like to remind members of the following; according to Rule 77 (1), you have ten minutes to speak and according to Rule 77 (2), subject to the discretion of the Chair, a member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion but not until every member wishing to speak has spoken.
I’d like to move that we report progress.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Evygotailak.
All those in favor of the motion.
Okay, thank you, Minister Brown and your officials. I will now rise to report progress.
Item 20, Report of Committee of the Whole, Mr. Arreak.
Mr. Arreak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 4, and the capital estimates and would like to report progress.
Also Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with.
Deputy Clerk (interpretation): I will be reading in Inuinnaqtun, so be patient with me.
Orders of the day for Wednesday, November 24:
Speaker (interpretation): This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, November 24, 2004, at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday November 24, 2004
Pages 310 – 372
Opening Prayer 310
Ministers’ Statements 310
Members’ Statements 314
Oral Questions 318
Written Questions 340
Reports of Standing and Special Committees 342
Tabled Documents 345
Report of the Committee of the Whole 371
Orders of the Day 371
Wednesday November 24, 2004 310
026 – 2(2): Changes to the Homeowner Repair and Renovation Programs (Kilabuk) 310
027 – 2(2): Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti, Unit Set-up (Simailak) 311
028 – 2(2): Nunavut Advanced Management Diploma Program (Tapardjuk) 311
029 – 2(2): Early Childhood Development Report 2002-2003 (Picco) 312
030 – 2(2): Peabody–Essex Museum Inuit Art Exhibit (Tapardjuk) 313
051 – 2(2): Kivalliq Annual Sealift Changed (Alagalak) 314
052 – 2(2): Kitikmeot Trade Show (Peterson) 314
053 – 2(2): Additional Funding for Alcohol and Drug Committees (Arreak) 316
054 – 2(2): Infrastructure Plans for Arctic Bay (Barnabas) 316
055 – 2(2): Congratulations to Karen Dunphy (Picco) 317
056 – 2(2): City of Iqaluit Feasibility Study (Tootoo) 318
072 – 2(2): Responses to Application of Approval or Denial (Curley) 318
073 – 2(2): Board of Directors Overseeing Evaluation of Bonuses (Tootoo) 319
074 – 2(2): Review Details of Meeting with Mr. Godfrey (Peterson) 323
075 – 2(2): Kuugaaruk Sewage Lagoon Concern (Mapsalak) 325
076 – 2(2): Improvements to the Boarding Homes in Iqaluit and Ottawa (Arreak) 326
077 – 2(2): Monthly Reports from the Power Corporation (Tootoo) 326
078 – 2(2): Appointments to the Human Rights Tribunal (Curley) 329
079 – 2(2): Number of Probation Officers in the Communities (Peterson) 330
080 – 2(2): Amounts of Financial Projections (Tootoo) 331
081 – 2(2): Provincial Status and Northern Strategy (Peterson) 335
082 – 2(2): Providing Statements to the House (Tootoo) 337
018 – 2(2): Social Assistance Payments (Tootoo) 340
019 – 2(2): Eyewear and Related Services (Evyagotailak) 340
020 – 2(2): Trades Training (Curley) 341
002 – 2(2):Review of the 2004 Report of the Auditor General to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut (Tootoo) 342
026 – 2(2): Early Childhood Development Report 2002-2003 (Picco) 345
027 – 2(2): Student Loan Fund (Picco) 345
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allan Evyagotailak, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Mr. Patterk Netser, Honourable Jobie Nutarak, Hon. Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Honourable David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (interpretation): I would like to ask Mr. Simailak to say the opening prayer.
I would like to say welcome to the Premier, the ministers, and the members.
Minister’s Statement 026 – 2(2): Changes to the Homeowner Repair and Renovation Programs
I rise today to inform the members with an update on the recent changes to the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s repair and renovation programs.
I am pleased to announce that household income limits for those programs have been raised to $125,000, plus an additional $6,500 for each additional household member. similar to the income adjustments for families currently used under the Nunavut Downpayment Assistance Program.
Two other important changes have been made to the Home Repair Program, in particular.
The Corporation has increased the maximum amount of assistance under this program from $33,750 to $50,000, and streamlining the way funding is given to clients under the Home Repair Program by eliminating the sliding scale for assistance.
Mr. Speaker, in the past the amount of funding that a client received depended on how much they earned, up to the income limit.
Now there is no sliding scale.
Every client approved for Home Repair Program funding will be eligible for the full $50,000, if their project requires it.
This is consistent with recent changes made to the federal programs that provide the Nunavut Housing Corporation with additional funding for repair and renovation projects.