EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Some of these spikes are obviously a concern to residents.
With the press notice that there is going to be more precise monitoring equipment being shipped to Iqaluit, I was wondering if there’s a timeline for that equipment to get to the city of Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, departmental officials have been working with Environment Canada and at this time, we’re expecting that equipment to be flown in.
This equipment will measure and assist us in assisting the city in determining what type of equipment has to be used to extinguish the fire.
As members are well aware, dump fires are very difficult to extinguish.
It takes specialized personnel and equipment to do that. In most circumstances, that’s what it takes to extinguish a fire of this size.
Mr. Speaker, our officials are speaking with an airline to try and get the equipment up because that will assist the officials and the city in determining what the next step would be.
Oral Questions. Member for (interpretation ends) Arviat South, Mr. Savikataaq.
Question 165 – 4(2): Polar Bear Population Survey (Savikataaq)
This morning, I would like to ask questions to the Minister of Environment regarding his Minister’s Statement, and I will read his statement.
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the ongoing collaboration between my department and Environment Canada to sustain, manage polar bears in Nunavut.”
Polar bears are a big concern in Arviat, where I am from, because we have plenty of them.
I’m aware that the minister had polar bear consultation and they will be coming up with a polar bear management plan, but one of the key factors in a management plan of any wildlife is the population estimates of the wildlife.
Environment Canada population estimates state that the western Hudson Bay polar bear population is declining.
In the 2011 survey that the Department of Environment did their population estimates for the polar bears in western Hudson Bay says that they are stable.
I would like to ask the minister which population estimate he will be using to figure out what the quota should be in this management plan.
Minister of Environment, Minister Mike.
We will use the figures from the Department of Environment’s involvement in the last survey in 2011.
I understand and he made it clear that he will use his Department of Environment’s survey results.
Can we foresee that the polar bear quota in the western Hudson Bay will go up now?
The current quota, I believe, is based on Environment Canada population estimates.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Environment, Minister Mike.
The survey results in 2011, I believe, were done in the Arviat hunting area. There will be another survey in 2017 or 2016, but I’m not sure of the exact year. At that time, there will be another survey.
I’m confused now.
The minister stated a few minutes ago that the 2011 survey results will be used to calculate the total allowable harvest for the western Hudson Bay and now he’s stating that they are going to do another survey in 2016 or 2017 to get the results.
Can the minister please clarify what he means?
The 2011 survey results are still in use today.
I stated that after there is another survey, after this has been looked at properly again, we will determine what we will do with the quota.
Question 166 – 4(2): NNI Policy (Mapsalak)
Under the NNI Policy, penalties are to be imposed on companies that do not meet the Inuit labour content requirements of their contracts.
The government’s most recent annual reports on contracting and procurement indicate that a total of $307,526 in penalties were imposed on companies during the 2012-13 fiscal year.
Can the minister indicate how many companies were assessed penalties?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Minister Kuksuk.
Mr. Speaker, with respect to the member’s question, exactly how much penalties were imposed, I don’t have an answer to that at the present time. I will answer him later.
I will get the response from the minister as soon as he gets the information.
Mr. Speaker, the government awards tens of millions of dollars to companies each year in contracts. (interpretation ends) Can the minister indicate whether his department currently has the capacity to audit every contract to ensure compliance with Inuit labour requirements?
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation does not just deal with the NNI Policy.
Other departments are involved in the NNI Policy, such as Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, with respect to the NNI Policy in Nunavut, and we will be dealing with that.
The question that he is posing to my department does not involve my department alone. Other departments and others are involved.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The 2012 comprehensive review of the NNI Policy indicated that the current system of bonuses and penalties is flawed and that it be replaced with a new approach to encouraging Inuit labour content.
Has the government made a decision on this recommendation?
With respect to the NNI Policy, the member is saying that it is flawed and wants it to get replaced. We have to be able to do a review with respect to thinking of Article 24.
This is not just directed to my department but we have to work along with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated with respect to the NNI Policy.
That is the only answer that I will give him at this present time.
Question 167 – 4(2): Child Apprehensions (Mikkungwak)
(interpretation ends) I am fully aware that it is very stressful when apprehending a child.
Can the minister indicate what steps occur during a child apprehension?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. He wants to know what happens when Family Services apprehends a child.
It has to be known that the child who is going to be apprehended is not in good condition with the parents.
I am also aware that a court process occurs. Are all requirements identified by the courts adhered to?
I thank the Member for Baker Lake for his question. He wants to find out whether the requirements of the court are adhered to.
At this time, I am not aware because the director of family services works with the Department of Family Services. If they’re going to be apprehending a child, it takes five days.
They have to wait five days and then someone has to wait 20 days in order to request the courts to apprehend a child.
I am fully aware when a child has been apprehended and that goes through a court process, and whatever the requirements are have to be adhered to. In addition to that, my final question would be the placement of a child to a foster home. Are foster parents fully notified of details when providing a service to a child?
I thank the Member for Baker Lake.
If a child is apprehended, there’s a rule whereby if the child is 12 years old and in accordance with child protection, I will get his question and give him a return later on.
Question 168 – 4(2): Fish Quotas (Shooyook)
I rise today to ask a question to the Minister of Environment.
With respect to commercial fishing in Nunavut, what is the fishing quota today? Are they still using the NWT quota system for fishing?
Yes. The quota system is still in place when you fish for fish in a lake.
With respect to char fisheries, this is being done by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
I understand that we can only sell fish that have been studied or surveyed.
We cannot sell fish that have not been surveyed.
Having a quota is very important.
Can we only sell fish that have been surveyed?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Yes, that’s the way the law is. If you are going to fish commercially, you have to have a quota in place.
Also for the people that are in charge of the hunters and trappers in each community with respect to commercial fishing from the lakes.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to thank the minister for clarifying this.
The reason why I’m asking this question in regards to using the quota system is because I have been hearing that since the Nunavut territory was created that we have more freedom to do commercial fisheries in a lake where no survey has been done.
I’m not sure whether this is being utilized in the community.
If we breach the legislation, we have to go through the courts, especially for wildlife issues.
My community fellows would like to know, they would like to get further clarification on this issue if we are not allowed to do commercial fisheries in a lake where no survey has been done.
I believe that was just a comment, not a question.
Question 169 – 4(2): Homelessness (Enook)
It is time to pull out the dictionary again.
Mr. Speaker, the minister’s formal return to my recent oral questions confirms that the government has not yet “officially adopted or endorsed” a formal definition of homelessness.
Why has it taking so long for the government to define such a critically important concept?
I would also like to thank the Member for Tununiq for asking this question.
Yes, we can respond that way, if we can remember, the first time they did a survey on homelessness and they wanted to find out how many people were homeless and how many people lived in tents and shelters, not including them with the homeless people, and there are an increasing numbers of people who are living in tents and shelters.
Once we come up with the decision, I will provide that information to my colleague, the Member for Tununiq.
As I have repeatedly reminded the minister, the government’s 2010 housing needs survey revealed that dozens of my constituents in Pond Inlet “did not have a usual home and were living temporarily in another person’s dwelling.”
This is why I have clearly stated that it is essential for the government to have a broad definition of homelessness that captures this all-too-common type of situation in Nunavut.
Will the minister commit to ensuring that the government follows my recommendation? Can you also consider that when you are coming up with the definition of homelessness?
I would also like to thank the Member for Tununiq for being concerned. As all of us at the Legislative Assembly are aware and have been impacted by homelessness and lack of housing in Nunavut.
They visited Iqaluit and there is a homeless shelter only in Iqaluit and there are no homeless shelters in the other communities.
In regard to the homelessness survey, we have to move forward on how we can provide more support to the communities by working together and working with the hamlet and Inuit organizations so that we can have better knowledge about this issue.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, while I have the opportunity, I wish to make a motion, seconded by the Member for Iqaluit–Niaqunnguu, that this oral question period be extended.
All those in favour, raise your hands. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) Opposed.
The motion is carried and the question period is extended by 30 minutes.
(interpretation) Your final supplementary, Mr. Enook.
I thank my fellow member colleagues. It’s evident that the ministers don’t want to receive any further oral questions.
Thank you for extending the oral question period.
Mr. Speaker, the minister’s formal return to my recent oral questions indicates that the government will “develop a… .
Speaker: What is your point of order? Ms. Ell, what is your point of order?
Hon. Monica Ell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) The member stated that the ministers don’t want to be receiving oral questions.
I didn’t vote on that motion, so I don’t want to be told that.
An Hon. Member: Another point of order.
Speaker: Minister of Health, it’s not a point of order. It’s not recognized.
Proceed, Ms. Ell.
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): I didn’t hear what you said.
Speaker (interpretation): Please repeat your question. (interpretation ends) What is your point of order?
My point of order is that he was referring to all ministers not wanting to be asked questions and that is not correct.
Speaker: I have already ruled on that. There is no point of order.
Proceed, Mr. Enook.
Thank you for pointing out the obvious.
Mr. Speaker, this is my final question.
Mr. Speaker, the minister’s formal return to my recent oral questions indicates that the government will, and I quote, “develop a Nunavut-specific definition of homelessness.”
Will the minister commit to reporting back to the House on this matter on the very first day of our upcoming fall sitting?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for Tununiq for asking that question.
I’ll respond by saying no.
Question 170 – 4(2): Calculating Student Attendance (Rumbolt)
Earlier, I was asking questions to the Minister of Education on the attendance and budgets, and his reply was more on the assessment of schools, so I would like to try and ask him a few more questions.
Can the minister clarify whether school budgets were affected by the new attendance tracking system?
I thank the member for clarifying his question. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the department has a system called the student information system and all schools are using that system. It does capture data, attendance, performance, and behaviour data for all from kindergarten to grade 12.
The student information system ensures that student data is collected accurately, safely, and consistent across Nunavut. Of course, the student information system improves accountability.
As for the model that we are using, it’s a system that we brought from Maplewood Computing Ltd. from Ontario and the cost would have been approximately $220,500. Of course, this is a system that we have adopted.
I believe that is the question, Mr. Speaker.
I feel he didn’t answer my question because I was asking if this new system affected school budgets or not.
Mr. Speaker, I received information that the budget for the high school in Sanikiluaq was cut by more than 40 percent without any notice given to the school.
Can the minister clarify whether the budget cuts were due to the new tracking system or were there other factors involved?
Thank you, Member for Hudson Bay, for asking the question.
I do know that there was a letter that was written to me and I just got that yesterday.
My department is now looking into what the status is on that.
As I said, Mr. Speaker, I just received that letter yesterday and as I said, my department is looking at the response that will be given.
A 40 percent cut to a budget is huge in small communities and it affects the quality of services that schools can provide.
Can the minister clarify whether other schools throughout Nunavut will be suffering the same type of cuts?
As this House knows, education is a priority of this government.
Of course, as we went through the budget, the expenditures, the capital, etcetera, over this sitting of the House, I don’t think we saw any decreases in any of the budgets within the schools in our territory.
Question 171 – 4(2): Long-term Viability of Smaller Communities (Angnakak)
Mr. Speaker, I have friends and family who live in small communities, and I fully appreciate the struggle that they face in trying to build sustainable communities with limited resources.
However, during our recent leadership forum, the Premier raised a difficult but important issue which I agree needs to be addressed in a candid and thoughtful manner.
Mr. Speaker, at that time, the Premier stated, and I quote, “Collectively, there may come a time when this whole Assembly will have to make a decision on whether smaller communities are viable or not. That’s a drastic reality that we may have to face down the line.”
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier to share with us today the government’s current thinking on this issue.
I believe that question came from the Hon. Mr. Kuksuk at the time, November 15, and he was asking about Whale Cove.
He hasn’t asked me since.
Mr. Speaker, it is a reality in some parts of Canada, southern jurisdictions including Newfoundland, there have been some small towns that are closing and services cut to some of these smaller towns because of unsustainability.
Up north here, there is a purpose for each small town up north.
With the help of the federal government, we call the folks that do live in these small communities call themselves the sovereignty keepers of Canada.
Going back 50 some odd years, that’s exactly what the Canadian government had done to make sure they kept sovereignty over the north, the arctic.
I know that there is some infrastructure going to each smaller community; Whale Cove, Grise Fiord, Arctic Bay. At this time there are no long-term viability plans from this government.
I do know for a fact that if there is economic activity, these communities will survive. If there isn’t any economic activity, it’s very difficult.
Thank you to the Premier for his answer.
Mr. Speaker, during the past three weeks, we have been dealing with the government’s budget and it clearly demonstrates the limited resources that we have as a government.
This calls into question our ability to provide new schools, new arenas, new community halls, new health centres, new power plants, new waste management facilities, new harbours, new offices, new housing, and new airports, a lot of new things we need in Nunavut.
This is to every single one of our 25 municipalities on an indefinite basis.
As part of its upcoming program review exercise, will the government commit to looking closely at the issue of long-term costs and benefits of trying to provide a full range of programs and services and infrastructure to all communities so that we, as a Legislative Assembly, will be in a better position to make some informed decisions about the issues that the Premier himself has raised?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Premier, Premier Taptuna.
It is very difficult. We know from the past that Nunavut is in infrastructure deficit.
I believe the number that has been used in the past was $6 billion is needed right now just to catch up on various types of infrastructure, marine infrastructure, housing, and other various things that the government needs and the communities need to provide these services.
In 1999, Inuit got what we wanted: a government and a territory.
We will do the best we can.
At this time, Nunavut does not have any means of generating its own revenues.
We do not have devolution and all of our transfer money comes from Ottawa.
I know we have been devolved the health department and education, but not lands.
Of course, lands are the ones that can generate revenue for any government in any jurisdiction.
At this time, it’s very difficult to come up with a sustainability and viability plan for these small communities. In order for a communities to be viable, there has to be economic activity in and around.
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Premier for the answer.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, we reflected on the facts that this government raises more revenue from the sale of cigarettes than it does from corporate income taxes.
It’s also unrealistic to believe that the federal government will provide us a blank cheque anytime soon.
To me, a key question to ask is, whether it is better to provide a limited and inadequate range of programs and services and infrastructure to a large number of communities or a stronger and more complete range of programs and services and infrastructure to a smaller number of communities. It’s a hard issue to think about and discuss.
Will the Premier commit to ensuring that the government’s program review exercise considers this key issue?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Hon. Premier of Nunavut, Premier Taptuna.
It is a tough question to respond to. It is a tough question to answer.
Mr. Speaker, for any community, as I indicated, to be viable and sustainable, if you are going to have people there, and economic activities around it, we talk about our hunters and trappers.
In order to be a hunter and trapper, you need employment because the hunting equipment, trapping equipment costs a lot of money. You cannot get that through income support.
Mr. Speaker, in the past, I have always indicated that the federal government has to help us out here in keeping these smaller communities sustainable and Nunavut has high potential in non-renewable resources.
What I mean by that is, through exploration and mining. There is high potential with our partners and NTI knows that for a fact.
They are huge landowners, including the three regional Inuit organizations. There is potential there but at the same time, as a government, we do have to create policies and legislation to attract investors, not just from Canada but from throughout the world.
Mr. Speaker, throughout this review, we’ll consider that and I know that most departments have looked at that because CGS and other departments are responsible for infrastructure being built in these smaller communities and it does cost a lot of money to keep these communities sustainable.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker.
Question 172 – 4(2): Support for “Feeding My Family” (Hickes)
Mr. Speaker, there has been an increase in focus on the issue of food security in Nunavut and across the north and a large part of that comes from the tireless efforts of one of my constituents, Leesee Papatsie, who established “Feeding my Family” a few years ago.
“Feeding my Family” is hosting a direct action event this weekend in Iqaluit to raise awareness of the issue of expired food on store shelves.
Mr. Speaker, I realize that the Department of Health has inspectors to go into certain facilities to check on the health conditions.
I am wondering: is there a component of their department that checks on expired foods in the stores of Nunavut?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman…Mr. Speaker.
Got me doing it now.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The question is taken as notice.
I will go on to the next. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 173 – 4(2): Government Contracting Practices (Rumbolt)
As the minister is aware, a longstanding concern that has been raised by a number of Members of the Legislative Assembly relates to the use of locally owned accommodations by contractors who come to Nunavut to work on projects.
In some cases, contractors stay in private housing units rather than supporting local businesses by staying in our community locally owned hotels.
What is the government’s current policy regarding the use of locally owned commercial accommodations by contractors who are working on GN-funded projects?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that question.
Our policy for any contracts that are let stipulates that any contractor is asked to ensure that they utilize commercial establishments first. (interpretation) Thank you.
Question 174 – 4(2): Homelessness (Enook)
My question today is for the Minister responsible for Homelessness.
As Nunavummiut, everyone needs to be served equally, including smaller communities and larger communities alike. We want our government to treat everyone equally.
In relation to the definition of homelessness, when I had asked the hon. minister whether the definition of homelessness could be cleared by the fall session, the answer provided was that... .
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister why people shouldn’t know what the government’s definition of homelessness is.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for Tununiq. He wants clarification.
The people who are reviewing these things will be visiting the communities this summer and they will be meeting with various groups.
They will be doing surveys by phone. They’re doing phone surveys at the same time, so every community is participating.
In fact, there is a phone survey going on right now in every community.
Perhaps I created the misconception in my earlier answer and I’m sorry for that.
Do I understand from the minister that this summer, these 22 communities will be surveyed by phone?
I wonder if the minister would be so good as to tell us when she expects the phone surveys will be done.