EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I am just wondering why if you look at the main estimates they have less budgeted for the Electricity Subsidy Program for this coming year 2007-08, than they actually spent in 2005-06.
Peter Ma will respond to that question.
The Direction from FMB, in terms of developing the 2007-08 fiscal year budget was to use the 2006-07 fiscal year as the target.
We realized that we will need some additional funds for the Nunavut Electrical Subsidy Program. It is, at this point, under-budgeted, but now that we have some new funds from our partners at the Government of Canada, we will of course bring forward a supplementary to address this.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Ma. Mr. Tootoo.
I guess if you look at it in 2005-06 with the lower kilowatt hour subsidy amount availability and the time that you are able to claim that higher amount for ... you spent $6.7 million on it and they only have $6.1 million budgeted for this coming year, and given the increases in the cost of fuel and the cost of power and electricity, you know it as you had indicated under budgeted, is there any idea of how much more you think you’ll need to be able to meet the needs of that program?
Yes, he is quoting $6.7 million for 2005-06 and that is correct. But when we look at 2006-07 actual expenditures, we’ve got $5 million on it which is $1.7 million less. But for 2007-08 we are estimating we’re going to need an extra $1 million.
I look forward, and I’m sure all members will look forward to agreeing with that supplementary appropriation when it comes forward. It affects every single homeowner across the territory and all of our constituents, and we wouldn’t want them to be told, “Sorry, your subsidy is cut off because we don’t have enough money for it.” So I look forward to that coming forward.
The other question I have on that page there, Mr. Chairman, as we know, in the past the Government of Nunavut has provided $37 million to the Qulliq Energy Corporation over the past three fiscal years.
I think that’s in the Minister of Energy’s little pamphlet that he put out is what he considers his occasional tap into the Government of Nunavut for funding to cover off the corporation’s deficit.
Does your department anticipate needing, although they’re showing nothing in the main estimates for 2007-08, are they anticipating anything coming forward for either the 2006-07 or the 2007-08 fiscal year?
The Qulliq Energy Corporation has been running very well to the point we don’t see any need for that. That’s what it is for 2007-08.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $29,751,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman: Go back to page C-4.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $52,197,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman: Are you agreed the Department of Finance is concluded?
Thank you, Minister, Mr. Marriot, and Mr. Ma. (interpretation) If you have any closing remarks, minister, you have the floor.
I would just like to thank the committee members for their questions and their suggestions.
Commitments that were made will be kept closely to the deadlines as possible. And I thank all the staff that are here for their huge input when we were renegotiating the new Territorial Formula Financing; job well done.
Chairman: Thank you. I would like to ask Mr. Speaker Kilabuk of the Legislative Assembly to make his opening remarks. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you let him in.
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 –Consideration in Committee – Office of the Legislative Assembly
Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is finally my turn to make an appearance in the Committee of the Whole.
It is a pleasure for me to appear before you today to present the 2007-08 Main Estimates and Business Plan for the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
The 2007-08 budget for the Legislative Assembly is $400,000 less than our budget for 2006-07. This is primarily a consequence of the Electoral Boundaries Commission having completed its work.
As members will appreciate, we anticipate requesting an enhanced appropriation for the 2008-09 fiscal year, given that the next general election must be held no later than February of 2009.
I would like to take a moment to highlight some of our operational priorities for the 2007-08 fiscal year. These include:
Undertaking ongoing improvements to the Assembly’s Information Technology infrastructure.
Initiating a joint project with the Library of Parliament to digitize the Legislative Library’s collection of documents from the Nunavut Implementation Commission and the Office of the Interim Commissioner, all of which form part of our historical legacy as a territory.
Hosting three upcoming national conferences in Nunavut.
Over the past year, your Management and Services Board and the Office of the Legislative Assembly have worked to develop further amendments to the Nunavut Elections Act, and have given direction for the development of a new Plebiscite Act.
Other noteworthy accomplishments of 2006-07 have included our Youth Parliament and the successful hosting of two national conferences.
I would like to mention that the Board has given direction to host the next territory-wide Youth Parliament in the spring of 2008.
I would like to thank Members for their ongoing support, and I welcome your comments, suggestions and questions.
Would you like to have your officials with you Mr. Speaker?
Chairman (interpretation): Does the committee agree to have the Speaker’s officials join him at the witness table?
Sergeant-at-Arms can you assist the officials please?
Mr. Speaker can you introduce your officials.
On my right is, just in case you don’t know, our Clerk John Quirke and Stephen Pollock our Director of Corporate Services.
Before we start I would like to remind members that according to Rule 77(1), and also according to Rule 77(2), every member may speak twice to a matter under consideration, but not until all the members who wish to speak have had the opportunity to do so.
We will proceed page-by-page and as we reach each page members can ask questions on that page.
If there are none.
I think the only thing that I would like to say is that I would like to commend the Speaker and the staff of the Legislative Assembly who over the years since 1999, one of the biggest hurdles of being able to obtain anything out of the government is they always said, ‘Oh, we don’t have the capacity, we have capacity problems.’
That excuse has never been an excuse with the staff at the Legislative Assembly.
I just wanted to mention that.
Everything has always gone off, sessions have always gone fine and that’s it, because of the hard work of the staff at the Assembly and I don’t know if that has ever been formally recognized in the Hansard.
So I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge that as something...for never having used that excuse of not getting something done because we don’t have the capacity to do it.
I just wanted to say that it has not gone unnoticed.
We will now proceed with page by page review of the Main Estimates.
Starting with page A-5. Legislative Assembly.
Branch Summary. Office of the Clerk.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $6,192,000.
Chairman: Thank you. Page A-6.
Legislative Assembly. Branch Summary. Expenditures on Behalf of Members.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $5,507,000.
Chairman: Page A-7.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes the Speaker talked about the Youth Parliament and I would like to make a comment on that.
We are in support of the Youth Parliament taking place but unfortunately I was not here and I would like to say that I would support the ongoing Youth Parliament.
Do you know how they were selected to attend that Youth Parliament?
Can the Speaker respond to me?
The selection of the students for the Youth Parliament was done by, selected by, and coordinated by the staff of the Legislative Assembly. There was a competition from grade nine to eleven by writing an essay by potential participants in each community.
So they selected an individual from each community to participate in the Youth Parliament.
That’s the way it was done.
Yes, but I would like to ask the question again, it would be very good for the Youth Parliament to continue on with what they did.
I just wondered whether there has been a fact whereby the students could have a mock campaign and to have a mock election to come to the Youth Parliament.
Maybe perhaps if you could talk to those students that might be selected in those grades to do that sort of mock campaign.
I think it would be a lot of fun for the students and it would be a learning experience for them as well.
So what would the Speaker think about that? Thank you.
Speaker Kilabuk.
I would like to thank the member for his suggestion.
You know that we go to a conference with other Speakers and I talked with the Speaker from Manitoba, Mr. Hickes.
I spoke to him about what they have done in the Manitoba Legislature and about the Youth Parliament that is run here in Nunavut and I would like to welcome Mr. Curley’s suggestion and we will work with the teachers when we select the Youth Parliament participants again and we will try that mock campaign.
The communities like the classrooms, I think Keith Peterson knows that, what I am trying to ask, Mr. Chairman, is do you hear from those student participants that participated here in the Youth Parliament.
Mr. Speaker Kilabuk.
I am not sure, I think when we first became Members of the Legislative Assembly, the first Members of the Legislative Assembly from Pangnirtung at that time there were some students that came to Pangnirtung that came over here but the Youth Parliament that we carry on right now is suggested by the Legislative Assembly and the teachers are involved in that.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Page A-7.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. A-8.
Chairman (interpretation): Page A-9.
Office of Independent Commissioners.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $13,409,000.
Chairman: Are you agreed that the Office of the Legislative Assembly is concluded?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Quirke, and Mr. Pollock.
Mr. Speaker, if you have any closing remarks. Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Koana, Merci, and Ma’na.
Chairman (interpretation): We can get back to Committee of the Whole.
Main estimates for 2007-08. (interpretation ends) Page 11.
Roman numerals XI. (interpretation) That is part of the main estimates. At the beginning of the pages.
Summary of Operations and Maintenance Expenditures. (interpretation ends) Summary of Amounts to be Voted.
Total expenditure is $895,350,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Go to Bill 1 in your legislation binder. That is the white binder.
Bill 1, Appropriations (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2007-08.
Chairman: Go to page 2. Schedule. Page 2 Schedule.
Amounts appropriated for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.
Vote One.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $895,350,000.
Chairman: Total Appropriations. $895,350,000.
Chairman: Back to page 1.
Chairman: Do you agree to Bill 1 as a whole?
Chairman: Do members agree that pursuant to Rule 62(2) Bill 1 can be immediately placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading?
Chairman: Are you making a motion to report progress? Mr. Netser.
Hon. Patterk Netser: Yes, I am. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I will now report progress to the Speaker.
Your committee has been considering Bill 1 and would like to report progress and that Bill 1 is immediately ready for third reading.
I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be agreed to.
Orders of the Day for March 29:
Motion 8 – 2(4)
Motion 9 – 2(4)
Motion 10 – 2(4)
Speaker (interpretation): This House stands adjourned until Thursday, March 29, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 19:50
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Pages 1217 – 1294
Opening Prayer 1217
Ministers’ Statements 1217
Returns to Oral Questions 1230
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1231
Oral Questions 1233
Tabling of Documents 1253
Motions 1253
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1267
Committee Motion 003 – 2(4): Amendment to Schedule of Bill 2 by Striking Out Vote 1 and by Substituting Vote 2 (Simailak) 1270
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1290
Revert to Item 8: Returns to Written Questions* 1290
Third Reading of Bills 1291
Assent to Bills 1292
Orders of the Day 1293
Thursday, March 29, 2007 1217
050 – 2(4): Minister Okalik Absent from the House (Picco) 1217
051 – 2(4): End of Life Vehicles (ELV) and Scrap Metal (Netser) 1217
052 – 2(4): Nunavut Courses Meet University Entrance Requirements (Picco) 1218
053 – 2(4): Funding for Nunavut Association of Municipalities Insurance Exchange (NAMIX) (Brown) 1219
054 – 2(4): Housing Classified Website (Akesuk) 1220
055 – 2(4): Nunavut Arctic College Receives Grant (Picco) 1221
107 – 2(4): 2007 Pangaggujjiniq Nunavut Quest Dog Team Race (Barnabas) 1222
108 – 2(4): More Funding for Nunavut (Curley) 1223
109 – 2(4): Upcoming Federal Election (Peterson) 1224
110 – 2(4): Skills Canada Competition (Tootoo) 1225
111 – 2(4): Community Activities (Aglukkaq) 1226
112 – 2(4): 58th Anniversary to Mr. And Mrs. Ittinuar (Brown) 1226
113 – 2(4): Constituency Concerns (Alagalak) 1227
114 – 2(4): Iqaluit Hospitality (Arreak) 1228
115 – 2(4): Thanks to Nancy Karetak-Lindell (Picco) 1229
116 – 2(4): Incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Kattuk) 1229
Return to Oral Question 116 – 2(4): Mercury Build-up in the Food Chain (Netser) 1230
150 – 2(4): Fulfillment of Federal Promises on Arctic Sovereignty (Curley) 1233
151 – 2(4): Insurance Support to Outfitters (Barnabas) 1236
152 – 2(4): Housing for Health Professionals (Peterson) 1238
153 – 2(4): Status of the Kugluktuk Crisis Shelter (Evyagotailak) 1241
154 – 2(4): Buried Scrap Metals (Kattuk) 1243
155 – 2(4): Staff and Public Housing Policies (Arvaluk) 1244
156 – 2(4): Airport Heavy Equipment Investigations (Curley) 1246
157 – 2(4): 3 Vacant Units in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 1247
158 – 2(4): Muskox Management Zones (Alagalak) 1248
159 – 2(4): Activities during Mental Health Week (Peterson) 1250
Return to Written Question 001 – 2(4): Enforcement and Implementation of the Wildlife Act (Netser) 1290
075 – 2(4): Pangaggujjiniq Nunavut Quest 2007 - Letter from Niore Iqalukjuak, Organizer (Barnabas) 1253
076 – 2(4): Contract Activity Report for Fiscal Year 2005-06 – Government of Nunavut (Brown) 1253
077 – 2(4): Procurement Activity Report for Fiscal Year 2005-06 – Government of Nunavut (Brown) 1253
008 – 2(4): Location of Health and Social Service Positions (Arvaluk) 1253
009 – 2(4): Performance Audit of the Department of Health and Social Services (Tootoo) 1260
010 – 2(4): Referral of Tabled Document 049 – 2(4): Discussion Paper for Ikummatiit – An Energy Strategy for Nunavut March 2007 to Committee of the Whole (Curley) 1265
Bill 02 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3, 2006-07 – Consideration in Committee 1267
Bill 03 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2006-07 – Consideration in Committee 1267
Bill 08 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Consideration in Committee 1281
Bill 09 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act – Consideration in Committee 1283
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Third Reading 1291
Bill 02 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3, 2006-07 – Third Reading 1291
Bill 03 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2006-07 – Third Reading 1291
Bill 08 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Third Reading 1291
Bill 09 – An Act to Amend Nunavut Elections Act – Third Reading 1292
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Assent 1292
Bill 02 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3, 2006-07 – Assent 1292
Bill 03 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2006-07 – Assent 1292
Bill 08 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Assent 1292
Bill 09 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act – Assent 1292
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Honourable David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Ministers, Members, and the visitors, welcome.
Minister of Education and Energy, Minister Picco.
Minister’s Statement 050 – 2(4): Minister Okalik Absent from the House (Picco)
I would like to take this opportunity to inform the House that the Honourable Paul Okalik will be absent from the Chambers today.
Minister’s Statement 051 – 2(4): End of Life Vehicles (ELV) and Scrap Metal (Netser)
I rise today to make a statement on end-of-life vehicles and scrap metal.
Mr. Speaker, one of the objectives under Pinasuaqtavut (interpretation ends) is to explore the repatriation of end-of-life vehicles. The Government of Nunavut Departments of Environment, Community and Government Services, and Economic Development and Transportation are cooperating together to complete this objective.
We have completed the necessary background studies and are now preparing to seek private involvement in proceeding with removing end-of-life vehicles from Nunavut’s communities.
This is a complex initiative involvement several government departments, communities, and the private sector, and I will be working closely with my colleagues, Minister Simailak and Minister Brown to make it a reality.
Several communities have already completed inventories of the old vehicles and scrap metals they have, and these communities will be done first as pilot projects to give us a more accurate picture of the cost and the logistics.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to vehicles we are working with NRCAN, or Natural Resources Canada, to develop a scrap metal action plan to identify feasible methods of repatriating scrap metal that has accumulated in several of our Nunavut communities.
My staff has just accompanied Natural Resources Canada to two of our Kivalliq communities where they met with the mayors and the municipal staff. The reception and the support from these communities was very positive and we will be working closely with them to quantify the scrap metal stock piles in all of our Kivalliq communities and to develop an action plan for collecting and removing scrap metals in the short and long term.
Removing these piles of scrap metals will be expensive, and we will be seeking additional federal support for this initiative and to expand it to all of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, we will continue to collaborate with all partners within Nunavut and the federal government to further the important goal of removing scrap metal and old vehicles from our Nunavut communities.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Item 2.
Hon. Ed. Picco.
I’d like to return to Item 2, if we haven’t passed Ministers’ Statements.
Speaker: Item 2. We have passed that item already, however if you wish to request the permission of the floor, I’ll allow you to seek permission.
I would ask the indulgence of the House to ask unanimous consent to return to Item 2 on our agenda.
The minister is asking for unanimous consent to return to Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 052 – 2(4): Nunavut Courses Meet University Entrance Requirements (Picco)
Over the past several months, the Curriculum and School Services Division has been contacting universities across Canada to have them review the new Nunavut-developed secondary school courses. The courses are Aulajaaqtut 10, 11, and 12, and Inuktitut 10, 11, and 12.
I’m very pleased to announce that 20 universities have approved both courses as meeting the entrance admission requirements. In nearly all cases Inuktitut, 10, 11, 12, will satisfy a language requirement and Aulajaaqtut 10, 11, 12, will satisfy Humanities/Social Sciences requirements.
We are still awaiting the results of faculty reviews from 16 more universities.
Mr. Speaker, the universities who have already approved the courses as well as those where approval is pending are very positive about these courses.
For example, the Associate Vice President of Academic Studies at the University of Ottawa stated, “thank you for sending these documents related to the newly developed Nunavut secondary school courses.
I must commend the people who have developed them for the highly relevant initiative. We’ll be examining the courses in detail, and we’ll get back to you as soon as the work is completed.”
Mr. Speaker, the universities that have given approval to our courses are: Simon Fraser University, University of Calgary, Saskatchewan, Brandon, Manitoba, Carleton, Guelph University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, Windsor, Sir Wilfred Laurier University, York, McGill University, St. Mary’s, St. Francis Xavier, Dalhousie, Memorial University, and the University of New Brunswick.
Students applying to universities must meet the overall requirements for the program they are applying for and that can vary from university to university.
Mr. Speaker, the recognition by universities across Canada, validates the academic quality of courses developed in Nunavut, for Nunavut students. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister Statements.
Minister’s Statement 053 – 2(4): Funding for Nunavut Association of Municipalities Insurance Exchange (NAMIX) (Brown)
I rise today to announce the government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that Nunavut’s municipalities have adequate insurance coverage for their municipal infrastructure, staff, and operations.
On behalf of the Government of Nunavut, and Community and Government Services, I am pleased to announce an additional $1.5million in funding for the Nunavut Association of Municipalities Insurance Exchange known as NAMIX.
Mr. Speaker, NAMIX was formed in 2002 in collaboration with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities and Community and Government Services in response to the inability of our Nunavut communities to obtain affordable insurance coverage.
Over the past five years the Government of Nunavut has contributed $5 million to NAMIX which is an insurance exchange with all Nunavut’s communities being the owners.
In combination with the implementation of the Territorial Fire Strategy and Loss Control workshops, NAMIX has had great success at providing affordable insurance coverage for municipalities, while reducing the amount of losses in communities.
This new funding will assist in ensuring that NAMIX remains viable and continues to provide insurance coverage to municipalities.
Minister’s Statement 054 – 2(4): Housing Classified Website (Akesuk)
Good afternoon, Members, my colleagues.
I rise today to speak about the exciting new feature that the Nunavut Housing Corporation have just added to their website to improve access to information about available housing options across Nunavut.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation is taking a leadership role and has created a new section of their website that is now up and running.
This feature allows landlords of rental properties to register available apartment units or houses for rent or sellers of homes to register available houses for sale.
This new section opens up to a page which gives tenants and prospective buyers access to a network of one-stop information on housing that is currently available in communities across Nunavut.
The Housing Corporation classified feature opens onto a map of Nunavut.
Both buyers and sellers are able to click onto individual communities to either register their property for sale or rent, or to obtain the information they need.
If you are a manager of rental property or want to sell your house you will be able to enter the details about your individual property so that it will be available to prospective renters or buyers.
Mr. Speaker, this new website feature is a great communication tool and will make it easier for people to find out what housing is available in any community in Nunavut.
In www.nunavuthousing.ca, the Nunavut Housing Corporation will continue to monitor, update, and expand this website to provide access to available housing options.
Minister’s Statement 055 – 2(4): Nunavut Arctic College Receives Grant (Picco)