EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
For example, the Government listened to Members on this side of the House when we recommended the estimates process be changed to allow for a review of capital during the fall so as to help achieve greater efficiencies and costs savings.
Mr. Speaker, there have certainly been some areas where I have been vocal in criticizing what I see as deficiencies.
The contracting and tendering practices of the Government need work.
In my view, we still do not see annual tabling of who won what tender or RFP, and the Government’s leases still appear to be shrouded in mystery.
Mr. Speaker, Members on this side of the House have been vocal in pressing for timely tabling of annual reports and other legally required materials.
This constant pressure has resulted in better performance in this area, although it still could be better.
Mr. Speaker, later today, I will be asking the Minister of Energy questions about the financial status of the Nunavut Power Corporation in light of information that is contained in that body’s most recent set of financial statements.
I certainly expect this particular Minister to be eloquent and fulsome in his response to me.
And that would be the very best.
I certainly expect that it will be a healthy exchange and that is what accountability is all about.
Member’s Statement 741 – 1(6): Progress to Date on the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
I would like to also thank the people in my riding of Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk in our last days of the First Assembly.
I am very pleased with the progress that we have made.
As the Nunavut Legislature, we have been given the opportunity to make improvements and we hope to see further improvements in the upcoming years, and we hope to see the Inuit culture and language used more within the Government.
As was mentioned earlier, our language is evolving to keep up with the times.
As you know, I used the Nattilik dialect.
We have to use the Inuktitut language properly.
I can use an example of Taloyoak, but the proper pronunciation would be Talurjuaq.
We have to promote the proper usage of Inuktitut.
I would also like to thank the Minister of Education for building us a new school, which will meet the school population requirements in Kugaaruk probably for the next five years.
I would like to thank the Government for supporting my community.
Member’s Statement 742 – 1(6): Progress Since the Creation of Nunavut
I smile too, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues.
Since the creation of Nunavut, Clyde River was the first community to get polar bear and narwhal tags.
We no longer have to wait, and it seems like we have finally regained the Inuit culture.
We can now harvest polar bears and narwhale without having to wait for the opening of hunting seasons or to comply with the number of tags that are given to my community.
This is operated by the people of Clyde River.
And last of all, I was just recently in Broughton Island and I have always felt welcome in Qikiqtarjuaq, but the airline route goes from Clyde River to Qikiqtarjuaq and Pangnirtung and sometimes we cannot go into Qikiqtarjuaq if we have weather problems.
That increases the operation and also disrupts the route of these three communities when a plane cannot go to Pangnirtung, there are no routes going through Qikiqtarjuaq.
And thirdly, as a person from Clyde River, my riding is called Uqqummiut, but then again, in the Clyde River tradition, the proper name of that riding should be Akurnnirmiut or the people in the middle.
I am responsible for two communities and I think that we will have to make a change for that riding for the next Member of the Legislative Assembly for Akurnnirmiut and Uqqummiut, as this is what Inuit have used for a long time.
Member’s Statement 743 – 1(6): Substance Abuse in Nunavut
Mr. McLean: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first off, I would like to thank the Minister of Health and Social Services for being very generous to Baker Lake in the last four years and especially with the establishment of the Martha Taleruk 24-hour care center.
Our elders now have the opportunity to stay in the community and be cared for 24-hours a day by a qualified nurse.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to discuss the issue of substance abuse in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, Members are all aware that a liquor plebiscite was recently held in Baker Lake among other communities.
The people of Baker Lake decided to create an Alcohol Education Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to caution the people of Baker Lake that the Alcohol Education Committee will not solve all the problems surrounding alcohol abuse in the community.
Mr. Speaker, the creation of the Alcohol Education Committee is only one step towards stopping alcohol related crimes.
We cannot fool ourselves into thinking that bootlegging will disappear.
Bootleggers will continue to find ways to bring alcohol into the community.
To make a real difference regarding alcohol use and abuse in any community, the community must work together.
Every person has a responsibility to educate the youth and be a good role model.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all community members to pull together and utilize the resources that are available.
There are two community drug and alcohol workers who are available to help people learn about and cope with drugs and alcohol related problems.
Mr. Speaker, with the holiday season coming, more people will have an excuse to have a holiday drink.
I would like to remind people to drink responsibly and choose a designated driver to ensure that everyone gets home safely.
Member’s Statement 744 – 1(6): Congratulate the Arctic Bay Cadets
I apologize; I have a bit of a cold.
I rise today to extend my appreciation.
I had gone up to Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay and Grise Fiord just recently for two weeks and the high arctic communities are very far and the sun does not rise any more in those communities.
Karen Inutiq, my CA, I would like to thank her and also Leah May-Qaqqasiq; Leah May, she is my CA in Arctic Bay, I would like to thank her for being my CA and also my colleague beside me, he had congratulated the cadets in Pond Inlet for winning and I think he forgot Arctic Bay. Arctic Bay cadets, too, were also mentioned as cadets who have won.
Inuujaq Sujuq, Leevee Paniaq, Jolene Attitaq, TJ Nungak, David Uujukuluk, and also Apak Taqtuq.
These cadets had also won awards along with the Pond Inlet cadets.
I would like to remind Mr. Nutarak that the Arctic Bay cadets also won too and also would like to congratulate the cadets and their parents for supporting their children.
I would like to thank the instructors for the cadets for helping the young people and the children and for training them appropriately, properly along with their parents.
Member’s Statement 745 – 1(6): Whale Cove Meeting Cancelled Due to Windy Conditions
Mr. Speaker, last week I had tried to go to Whale Cove to meet with the Chairperson of Adult Education.
We tried going there through a charter and we even saw the buildings and the lights but the airport side of the community was windy so we were unable to land and we had to return.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to notify the residents of Whale Cove that I know that there are Arctic College students there but they don’t have a facility or an instructor and the community is quite concerned about this issue and we are working on this issue.
The new learning facility for adult education is a possibility.
I’m sure it will be able to become complete with the cooperation and assistance of the local people.
Mr. Speaker, I was going to meet with the education authority over there.
I apologize for not being able to meet with them, however Mr. Speaker, once I’m able to make it there I will try to make it there after the session is over here.
Member’s Statement 746 – 1(6): Sanikiluaq Arena – Artificial Ice
I rise today to make a brief comment, but I too would like to congratulate the government.
The issue that I keep bringing up is about getting an artificial ice maker in Sanikiluaq and I’m very proud to say that the artificial ice maker is now in Sanikiluaq and it is now ready to be installed.
I’m sure all the residents of Sanikiluaq are pleased to see that and I will see you sometime soon.
Mr. Speaker, I’m very pleased that I have the opportunity to recognize an individual today, Jack Qamoqaq my older brother.
I’m very pleased that he’s able to make it here to the Legislative Assembly.
He’s been working for the government for a very long time.
He started out with the Department of Public Works.
He was moved to municipal government and he’s still working there as their public maintenance man.
He’s much better than I am, he’s older than I am and he’s always supportive of me in any way that he can.
Also our cousin from Taloyoak, although I have heard his name or her name but I would like to welcome that individual to the gallery.
Speaker, my colleague went ahead of me when I was going to recognize this individual.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize an individual, right behind me from Taloyoak.
To provide some background on this individual, he comes from a Search and Rescue Team and they have to work with very challenging tasks and they have to try to help people to survive.
He is now training with the Coast Guard here in Iqaluit, and I would like to recognize him, James Aiyaut.
Question 707 – 1(6): Housing Rental Scale
I would like to direct my question to the Premier in regards to the Housing Corporation.
Since the Housing Corporation is a Crown Corporation, as well as the Power Corporation, does the Premier have any jurisdiction over those two corporations, or do these two entities make their own decisions in regards to how much money should be paid by the homeowners?
Yes, according to my knowledge these two corporations have two Presidents and they have, as a Government, they have a Minister.
As a Government we set out their roles and procedures and we advise the Presidents to abide by their policies and that is part of what the Government responsibilities are.
When we were first elected, we stated that housing was our first priority and the issue of rental scales have been of great concern of late.
The public housing tenants were quite concerned and during the first year of our mandate we had requested the Government look at the rent scale and how we can improve the rent scale.
It seems like the regular Members have never seen any responses to that; perhaps the Minister has the authority to make changes to the rental scale.
Mr. Speaker, as Members know, there have been quite extensive debates about the new public housing rent scale that has been put in place.
There was extensive consultation, not only with local Housing Authorities that put together the recommendations which are the basis of the new rent scale, but also with all Members, not just the Standing Committee, but all regular Members had an opportunity, because of the interest in the new public housing rent scale and the impact on the majority of their constituents to be involved in that process.
I recall, quite specifically, as one of the first things I did when given the responsibility for the Nunavut Housing Corporation was to approach the Standing Committee and other Members had joined in at that time to go over the review of the new public housing rent scale.
The tenant to owner program, I believe as well as that time, was another new initiative that was underway and there were quite a lot of detailed discussions on those matters.
I think it was last year that there were plans to be announced later in 2003 on when construction of units would be completed and so on.
We later heard that they were not going to make any changes to the program and also to the rent scale.
Just reading the material or information in regards to this, it seems like there were going to be improvements made.
Could the Premier take a look at this sometime in the future?
I had directed my question to the Premier, but the response was given back to me by the Minister of Housing Corporation, I was directing my question to the Premier.
I was wondering if the Premier is willing to reconsider this in the year 2004.
Mr. Speaker, as all Members know in this House, any new Legislature, any new Government has the prerogative to review programs and policies that the past Government has in place and if they feel that they are not appropriate, need correction, need revisions, need to be taken off the books, need to be enhanced, that is their prerogative to do.
And I would think that the second Assembly of Nunavut and the second Government of Nunavut will take that prerogative to review their programs and policies and to see what changes are required.
Question 708 – 1(6): Office Space in Schools
My question is directed to the Minister of Public Works and Services.
My question is, in my Constituency of Arctic Bay there are three or four social services workers who do not have office space.
Right now, they are working out of their homes.
Say, for instance, if I had a problem and I have to go to social services and I want to go and see a counsellor, I would have to go to their home.
My question is when will the office space that is going to be put in the school be completed?
We know that they are working on this at the moment but we would like to know when they are going to complete it.
This has been a question raised by the Member a couple of times.
The last I heard that the office space will be completed is perhaps at the end of January.
I would like to ask the Minister if he just guessing or is it going to be finished towards the end of January?
I am not just guessing, Mr. Speaker.
I have been told by my staff that it would be completed in January.
We are all aware that the Government employees have to have a good working environment because they do a lot of work for the people of Arctic Bay.
Part of the school that is going to be utilized for office space by social workers is not adequate, so I just wanted to ask the Minister when they will be providing new office space for the social workers.
The Member has raised this question before, but I will respond by saying that this is just temporary office.
As to her question for a new office facility, what we will do is give provide them with a temporary office at this time and we have not thought about putting up a new office facility.
In terms of providing a new facility, we can only provide temporary office space at the moment.
My officials have stated that we will be dealing with this matter in the future.
Yes, I know that this is just a temporary office facility at this time and it cost him quite a bit of money.
But my question, Mr. Speaker, is, are there any plans in place to build a new office facility?
What I’m saying, Mr. Speaker, is that the old school facility will be finished first and be utilized as an office for those employees and we will think about what steps we will be using after we renovate the school and then think about what facility we might be able to provide.
Speaker: Oral Questions. Mr. Puqiqnak.
Question 709 – 1(6): Decentralization for Smaller Communities
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister responsible for decentralization.
First of all, on decentralized communities in Nunavut, the Minister has stated that decentralization is near completion.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister responsible for decentralization in regards to the communities that have not been decentralized.
Can we expect more decentralization for the non-decentralized communities?
It’s good that we going to be completing the decentralization process very soon.
As for the smaller communities we have been working with them, especially through the Department of Sustainable Development as to how all the communities of Nunavut could be further assisted.
As our life in this session is nearing its ends we do cannot do a lot. We should deal with this matter in the second assembly.
I have always mentioned that I have two communities that I represent, one that is decentralized and one that isn’t.
You can see the difference between the two.
For example, Taloyoak is a non-decentralized community and we lack housing.
Last week, the Co-op hotel, because it is so old, had to be closed down by the fire marshal.
My constituency assistant and I have an office there.
We had to vacate our office but we did not have any office to rent.
We were given some open space by the hamlet to work in.
Mr. Speaker, Taloyoak is a small community.
I would like to ask that these non-decentralized communities, such as Taloyoak, be assisted by the Government.
There must be office space and there must be housing available.
Mr. Speaker, can we expect housing to be provided?
It is not just Taloyoak that lacks those facilities.
It is all non-decentralized communities.
There are 10 decentralized communities and there are 15 more non-decentralized communities.
Taloyoak is not the only community that is lacking facilities and we have to provide those facilities to all the communities.
It is good that some of the communities have decentralized Government, which is good, but we also have to provide some for the non-decentralized communities in our near future and we have made plans with the Department of Sustainable Development for economic development for those communities.
As a Government we cannot do it alone; we must also have help from the private sector in opening up opportunities in Nunavut.
It is evident that this will have to be looked into in the near future.
I realize that it is not just Taloyoak; I was just using Taloyoak as an example because it is in my Constituency.
I just used it as an example because I know that community and I realize there has to be facilities for other non-decentralized communities, not just for Taloyoak.
As you said that Taloyoak is not the only community, but have you done a review on whether or not those non-decentralized communities will be given facilities because they lack facilities?
Have you done any review or studies on those non-decentralized communities whether facilities such as what I am talking about will be put in those non-decentralized communities?
What I said was that the Department of Sustainable Development have reviewed some economic development initiatives for the non-decentralized communities and they have made a report to help the non-decentralized communities to create more economic development opportunities in those communities.
That is what we have done thus far and we don’t want to forget about those non-decentralized communities.
Question 710 – 1(6): Alcohol Education Committee
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Liquor Act.
Mr. Speaker, Baker Lake went to the polls last month to vote on whether to establish an alcohol education committee.
A strong majority of the voters said yes to the question.
Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the voters of Chesterfield Inlet voted on a similar question in early 2002, but the regulations to establish their committee have not yet been approved.
Mr. Speaker, my question today is can he commit to the people of Baker Lake that their wishes will be respected and that the regulations for the new Alcohol Education Committee will be finalized before the end of 2003.
Mr. Speaker, I commit to doing it as expeditiously as possible.
A problem we are running into now is it is early December.
I can’t commit to the end of 2003 given that; also I don’t set the timetable for Cabinet meetings; somebody else does that.
It would depend really, Mr. Speaker, on having the regulations drafted, having them go through the Cabinet process and then having them put in force.
I would expect that that would be some time in the new year, Mr. Speaker, to be realistic.
The life of this government is quickly and rapidly coming to an end, and it’s no secret that there might not be a lot of us around soon, and I’m not pointing fingers at the Minister in charge of the Liquor Act or regulations, but, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit that he’ll try to have this committee established before the end of March of 2004.
Mr. Speaker, even though I may not be the Minister responsible at that time, there certainly will be a follow up at the officials level to have the regulations drafted and whether it is this government or the next government, I mean that process will not stop as a result of the change of government, that is why we have continuity with the administration.
I know that the Minister can’t commit to an exact time indeed.
But, can the Minister commit that by at least March 2004 that the Alcohol Education Committee will be in place.
Yes, recognizing that I will not be accountable for that commitment.
Question 711 – 1(6): Auditor General’s Report on the Power Corporation
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Energy.
Mr. Speaker, in the last auditor’s report on the Nunavut Power Corporation, the auditor had indicated a couple of alarming notes in there and I would like to quote from that report.
It states that the “Corporation exceeded its borrowing limit set by the Nunavut Power Utilities Act” and also that he “wishes to draw attention that the Corporation has encouraged significant operating losses and has increased its debt by approximately $29 million since its commencement of operations in April 1, 2001.”
And it goes on to indicate that, “some of the reasons for these losses include inadequate controls over spending resulting from significant weaknesses in financial management practices.
I would like to ask the Minister if he could expand and elaborate on exactly what the auditor meant when he says “inadequate control over spending resulting from significant weaknesses in financial management practises.”
Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to note Mr. McLean had said something about the energizer bunny and I would appreciate that, going back to the old ageless saying about the person and their ears, they keep getting longer and the nose kept getting a bit more pointy so I think he should keep that in mind.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to answer this question on behalf and for the people of Nunavut.
First of all, I had an opportunity to sit down in my office with the Auditor General, Mr. Roger Simpson, the principal from the office of the Auditor General for Canada.
It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, like many jurisdictions in this country, the office of the Auditor General for Canada provides a very good accountability and transparent mechanism to be able to review the operations of the Government and in this case, a crown corporation.
Those statements, as Mr. Tootoo pointed out, have been tabled publicly.
So, everyone is aware of what has occurred.
I want to point out, Mr. Speaker, that the Auditor General for Canada had pointed out some serious issues around the accountability procedures, spending practise and so on with the Power Corporation.
I would like to take the Member back to June of 2003 when we were in Baker Lake when I tabled the first report of the Auditor General for Canada and the Power Corporation review of the audited financial statements and executive summary.
At that time, we were looking at a little over $5 million dollar deficit imposed on our rates because at that time, we were not sure if the problem was on the expense side or the revenue side.
Subsequently to that, as Mr. Tootoo just pointed out, the Auditor General pointed out some serious concerns with the administrative as well as the financial aspects of the Corporation.
And Mr. Speaker, we have moved very quickly extending from that report, we have hired three new accountants, we have hired a new Chief Executive Officer and we also have a new Chief Financial Officer in place.
We have also, as a Government, set up the Crown Agency Council which oversees the operations of crown corporations and, Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to you that we have, very diligently, followed up on the Auditor General’s comments very seriously in these reports.
Well, I guess I do not have to ask my question as what is the Corporation doing about it, he has answered that already, but I would still like to ask the Minister if he could elaborate on exactly what some of those issues regarding inadequate controls and of an overspending and significant weaknesses in financial management were with the Corporation.