EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I’m pleased with the minister’s response, but can he tell me what assistance his department provides to unilingual residents who require assistance with filling out the forms?
I thought all of the communities dealt with drivers’ license applications and I thought there was an employee in each community. So I will look to see if we have an employee in Sanikiluaq.
All the staff that work in the communities are bilingual people, and I will look into it to make sure that this individual, who works in your community, is bilingual because we need staff in all the communities, and I believe they’re Inuit bilingual people.
So I will look into that for your community to see what kind of procedure they have in place.
Perhaps this is my last supplementary. Can the minister tell me how many applications from Sanikiluaq his department has received each year?
I don’t know the number of applications from Sanikiluaq, but I can look into it. I’m sure that there are monthly driver’s license applications, too, so I will look into that through my officials.
Question 384 – 2(3): Home Repair Programs Addressing Overcrowding (Barnabas)
Earlier in my Member’s Statement I talked about the corporation’s Home Repair Program.
Can the minister tell me what the corporation is doing to help homeowners address issues of overcrowding in their homes?
Member responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Minister Akesuk.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Yes, we deal with that program.
I think there are five different repair programs and we prioritize them.
So we have staff that work on these programs and we have limited resources for the Home Repair Program, or for renovations, or for additions. So we review each case and those cases are reviewed by the staff of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Recognizing that some homeowners...when they are going to be building their homes, they hire homeless people. (interpretation ends) Recognizing that overcrowding in housing is a problem for Nunavummiut who own their own home and also recognizing that fact that creating multi-generational homes can help to address the strain on public housing, can the minister tell me if funding is available for homeowners’ projects under the federally funded Nunavut Housing trust?
The homeowners’ renovation program is from our government here but this $200 million that you are talking about is for the construction of Nunavut Housing.
The funding we have will go through that Trust. The home renovation funds were received from the federal government in the amount of $200 million and they were funding in the Nunavut Housing Trust.
Will the minister commit to reviewing the current limitations of applications to the home repair program?
Looking at the financial restraint that our Nunavut Government is in, we have limited resources and we would like to see Capital Estimates approved for this year.
Question 385 – 2(3): Contract Obligations Within Communities (Arreak)
In some communities, especially in the smaller communities, there are multi-year contracts and some of those contractors don’t live in the same community where they are contracted in.
So therefore they are not developing, they are not assisting or helping to develop the communities and they are not helping the Nunavut economic strategy. These smaller communities in all of Nunavut we’ve agreed to develop the communities.
The people who take care of the contracts do they have some means to measure to make sure that these contract obligations are being met in the community such as developing the community.
Minister of Community and Government Services, Minister Brown.
And I would also like to thank the member for asking the question in regard to the contracts.
Community and Government Services takes care of and are responsible for contracts and they do have regulations and they do try and abide by the regulations and also work with NNI and CGS. People who take care of those contracts do visit the communities.
But I would like to tell the member that yes we monitor them all the time.
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the minister.
The people in my community, economic development people would like to, in my community, want to see what is happening with the contracts in my community of Clyde River. They wanted to find out whether it’s benefiting my community or not.
I will be able to provide the member with the information on paper and I will make sure that the review is done in his community because Community and Government Services deals with the contracts and I could work with my official and talk with the member in regard to those contracts in his community.
Member for Tunnuniq, Mr. Arvaluk.
Question 386 – 2(3): Relocation of Airstrip in Pond Inlet (Arvaluk)
I would like to ask the Minister for Transportation, I heard from the Hamlet of Pond Inlet that there was a study done about the relocation of the airstrip because the airstrip is in the middle of the community.
They even said that they have selected a site to move the airstrip.
I wonder if the Department of Transportation is still reviewing that relocation of the airstrip.
All the, we do the review of all the airstrips in each community of Nunavut and we are also making, doing an airport in Arctic Bay and we talked about for a number years the locations of the airstrips in each community but the only problem is that we don’t have enough funding to do the relocation or the study of, or the relocation of airstrips in each community.
I think the minister has heard from the people of Pond Inlet, especially from the Hamlet Council, because of the high cost of goods. BaffinLand wanted to use Pond Inlet as an office, and when you go from High Arctic, it takes a long time to get to Pond Inlet.
I think Mr. Barnabas knows about that.
So if Pond Inlet was to get jet services then the other communities would also have jet services and the jet can go from Ottawa to Pond Inlet, and I think I’m sure that the minister knows about that.
Has the minister and his officials done, have they done a study on whether it would be cheaper for the community of Pond Inlet to have jet services?
What we have done is looked at it, those communities under the Transportation Strategy, and we are under review of those communities.
We have had talks with the federal government as well to see what kinds of airstrips that those smaller communities can have, especially if they can be a route, or a scheduled airline for jet services. This is an ongoing process right now.
Even though you’re not a person that’s good with numbers you already know whether the Nunavut Government is really doing their job.
If they relocate the airstrip and the federal government would pay for that relocation, and the old airstrip would be used to put houses in.
Can the minister tell me whether his department is committed to about $100 million to use that old airstrip for housing?
Those are possibilities, especially with the two communities that have an airstrip in the middle of the community.
Those would be very good to build houses on.
We will be looking into it and once we relocate an airstrip we can look at what we can do with the money that is provided to us and we would like to have the assistance of the federal government to make sure that those airstrips are built properly.
Speaker (interpretation): Your final supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to ask the minister if he will visit Pond Inlet and have open exploratory discussions with the Hamlet Council about the pros and cons about benefits it will have if it can be included in IIBA negotiations to include the relocation of the airport by the federal government.
If he’s invited would he be receptive to taking the trip to Pond Inlet to meet with the Council on that?
If I was invited I would be able to attend the meeting with the Hamlet Council, but I’m not sure when I will be able to attend to see what kinds of airstrip relocation that they want and whether there would be changes in the service of the airlines. And to see for myself exactly what the wishes of the Hamlet Council are.
Question 387 – 2(3): Cases Resulting in Legal Action NBCC/KBDC (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, and I’ll be very short and blunt on this.
Is the minister aware of any cases that NBCC or KBDC had pursued legal action on or done as a result of race, or whether someone was an Inuk, or a non-Inuk, or a southerner, or a northerner? Is he aware of any cases that have proceeded based on that?
The court cases that are now presently in the courts, I’m not really sure how many there are, so, I’m not really sure exactly what progress has taken place in regard to race.
We would also like to have everybody working together no matter what race they are.
I know I asked the Minister Responsible for Economic Development and Transportation last March if they were made aware of any legal actions that were taking place because he had indicated at that time that the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation and other organizations would go through the Department of Justice to use their lawyers.
My question to the minister is; is he advised when legal action is taken at some point in any case, is he aware of any cases that have been pushed forward for legal action with one of the factors being that an individual is a northerner or a southerner? It’s simple.
Is he aware of any cases like that? Yes or no?
Yes, I am aware of a couple of issues that are in the court process right now.
I’m sure he’s aware of some that are in the process, but he still didn’t answer my question.
Is he aware of any of these cases that have been moved forward because an individual was a southerner or a northerner?
For those reasons, is he aware of any of those things that were pushed before the courts by the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation or KBDC based on the fact that the individual that they’re taking to court may happen to be a southerner?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Tootoo.
Given that response that he’s not aware of that not being a factor used in anything, it will probably come to a bit of a surprise to him under Tabling of Documents, when I table a document that indicates that one of the factors that they’re looking at is legal action being followed up on in a case was because an individual was a southerner.
If he says that he’s not aware of that, if he was, would that be something that the department, that the government would condone?
This is the first time that I’ve heard of this and I’m not sure as to exactly what he’s referring to.
It would be interesting to know.
This is the first I’ve heard of this. We want to treat everybody equally in Nunavut.
Question 388 – 2(3): Absolute Homelessness (Peterson)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Homelessness.
In the past, the minister spoke about homelessness and absolute homelessness in Nunavut; absolute homelessness refers to people who have absolutely no home to go to, although both are very serious in Nunavut, but particularly, absolute homelessness when temperatures are minus 40 degrees outside.  My question for the minister: can the minister update the House on how many Nunavummiut are absolutely homeless and which communities have dedicated facilities like homeless shelters that provide them with a room for the night?
There may be two questions in that.
I think I counted three, Mr. Speaker.
Very quickly, the Homeless Secretariat was set up by this government, and again, I want to reiterate that the Nunavut Government is the only jurisdiction in the country other than the federal government to have a Minister responsible for the Issue of Homelessness and a secretariat set up.
We have one facility dedicated specifically for the issue of homelessness that is right now here in Iqaluit. It was a facility that was developed by the community, not through territorial funds, or indeed, through federal funds, in 1996-97, called the Oqota Emergency Shelter.
I would invite the member to join me on Saturday when the shelter will be officially opened, when we will have the Commissioner of the Salvation Army and a Brass Band from the Salvation Army in town to do the official opening.
At any given time, there are over 20 beds available in the community for the issue of homelessness.
At the same time, there is an arrangement with the women’s shelter when there are women who are in a position of need and are homeless that we can actually help assist and fund.
That is the case in some of the other communities, for example, in the member’s community if the need arises.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for that answer. I certainly will try and take him up on that opportunity on Saturday.
I think him and I are playing indoor soccer that day, as well, either before or after, so we will spend the afternoon together.
During the Committee of the Whole I reviewed the 2006-07 main estimates. The House approved $200,000 for the Minister’s Homelessness Secretariat. A question for the minister: has the secretariat produced any up-to-date reports on the current status of the homelessness issue in Nunavut and have they made any recommendations or actions to address them?
Just very quickly on the status, we put in $100,000 in the Homeless Secretariat. Part of that money for 2005-06 was used to fund ‘My Room’ Project, which is a project on homelessness in Cape Dorset, which has actually received national attention as they did a fantastic job on that.
We also put additional money into the Nunavut Status of Women’s Council to help them fund a program on the Homeless Status of Women across Nunavut.
At the same time, we put some additional funds into the Oqota Shelter because of the demand on their services.
We’ve seen the demand on the homeless shelter here in Iqaluit, going from 10 to 12 beds to, as I said earlier, over 20 beds.
The member is also correct that this Saturday is a very busy day and I do ask him that he would join me on Saturday.
I’m not sure if I could play soccer, I hurt my knee.
I thank the minister for that answer. You sit beside the Minister of Health, so maybe you should get your knee checked out before Saturday because I totally expect him to be there for a good cause.
Could the minister tell the House when he’s going to table some information from the Cape Dorset pilot project and the Nunavut Status of Women’s Council Report that he referred to his last answer?
The Homelessness Initiative Program “In My Room” from Cape Dorset is publicly available; it has been released, there have been some media connections on it. So that is widely available.
The study undertaken by the Nunavut Status of Women’s Council on women and homelessness, that report has also been complete. Maybe if you could go to the Office of the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Status of Women’s Council, you would be able to access that file.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for telling me where that information is.
Mr. Speaker, the minister has recently had plans to meet with the federal minister to talk about homelessness issues in Nunavut and across the country, and other issues as well.
I wonder if the minister could update the House on the outcome of that meeting with the federal minister.
Minister responsible for Homelessness, Minister Picco.
I wasn’t able to follow through on our meeting with the minister. Through the Canadian Ministers’ Council of Education we have been attempting to meet with Minister Finley. Right now, we are actually scheduled sometime early in the new year to meet with the federal minister.
Please note that the Question Period is now over.
Tabled Document 184 – 2(3): NLCA Annual Report 2001-04 (Okalik)
Tabled Document 185 – 2(3): Ministerial Travel Expenses – Fiscal Year Ending 2005-06 (Okalik)
I wish to table two documents: the first one being an agreement, NLCA Annual Report 2001-04, and the other: Ministerial Travel Expenses for Fiscal Year ending 2005-06.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Premier.
Please bring the documents to the table.
Tabled Document 186 – 2(3): Let’s Listen to Kids!
– Domestic Violence (Peterson)
I would like to table a document a poster I referred to in my member’s statement. This prize winning poster is from the Kitikmeot Kids Speak and it’s entitled: Let’s Listen to Kids!
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Can the member please provide the tabled document to the Clerk’s table?
Tabled Document 187 – 2(3): Piliriqatigiinngniq – Working Together for the Common Good/Health Integration Project in Nunavut (Aglukkaq)
I would like to table the following documents: Piliriqatigiinngniq: Working Together for the Common Good/Health Integration Initiative Project in Nunavut as per my Minister’s Statement.
Tabled Document 188 – 2(3): Food Mail Contract (Barnabas)
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): I wish to table, from one of my constituents in Resolute Bay, a letter that was written by the federal government minister in regard to the new contract with the Food Mail Program and awarding the contract to First Air.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the Food Mail Program is to ensure that northerners receive nutritious foods at affordable prices. I encourage members of the public to make their views known on this important issue.
Tabled Document 189 – 2(3): FPT Sports and Physical Activity Report (Tapardjuk)
I wish to table the following document, the Federal/Provincial and Territorial Physical Activity report.
Tabled Document 190 – 2(3): Email from Michael Sanagan Dated September 19, 2002 (Tootoo)
I’d like to table a document. It’s a copy of an email between Norma Lafergy from KBDC and Michael Sanagan from Nunavut Business Credit Corporation and in it Mr. Speaker, it says, in part, that we should consider getting Solicitor McNiven to vet this file if no response to letter number two.
Also we can consider the fact that he is a well paid GN employee and consequently set in motion the garnishee process and we can’t afford to write off or ignore this one and in fact we should be very tough given the optics.
This is the disturbing part, Mr. Speaker; he could be one of the southern counter-balances to the file on…indecipherable…. I’d like to table that.
Please have that document brought forward please.
My apologies. (interpretation) Thank you, we’ll deal with it tomorrow.
(interpretation ends) Item 16. Motions. Item 16.
I request of consent of this Assembly to waive the two day notice requirement to allow first reading of Bill 28, Deficit Reduction Act.
The minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62 (1) so that Bill 28…sorry can we get clarification there…so that Bill 28 can have first reading today.
You can proceed, minister.
Bill 28 – Deficit Reduction Act – First Reading
Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit West, that Bill 28, Deficit Reduction Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 28 has had its first reading.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I seek consent from this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. The minister is asking to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 29 can have its first reading.
Bill 29 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – First Reading
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues.
I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. The motion is in order.
Bill 29 has had first reading.
Item. 17.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the one-day notice requirement to allow for second reading of Bill 28, Deficit Reduction Act.
The minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 28 can have second reading today.
There are nays so we can’t proceed.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the one-day notice requirement to allow for second reading of Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 29 can have second reading today.
There are nays so you can’t proceed.
Bills 23, 24, 25, and 26 with Mr. Arreak in the Chair.
(interpretation) Before we proceed, we’ll have a 20-minute break.
>>House recessed at 15:34 and Committee resumed at 16:06
Chairman (Mr. Arreak): I would like to call the committee meeting to order.
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 23, 24, 25, and 26.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We wish to continue with Bill 26 and the review of the Capital Estimates for Cultures, Language, Elders and Youth, followed by the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
If time permits, we will then proceed with the Department of Health and Social Services.
Are we in agreement to continue with Capital Estimates for Culture, Language, Elders and Youth?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Mr. Tapardjuk, do you have witnesses you would like to bring to the table? Mr. Tapardjuk.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, if you would escort the individuals, please.
For the information of the House, would you please introduce your officials.
On my left is David Akeeagok who is the deputy minister, and on my right is David Kolot.
Chairman (interpretation): Welcome. 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.
Members, are there any general comments?
I would like to welcome Mr. Minister, and his officials, and I would like to thank the minister’s department in regard to the heritage centres.
There are going to be small ones opening up in the smaller communities. I would like to thank the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth for giving us the assistance when we were setting it up.
I hope that they give their full support to the other communities.
For the information of the House, as we know there are not enough financial resources available. I keep referring to the elders’ facilities. For example, they need a facility where they can congregate, where they can hold their meetings and where they can go where they can do counselling.
When they’re counselling, they are very helpful to their community.
The elders can be involved in the decision-making of this department. In the High Arctic communities, I would like to make sure that the elders are involved and fully participate when there are meetings.
I would like to urge the minister to make sure that the elders are involved when they’re talking about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and to have adequate financial resources. They are of great value to the community and they are a lot more knowledgeable and a lot wiser than us, the younger generation.
General comments, Mr. Arvaluk.
In general comments, again, I would like to make sure that in 1999 when the government departments were being established, this department was the first one to be established. We were told that the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth at that time when Mr. Kattuk was the minister was set up on its own.
It’s a very important department.
The reason why that is the Inuit out there have respect for this department and he’s very visible to the communities, much more so than the other departments, for example, the Department of Finance. This particular department is a lot more visible and also the Wildlife Department.
I’d like to touch on two issues and one respecting capital estimates.
I used to ask the Department of Human Resources, and I’m not sure who the minister is, but I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.