EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
For that reason, the federal government has to continue the support of health initiatives and the federal government is still responsible for the health care of the Inuit.
If you recall, the C. D. Howe medical ship used to come up here and it was the responsibility of the federal government at that time.
It was their fiduciary responsibility. Also, after the Northwest Territories was created, they started thinking that they could take on that fiduciary responsibility because we know our people more intimately. Health and social services were part of the transfer when devolution to the NWT occurred.
However, the federal government was to provide ongoing funding.
Within the land claims agreement, there is a provision that states that the federal government is going to continue their fiduciary responsibilities of taking care of the Inuit. Even though the territorial government took on that responsibility, they have to provide their continued services.
Also, we have recognized that the previous federal government had met with all the Premiers of the provinces, including the leaders of aboriginal organizations.
At that time, they set up $5.8 billion, I believe.
I can’t remember exactly how much it was, but it was to recognize the fact that health care for First Nations and Inuit has to improve.
They need to provide nursing and a health care system and preventative health care, so they had to provide adequate funding to have a good system.
It’s the federal government’s fiduciary responsibility to continue with the treaty and the agreement rights, as this is part of Canada’s legislation under the Constitution.
I believe we have to remind the federal government of their fiduciary duties every so often. Therefore, I will be in support of this motion.
I would also like to thank Mr. Okalik and Mr. Curley for this motion.
Does the mover of the motion have any last reply? Mr. Okalik.
Prior to this Third Assembly, I was involved in the government. Practically on a daily basis, we had to get supplemental funding to keep the health department operating. I did not want to see this recur for our government.
I will support this and further urge all the members to support this motion. This can provide a lot of good assistance and benefits to Nunavut residents. I would like to see the continued support for the health system sustainability initiative.
Due to that reason, I also request to have a recorded vote on this motion.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Okalik.
All those in favour, please stand and sit down when I call your name. Please stand.
The vote is carried unanimously.
Bills 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 with Mr. Schell in the Chair.
Before we proceed with the Committee of the Whole, we will take a lunch break and report back at one o’clock.
>>House recessed at 11:55 and Committee resumed at 13:01
We would like to continue with the review of Bill 8 and the Department of Environment, followed by Nunavut Arctic College, the Department of Health and Social Services, and the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
Are we in agreement to continue with the capital estimates for the Department of Environment?
Chairman: Do you have any witnesses that you would like to bring to the table, Mr. Shewchuk?
For the record, minister, could you introduce your witnesses?
It’s very nice to be here today.
To my right, I have Deputy Minister of Environment Simon Awa, and to my left, I have the Director of Corporate Services, Camilius Egeni, for the Department of Environment.
We will now proceed to the page-by-page review of the departmental estimates starting with page G-3. Environment.
Branch Summary. Program Management. Total Capital Expenditures. $2,160,000.
Chairman: Go back to page G-2. Department Summary.
Environment. Detail of Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $2,160,000.
I tried to get my hand up before everybody agreed to the previous one.
I have just a quick question on G-4.
Just for the record, it states for the community of Sanikiluaq, Park Development, $150,000.
I’m wondering if the minister can state exactly what this money will provide.
Chairman: Sorry, Mr. Rumbolt.
Go ahead, Mr. Shewchuk.
I thank the member for the question. The $150,000 will be spent on a feasibility study which will include the background research that needs to be done, consultation with the hamlet, the HTO, and other appropriate organizations.
We will set up an advisory committee to guide the project, individual entries in public meetings, and we will also commence preliminary investigations on the area’s natural and cultural heritage, its viewscapes, mapping and toponomy, and the wildlife issues.
Mr. Elliott: Mr. Chairman, I have a similar question. Is the $150,000 that is going to Resolute Bay for the same things?
Yes, I would like to state to the member that it is for the same things.
Mr. Elliott: In terms of the park in Resolute Bay being a territorial park, could the minister give an update as to where that park is now?
That might give me a better idea as to the start of the talks of initiating that park, or has it been in the plans for a while?
We are just in the initial phases, and we are communicating and in consultation with the community at this point. It’s a start-up of a territorial park.
Mr. Elliott: Is there an estimated date when the park might be opened?
Through previous and past experiences, it takes approximately two to five years before a park is established, so that’s the timeline that we’re dealing with here, hopefully.
In terms of construction of new wildlife offices, how does your department rank in terms of need for those buildings?
In conjunction with CG&S, we do assess the status and the state of wildlife offices. They are put on a replacement schedule of approximately 25 to 30 years.
In the communications that we’ve had and whatnot, the Resolute Bay HTA is interested in working with your department in moving into that building and sharing space.
Is that something that’s possible in terms of having HTAs work closely with the government department up there?
This is new news to me, but it is my understanding now that CG&S is working with the HTO and this work is ongoing to see if that is feasible or not, if that is the case.
I just wanted to confirm, though, if the HTA wanted to take over a building once a new facility is constructed, we need to contact CGS for that. Is that correct?
That is absolutely correct. It depends on the ownership of the building, but that’s absolutely correct in this case.
I am aware that CG&S is working with the HTO on this.
Before we conclude the department’s capital estimates, I have a question for the hon. minister.
It’s pertaining to the Kugaaruk Park Development Project.
My question is according to the research and I also have a personal question; I have my own question as well.
It is regarding whether a proper protocol was followed.
I don’t believe the community was probably consulted.
Your department’s 2008-09 capital estimates included $600,000 in funding for the Kugaaruk Park Development Project.
However, Mr. Minister, a concern has been raised during the Legislative Assembly’s consideration of this project with respect to a proposed area being leased by prospectors.
Now, that’s where I have a question of whether or not proper protocols were followed.
My question is this, Mr. Chairman: what is the status of this project and what was the $100,000, which was approved for this project earlier this year for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, used for?
I would like to advise the member that we have a good relationship with the community of Kugaaruk and are moving towards this regard in the park and our department is working very closely with them on community consultations.
The status, with community input, is that we are waiting for lands that have claims on them right now, the lands that the community has identified that they would like to use in the set-up of this park.
So we are waiting until those leases expire before we can acquire them through INAC and we are working with INAC in that regard.
I assure the member that we are in very close communication with the community.
My question is: when do you think the area that is still under inactivity, according to the licence that was issued… ?
When will the particular area where people are prospecting or doing their activities be over so that we can then start working for the project for Kugaaruk?
To answer the member’s question, as I stated before, we are working very closely with the community. The land that the community wants has not been definitely established yet.
However, once this is done, we will be working with INAC to acquire those lands once these leases come up and INAC has agreed to work with us on that too. So that’s where it’s at.
My final question to the minister: when will the lease be up for the next potential client, like Kugaaruk, for park development?
That’s a very difficult question to answer. What we need to define is the land that the community wants included and then once we have that definite, we can move forward.
We don’t know exactly when that will be.
In recent years, the number of people coming north to search for the remains of the Franklin Expedition has increased. There has been a lot of international attention paid to this part of the northern history.
I noted that the Department of Environment has included $5,000 in funding for the Northwest Passage Trail Development Project.
Under the department’s small capital projects for 2010-11, $50,000 was approved earlier this year for the department’s 2009-2010 capital estimates.
Can the minister provide more detail on the scope and status of this project?
The development activities here are identified and supported in the Northwest Passage Park Plan and this will apply to establishing the Gjoa Haven interpretive trail design and interpretation. That’s what the monies are for.
Before I ask my other question, I would like to welcome Uriash Puqiqnak and Andre Kamookak from my home community of Gjoa Haven. Welcome to the Gallery.
Can the minister explain the process of which people from outside of Nunavut apply for permits to travel to Nunavut to search for the remains of the Franklin Expedition?
Those permits are designated through the Department of CLEY.
The community of Gjoa Haven has been asking and requesting that perhaps a museum be built in the community due to an increasing number of cruise ships arriving each summer.
If the minister perhaps can tell me that they would look into this in the near future for a museum to be built.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Pauloosie. Mr. Shewchuk.
Again, that’s under the mandate of the Department of CLEY. However, I do think it’s important to promote tourism in Nunavut and we would work closely with CLEY to identify any special areas that may exist too.
I do understand where the member is coming from and I think we have to do better in that regard, but it is the Department of CLEY that would be responsible for that too.
I guess there are no more questions. We will go back to… .
Sorry? Mr. Aupaluktuq, sorry.
I would like to welcome the hon. minister and his officials back as well.
In regard to page G-4, the Thelon-Kazan Heritage River development, I would like to know what the present status on this project is. I would like to ask the minister or his officials if they could please provide me with an update and what are the next steps.
There is already a management plan for the Thelon and Kazan Heritage Rivers.
They were developed in 1990 and were approved by the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board as river designation documents. A 10-year review on the management plan was completed in November of 2000 in which residents of Baker Lake, industry, and others were consulted.
It is DOE’s intention that once Heritage Rivers IIBA negotiations are concluded and following full consultations, recommendations from the 10-year review and any additions arising from negotiations, consistent with Article 8.4.14 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, will be incorporated into the revised management plan.
We will go back to J-3. Program Management.
Total Capital Expenditures. $2,160,000.
We will go back to page J-2.
Chairman: Does the committee agree that the Department of Environment is concluded?
Does the minister have any closing comments?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes.
I would like to thank all of the Members of the House and all of my colleagues for the great questions that were asked and the support for the Department of Environment to moving on and making this wonderful territory a better and more beautiful place to live.
I would like to thank my witnesses for being with me here today and all of my staff for the hard work they have put into this planning stage and into their work within the department.
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Nunavut Arctic College – Consideration in Committee
I would now like Minister Shewchuk of Nunavut Arctic College to make his opening remarks.
Good afternoon. Welcome to the Chair.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here today to present and discuss the proposed 2010-11 capital plan for Nunavut Arctic College.
Our core business is training for employment.
Building self-reliance through training and employment is our goal.
Nunavut Arctic College’s roots are in the community learning centres. This capital plan includes the warranty funding for the new community learning centre in Pond Inlet.
Students and staff have moved in and the programs have started. The new Pond Inlet CLC will support non-technical training for the Mary River mining project.
A new community learning centre is also being constructed in Qikiqtarjuaq. However, the new CLC for Qikiqtarjuaq is not included in this capital plan.
This capital plan also provides funding for the initial planning for three new community learning centres. Community learning centres will be planned for Grise Fiord, Whale Cove, and Iqaluit.
With the completion of these three projects, there will be a community learning centre in every community in Nunavut.
Nunavutmiut wishing to take career training programs not available in their home community are accommodated in our regional campuses at Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet, and Iqaluit.
This plan provides for the final warranty on the new student family housing and daycare in Iqaluit.
The housing is already occupied and the students are very happy.
I had the pleasure of touring the project while it was under construction.
All of us have been eagerly awaiting the major expansion in trades training.
The trades training centre being constructed in Rankin Inlet will enable more Nunavutmiut to take apprenticeship training in Nunavut. Phase 1 will enable Nunavutmiut to take the initial two levels of apprenticeship training for oil burner mechanic, electrical, and plumbing. This is in addition to two levels of housing maintainer already available in Rankin Inlet and four levels of carpentry already available in Iqaluit.
We look forward to the official opening of the Nunavut Trades Training Centre in the fall of 2010. This capital plan also provides for the initial planning of phase 2 of the trades training centre.
Trades training phase 2 is intended to train heavy duty and auto mechanics and heavy equipment operators needed by the mining industry.
Mining is becoming a major employer in Nunavut. A mine training centre is proposed as the core of a new consolidated Kitikmeot Campus in Cambridge Bay.
The centre will train mine workers, millwrights, and welders. This capital plan provides for funding for the project to proceed to the project brief stage.
I would also like to draw your attention to two important capital projects which are not part of this plan.
In March, Nunavut Arctic College received approval for up to $11 million from the federal Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund for the replacement of the old headquarters of the Nunavut Research Institute in Iqaluit.
For over 30 years, the Nunavut Research Institute has provided multidisciplinary scientific support for fieldwork and licensing. This funding will replace the old facility with two new buildings on the same site that will be larger, more modern, and more energy efficient.
They will enable NRI to expand its current research activities and services in the health, natural, and social sciences.
Last month, we received approval for the Cyber Infrastructure Project with $2.2 million from the federal Knowledge Infrastructure Program and $2.76 million from the Government of Nunavut. This project will improve telecommunications connectivity and create the communication network that will make online learning and research accessible to Nunavutmiut in all 25 communities.
These two projects are being managed for the college by the Department of Community and Government Services. Both projects must be complete by March 31, 2011.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here today to discuss Nunavut Arctic College’s capital plan for 2010-11 and the subsequent four years.
These are critical government investments in training Nunavutmiut for employment. I welcome your questions and advice.
(interpretation ends) Members, we apologize for having a delay in delivering you the goods before you.
For the record, Minister Shewchuk, please introduce your witness.
I would like to introduce to the House Mr. Dan Vandermeulen, President of the Nunavut Arctic College.
Does the Chair of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts have any comments?
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts as the Committee of the Whole begins its consideration of Nunavut Arctic College’s proposed 2010-11 capital estimates.
This is the second fiscal year in which Nunavut Arctic College’s capital estimates have been presented for the capital budget review process as a distinct entity, separate from the Department of Education. Nunavut Arctic College’s proposed capital budget for 2010-11 is $1.1 million, which is significantly less than the college’s 2009-2010 capital budget, which was over $19 million.
The college’s proposed capital budget for 2010-11 includes funding for the three major projects which accounted for the majority of the college’s 2009-2010 budget and which are currently in their final stages of completion: the Pond Inlet Community Learning Centre, the Rankin Inlet Trades School and the college’s new student accommodation project in Iqaluit.
The committee is pleased to note that the new Pond Inlet Community Learning Centre is already open and ready for business. Members urge the government to work closely with non-governmental organizations and other entities, such as mining companies, to ensure that the appropriate types and levels of training are delivered at our community learning centres in a timely manner in order to enable community residents to take advantage of upcoming employment opportunities.
It is vitally important that the necessary staff are hired at the earliest opportunity to deliver work-related programs out of this newly constructed facility.
Mr. Chairman, Nunavut’s community learning centres play a critical role in addressing poverty and many other social issues within our communities. Through the provision of opportunities for basic educational upgrading, as well as training and preparation for career-orientated programs, the community learning centre is a key facility for every single one of Nunavut’s communities.
Mr. Chairman, members of the standing committee recognize that some community learning centres have been successfully integrated within other community infrastructure. For example, the school expansion project in Qikiqtarjuaq will include a community learning centre component once it is complete.
However, it is important that the delivery of adult education programs out of facilities such as schools is not threatened by other aspects of population growth, such as a rise in the school population and the growing need for classroom space.
This has, in the past, proved to be a problem in some communities and members urge the minister and his officials to closely monitor changes in community populations and how the delivery of adult education services is affected.
The college’s capital plan identifies three communities in which new community learning centres will be established; Grise Fiord, Whale Cove, and Iqaluit.
However, the 2010-11 capital budget only allocates funding for the planning of a new community learning centre in the community of Grise Fiord.
While this project proposes to renovate the current hamlet office for adult education purposes, the standing committee recommends that the college work closely with the Department of Community and Government Services to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays due to the construction of the community’s new hamlet office complex.
While the committee recognizes that renovations to convert an existing building into a community learning centre may, in this climate of fiscal restraint, result in some short-term cost savings, members caution the minister that converting an aging community infrastructure into a community learning centre may not be a sound long-term investment.
Members are of the view that the government should focus more of its current efforts and resources towards strengthening community-based adult education services and recommend that other proposed new community learning centre projects are brought forward in the capital plan.
Members have noted that the new student accommodations in Iqaluit have already begun to accept Nunavut Arctic College students. At the same time, many college students are still being accommodated at the Federal Road residence and in privately leased units.
Although having new Nunavut Arctic College housing units has improved the housing situation for many students, there are ongoing concerns with the quality of housing in leased units.
Members urge the minister and his officials to give careful consideration to the conditions of new accommodation arrangements when current leases come to an end.
Mr. Chairman, the Nunavut Trade School in Rankin Inlet will be opening its doors in less than a year and members look forward to their invitations to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The college’s capital plan indicates that phase two of the trades school project, which incorporates the acquisition of heavy equipment, will get underway in 2013-14.
In recent years, the trade school project also funded two trades components in the communities of Cambridge Bay, for a mine training lab, and in Iqaluit, for a carpentry workshop.
Committee members were surprised to note that the mine training component of this project has now changed into a separate and independent mine training centre project for 2010-11 to be located in Cambridge Bay.
Members have also noted with concern that although the 2010-11 capital estimates were not introduced until the Legislative Assembly reconvened on November 24, there have been reports in the news media in recent months which have indicated that planning has been underway for what is being described as a “new college campus” for Cambridge Bay.
On a final note, Mr. Chairman, the standing committee is pleased that Nunavut Arctic College has been able to take advantage of not one but two federal funding opportunities. One is for the construction of a new Nunavut Research Institute here in Iqaluit and one is for upgrading the college’s cyber infrastructure network across its facilities and which will allow for additional activities such as distance learning education opportunities at community learning centres.
Committee members would welcome the opportunity to support the college in its efforts to secure additional infrastructure funding, specifically for the building of new community learning centre projects.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2010-11 Capital Estimates of Nunavut Arctic College. I am confident that my colleagues will wish to offer further comments of their own.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Shell.
Mr. Keith Peterson.
Committee Motion 003 – 3(2): Addition of $50,000 to the 2010-2011 Capital Estimates of Nunavut Arctic College (Peterson)