EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We have various software systems and we hold that kind of training programs.
Since our department awards contracts and they have to learn the process and the financial side.
They also they will have to work on leases and we have to train them for the leasing part of it.
So these are the kinds of training program we will be holding.
Do you know how long the training program will be held for.
As I have stated before they will have on the job training and we feel it is the most appropriate to find out what the staff requires further training on.
I am sure the individuals training will vary from individual to individual.
In regards to the computer training program and I am sure we will be training them on the necessary skills.
So we have a training program for each individual staff.
Question 581 - 1(3): Next Phase for P3 Projects
I will be directing to the Minister of P3 Mr. Ng. Last week Qikiqtaaluk Corporation signed a partnership agreement for the P3 projects. Since that have already been signed what is the next phase.
Mr. Speaker I indicated during Committee of the Whole when the Department of Finance is up.
The next phase is for the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation and the other two birthright corporations in the other two regions to undertake the work that is detailed in the reimbursement agreement.
This is additional planning and studies to allow a decision to be put together on whether or not or when to proceed on those projects.
The other two hospitals are included in the budget.
Mr. Speaker when are your going to start working on the design of the hospitals.
Mr. Speaker I think the Member may be incorrect.
There is no capital dollars for the facilities.
However, having said that a lot is going to depend when the development corporation reports back work that they are going to undertake.
As I indicated earlier some of the planning requirements to bring it up to a point a decision paper can be made on when or whether or not to proceed on all three projects.
Although you stated that there is no capital budget for those three projects.
How are going to pay for the work for the three P3 facilities.
Mr. Speaker as I just indicated earlier in the response to the member.
There is a reimbursement agreement that the government has signed off to the birthright corporation.
There are dollars that I indicated with the Department of Finances budget in the operations & maintenance section.
Corporate services I believe.
For reimbursement for P3 initiatives on the operating and maintaining side.
There are three regions that are going to be involved in P3.
Perhaps this is not a directed to this question.
I just wanted to find out under P3 that Department of Health and Social Services put into this project.
Right now the Department of Health is putting zero into the projects.
Question 582 - 1(3): Inukshuk High School Gym Repairs
Mr. Speaker as I stated earlier in this session there was some problems with the high school gym.
I would like to ask the Minister if he could provide the status on where things are with the repair of it.
Mr. Speaker the floor was damaged by water.
That it is being planned for repair immediately, as soon as possible.
There are discussions between Public Works and Education to get that floor replaced.
However because of the 100 thousand dollars deducible in the insurance I am told that it will not probably covered by the insurance.
The second part from the staff level I am told that there has been discussions regarding whether the composite material will be used for the floor or the wood.
The composite material I guess in English is called linoleum.
And for the Arctic Winter Games and the timing to replace the floor for the Arctic Winter Games but discussions are on right now on the timing to replace the floor for the Arctic Winter Games would be better spent.
But that is only at a preliminary discussions stage at the staff level.
We do not really know what the price difference would be.
That is the status today.
I like to thank the Minister for the update.
Further I am just wondering if he has received any comments or concerns from the either the high school or the DEA at which I was at a meeting the other night.
They were very concerned at the fact that they would be taking out the hard floor replacing it with a linoleum one.
I am just wondering if the Minister received any concerns in that regard.
Hon. James Arvaluk: Not to my knowledge.
I have not received anything, Mr. Speaker.
Another question in regards to the floor.
The Minister indicated he was not sure of the costs.
Differences in replacing the hard floor and putting a linoleum floor down.
I am wondering who has, whether it is the Department of Education or right now the District Education Council or the school, who has the responsibility and budget allocation to maintain that facility.
Until July 1 the Divisional Board is still responsible for the maintenance through Public Works.
And that there also have been discussions because it is water damage, whether they should be considered as an operations & maintenance repair for replacing the floor or capital for a new construction of the floor because it is not a renovation.
So I could update the member better once the respective departments have a better understanding as to where we should go from here.
Final Supplementary.
Mr. Speaker maybe I will just ask the Minister through the formula that exists to the schools and DEAs.
Are they funded for the maintenance of their facility.
For the regular operation and maintenance, yes they are.
For extraordinary costs such as this one probably will have to come to the department.
Question 583 - 1(3): Disease Diagnosis Problems
I want to continue my line of questioning from yesterday to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
There were questions posed to the Minister this morning and he seemed eager to answer.
I would like to ask him about the shortage of nurses and the doctors.
Yesterday I asked him a question about the nurse’s role in diagnosing patients.
Nurses, we are told, are difficult to find.
Is this situation still the same.
Is it still difficult to recruit nurses to the north.
Speaker: Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker first I would like to thank the Member for his questions yesterday because it raised some very good areas of concern.
We are waiting for copies of the Hansard to review the questions and answers to make sure that we are accurate in our responses.
I will try Mr. Speaker as I tried over the last several weeks to keep my answer short and to the point.
We have had problems like other jurisdictions in Canada in recruiting nurses and that is one of the reasons why Mr. Speaker we put in different incentives including the nursing bonus and also the Najaat team which is an internal retention program.
There is a shortage of nurses in Canada and we have to recruit our nurses from Canada and elsewhere like Australia.
We have done that type of recruiting.
So Mr. Speaker, yes there are concerns with hiring of nurses.
Not specifically just for Nunavut but for many other jurisdictions in Canada.
I thank the Minister for his response.
So, because it is very difficult to recruit nurses, if for example a nurse is not doing his or her job properly, should we ignore that now.
Can we no longer take corrective measures because of the shortage.
First I just wanted to make sure I understood the question properly.
I think everyone in this House realizes that our nurses are working 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week, they are always on call.
I do not think there is anyone in this House that questions their dedication or their honesty or their work ethic.
Mr. Speaker, so if the question is should we recruit nurses to replace the nurses that we have here Mr. Speaker, what we are trying to do is, as the Member knows is actually that we started with Mr. Arvaluk’s first Inuit Nursing program in the North actually in Canada.
Hopefully we will have other nurses, that does not Mr. Speaker, question the dedication or the professionalism of the people that we have in place at the present time.
I know very well that they are working extremely hard.
My reasoning behind the questioning is, again I know that they work very hard but my point is sometimes patients are left in the communities and not sent out for further tests or treatment until it is too late when the disease has progressed too far.
Perhaps if they had taken care of properly earlier would have been treatable.
We are losing lives, our people’s lives are being lost, our people are dying although it is said that there is proper care given.
Sometimes we Inuit are treated differently just because we are Inuit.
That is why I am questioning how we can improve the services.
Our fellow Inuit, our elders are dying at an alarming rate.
This winter alone a large number died in Hall Beach, perhaps because of improper care.
That is why I am asking these questions, to see how we can get better care from our caregivers.
Speaker: Minister responsible for Health and Social Services Mr. Picco.
Mr. Speaker the Member brings a very difficult issue to address in this forum and I will try to address it by saying Mr. Speaker that the nurses that we have all of our medical professionals Mr. Speaker, are certified and gone through the Universities.
Mr. Speaker they are professionals in every sense of the word.
Mr. Speaker my family uses the health care centres, the hospital as well the Members everyone in this House.
I can not question the diagnoses that have been made on individuals unless I have the specifics on a specific case in this forum.
I do know Mr. Speaker there have been some concerns in the member’s community and other communities with the diagnoses and some of the things that have happened.
Mr. Speaker I can not question those types of diagnoses unless it has been brought to the attention with a specific case.
Question 584 - 1(3): Iqaluit Break Water
Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister responsible for Transportation.
Mr. Speaker through the community consultation process and as well, constituency meetings here in Iqaluit, one of the main issues that has been brought up are capital projects.
I believe it was a number one issue in the overall consultation process for all the communities.
Mr. Speaker in Iqaluit the issues that were raised regarding some particular projects or things in Town were raised by some of the long term Inuit that have boats and go out on the Bay quite a bit in the summer time.
Their concerns were for the need for lighting down at the breakwater beach area.
That it was not a very well lit area and you know there is some potential danger there as a result due to the large number of boats that we are seeing.
More and more people are moving into town and more and more people are having boats.
It is becoming very congested.
Another concern that they raised was the state the breakwater has had some ice damage and things going on there they would like to see repaired.
As well as a proper stairs or something a way to access the breakwater regardless of where the tide is at.
I know when the tide is out it is rather a high drop there.
I know the Honourable Member has a boat himself and probably fully aware of the situation.
I just like to ask if the department is planning to take a look addressing these concerns over the next year.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I think this is a concern for many the communities and of course we are wanting to do more, of course with the involvement of the communities.
Whether it is the Hamlets communities outside of Iqaluit or the Town Council so we will be having discussions on the issue of dockage for the communities that do not have it.
But at the same time there were breakwater projects that were initiated by the process government.
However in that same project what was not taken into account and therefore it was not budgeted, is the issue of dock lighting and street lighting for a lack of a better definition.
So on the issue of lighting that would be the responsibility of the Town.
However I would like to inform the Honourable Member and the people of Nunavut that we will be having further discussions on the issue of docks and how we can better plan to build docks in the communities that need it.
As well as what should be included in the project whether street lighting should be included in the project in building a dock in any community.
Again that will be further discussions with the Hamlet and the Hunters and Trappers Associations.
Mr. Speaker I realise and appreciate the Minister comment and the fact that they will consult with the Municipalities and Hamlet and HTOs in the communities to properly address the needs and requirements the communities feel they need with what goes along with a breakwater.
I guess I am just wondering these issues were raised I think not more or less as a something that they want to see out of the concern for safety.
I am just wondering if the Minister could take a look at what the damage is going on there and some of that stuff that may be immediate safety hazards that may be occurring down at the breakwater that's there right now.
Yes, we will look into the issue because I know that with the waves most of the breakwaters get destroyed.
For example in Chesterfield Inlet the breakwater is slowly eroding because of the waves and so on.
We are also going to be consulting with the community so that they can be full participants and decide on where they are going to locate the breakwater and to set up the communities.
So the community leaders, the Hamlet Councils or the HTOs are consulted before the building of the breakwater we will have detailed discussions with these organizations in the year 2000.
Final Supplementary, Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that and I agree that's another way that people of Nunavut would like to see more openness and accessibility of the government, that's another notch for incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into policies and procedures of the government.
I would like to ask the minister if he could ask his department to specifically meet with the HTO here in town and the municipality here in town to see if there are any urgent safety issues that may need to be addressed specifically with the breakwater.
The member just suggested something that is why I was laughing, sorry.
Yes I will be having discussions with the mayors here next week and that's just one of the issues but I will commit to having a meeting with the Hunters' and Trappers' Association and the Municipality on this issue within the near future.
Question 585 – 1(3): Progress on Housing Issue
I wish to ask the following questions.
On the consultation tour that we had, I would like to direct this question to the Minister for Housing.
There were concerns raised in regards to housing during the consultation tour and there is a very high demand in some communities, and less in other communities.
What are you going to be doing with this issue.
When we were doing the consultation tour, we made notes of the specific concerns, especially with housing.
We compiled the data and the concerns and questions that were raised during the tour.
We are trying to look at solutions to the concerns that were tabled by the people of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the Task Force has done an excellent job and they know exactly what the concerns of the people are.
We have also reviewed the recommendations that were made by the Task Force and some of the issues are addressed, and possibly solutions are going to resolution.
We are working on both the data that was compiled and also at the recommendations of the Task Force.
Supplementary question.
I understand the response.
We made a statement that we would be building 100 houses in the year 2000.
The number of houses were distributed to the Nunavut communities and we made a decision of how many houses are going to be built per community.
Have there been any changes to the plans that we put together.
We have not made any changes.
Like I said, the 100 houses that we are going to be building, the number hasn't changed and at this time we are just following through with the recommendations that were made.
How many houses are going to be built per community.
So there has been no changes made to the recommended number of houses that are going to be built per community.
I think I answered his question already. I said there are no changes.
Mr. Puqiqnak I apologize for missing you earlier.
Question 586 – 1(3): Capital Plan for Natillik Riding
Mr. Speaker, I have a question that I will direct to the Minister of Community Government & Transportation.
My two communities that I represent, for the 1998/99 budget, in the five-year capital plan, I do not see my two communities in this plan.
For examples in 1998/99 there was supposed to be a fire hall that should have been completed in the year 2000.
That has been deferred again to another date.
It was supposed to have been completed in the year 1999.
Why is it Mr. Speaker, that his department made that decision.
Are we going to be seeing anything done this year.
The money that was slotted for that year is no longer being used.
The Government of the Northwest Territories made the five-year capital plans but when we were planning for the creation of the Nunavut government some of the projects were deferred or deleted.
We have not forgotten the requests that were made by the community, but because of the deferral it is not in the capital plan.
There is the fire hall that has to be built and I would like to assure the member that we will not forget the plans and the capital projects that were deferred.
We make funding proposals to the Federal Government, but to date we have not yet received a dollar figure.
There are also the issues of transportation and fire halls that are funded by the Federal Government, and we are going to try and keep doing that.
I am sure that we will not be able to get all the projects but we will be getting some.
To the member we will be working on those facilities, but I want to assure the member that they have not been forgotten.
In regards to the fire hall that was just an example that I used.
The member stated that he is looking at the year 2000 to have some of the projects built.
Are you going to keep us up to date as to when you get the response from the Federal Government and let us know whether there is going to be any money for our fire hall for the upcoming year.
Because of course, when there is an emergency issue we have to deal with that right away.
At this time when it is a safety issue or health related we have to deal with the project right away.
I will look into this issue and take it as notice and give you a response when I get the information.
For example if we are talking about the fire hall, we have to look at the location of where the project will be built so that it will be in a proper location.
We will look into this issue and give you an appropriate response to your question.
Thank you to the minister for his response and his department.
He will be going into my riding sometime this month and I know that at that point we will have a meeting in one of my communities when he visits the Nattilik riding.
I urge him to take along his colleagues from the Cabinet because they have not gone to visit my communities.
This is just a comment, not a question.
Members I am trying to be fair to those that have not had a question yet, so we know you are on the list.
Mr. Mr. Alakannuark I believe this is his first question of the morning.
Question 587 – 1(3): Capacity of Pelly Bay Tank Farm
I will be directing my question to the Minister responsible for Petroleum Products.
In Pelly Bay in one of my constituencies the heating fuel tanks, since we get our heating fuel transported by ships, I was wondering if our heating fuel tank is going to be large enough to last for the winter.
I was going to reply and I almost forgot what his question was.
Yes, in regards to Petroleum Products, we are monitoring the rate of consumption of fuel, we monitor it daily.
In the Kitikmeot we have staff, Brent Boddy, and I am sure that everyone knows him.
He monitors the fuel that is left behind and if the fuel is consumed we would have to order it by plane, but I did not quite understand his question.
Is he saying that if the fuel tank is large enough to last for the whole winter or is he saying the tank is getting too small or are they running out of fuel.
Speaker: Supplementary, Mr. Alakannuark.
That fuel tank was built in the early 1990's.
At that time it was getting too small and there are times that all the heating fuel is depleted by the time the ship arrives to refuel the tank.
So my question is, do you have any plans to put in an additional fuel tank.
In the budget, although it was approved for Pelly Bay, I do not know what it contains.
So I will take your question as notice and reply to you later on, but I know that the communities, if there is going to be a shortage of fuel, we already do work on those.
Mr. Speaker, I have to go make a phone call, I have to leave the House.
I am not trying to get away from the members but I have to go make a short phone call if it is okay.
(interpretation ends) I have to make a call, and I think I need to do that so just to say for the member that I will update him on what the situation is on Pelly Bay and to detail.
I would just like to apologize to the members that I just have to go out and attend to this matter right now.
Question 588 – 1(3): Dogs Killed in Arctic Bay
Mr. Speaker, under Members' Statements, I made a statement in regards to one of my communities, where dogs had been killed off..(interpretation ends)…the Honourable Minister of Sustainable Development, Mr. Kilabuk.
I would like to know if the minister is aware of an issue that recently occurred in Arctic Bay where the local Department of Sustainable Development official killed dogs belonging to one of my constituents.
Yes, I am aware that in his community of Arctic Bay there have been four dogs shot because they were concerned that the dogs might have some kind of illness.
The dogs were losing weight at a rapid rate and we were quite concerned about the four dogs.
We are still monitoring that and since he was concerned about the four dogs that are why he shot them.
However, I cannot tell you if that Renewable Resource Officer shot those dogs himself.
Yes, I myself don't know personally if the Renewable Resource Officer shot them, but I am not too sure what the real reasoning is for shooting the four dogs, because I was here during the Legislative Assembly.
However, if there was a study done on that, or if there is going to be a study done, I would like to know the results.
Perhaps if the minister had responded to some of the questions that I had asked, it could have various reasons.
I am requesting that the minister gives me a copy of the findings of the study on those dogs.
Yes, we are very concerned about that.
Under the Wildlife Act our Renewable Resource Officer is not responsible for that but usually the Renewable Resource Officer will help in the community when these types of emergencies occur.
This is under review now and they are working on that to see if we have to send specimens out and right now in Greenland the dogs are experiencing the same kind of illness, so we are quite concerned about that.
We are now working on the vaccinations for these dogs.
Once the results come in I will give the member a copy.
Question 589 – 1(3): Docking Facilities
In regards to the breakwaters, I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Transportation.
In some communities there are no docking facilities.
Are you going to consider putting docking facilities in those communities that do not have one.
Speaker: Minister Anawak.  Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
When I was living in Rankin Inlet we got a docking facility because it is very important for the hunters to have a docking facility and especially when you are a boat owner.
If it is possible to find dollars we would like to build docking facilities in all the communities that do not have docking facilities because it is so beneficial to the hunters.