EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In most cases, Mr. Speaker, when there is a dispute between the regional operations, the case of operations, or in this case the Regional Operations Office, that information can be provided logistically as well as administratively to the Minister of Education. But again, we haven’t had that situation where DEAs have resigned and so on.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Just to remind members that all questions that may be deemed hypothetical are questions that I have a final say at, not my staff. So please make no comments to my staff and the questions being asked.
Third and final supplementary, Mr. Peterson.
The minister is correct; the DEA has not resigned yet. But I understand that they have made the decision that the regional school operations didn’t like, and now the DEA is concerned about that.
Mr. Speaker, DEA board members are elected volunteers who devote a lot of free time to education issues and concern. They are not experts on education.
Regional school operations have full-time employees who are experts on the education programs and policies.
Mr. Speaker, will the minister tell the House, should a parent or parents deal directly with the district education authorities, or the regional school operations to get answers to their concerns or issues about the education policies and programs in our communities?
Again, in this situation as the member has outlined that, I think the member has said something to the effect that the DEA has not resigned yet, the serious situation that the member is talking about.
I don’t want to answer in a speculative manner again because this situation hasn’t occurred.
But what I can say is that any dispute resolution mechanism that we can put in place to ensure that the DEA is working cooperatively, not only with the regional services operations office but also with the parents and the staff at the school, then that’s what we try to do. And, that’s a process that we need to put in place.
Question 192 – 2(4): Contractors Using Public Housing Power Outlet (Curley)
I would like to ask this question to the Minister of Energy.
There are things that I have mentioned to the minister that I would like to let the minister know that the contractors for the government... there are a lot of people that do contract work for the government.
When you don’t have the power source to do the construction, they use the public housing tenants’ power.
There was somebody that, a public housing client, had to be ousted from this house because they’re power bill was over $1,000.
His power bill is over $1,000 and he has a lot of children.
He could not find his bills but he knows that it was over $1,000 that he had to pay because the contractor was hooked up to his power.
I wonder how this can be resolved whereby those contractors that used the power from the tenant should be able to pay the tenant for using the power.
In the scenario that the member has just related, that’s illegal. It is against the law. You cannot use social housing unit, for example, and then draw power as a contractor from that unit to supply whatever work that you are doing.
So if the member is aware of this incident having occurred, that is illegal. It could be considered theft. So I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, in this forum, that if the member could make that information be known to us in writing so that we could actually follow it up.
Specifically, Mr. Speaker, on a case like this, it’s a very serious issue that accessing a social housing unit by a private contractor for power use is not acceptable and would be considered theft from the local housing authority.
I thank the Minister of Energy.
This is a bit complex, but I am in the process of writing him a letter. I would like to tell the minister that there is also an individual that is having a problem with the contractors plugging in to their power.
The Power Corporation has the knowledge, although the bill is not as huge as the other individual but they cannot pay for their power because it’s a huge amount.
There are no legal records.
Perhaps the minister, through the Power Corporation, let the public know, especially the contractors, that they are not allowed plug into the public housing electricity and they have to unplug those things that the contractor is charging from borrowing his power.
CGS usually provide contractors, so they should be watching that.
When a contractor is in a community doing work, our communities are not that big and we usually know what is occurring in the communities. So, in cases like this, that should be reported automatically to the local housing association and the Power Corporation.
In the member’s case, Mr. Speaker, it is very important to point out that we do have a customer service representative in the member’s community. Those types of concerns should be addressed directly to the local office in the community of Rankin Inlet, and we will be following that up to ensure that that information has come forward.
Question 193 – 2(4): Tabling of the 2005-2006 Public Accounts (Tootoo)
Before I direct my question to the Minister of Finance, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome my cousin Jordin Tootoo to the Gallery.
Also, to commend him for the work he is doing with the NorTerra group touring around the communities emphasizing to the young people the importance of education and staying in school and finishing.
So I would like to thank him for that and congratulate him.
The Minister of Energy indicated earlier that sometimes the light doesn’t come on over here.
The brown outs are much more frequent than the people’s view on the other side of the House.
Mr. Speaker, my question for the Minister of Finance is; I know that every year now that the public accounts have been late. I am just wondering if you can give us an indication as to when the 2005-06 Public Accounts are going to be tabled. I think we’ve been asking about that for a while.
I think there was an early indication that they were hoping to be able to table during this sitting. So is he expecting to do that?
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I am sorry, I am catching a cold.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the 2005-06 Public Accounts have been in a near final state since January of this year. Near final state since January of this year but has yet to be finalized and will be backdoor tabled as soon as they’re available.
The main reason for this is because of a new accounting standard for 2005-06 that requires the Nunavut Housing Corporation to include the audited financial statements of all 25 local housing organizations in its own statements.
It is very complex and difficult; much more complex and difficult than we thought, however, we’re working very closely with the staff of the Office of the Auditor General, the Housing Corporation, and our own Comptrollership Branch.
We will continue working collaboratively with the territorial corporations to further improve our accounting and reporting processes with the Office of the Auditor General to further improve the audit process.
Near final since January.
I am wondering if the minister could be more specific as to... he said as soon as possible, as soon as possible. We always hear as soon as possible. Can he give a more clear indication of... he indicated they’re going to be backdoor tabled, so that indicates that they’re not going to be tabled during this sitting, but is it one week away, two weeks away, six months away; if we can get a clear indication.
Hon. David Simailak: The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s financial statements, again, appeared close to being finalized with just a few remaining items to be reconciled with the Office of the Auditor General.
I can’t give a definitely indication of which week or which date they can be backdoor tabled, but as I said we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to complete this work to both their and our satisfaction.
I think they’d have some idea of roughly how long it’s going to take to get that done. Given that, I’m very much eager looking forward to the Public Accounts being tabled, because one of the things that I enjoy every year, I know my standing committee enjoys every year is reviewing the Report of the Auditor General and other matters. That’s being delayed now, too, because the Public Accounts haven’t been tabled.
Again, I ask the minister is it something that he expects within a month, or within two months, this spring, or over the summer? If he can give us some kind of an idea of when then that’ll give us an idea of when we can expect the report and other matters as well.
For the 2005-06 Public Accounts the un-audited, non-consolidated, or interim financial statements were completed, and tabled on time in September 2006 for the first time ever since division.
This, again, was made possible by the financial reporting improvements we put in place over the last 12 months, and also due to the commendable response by all 11 government departments.
In terms of tabling the Public Accounts, again, they’re very close to completion; very close to being finalized, again, with just a few items to reconcile with the Office of the Auditor General.
That should be, I would assume in the very near future, but I will check with my staff and see exactly where we’re on it and report back to the chair of the standing committee.
Question 194 – 2(4): Local Contractor Denied Contract (Barnabas)
First of all, I would like to thank Jordan Tootoo and the Nunasi Corporation for going to my constituency.
The turnout was really great in my community and my constituents have been telling that me that it was really great and the turnout has been really great.
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Nunavut Housing Corporation. The contractors in my constituency, private companies have been trying to get contracts for the units that are coming through the federal program.
They have been told that they have overbid the local contractors and they have been denied their application.
My question is: will those local contractors be subcontracted, or will they utilize the development corporations in the smaller communities?
Nunavut Housing Corporation Minster Mr. Akesuk.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) At this time, we will follow the guidelines to construct units in the communities of Nunavut.
We want to use a standardized guideline and go ahead with the promises of the $200 million funding.
We will utilize the plans and work with the communities and local contractors to make sure they’re involved and get opportunities.
The development corporations and the local contractors when they reviewed their bids, of course, I’m sure that they went beyond the Housing Corporation’s plans, but I know that the program for training that will be done by Nunavut Housing Corporation and Arctic College is now starting to work.
The two entities are now working towards training the youth on career development in constructing these units.
So what is happening with the Nunavut Housing Corporation... and the contractors will be returned to the local housing association.
What is Nunavut Housing Corporation going to be doing with the local contractors overbids?
Minister responsible for Nunavut Housing Corporation. Mr. Akesuk.
The funding has been set, $200 million to build 725 units.
The funding has been budgeted for 725 units; we have budgeted each line item.
We work closely with the Arctic College officials on the training aspect part of it, and yes, our target to construct units with the training involved in the communities, and we will continue with the plan.
We want to follow through with our plans, and also to use that program to teach Inuit people for certification training.
Yes, I know that your department has made good plans. The units that will be allocated in Nunavut, which are 200 units: if the funding was inadequate, will you be cutting the units that were going to be allocated the communities?
Like in my constituency, they will be constructing 26 units in Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay.
Will they be cutting the number of units if the funding was not enough?
Yes, we do not wish to see this occur and we do not wish to cut units.
We are focusing more on ways of how we can construct more units in the communities and save costs.
That is what we are focusing on.
If the plan does not go ahead I am not too sure exactly what would happen but we will follow through with the plans that we have already done for the communities.
Yes, they will be training people during the construction of the units by the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
How many units are you going to be using to train because we are in a dire shortage of our housing?
How many units are you going to be using for training purposes in the community?
And also, how many units will be built by contractors without any training program?
The units that we will be constructing, they have certain number of hours for training programs that will be utilized. The units that will be used for training purposes, we hope to see all the units occur and the training will be to certify individuals while we are constructing 725 units for Nunavut.
I cannot really tell you how many units will be used for the training program but we will have to follow through with the time and the hours that have been scheduled.
Question 195 – 2(4): Health Risk of Black Mold (Peterson)
Mr. Speaker, the issue of mold in our schools and hospitals has been raised a number of times in this House. I understand, in fact, that one’s schools renovation costs have nearly doubled as a result of discovering mold in the walls. The presence of mold in structures such as schools or houses has been linked to a number of health problems such as respiratory illnesses, asthma, and other infections.
My question for the minister: can the minister clarify for the House whether her department works with other government departments such as Community and Government Services or the entities such as the Nunavut Housing Association to investigate and determine whether mold is a health risk in Nunavut Housing units and other structures?
The Department of Health and Social Services, through the Environmental Health Office, provides that service to the communities.
Can the minister indicate whether any studies are surveys have been conducted by her department or by other research units on health outcomes in Nunavut in relation to housing conditions?
I am not aware of the Department of Health conducting a study related to housing situations.
But I think it’s a well-known situation in the north that overcrowding has a number of health determinates that we deal with on a regular basis.
There have been other studies around that, not just in the territory here but through other jurisdictions as well.
We have worked and adapted in the north in developing strategies around prevention.
When I was with the hamlet council in Cambridge Bay, we also discussed the issue of elders and infants with respiratory problems due to poor ventilations in homes; it’s quite a serious issue in our community.
Even earlier this year in January, it was a very serious issue.
Can the minister clarify whether this issue has been raised by her department, and if so, what measures are being taken to address it?
The issue around the respiratory illnesses in the north, we deal with that through trying to educate the parents or individuals in a community on prevention measures.
On one example in the area of respiratory illnesses is smoking in the home. The causes that are seen are in communities are young children, TB and so on.
So we’ve tried to deal with that through public health prevention services and that’s been done through each health center trough the community health representatives, as well as through the departments here in the public health work that we are trying to do that within the department.
I thank the minister again for that answer; I certainly hope that the Department of Health and Social Services, the Housing Corporation, and other government departments are taking it very seriously.
To me, it is a big concern in Nunavut, and I don’t think we’re directing enough resources to the issue.
My question for the minister: will the minister commit to directing officials to study the health risks posed to Nunavummiut as a result of mold, poor ventilation, and other substandard housing conditions?
Keeping people healthy and developing healthy communities is a very broad mandate that involves, not just the Department of Health officials; it involves individuals in a community and various organizations to put in place initiatives to keeping people healthy.
Through the work that we’re undertaking for the Public Health Strategy, we’re looking at some of the health determinants. We’re also involved in a project that is studying the health of people in Nunavut starting this summer.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Aglukkaq. You will note that the Question Period is now over.
Back to Orders of the Day. Item 7.
Returns to Written Questions. (interpretation ends) Item 9. Replies to Opening Address.
Petitions. (interpretation) Item11.
Item 12. (interpretation ends) Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills.
Tabled Document 091 – 2(4): Letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service re. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-month Petition Finding and Proposed Rule to List the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) as Threatened Throughout its Range (Netser)
I wish to table the following document: the Government of Nunavut’s April 6 Submission to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the USFWS re: the list of polar bears “as a threatened species” under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, ESA.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. (interpretation ends) Can we have that document brought forward to the table, please?
(interpretation) Thank you. Item 13. (interpretation ends) Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 092 – 2(4): Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act 2006/07 GN Annual Report on the Administration of the Act (Okalik)
Tabled Document 093 – 2(4): Letter to Nunavut Employees Union on Centralization of Payment Processing - Department of Health and Social Services (Okalik)
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I wish to table the following document: Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the Period of April 1, 2006, to March 31, 2007 Annual Report.
And also, I wish to table a letter to the Nunavut Employees Union on centralizing of Health and Social Services staff. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Premier. (interpretation ends) Can we get that document brought forward to the table, please?
Tabled Document 094 – 2(4): Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting Resolutions 2007 (Curley)
I would like to table a letter from the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce President Ellie Consfield.
It is dated March 28 and it is the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce AGM Resolutions.
Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) Item 14.
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. (interpretation) Sorry.
Minister of CLEY, Minister Tapardjuk.
Bill 06 – Official Languages Act – Notice
I give notice that on Monday, June 4, I will table the following document: I move that Bill 6, Official Languages Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 07 – Inuit Language Protection Act – Notice
I give notice that on Monday, June 4, that Bill 7, Inuit Language Protection Act, be read for the first time.
Item 15. (interpretation ends) Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. (interpretation) Minister of Community and Government Services, Ms. Brown.
Bill 12 – Emergency Measures Act – Notice
I give notice that on Monday, June 4, 2007, that Bill 12, Emergency Measures Act, be read for the first time.
Item 15. (interpretation ends) Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills.
We are going to adjourn for lunch, and we will be back at 1:00 p.m.
>>House recessed at 11:53 and resumed at 13:07
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Members. Welcome back.
Motion 014 – 2(4): Listing of Polar Bears as a Threatened Species (Netser)
WHEREAS the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is considering listing the polar bear as a threatened species, based on studies that are limited in scope, speculative in nature, and do not recognize the health of current polar bear populations;
AND WHEREAS Nunavut has or shares 12 of the 19 populations of polar bears and approximately 65 percent of the polar bears worldwide, and manages them successfully in a sustainable manner;
AND WHEREAS those of us who live and hunt in Nunavut know our polar bears and environment far better than southern organizations and activist groups;
AND WHEREAS Nunavut hunters, elders, and scientists confirm that our polar bears are doing well and their overall population is increasing;
AND WHEREAS listing polar bears as threatened will do nothing to improve a wildlife management system that is one of the best in the world;
AND WHEREAS listing polar bears will seriously curtail a sport hunt that does not take one extra animal out of the annual polar bear quotas;
AND WHEREAS listing polar bears as threatened has the potential to negatively impact Nunavut and Nunavummiut;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Tununiq, that the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut opposes the move of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Before we proceed with the debate on the motion, I have a few comments to make as to the procedures.
Every member has the right to speak once in the motion for a total of 20 minutes.
The mover of the motion speaks first and the seconder speaks second. The mover of the motion has the right to last reply, which closes the debate.
There is a debate taking place in the United States on whether or not polar bears should be listed in the Endangered Species Act as threatened.
It has been an exhaustive debate with many animal rights and environmental groups arguing that for the future health of the species, polar bears must be included in the U.S. legislation in order to be protected.
If we follow in detail the real reasoning behind the listing craze we quite literally see that it truly has nothing to do with the health of the world polar bear population.
It does, however, Mr. Speaker, have to deal with the interests of certain environmentalist groups and wildlife organizations who are using the polar bears as an icon for their own special purposes; mainly to force the U.S. Government to recognize the manifestation of climate change and their urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Why use the polar bear as an icon? The polar bear is perfect to be used as an icon. On one hand it depicts one of the last majestic, wild, free creatures that can survive in the most inhospitable climate.
On the other hand, the polar bear has been depicted as a furry, cuddly stuffed animal that children can take to bed and snuggle while they sleep.
Mr. Speaker, the polar bear has the perfect credentials for environment and animal rights groups to spin a story in whatever direction that best suits their needs and make the sentimental, unsuspecting, uninformed animal loving population believe their story.
They are using this icon to create uproar, allowing them to gain an advantage over reality. And make no doubt about it, this ploy is literally worth millions, as in the case as the other furry, cuddly icon, the seal. We all know what happens to the sealing industry because of these groups, Mr. Speaker.
For those of us who have lived in the north for thousands of years, who hunt here, and know our polar bears and our environment far better than most southern experts, this has been a very frustrating time.
If the people trying to perpetrate their wills on the north for specific gain were to pay attention, they would realize that our elders have managed the land and its resources far better than the south with all its pollution, reaping of the land for the last few hundred years, which by the way, is only a fraction of time in comparison to the length of time we Inuit have occupied the north with its majestic polar bears.