EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
There must have been an underlying reason for shipping this vessel to our community, most likely from the previous RWED department, and I wonder why that vessel is just stored on land.
Why is this just sitting on the ground? Is it due to the lack of qualified workers that it has sat unused for the last two years?
Is it because you can’t afford to buy gas for that vessel?
What is the reason for the vessel remaining stored on the land?
I don’t know who owns that boat at this time, so I can’t really respond to that question properly.
Maybe it’s the Department of Environment or Wildlife Service. They may be able to respond to this question. I will have to check to see if they had released ownership of it to our department.
I will have to see if the boat can be given to another government department, the hamlet, the search and rescue group, or put it up for tender.
Right now, I have no idea who owns that boat, so I can’t respond properly.
I apologize for that as I just used what I know of the background of the past government departments, as the old RWED department used to provide vessels to their employees. A person from Clyde River who lived in our community used to be the captain of the vessel, as he worked for that department. With that being the case, when that person left our community, the vessel was no longer used.
Due to that reason, I want to emphasize the past usage, which was to conduct surveys on harvested narwhals.
Furthermore, while I was still living in my outpost camp, that vessel used to pass by, conducting surveys, and it would stop over.
That is the reason for my bringing up this vessel. It hasn’t been used for several years and I don’t know exactly who owns the boat. That was why I decided to ask if anyone knew of the owner so that I could get an answer as to why it is no longer in use.
I did hear your response on the issue, but I again ask you to research the vessel.
Once you have the answer, I would like to know exactly who owns that vessel to curtail my future questions on this boat.
Yes, I will check properly into the ownership of that boat and get back to you.
I will go to your office and let you know as to who owns that boat.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the minister, and I will certainly await the response with expectations of learning the answer.
Now I wonder: what about our local search and rescue societies? They are always in need of equipment, particularly transportation vehicles. This vessel has not been used for quite some time, as per my commentary on that past use.
When a local emergency crops up, would that vessel be available to conduct searches or is it because it is no longer seaworthy?  I would like to see if the vessel could be used by our SAR groups for emergency purposes.
At least from my perspective, it seems practical as it seems useable and shouldn’t just be stored to rot away.
Can you look into that part of it as well to see if it can be used for search and rescue?
With respect to that boat, I first need to ascertain the owner. Prior to finding that out, I cannot respond whether or not the vessel is safe to use for the local SAR groups or if it is no longer seaworthy.
I can’t respond either way since the government is still legally the owner, if it was owned by the past RWED department, and it will be up to the government to determine whether or not to retain it.
I can’t just tell you that whether or not it can be used.
It will depend on my research as to who exactly owns that vessel and I will return with that answer for you.
Question 238 – 4(3): Commitment to Smaller Communities (Joanasie)
Mr. Speaker, as I noted in my Member’s Statement today, although the majority of Nunavummiut live in communities other than the major urban centre of Iqaluit, I continue to receive concerns from my constituents regarding the government’s commitment to a long-term future for our smaller communities.
What assurances can the Premier provide us today that the government is committed to the long-term viability and sustainability of our smaller communities?
I want to thank the member for that excellent question.
As we go through our budgeting process here in this sitting, that’s one of the things that we’re putting through our budgets to ensure that there’s viability within these smaller communities of Nunavut.
As I have indicated before, at times, it’s very difficult for this government to ensure that we get proper funding for our smaller communities. As you know, with a population of 37,000 in Nunavut and 25 communities within Nunavut, we do have to build 25 of everything; airstrips, health centres, schools, and so forth, unlike southern jurisdictions where you’ve got 37,000 people in one community and you build one school, one airstrip, and one power plant.
Here, of course, in our vast territory, as a government, we do have to build 25 of everything.
Time and time again, I do indicate to our colleagues in the federal government down in Ottawa that we’re quite unique that way.
Nunavut and the Arctic is one of the most expensive places to do business not only for industry but also for this government.
One of the things that we’re trying to ensure is that through our programming within our government, we do have two corporations that try to ensure that there’s economic activity within our smaller communities.
Of course, the Nunavut Development Corporation is designated to ensure that these smaller communities, the non-decentralized communities participate in the economies that are available to them with the help of the Nunavut Development Corporation.
The Premier himself noted a couple of years ago in this House that some Canadian jurisdictions have had the experience of seeing their small communities depopulated and their services cut back or eliminated.
I would like to know: what assurances can the Premier provide us today that the government will not cut back or eliminate services to our smaller communities?
Mr. Speaker, we all understand that in some other southern jurisdictions, there have been a lot of communities closed down because of the economic situation that they faced.
Again, Nunavut is a unique territory.
We are at the 60th parallel in the High Arctic. We all know that the High Arctic communities were established for sovereignty purposes to maintain that Canada owned the offshore islands, land, and seas out there.
That’s why these smaller communities were established in the High Arctic.
We’ve got to ensure that our federal partners understand that they do have to assist us in maintaining that these communities stay viable for that purpose.
Again, through this House, we put our best efforts forward. We put our budgets out there to ensure that these communities are participants in that.
As the Legislative Assembly, we hopefully approve all budgets going forward because, at the end of the day, we do have costs associated with maintaining these communities.
We try to keep it autonomous where they have their own municipal governments and they do participate in that with the help of this territorial government.
Mr. Speaker, the assurance I can give the member is we try to maintain that they are part of this territory.
As our new colleague from Netsilik noted a few days ago, the capital city’s international airport is in the process of receiving an upgrade that is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
In Kimmirut, my constituents do not expect to see a new airport terminal building that will win international design awards, but they would like to see an airport facility that is more safely located and an ATB that is not falling apart.
What assurances can the Premier provide us today that the infrastructure needs of smaller communities are as important to the government as the infrastructure needs of the capital city?
I want to thank the member for inviting me to Kimmirut last fall.
I really appreciated the invitation and it gave me a firsthand look of the community and infrastructure that is within the community.
Mr. Speaker, yes, I rode in a twin otter that was maybe shaky at times coming in for landing into the Kimmirut Airport. I do understand that.
In some of our discussions, there are some plans initiated to see where the relocation of the strip can be made. I will surely talk with my Minister of Economic Development and Transportation to see exactly where the status of these discussions is.
I will instruct my Minister of Transportation to get back to the hon. member with the status of these discussions on the airport.
Question 239 – 4(3): Jurisdiction over Franklin Expedition Artefacts (Akoak)
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, Uqhuqtuurmiut.
It’s good to see my auntie across there, Rita.
Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Acting Minister of Culture and Heritage.
As the minister will recall, I paid tribute last year in the House to the contributions of one of my most distinguished constituents, Mr. Louie Kamookak, for his involvement in the search for the lost Franklin ships
Mr. Speaker, if you guys watch the national news, it has recently been reported by CBC News that there is a dispute currently ongoing between the Department of Culture and Heritage and Parks Canada, which is a federal agency.
Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that the dispute concerns ownership of artefacts from the lost ships.
For the benefit of my constituents in Gjoa Haven, can the minister provide a clear explanation of the Government of Nunavut’s position on this matter?
Mr. Speaker, with the discovery of the wreck of one of Franklin’s ships in 2014, there are some disputes on ownership of certain relics and certain things that are found under the seabed.
Mr. Speaker, we are working very closely with our partners of Parks Canada to ensure that things are done in a proper fashion.
There are also claims out there by the British government for ownership of the relics that may be found.
At this time, we are in discussions with our partners to ensure that all the rules of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and whatever laws that may exist, we want to ensure that all the regulatory laws are abided by, including our Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
Can the minister indicate what discussions his department and Parks Canada have had with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association concerning this issue?
The discussions are ongoing. At this point, I can’t tell the hon. member from Gjoa Haven as to how far these discussions have gone with the community.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that the community of Gjoa Haven is keeping track of all the discussions that may be going on between the parties. Mr. Speaker, once there is any kind of agreement or a wish to consult with the community, we will certainly do that.
The minister has answered my second supplementary, but I will ask it for the record.
It is very important that artefacts from the Franklin expedition be put on permanent display in the community of Gjoa Haven, as my community is a part of this piece of history.
Can the minister indicate how his department is working with the Municipality of Gjoa Haven to identify ways of supporting projects that have been proposed by the community?
Again, through our discussions with Canada and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, we will ensure that the ownership and laws that exist… .
We do understand that the British is anticipating and has signed agreements with Canada on the ownership of relics that may be found within the wreck.
Mr. Speaker, once we have a clear understanding of what the next steps are, I will certainly mention to my hon. colleague that we may, indeed, ask for assistance from the community itself.
Mr. Speaker, these things are ongoing at this time and once we have a clearer understanding, we will certainly let the member know.
Question 240 – 4(3): Law Enforcement Initiatives (Mikkungwak)
As the Minister of Justice will undoubtedly recall, his cabinet colleague, the Minister of Finance, announced as part of his recent Budget Address that the government will provide, and I quote, an “additional $4.0 million next year to law enforcement.”
Can the minister describe some of the specific initiatives that this money will be funding?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Justice, Mr. Keith Peterson.
I almost forgot I was Minister of Justice.
I have only been minister for 48 hours.
Mr. Speaker, again, these are related to Sivumut Abluqta Mandate items that we have all approved in the House. A number of our initiatives are looking at improving and recruiting candidates into community policing.
We are improving the Inuktitut language skills in the “V” Division working with Nunavut Arctic College, and other initiatives to support our community justice in Nunavut.
The Municipality of Baker Lake has identified a need for an expanded RCMP presence in the community, including the assignment of more officers to the local detachment.
I have written a number of letters over the past year concerning the important work of the contract management committee established under the Canada-Nunavut Territorial Police Services Agreement.
Can the minister describe the process by which this committee identifies which communities will receive more officers?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Justice, Mr. Peterson.
I didn’t have time to read all the correspondence that has been sent to the Department of Justice for the last two years myself since I have only been the minister for two days. I will endeavour to read that information.
Mr. Speaker, the policing contract was signed in 2012 and it’s a 20-year agreement.
I know that it’s signed with Public Service Canada. Canada-wide, there’s a demand for policing services.
As a government, we’re under pressure to support and provide more policing in the communities and 75 percent of our funding from that contract goes to our share of the contract. Anytime there are extra costs to provide more policing, it will have to come down to the Government of Nunavut those additional resources.
I’ll check with my officials when I get a chance to meet with them just exactly how that committee works to identify priority police officers for communities.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for his acknowledgement.
In recent years, the Department of Justice has worked with the RCMP’s “V” Division to produce a shared directional statement concerning law enforcement priorities in Nunavut.
In fact, the current minister tabled the 2010-11 version of this item back on March 9, 2011, exactly five years ago to this day.
Will the minister commit to tabling the current shared directional statement with the RCMP before the end of our current winter sitting?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Mr. Mikkungwak for the question, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Mikkungwak knows well that I don’t like to make commitments that I can’t honour. I will have to check on the status of the shared directional agreement, but I can’t commit to tabling it before the end of this sitting. If we stay on schedule and catch up, it will be over next Thursday.
I will look into it when I get a chance to meet with our officials and see where the status is. Perhaps I could even backdoor table the document before the spring sitting.
Question 241 – 4(3): Elders Accommodation at Boarding Homes (Keyootak)
As I indicated in my Member’s Statement, I was concerned about the patients who are sent out for medical travel, especially the elders.
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Health.
Last year, I was concerned about the Tammaativvik Boarding Home and the need to remodel it because some patients who stay there are allergic to carpeting.
I would like to thank the minister for remodelling this as soon as possible.
Mr. Speaker, is it also possible to remodel the home so that they can dedicate rooms specific to elders?
There are some patients who are just sleeping on the floor.
Because of the condition of elders, some of them get tired very easily, they shouldn’t do anything stressful, and they should be in proper facilities, especially in beds.
Could the minister commit to looking at this issue so that we can have rooms specifically for the elderly patients at the boarding homes?
Minister of Health, Ms. Monica Ell-Kanayuk.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for bringing that to our attention.
Yes, the Tammaativvik Boarding Home board and management are included in four meetings a year with our departmental officials.
However, prior to those meetings, our officials can have meetings to discuss the concerns expressed by my colleague at any time, so we will forward those concerns.
Furthermore, as an example, I was just recently there for a visitation and it was completely full.
Whenever the boarding home is full, they look for alternative boarding arrangements within the city, including hotels and (interpretation ends) bed and breakfast (interpretation) homes, as they are called.
When space is not found, on the odd occasion, they have had to use folding (interpretation ends) cots (interpretation) to handle the overflow, with the understanding on the next day that they will get a room.
If the patient happens to be an elder, there is a directive to search for alternate places for the elders, but I will ensure we look into that to see exactly what happened in these cases and what transpired at that time. We will also look to see if we can look at elder-specific rooms and I will direct my officials to research that.
However, the boarding home continues to experience full capacity and I am unsure at this time if that can be accommodated, but I will ensure that it is looked into.
I also thank the minister for her proper response.
Indeed, that seems to be the case, as the boarding home always seems full to capacity.
Whenever I arrive in Iqaluit, I always ensure I visit the Tammaativvik Boarding Home as many of our constituents are housed there, along with many other people we are acquainted with.
I feel that elders should be our priority, and I wonder if the management of the home require further directives to try to ensure that medical travel patients are accommodated.
The information is always sent out prior to the travel, so they are aware of incoming patients and perhaps some forethought could be given to our elderly patients when they know the home will be full to capacity.
I wonder if our elders can be accommodated and whether this requires further work down the road.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Health, Ms. Ell-Kanayuk.
I also thank our colleague for pointing that out. I’ll get my officials to work on that.
On another issue related to the full capacity Tammaativvik experiences, as we all know that it is sometimes overflowing with patients, the medical patients that arrive are usually in different categories, as some are public servants while others are members of the public.
They all stay at the boarding home. I wonder if there is a policy for government employees to be able to stay at hotels and whether all government employees are allowed to stay in a hotel when they are down for medical travel.
The first step is to identify whether the person going to a hotel is a government employee, as they are allowed to stay in the hotel.
The other aspect to this is that some people prefer not to stay in a hotel, as they want to be with their fellow Inuit, and this is also accommodated as per their wishes.
Question 242 – 4(3): Update on Coral Harbour School (Mapsalak)
Mr. Speaker, this is not the first question I have directed to the minister about the Coral Harbour school and we have had previous discussions on this matter.
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the minister can explain what plans are in place for the new school for Coral Harbour, as they have expectations of seeing the new school based on the current school’s problems.
The school has flooding issues in the sub-basement due to the fact it was built on a marshy plain.
Can the minister indicate what stage the planning is for the school in Coral Harbour?
Good day, my colleagues and fellow residents of my community.
Yes, I thank you for asking that question, as I had provided a response to an earlier question about the Coral Harbour future school.
As per our previous statements, it is still in the preplanning stage and it remains at that stage.
Obviously, we have to manage other schools particularly with respect to age. We review different factors related to our management.
This project is still at that stage.
What I can state here regarding the Coral Harbour future school is that it is still at the preplanning stage.
I think it has been over a year that it has been in that stage and he has had the same response.
That being the case, can the minister indicate what discussions he has had with his officials on exactly where in the planning stages they are?
I know they visited Coral Harbour to have meetings.
Where exactly are they now in the planning stage?
Yes, it’s true that people were there to see what areas and problems can be fixed right away that they’ve had in the school.
They have surveyed that and, as I stated earlier, it’s in the preplanning stage.
Once we move forward on that plan… .
I can state right now that we carefully review the schools that need to be renovated and that need to be built. Their district education authorities are kept informed of the status and we hear from them.
The district education authorities are the ones that we turn to in the communities.
Once we are informed on what needs to be done, we start the work.
I can indicate right now that we have reviewed the school for Coral Harbour and all the other planned schools.
I expect that if we need to build a new school, then we will keep them informed on the situation.
Yes, that is the same response he usually provides. We have heard that there’s lack of space.
The planning stages of building a new school undoubtedly are targeted for use for a number of years.
In order to prevent shortage of space, what plans are there when they will be presenting a new school?
We look at the student-educator ratio very carefully.
It’s up to 85 percent enrolment or above and then it becomes a priority for a new school depending on the number of students.
In Coral Harbour, they have not reached 85 percent enrolment yet.
We are looking into that and I can say that we will be tabling detailed information in the near future.
Member for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Tom Sammurtok.
Question 243 – 4(3): Reviving the Mamisarvik Healing Centre (Sammurtok, T)
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to direct my question to the Premier.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this sitting, the Minister of Health indicated that, despite the Department of Health offering assistance to the Mamisarvik Healing Centre, the organization is closing its doors.
This morning, CBC News reported that the Premier has indicated that Nunavut is looking for a partnership with the federal government and hopes to get funding for the Mamisarvik centre by the end of the month.
Can the Premier provide more detail on what specific support will be provided to the Mamisarvik Healing Centre?
I know that the member brought the Mamisarvik issue to the House here at last week’s sitting.
Mr. Speaker, we released “Resilience Within.” The Minister of Health and the vice-president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated participated in that right in the foyer of this building.
Within that strategy and action plan, we want to look at options on how we can get to a point where we utilize some of these places that may be closing and that’s exactly what we’re looking at, at this point.
The Mamisarvik Healing Centre is one of the only rehabilitation centres in Canada which offers Inuit-specific treatment and counselling.
Can the Premier indicate what consideration has been given to ensuring that funding for the Mamisarvik Healing Centre is stable and ongoing for the future?
Mamisarvik was run through funding from the federal government through the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and that was discontinued, of course.
Mr. Speaker, we want to ensure that we have viable alternatives when it comes to funding the organization.