EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would like to thank the Legislative staff, and my ministerial staff: Laurie-Anne White and Susie Baines, for bearing with me; the senior staff I work with for their patience and their support.
At times they didn’t think I was as lucid as I usually am and now with my recent surgery and having lost a little bit of Ed during that surgery, I do not appreciate these half-wit jokes that are going around. If they can cease and desist, I would appreciate that.
That was a bit of a joke there, but no...
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to also thank a person that you know very well: my wife’s mother, my Sakik in Clyde River. I want to thank the people of Clyde and Hall Beach, who had prayers said for me, and in Coral Harbour.
I want to thank my wife Oopah, who was my dedicated nurse, for ably assisting me, trained by three very good caregivers; Wally, Dora, and Paka, who were a great comfort to me and helped with my recovery.
Mr. Speaker, our healthcare staff work very hard, and at times are overlooked. I wanted to especially acknowledge their work and dedication.
And I want to say Mr. Speaker, spending a couple of days in hospital and having surgery, it really gives you a different perspective on life, your job and career.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you very much, Minister Picco. We are very happy that you are back with us.
There are none. Item 6.
Question 031 – 2(4): Streamlining Regulatory Processes in Nunavut (Mapsalak)
My questions today are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, a number of concerns have been brought to my attention with respect to the length of time it takes for regulatory approvals to be granted by such bodies as the Nunavut Impact Review Board.
Delays are having a negative impact on the development of our mining sector.
I understand that the Government of Nunavut recently made a new appointment to Nunavut Impact Review Board.
Can the minister confirm for me today who the Government of Nunavut appointed to Nunavut Impact Review Board, and indicate if this appointment will address the issue I raised?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Finance and also for Economic Development and Transportation, Mr. Simailak.
We now have a new member for Nunavut Impact Review Board from the Government of Nunavut. He is from Qamanittuaq.
The other position is still vacant, although there were two vacancies.
We still have not completed the appointment stage.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): The minister was in Toronto last week to unveil the Government of Nunavut’s new Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy.
Can he tell the House today how this strategy will address the need to streamline the regulatory process in Nunavut?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Simailak.
Yes, I apologise, I didn’t respond to your entire question because I didn’t hear your entire question.
Yes, what I unveiled last week in Toronto, the new Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy is going to help in Nunavut.
We have four main focuses for a Mining Economic Strategy, and the impact on the communities that it would benefit with infrastructure.
So those are our focus areas that we believe that it’s going to benefit.
Can the minister update the House today on what his department is doing with respect to the GN’s overall efforts to reach a devolution and resources royalty-sharing agreement with the federal government?
Although our Premier stated or updated the Members in the House, within the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, we are in support of EIA on devolution. We mainly are in support of mining and oil exploration.
So EIA is more responsible for the devolution part of it.
Some time ago, the minister announced a strategy to reduce “barriers to business” in Nunavut.
This plan involved consulting businesses to identify ways to reduce red tape and other hurdles to job creation and economic growth.
Can the minister tell us today what barriers to business the government has actually been able to eliminate?
The “barriers to business” project is still being dealt with as we speak.
We have already set up plans on how you can start your own businesses. Yes, you can obtain that information no matter where you are within Nunavut.
We’ve also identified business orientation programs and we are now changing the license process and also the payment for permits.
The Department of Finance has already said that after all the paperwork has been done, we’ve asked that the payments be made easier.
We’ve also got documents that state how you can apply.
The last report on “barriers to business” isn’t completed yet but it’s now in the review stage.
It will be given to the Cabinet once it’s completed and after that, we will be able to table it to the public in Nunavut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions.
Question 032 – 2(4): Recentralization of GN Positions (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, last week in his Minister’s Statement, the minister announced that certain financial management positions in the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs and Health and Social Services would be moved to the Department of Finance.
I think we can all see the logic in moving the Health and Social Services positions. The rationale for the EIA move was a lot less clear given that these positions are already located just down the road here in Iqaluit.
I would just like to ask the minister if he could clarify for us today, why that decisions, other than they said, “Well, you can have him.
We don’t want him.” Basically you volunteered to pass it over.
If you could give a better explanation or actually clarify why that decision was made for those positions with the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
The Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs agreed that their four positions would be moved to the department in hopes of enhancing the four positions so that they could work with people who are within the finance area and so that they could be taught more on finances.
So that’s how the decision was made.
Congratulations on sitting up there today, although we wish Mr. Speaker a speedy recovery.
Mr. Speaker, in her report to the Legislative Assembly the Auditor General identified “bottlenecks” in our decentralized financial management system that are causing problems.
The GN itself has identified problems in decentralized communities involving such factors as bandwidth problems.
Can the minister indicate, again here, why last week’s announcements was made at looking at local finance positions and not decentralized finance positions where all indications the government itself and the Auditor General have pointed out that that’s where the problem lies?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Minister of Department of Finance, Mr. Simailak.
Yes, we moved the positions to our department but at the time when we had problems with the computer bandwidth program so that is when they set it up, and we also set it up to train the individuals and also put them back to the Department of Finance.
We did not lose any positions, even though they moved the positions to the Department of Finance, so that’s why we tried it that way.
I guess what I am saying is that the Auditor General and the government also has indicated that a lot of the problems with the weak financial management is a result of the decentralized model of how finance and the financial positions are decentralized throughout the decentralized communities.
I guess my question for the minister is, what are they looking at to deal with that part of the problem which they themselves have indicated is where part of the problem lies, and not with just positions that are dealing with finances already here in Iqaluit?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Finance, Minister Simailak.
The request came from the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs and the Department of Health and Social Services and we tried that here in Iqaluit, but we are still reconsidering the other issues within the government.
If we were to move individuals moving from one of the communities to Iqaluit, we would have to come up with a different, bring out a different employee available, make employment available in the communities so that’s what would occur.
So this is still under consideration and we are still discussing whether we are to move them to Iqaluit or elsewhere; so at this time the Department of Finance, if we are to make changes without considering them right now.
To me, I guess it seems like the government is looking like we are trying to address this problem, but we are not really addressing it.
The problem is decentralized financial functions, not centralized financial functions which are already here in Iqaluit.
So I would urge the minister to have a serious look at that and I look forward to him, as he said, coming up with a plan on how to deal with that.
My final supplementary question, Mr. Speaker, to the minister, the announcement that he made last week indicated on April 1, those functions are moving to the Department of Finance, around three weeks from now.
Can the minister outline specifically what plans and what kind of a transition plan do they have in place to facilitate that move?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The individuals that are moving with their position, my deputy minister is in discussion and making their plans on transition and how the responsibilities would move.
They are dealing with day-to-day issues.
Question 033 – 2(4): Offices of HTOs (Barnabas)
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Today my question is for the Minister of Economic Development. (interpretation ends) There are 25 Hunters and Trappers Organizations in Nunavut.
These organizations work with various organizations such as the Government of Nunavut, the federal government, and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
I understand the Department of Environment provides core operating funding for these organizations.
Can the minister tell me if the department can provide any capital funding to construct or renovate the offices of the HTOs through each community harvester’s assistance programs or through other programs?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Our department does not have any funds in terms of capital funding for renovations to HTOs in the communities.
Mr. Barnabas: Does the minister know who initially funded and built the existing HTO offices in Nunavut communities?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Environment, Mr. Netser.
The funding that we get for the wildlife offices is in the process of going through the standing committees and our submission to have them built.
I would like to know if the situation is the same for community freezers. Does the Department of Environment provide any funding to HTOs for community freezers?
Hon. Patterk Netser: I believe that lies within the Department of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) NTI recently established a Wildlife Secretariat in Rankin Inlet to support RWOs and HTOs.
Can the minister update the House today on how his department is working with the secretariat to coordinate programs for HTOs and harvesters?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Netser.
Hon. Patterk Netser: Mr. Speaker, I believe the Government of Nunavut put the wildlife secretariat there but we work with the secretariat to provide funds to the HTOs and the RWOs.
Question 034 – 2(4): Transfer of 4 Positions to Department of Finance (Peterson)
Last week the minister announced that there would be a consolidation of health functions within the Department of Finance.
He didn’t mention a loss of jobs or anything, and then the Minister of Health reported that no jobs would be lost.  My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House if any jobs would be lost for any reasons as a result of any consolidation of health services finance functions under the Department of Finance?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Minister of Finance, Minister Simailak.
The people who are working for Health and Social Services will be moving to the Department of Finance and there will be no loss of jobs during this transfer.
Would the minister care to go on the record and make a commitment to health that no current employees will lose their jobs as a result of consolidation of finance functions, health clerks, or finance functions in the Department of Finance in the regions.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Finance, Minister Simailak.
At this time we are looking at this issue, and there will be no loss of jobs at all.
We’re looking at the Baffin Region, and it looks like it’s going to be in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay.
I thank the minister for that answer. I’m sure that reassures employees in the regions who are a little concerned right now about their jobs.
There may be some of the affected employees that do not want to transfer from the Department of Health and Social Services to the Department of Finance.
My question for the minister: will the affected employees be given an opportunity to transfer to other jobs within their current Department of Health and Social Services, rather than transfer to the Department of Finance?
For those job transfers, we have had a meeting with each of the individuals and I have not heard of anyone who doesn’t want to be transferred to the Department of Finance.
But, if there is a case, we will work with this individual and see what will work best.
When the minister announced consolidation of functions, I’m sure he had some figures in mind of what it would cost to complete that transfer, and then what the cost savings would be.
My question for the minister: can the minister provide the House an indication of the cost savings to the Government of Nunavut that will be generated as a result of consolidation of Health and Social Services finance functions under the Department of Finance?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t say at this time how much it will cost, but I think it’s going to be beneficial to the individuals because they will have other finance people that they can work with.
I think it’s going to benefit the government and all the departments.
Question 035 – 2(4): Apprenticeship Training (Alagalak)
First of all, I would like to thank you Mr. Speaker, and I would also like to touch upon the issues he brought up in regard to carpentry training.
It seems like we’ve been hearing this for a while and it seems like there’s two main organizations that do construction work.
When we’re talking about these trainees, whom are they going to be working with and whose houses are they going to be building?
The Nunavut Housing Corporation is working together with the government departments to put together a training program for plumbers, carpenters, drywallers, and so on.
We’re going to be working with different government departments, and we’ll also be looking at electricians. We would like to increase the number of skilled local tradespeople.
The minister didn’t respond to my question at all and I don’t have very much time.
My question was, maybe I’ll say it in English. (interpretation ends) Which of those construction people are involved with the training, either private contractors, or the Housing Association, or the government agency?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I apologize to the member. (interpretation ends) We’re going to be working very closely with whoever gets the contract on building any units in any community.
Housing along with Arctic College are making sure that we have pre-trades people that will be training our apprentices.
So they will be working closely with the contractors that have the contracts in the communities.
When you’re in an apprenticeship program and when you’re working to get your papers, you’re in an apprenticeship program for probably four or five years. It doesn’t take less than that to get your papers and your red seal.
We are going to build houses for approximately two years. What’s going to happen to those apprentices? Are they going to continue their education somewhere else?
If this training program or initiative should go as planned, we are going to be looking at getting additional funds from the federal government. Even if the construction phase is over, we will try and get some additional money.
We would like to see more houses available up here and we will have to see if we can build additional houses after the two-year phase.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation will look at other ways so that we can keep this training program going in Nunavut.
We don’t know if these individuals are going to complete their training program. We’re talking about 35 to 40 new journeymen, and we don’t know if there will be enough jobs to place all these individuals.
Usually what happens is during the summer and fall construction season, housing is constructed, and then during the cold months, they start working on the inside.
The construction season is not going to be very long.
What about the communities that don’t have these training facilities? Where are you going to be sending the individuals out at those times?
Minister responsible for Housing Corporation, Minister Akesuk.
What we are going to do is if they cannot take their training in the communities, if they can be put together in a regional centre to go to school, to take more training, and we will be working with Nunavut Arctic College to find out how we are going to do this.
But this is the first year and we will find out what the following years will entail.
We will try our best to make sure that those labourers and apprentices get good training.
Question 036 – 2(4): Update on Qangualuk Abduction in 1945 (Curley)
During the Second World War, there was an aircraft that came into a community of the Baffin Region.
Qangualuk and his wife and children were put on board this plane somewhere around 1945, and the only person that was left behind was a teenager at the time. She was probably around the age of 19, and her name was Ruth Siakuluk.
The reason she was left behind was because she was going to another community to get married.
I wonder if the minister can answer the question I asked last year; what stage this is at.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Minister Tapardjuk.
In 2004, Mr. Curley asked a question on the abduction of those individuals in the Baffin region.
This has been an ongoing study that we have been doing.
We have interviewed some RCMP members that were working up there at the time, and people interviewed and recorded as to what kinds of events that happened at the time of the abductions.
The written material that we have compiled together with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade have been corresponded with by my department to find out if they know anything about the abduction.
Also we talked with the Ambassador on circumpolar affairs. We had written a letter to them.
We interviewed the RCMPs at that time.
There is now written material in that regard about the incident.
We have written to Foreign Affairs but we have not gotten any response from them as yet, but what we are planning to do is, and have written to the Premier as well in regard to this individual that was left behind, about the abduction from the Baffin community.
We’d like to be able to go up there and put a flag, or some kind of a sign to let people know this is where the abduction happened.
We talked with Pond Inlet, Igloolik, and Hall Beach residents, as well as Kimmirut, and Cape Dorset. We have been compiling that information.
That’s the way it’s at right now in regard to the people that were abducted.
Ruth Siakuluk is now over eighty years old and she will appreciate the study that is being done by the department. That will be a closure for her. She also has children, herself, that are looking for their relatives.
I think we, as a government, could find out, because there must be a record of some kind and there was also a Catholic priest in that year who was a German citizen. I just wanted to find out whether there has been any spy stuff that has happened.
Perhaps we can try to get some more information from the internet.
I would like to encourage the minister to try and find out the incident, as much as possible.
The Minister for Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Mr. Tapardjuk.
My department had acquired some RCMP archives and we have looked into the National Archives in Ottawa and compiled the stories from the Archives.
Some of them have to be translated and some of them have to be translated into English. That is where we’re at this stage.
As soon as these things have been compiled together, and have been completed, we will have to have a meeting, as a Cabinet.
Perhaps we’re planning on doing this type of thing in the coming summer.
I would like to thank the minister because the relatives of those individuals would like to be able to find out what had happened during that incident.
When I first became a Member of the Legislative Assembly, as well before I became a Member of the Legislative Assembly the relatives of that individual live in Rankin Inlet and as soon as I told them about the incident, they started to cry.
That is why I would like to be able to help them locate their relatives.
For the record there were some Russian people that came here and there was an individual from Igloolik that went to Russia because this person that was abducted had a scar.
Would you be able to interview those people as well?
If they’re not in the interview papers that we compiled, we will do some interviews because Qangualuk and their family had an adopted daughter. That’s the person that had the scar. We will interview the people that presumably saw the person with the scar.
As a Cabinet, we will have to have a meeting and compile and translate the documents that were done.
I would like to thank the minister. I understand the document he’s talking about.
I’m sure if all the information is done, then those people will have to have a healing process.
Will the minister keep us updated about the information on that incident?
We have someone that is working within our department on the incident of the abductions. To date, there’s an individual in my department that is dealing solely on that incident that happened years ago.
I will keep the members updated.
This summer we are planning to do an extensive investigation on the incident that happened in the Baffin region for their relatives’ sakes.
Question 037 – 2(4): Update on Medical Travel Contract (Kattuk)
I have dealt with this particular issue before in regard to the aircraft being too small and without washroom facilities.
They also have only one pilot flying the aircraft for medical travel.
My constituents would like to be able to hear if this has been resolved yet or not because we are concerned that the plane is too small and some patients that are supposed to be going home are not able to board the plane because it’s too full.
They fly for a certain number of hours, which is a long time, perhaps about three hours. It’s very hard on the patients when they are going home.
I just wanted to find out from the minister what stage that is at right now.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister of Health and Social Services, Honourable Leona Aglukkaq.
The last time the member raised the question, I had mentioned that the contract in place with the company is still in place, I believe it expires within this year, at which time we will go forward with the terms that we’re looking at for the service.
As it is right now, the Beech craft that is used is an eight to nine-passenger aircraft. They provide a potty in the back of the aircraft; that’s the best they can do at this point in time.
The other thing that also happened is that the Keewatin Air had a public meeting in Sanikiluaq to talk about their services and from what I understand many people participated and I received a letter from the mayor stating that they were satisfied with the services being provided by Keewatin Air.