EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, this spring, I also brought up the issue of the lack of garage space for the fuel trucks in our community.
The government awards contracts in the communities with a contract to govern their agreement for services.
As the government, they have a lot of power, and as residents, we often note this power since communities don’t want to move backwards.
We don’t want to be embarrassed by the level of service provided by contractors in our community.
I have submitted a picture of the supposed garage and if you can recall having seen it, it is rather embarrassing.
I will be directing questions to the Minister of CG&S at the appropriate time, but I wanted him to note that I will be asking questions.
When the government awards contracts in the communities, they should be awarding them to businesses that can advance these services and not to drag a community’s level of services down. It is embarrassing to see the service start all over again, especially in economic development activities.
Members will note that she pointed out that we do have a full House here today.
I would like to recognize the individuals who are here in the Gallery, some are strangers and some are not. It’s nice to have people joining us in the Gallery to pay attention to our proceedings.
Question 405 – 3(3): Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan (Rumbolt)
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon to the people of Sanikiluaq.
As the minister will recall, the Legislative Assembly passed Bill 12, the Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan Protection Act, in December of 2009.
At that time, the minister informed the Legislative Assembly that he would be, and I quote, “prepared to take further steps and introduce draft legislation in the next session of this legislature that will regulate the overall operation of the NEBS Pension Plan.
…I also see this draft legislation having provisions that would make participation in the NEBS Pension Plan mandatory for municipal employees in Nunavut...”
Mr. Speaker, that was three years ago.
When will the minister be introducing new legislation on the NEBS Pension Plan?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for bringing up that question and for the notice.
Mr. Speaker, in previous discussions and previous sessions, I pointed out that we had hoped that it was going to be just as simple as bringing it up at the time when we said we would. We have since found out that things like this just aren’t that simple.
We are in the middle of working with the Government of the Northwest Territories. We actually have an MOU accompanying a work plan to deal with the matter. I assure my colleague that we will be bringing something up in the winter session.
As the minister just stated and yesterday, the Northwest Territories Minister of Finance tabled a memorandum of understanding between the GN and the Government of the Northwest Territories concerning legislation and regulation of the Northern Employees Benefits Services Pension Plan.
Will the Minister of Community and Government Services commit to also tabling this information in our Legislative Assembly during the current sitting?
I will commit to tabling it as soon as I can table it.
Earlier this month, the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators met here in Iqaluit.
This important organization brings together senior administrative officers from across the territory.
Can the minister update the House on what information his department provided to the Nunavut Association of [Municipal Administrators] concerning the NEBS pension plan?
I have been quite busy this month. I will get briefed eventually on what our department did present to the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators. When I have that information, I would be more than happy to share it with my colleague from Sanikiluaq.
Question 406 – 3(3): Policing Services in Nunavut (Tapardjuk)
In recent years, the Department of Justice and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have developed an annual shared directional statement concerning policing priorities in Nunavut for the RCMP’s “V” Division.
The 2010-11 shared directional statement was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in March of 2011.
As the minister is aware, I have encouraged him to table a copy of the current shared directional statement in the Legislative Assembly. Can the minister tell me when he will do this?
I would like to thank Mr. Tapardjuk for the question and his very important point about policing in communities and working together with communities to ensure their safe and sound policing.
With regard to his question about the tabling of the shared statement that he’s talking about, I will be checking with my department and will table that document as soon as I can.
It seems quite obvious that the members will want to see a copy of the tabled document, especially as this issue is being raised throughout Nunavut relating to policing.
The minister recently met in Whitehorse with his counterparts from the Northwest Territories and Yukon to discuss northern policing issues.
The official news release from this meeting indicated that one of the initiatives that ministers learned about was the new Yukon Police Council, which is a body that provides a forum for ordinary residents to, and I quote, “provide input into policing priorities” in that territory.
I think that this is an idea worth looking at in Nunavut.
What is the minister’s position on this issue?
Very good and interesting comments. The member is absolutely correct.
Recently, we did meet in Whitehorse, Yukon as northern ministers and northern police services. I think the main message coming out of both the meeting and the conference is what is unique about the north is that we need to have more community involvement in policing.
Also what goes with that under our new contract we have with the RCMP in Nunavut is to ensure that there are community plans and the policing priorities that are set in communities involve the hamlet, the mayors, and the councils that are involved. So that is happening by the officers in charge in those communities and it will be part of their assessments to ensure that these plans are being put together with the community.
Mr. Tapardjuk brings up a very good point.
In the police council that was established in the Yukon under circumstances that have taken place there and events, there needed to be an independent outside voice and communication with police and the Department of Justice in the Yukon. It’s a very unique model. It has worked extremely well and yes, we would consider looking at establishing a body like that in Nunavut.
We will be expecting an initiative of this type and I imagine that a lot of members will want to hear about any developments.
As the House is aware, there have recently been a number of tragic incidents in Igloolik involving shooting deaths.
The minister has advised me that work has been underway to formalize a memorandum of understanding with the Ottawa Police Service to allow for an “ongoing process for the independent investigation of this type of incident.”
The minister did identify these issues to me personally as an MLA, but I’m wondering if the minister can indicate if this MOU has been finalized.
Will he commit to tabling a copy of it in the Legislative Assembly? Unfortunately, the residents of our community still have many concerns about this issue.
First and foremost, my thoughts and condolences go out to the families in Igloolik who are affected by the tragic events that have taken place.
In both cases the member is referring to, the Ottawa Police Service was involved in the investigations.
Yes, there is currently an MOU being reviewed and negotiated between the RCMP, the Government of Nunavut, and the Ottawa Police Service to use our services when needed when tragic events like this happen. That MOU has not been signed yet, but as soon as it is signed, I will commit to tabling it in the House and ensure that the members are aware of it.
I thank the minister for that and we will now expect these details later on.
As I indicated earlier, the minister recently attended a symposium on policing in northern and remote Canada.
Can the minister advise the House what new initiatives his department will pursue with respect to policing services in Nunavut?
Yes and I will do that. I think, in the interest of time and information, so that I don’t miss anything out, that I can put down on paper what we discussed at those meetings that happened in the Yukon and I can provide that to every Member of the House so that they have a clear understanding of what we talked about.
There are some very unique initiatives that we talked about and that is involving the community more in policing than ever before, establishing priorities for each individual community, because they differ from one to another. There was discussion on our court services that are taking place and how to improve those, and lessen our time that we have our cases in court.
So there were all kinds of various initiatives and I think I can give all members an overview of that in a letter on paper.
Question 407 – 3(3): Status of Mary River Project (Enook)
I would like to say “good afternoon” to the residents of Pond Inlet and my fellow Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, on September 14, 2012, the Nunavut Impact Review Board announced that it had completed its environmental impact review of the Mary River project near my home community of Pond Inlet.
NIRB’s final hearing report indicated that one of the board’s recommendations is that Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation and the Government of Nunavut “enter into discussions to negotiate a Development Partnership Agreement” following the issuance of the project certificate.
Can the minister update me today on whether the government has held any preliminary discussions with Baffinland that may lead to the negotiation of a formal development partnership agreement?
Mr. Speaker, we’re expecting a timely response from the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
To that end, there were a number of recommendations made by the Nunavut Impact Review Board and one of them was exactly that. At this time, Mr. Speaker, we’re encouraging the proponent to sit down and start preliminary negotiations on a DPA.
NIRB’s final hearing report indicated that a development partnership agreement between Baffinland and the GN could result in a number of benefits, including “organizational infrastructure, physical infrastructure and communications infrastructure.”
Can the minister indicate what types of physical infrastructure could result from the successful negotiation of a development partnership agreement?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again a very excellent question.
Mr. Speaker, the process hasn’t really started yet with the negotiations, although we’re encouraging the proponents to sit down and start the preliminary negotiations.
When we come to this point, we involve the socio-economic monitoring committees of the region to participate and advise us on the proponents that have to be negotiated into the DPA.
We involve the community and all the departments of the government.
With that in mind, there is still preliminary work to do on what type of infrastructure and other various things that may be put on the table for negotiations.
Once that becomes quite clear, I will keep my colleagues informed of the progress.
In July of this year, the Government of Nunavut submission to NIRB addressed the issue of regional socio-economic monitoring committees.
The GN indicated that “a monitoring framework has been provisionally agreed to by Baffinland, the GN, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.”
It also indicated that a draft terms of reference is pending approval.
Can the minister update us today on the status of this work?
Again thank you for that very excellent question.
Mr. Speaker, we await the decision from the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. NIRB has submitted 184 recommendations and they’re under review now by the minister’s office and, pending the decision he makes, will come to the determination of the terms of reference and other various recommendations that may come out of his decision.
Once that happens, I will ensure that the member and the House have this information before them.
The final question I would like to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation is: can he update the House today on the impact that the Mary River project will have on the designation of Pond Inlet as being the hub airport for the High Arctic?
If the project does go ahead, pending the minister’s decision, once that happens, the proponent, that being Baffinland Iron, has to make the determination on whether to start construction as soon as a decision is made and that won’t happen until 2013.
The Nunavut Impact Review Board has taken a lot of our issues and key things that we have participated in during the environmental review and it has made their recommendations very clear. All departments within the government are participating and continue to participate in minimizing the impacts and monitoring the results once the mine starts construction.
Mr. Speaker, there is going to be a huge impact. The mine is going to be looking for 2,800 people for construction.
Whenever it’s necessary under the negotiations of the DPA, we will try and maximize the benefits for the affected communities.
Question 408 – 3(3): Update on Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meetings of Ministers of Health (Elliott)
On September 27, 2012, Canada’s provincial and territorial ministers of health met in Halifax to discuss issues of concern. I was very pleased to note that the official communiqué from this meeting announced that all of the provincial and territorial ministers of health have joined together to, and I quote, “encourage the federal government to expand the Nutrition North Canada Program to ensure Canadians living in Northern and remote communities can benefit from improved access to healthy foods.”
On September 28, 2012, our minister and his provincial and territorial colleagues met with the federal Minister of Health. Can the minister advise the House if he took this opportunity to directly raise the issue of the Nutrition North Canada Program during this meeting?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Mr. Elliott for that excellent detective work, tracking my movements in Halifax.
It was a very good FPT meeting. I am very encouraged by the support that the northern ministers had from the provinces.
We did talk about Nutrition North.
I was able to enlighten my southern colleagues about the “Feeding My Family” Facebook page, which has well over 20,000 “friends.” I enlightened them about some of the costs and challenges of getting food into Nunavut, standing in line at the stores and seeing the charges that people who are checking out have to pay.
It was very encouraging. It was very heartening that we received that support. Health ministers recognize that healthy and nutritious food is an important factor in the health of our citizens, especially our younger citizens.
We talked about early childhood development and babies getting good sources of food early in their lives.
Mr. Speaker, in my meeting with the minister herself, there were three territorial ministers there and we did not discuss Nutrition North.
As the House will recall, I worked with a number of northern Parliamentarians earlier this year to write directly to the federal ministers of Health and Aboriginal Affairs concerning the Nutrition North Canada Program, so I am very pleased that we now have every provincial and territorial government working together to advocate for improvements to this critical program.
Can the Minister of Health and Social Services indicate how the Government of Nunavut will be pursuing this issue over the coming year?
As we all and most Nunavummiut know, Mr. Elliott is a strong advocate for nutrition and inexpensive food into all of our communities in Nunavut.
In fact, we had a recent briefing by Mr. Elliott, who continues to lobby. I encourage and support him to do that.
Mr. Speaker, I think there is recognition on this side of the House that we do have to continue to do all we can to assist our citizens.
At this time, I can’t tell Mr. Elliott specifically what we’re doing. I know in my own department, we do have officials working with the communities.
Through some funding from [Health Canada], actually, we are educating Nunavummiut about nutritious foods, recipes, and this is working with the communities themselves.
Through the health portfolio funding that the Government of Canada has provided, we have streamlined that process and communities have developed community wellness plans. I believe most communities are using some of their funds to provide breakfast programs in the communities.
We recognize that kids in particular, in the morning, they should have a good meal to help them get through the day at school.
I guess I’ll have to do some more investigative work to try and find out what the GN is doing.
The official communiqué from the September 27, 2012 meeting of provincial and territorial ministers of health also stated that, and I quote, “Ministers discussed how the shift in the federal government’s approach on health issues is impacting Canadians.
Ministers would like to discuss with Minister Aglukkaq decisions made by the federal government without consultation.”
Mr. Speaker, our government was a signatory to this communiqué. Can our minister clarify which specific decisions made by the federal Minister of Health he is unhappy with?
Mr. Speaker, I had a double-whammy last December. I attended an FPT finance ministers’ meeting in Victoria and that’s when Minister Flaherty presented the funding letters to finance ministers.
I happen to also be the health minister. I got the finance shock and then I got the health shock.
The decision that we were unhappy with was that the Government of Canada didn’t seem to want to negotiate the health accord and basically told us, “Here is the funding envelope and you have to work within it.”
They set some parameters with respect to growth on the Canada Health Transfer.
Those are bigger issues, really, for provincial health ministers because in certain provinces, depending on the demographics, it could affect them more seriously, particularly if you have an aging population and they’re close to retirement.
A lot of elders and seniors in our country do develop health issues and we have to look after them. That was a big concern for my provincial colleagues.
As our minister is very much aware, the issue of federal support for essential health care infrastructure in Nunavut is a major concern for me and my constituents.
Can the minister indicate if he raised this issue when he met with the federal Minister of Health on September 28 of this year? If not, why not?
Mr. Speaker, I did not raise that issue with the federal Minister of Health.
Question 409 – 3(3): Status of Public Housing Rent Scale Review (Oshutapik)
Mr. Speaker, the Members of this House all heard a question I previously raised to the minister as well as the minister’s response related to the rent scale that was to be reviewed and adjusted in the near future.
I would like to know what the status of this proposed rent scale review is and I would like to be provided a response as to where this initiative is and whether or not the minister is able to provide an update to the Members of this House on this matter.
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that excellent question.
Mr. Speaker, the rent scale review is still ongoing.
It’s nearing completion and there has been a lot of work put into it. At this time, we still haven’t produced it for final revision.
Yes, not just in my community, but I imagine in all the communities of Nunavut, they are expecting progress on this matter as most of the public listens to the news and are aware that this review would be undertaken.
This rental scale causes problems for people who have employment or who are starting work, especially when they need housing, since it is too expensive to pay current rates.
With respect to this review, part of the response was that it would be completed by the end of the year. My question is: which year-end are you referring to in the response? Is it the end of the calendar year or the end of the fiscal year?
As I have indicated, it does take a lot of work, a lot of departments and organizations out there to help us review the rent scale.
I am hoping, at this time, for possible tabling in our spring session.
Can the minister indicate to the House which communities have been consulted or requested to provide assistance about these proposed changes? What exactly requires changes or, alternatively, what does your department have to undertake to ensure that they make changes that can be applied to all of the communities in Nunavut?
Throughout the review of the rent scale, we have contacted all the local housing organizations, Income Support, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and other government departments, including two housing forums and a Nunavut round table through the poverty reduction file that we have been working on.
At this time, I’m hoping that we would be able to produce something for the spring session.
I would like to thank the minister for his responses.
My final question is on the issue of rent scale and adjustment.
Are we going to be increasing the prices or are you setting up a scale that is going to be incremental following your salary?
During the start of this rental scale review, we had indicated that we want to encourage more employment and more incentives for tenants of the public units to go out there and become employed.
We didn’t want to create any disincentives. We wanted people going out there and actually looking for work and bring home a real salary that can help themselves, their families, and their communities.
That was the purpose of the rent scale review that we had started in the early days there.
Having said that, the rent scale review intends to make sure that it’s adjustable and fair to all the clients of the public units.
Question 410 – 3(3): 2012 Franklin Expedition (Curley)
My questions are going to refer to the earlier Member’s Statement I made. My questions are for the Minister of Culture and Heritage.
As I noted in my Member’s Statement, I am disappointed and disturbed that the Government of Nunavut is cooperating with the new federal search for the remains of the lost Franklin Expedition.
Can the minister justify why the Government of Nunavut is cooperating with this ill-conceived, expensive, and unnecessary scheme?
Minister responsible for the Department of Culture and Heritage, Minister Arreak.
I would like to thank Mr. Curley for his question.
The Nunavut government is a partner in this summer’s search project when they undertook this work. Furthermore, the research team has identified that they wish to conduct this search of the lost Franklin Expedition for another two years.
This project has benefits that we feel can assist with Nunavut’s Heritage Division.
The research team compiles a report on what they find and these reports can provide the Nunavut territory with further benefits. Additionally, the world knows about this centuries-long lost Franklin Expedition. Many parties have tried to compile the artefacts that they then try to sell to tourists afterwards.
With this project, we are advancing the Nunavut territory exposure and the reports are read by a worldwide audience as it is a matter of interest.
Once the project has been completed or if they find the actual remains they are searching for or if they are no longer conducting a search, the government has identified a long-term plan, together with the local residents, to look at making the island a territorial park.
The federal announcement in August of this year indicated that a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Nunavut would be signed concerning this expedition.
In the interest of transparency, will the minister commit to tabling this MOU in the Legislative Assembly prior to the end of our fall sitting?