EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Now I am wondering do they have to pay for their rent out of their own pocket money or do they get subsidised housing allowances to offset their monthly rent charges.
The jobs that will be filled in the communities they will be getting a form of assistance for their housing but they will also be paying from their salaries as well.
Should mention that the sound system we have here will be removed and go back to the new system at the beginning of the week.
Supplementary to my question.
I really envy employees working for the Government of Nunavut.
They will be getting subsidised housing to offset their rent.
I wondering how much housing allowance will be provided to the civil servants for their housing.
Speaker: Mr. Okalik
Is he asking how much housing allowance we are going to provide.
They are the same as every other civil servant that we give assistance to where ever they may be in the communities.
So, we will just follow the standard allowance.
Staff in Iqaluit receive allowances and we will be providing the same allowance for those in the community.
Speaker: Final supplementary Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I want to be well informed about this. Maybe he can give me written information to that affect.
Can he provide me written documentation about the housing allowances.
I am not sure exactly which ones he is referring to because we provide the same allowance to all the communities and they also receive a northern allowance.
We help our employees with that and all our employees within Nunavut receive this which have a provision from the employer.
I am not sure to which he is referring to.
Maybe if he can indicate to me which one he is referring to Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: I am not sure if that was the final supplementary but I will indulge the member to ask his final supplementary.
That was supposed to be my final supplementary but I would like to receive some written documents so I can have accurate information.
We have a northern subsidy, we have a northern allowance.
We can make these available to the public.
Question 359 – 1(3): Status of Student Financial Assistance Program
My question will be directed to the Minister of Finance. (interpretation ends) I would like the minister to state to the House the status of the student financial assistance program.
Speaker: Minister responsible of Education.
Hon. James Arvaluk Thank you Mr. Speaker.
We have a two year contract with GNWT for the student financial assistance.
This is going to be a part of the income support review that we hope to table a report on this fall.
In the meantime we still have a contract to honour with the GNWT until the second year.
I am aware there is a review underway but does he expect an increase with the student financial assistance.
Mr. Speaker the reason being the student financial assistance student rates have been the same over the last four years.
I recall asking questions on this issue.
When you look at the number of students that require assistance, we find that they have to supplement their income from their parents or from their relatives and they have to have per diems for their expenses.
Speaker: You can see the time is up.
I will allow the minister to respond to the question.
If the member has any further supplementaries we will permit him to proceed.
I said that there would be a review underway and we will do the review regardless of the government influence and to do an independent review and so I am going to wait for that review to be completed.
Why would I want to carry out a review and be not regard the results of that review.
That is why I want to do a proper review done independently so that we can decide on the recommendations as to whether there will be an increase or a decrease.
I do not want to respond to that before I see the results of the review and once I see the recommendations I will see if I can follow them through.
Speaker: Time is up.
We did have three other members on the list.
We will have to pick them up on Monday.
I am getting a signal from the members that they would like to take a short health break.
So we will break for twenty minutes and return to the Chamber.
>>House recessed for twenty minutes
Return to WQ 10-1 (3): Sustainable Development Funding Programs
Return to WQ 11-1(3): Education Funding Programs
I wish to inform Members that the following returns to written questions have been filed: written question 10-1 (3) by the Minister of Sustainable Development, written question 11-1(3) by the Minister of Education.
Speaker: Item 9.
Item 11. Petitions.
Item 13. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Item 13 Reports of Committees of the Reviews of Bills.
Item 15. Notices of Motions.
Item 16 Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills.
Item 18 First Reading of Bills.
Item 19 Second Reading of Bills Item 20 Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and other Matters.
Bill 13-Table Documents 41-1(3), Table Documents 51-1(3).
Now to Committee of the Whole with Mr. Puqiqnak in the Chair.
Item 20: Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and other Matters
Chairperson (Mr. Puqiqnak) (interpretation): Good morning.
Midway during lunch hour, we had a short snack there but before we get into Committee of the Whole, we will have a 5 minute break and come back to the House.
>>Committee recessed for 5 minutes
Chairperson (interpretation): I think we can get back to our meeting of the Whole.
We have the Minister of Education with his opening remarks, Minister Arvaluk.
Mr. Chairperson, in the fall of 1999 the Government of Nunavut spent considerable time travelling across Nunavut speaking with residents and programs and services that were of importance to them.
During those consultations, education issues were raised in 24 of the 25 communities visited.
Some of the concerns that were heard focussed on more new schools, reducing overcrowding in the classrooms and more Inuktitut in the schools and cultural and traditional programs in the schools.
I believe that we have addressed these concerns in our departmental planning for the coming year.
I will give examples later in my comments.
(interpretation ends) The plan speaks to the four building blocks that will help us to frame those activities that we will be undertaking; Healthy Communities, Self-reliance, Simplicity, Unity and Learning.
Departments were asked to frame their future activities along these lines.
My department has done this and our activities are consistent with the Bathurst Mandate.
The Minister of Finance mentioned several new initiatives that my department will be undertaking this year.
I would like to provide more detail to the Members on those activities.
We will be investing $400,000.00 dollars in the development of Inuktitut curriculum instructional support and approved development curriculum for Inuit 1st and 2nd languages needed to be developed.
The development implementation of these curricula will be a first priority.
In addition, appropriate student and teacher resource material will be developed to support the new curricula.
Curriculum and material development and production is critical to the department's commitment to deliver quality education to meet the needs of Nunavut students.
Focussing on this activity will meet two objectives; 1-it will provide needed Inuktitut/Innuinaqtun curriculum and the resource material, 2-bring into our schools the needed traditional and cultural elements that we heard requested during the pre-budget consultations.
We will also be investing an additional 1.2 million dollars and new teaching positions and resources to schools to address increasing enrolments.
This will help address the growing number of students in our schools and provide some relief to our school system by maintaining the pupil/teacher ratio.
Again, this is a direct reference to what we heard in the communities.
During the next fiscal year, the Department of Education will be taking active steps to reduce dependency on income support.
Using existing program resources, we will be instituting a case management system to oversee the delivery of this program.
The initial step will be additional training for income support workers building greater community capacity through community management and ensuring program compliance.
These initial steps will strengthen the department's ability to build self-sufficiency, strength in our communities while reducing our expenditure within the program.
Mr. Chairman we have had some successes in the area in Iqaluit.
The department assumes responsibility for the delivery of income support in October 1999 we have seen a drop in our caseload and expenditure each month.
This is a result of better compliance measures and individuals finding success through productive choices and better linkage to adult learning and training.
Building healthy communities and ensuring self-reliance of Nunavummiut is a priority and we are building upon the budget consultation process.
We have initiated the income support policy review consultation process to ensure we built on the ideas and aspirations of Nunavummiut.
Throughout the pre-budget consultation sessions, communities told us our schools needed work.
In the coming year we will be overseeing 15 new and on-going capital projects.
The total capital dollars for the Department of Education for 2000-2001 is 15.3 million dollars. More than double our regional capital plans for 1999-2000.
The construction of the Cambridge Bay High School will start this summer.
The cost of this project will substantially be covered by insurance payments, also, the elementary school addition to be completed.
We will begin the planning process for the new schools in Baker Lake as well as planning and designing for library re-location.
Pond Inlet will see the initiation of project to renovate the elementary school and examine the high school gym options.
Clyde River will see the start of the planning process to address the difficulties for the existing school.
We will in partnership with the Federal Government begin construction of new French first language school in Iqaluit.
We will also provide library funding for Iqaluit Aqsarniit School.
Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay and Whale Cove will receive funds to initiate a planning and design phase for the addition of classroom space to the community school.
Igloolik will see a completion of this school addition project, funds have been allocated for the final warranty phase of the school addition in Repulse Bay.
Kugluktuk school interior renovations are now complete and exterior upgrade is planned to insure longevity.
Pelly Bay school addition and construction will begin following the summer arrival of the building's supplies.
Mr. Chairperson, the Department of Education will also start a series of minor capital projects in many of our schools.
We will finance these minor capital projects through the anticipated surplus following the dissolution of three education councils.
The exact amount available to the department is not yet known. As we must wait for the final audit of the councils and we expect this process to be completed by early fall of 2000.
Mr. Chairman, the total Department of Education budget for 2000-2001 will be 150.5 million dollars. 83% of that amount will be in the key areas of school at approximately 74 million dollars, 49%, income support payment will be approximately 21.8 million dollars, 15%, 15.3 million dollars will spent on capital projects, 10%, and the College receives 13.3 million dollars which is 9%.
In closing the resources that the department will have at this disposal will be for the benefit of Nunavummiut providing options so that citizens benefit from their past and create their own future for personal fulfilment and a productive, prosperous society.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Minister. Mr. Arvaluk, the Minister of Education.
The Minister has made his opening statements.
Are there any general comments from the floor.
We do not have any general comments to the Minister's opening address and we would like to discuss that on Monday.
I would like to report progress at this time.
There is a motion to report progress.
I know it is not debatable.
Speaker: Item 21. Report of the Committee of the Whole.
Chairman Mr. Puqiqnak.
Mr. Speaker the committee has been considering Bill 13 and Table Document 41-1(3) and Table Document 51-1(3) and would like to report progress and Mr. Speaker and with that, the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Is there a second for the motion?
Mr. Nutarak is the seconder.
Contrary.
I would like to have unanimous consent to go back to Item 5 Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Speaker: The member is asking for unanimous consent to return to Item 5, Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Hon. Paul Okalik (Interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you my colleagues.
I would like to recognize someone who is an American from the United States of America.
She has an office in Quebec City and is here to take some training and see the people of Nunavut. Louis Orian.
Speaker: Welcome to our Assembly.
Item 22.
Third Reading of Bills. Third Reading of Bills.
Item 23. Orders of the Day.
Before we proceed with Orders of the Day, Mr. Clerk, would you please ascertain that the Commissioner of Nunavut is ready to enter the Chamber to give assent to Bills.
>>The Commissioner was escorted to the Chair
Bill 7 – Loan Authorization Act, 2000/2001 – Assent
Bill 8 – Supplementary Appropriations Act No. 2, 1999/2000 – Assent
Bill 9 – An Act to Amend the Judicature Act and Other Acts Related to Judges – Assent
Bill 10 – An Act to Amend the Boards of Management Dissolution Act – Assent
Bill 14 – Interim Appropriations Act, April 1st – May 31st, 2000 – Assent
Bill 15 – Supplementary Appropriations Act No. 3, 1999/2000 - Assent
Good afternoon Mr. Speaker, Premier Okalik and honourable Members of the Legislative Assembly.
As Commissioner of Nunavut, I am pleased to give assent to the following Bills.
Bill 7, Loan Authorization Act, 2000/2001.
Bill 8, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1999/2000.
Bill 9, an Act to Amend the Judicature Act and Other Acts in Relation to Judges.
Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Boards of Management Dissolution Act.
Bill 14, Interim Appropriation Act, April 1-May 31, 2000.
Bill 15, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1999-2000.
Mr. Speaker, today is the last time that I will be in the chamber as Commissioner of Nunavut.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of this house for their support and kindness.
I know that you will give my successor the same support in the years ahead.
I wish you all the best as you continue deliberations on behalf of the people we all serve. The people of Nunavut.
Speaker: Item 23, orders of the day.
Clerk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, meeting of regular caucus on Monday April 3 at 9 o'clock in the morning.
Orders of the Day for April 3.
- Bill 16
After we adjourn for the day I would like to ask the members to remain in the chamber for special presentations by Colonel Peter Leblanc, Commander of the Canadian Forces in the Northern Area.
Colonel Leblanc is travelling with the Governor General this week and he has brought a gift for the Legislative Assembly on behalf of the Canadian forces.
The colonel will also be presenting special service medals to some of the members.
Sergeant At Arms, this House stands adjourned until Monday April 3, 2000 at 1.30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 1.40 p.m.
DAY 28
Monday, April 03, 2000
Pages 1134 - 1185
Donald Havioyak
Opening Prayer 1134
Ministers’ Statements 1134
Members’ Statements 1137
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1143
Oral Questions 1144
Returns to Written Questions 1160
Tabling of Documents 1161
First Reading of Bills 1161
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1162
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1184
Orders of the Day 1184
Monday April 3, 2000 1134
95 - 1(3): Timoon Toonoo Appointed as Baffin Region Superintendent (Anawak) 1134
96 - 1(3): Department Name Update (Thompson) 1135
97 - 1(3): Joint Minister’s of Energy and Environment Meeting (Kilabuk) 1135
98 - 1(3): FPT Ministers of Health Meeting (Picco) 1136
253 - 1(3): Homeowners Expenses (Barnabas) 1137
254 - 1(3): Kitikmeot Information Technology (Puqiqnak) 1137
255 - 1(3): Suicide Prevention Workshop (Havioyak) 1138
256 - 1(3): Tribute to Helen Maksagak (Ng) 1139
257 - 1(3): Cape Dorset Hockey Team (Akesuk) 1140
258 – 1(3): Congratulations to Timoon Toonoo (Nutarak) 1140
259 – 1(3): Visit to Repulse Bay with New Commissioner (Puqiqnak) 1140
260 - 1(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in Government (Kattuk) 1141
261 - 1(3): Pangnirtung Hockey Teams (Kilabuk) 1141
262 - 1(3): Igloo Building Contest (Iqaqrialu) 1142
263 - 1(3): Full Time Mayor for Iqaluit (Picco) 1142
360 - 1(3): Status of Patient Escorts (Barnabas) 1144
361 - 1(3): Shortage of Nurses (Iqaqrialu) 1145
362 - 1(3): Culture, Language, Elders & Youth Capital Projects (Tootoo) 1147
363 - 1(3): Placement of Foster Children (Akesuk) 1147
364 - 1(3): Status of Gjoa Haven Water Situation (Puqiqnak) 1148
365 - 1(3): Criteria for Capital (Barnabas) 1150
366- 1(3): Home Ownership Programs (Kattuk) 1150
367 - 1(3): Technical Division for the Housing Corporation (Tootoo) 1151
368 - 1(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in dealing with Foster Children (Iqaqrialu) 1153
369 - 1(3): Staff Housing Policy (Tootoo) 1154
370 - 1(3): Petroleum Products in Repulse Bay and Pelly Bay (Alakannuark) 1155
371 - 1(3): Support for Businesses (Irqittuq) 1157
372 - 1(3): Access Roads (Barnabas) 1159
373 - 1(3): Construction Training (Iqaqrialu) 1160
10 – 1(3): Written Question 7 – 1(3) (Anawak) 1160
11 – 1(3): Written Question 8 – 1(3) (Anawak) 1160
57– 1(3): Estimated Departmental Expenditure Variances (Ng) 1161
58 – 1(3): Cape Dorset Priority List (Akesuk) 1161
59 – 1(3): Letters from Nunavut Employees' Union Members (Tootoo) 1161
Bill 16 – An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act – First Reading 1161  Monday April 3, 2000
Monday April 3, 2000
Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. Olayuk Akesuk, Honourable Jack Anawak, Honourable James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker: Good afternoon.
Item 2. Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 95 - 1(3): Timoon Toonoo Appointed as Baffin Region Superintendent
Hon. Jack Anawak: (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am pleased to rise this afternoon to advise members of the legislative assembly that Timoon Toonoo has been appointed the new superintendent of Community Government and Transportation effective today.
Mr. Toonoo, who will based in his home town, will be supervising a staff of nineteen in Cape Dorset, five in Nanisivik and one in Resolute Bay.
He will also manage the programs in the Baffin Region's fourteen communities.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Toonoo has the experience necessary to offer solid guidance as he embarks on the task of establishing the new regional office in Cape Dorset.
He has spent most of his life there.
He started out in the co-op system where he was a manager for 10 years.
He was also the housing manager for 7 years and served as the director of municipal works and services between 1994 and 1996.
In January of 1996 he became the Senior Administrative officer and has served in that capacity until last Friday.
Mr. Speaker Timoon has a good understanding of the needs of the communities in the Baffin Region.
The Department of Community Government and Transportation will be supporting Timoon in his efforts to establish the office and deliver the departments programs.
We welcome him to the department.
Speaker: Ms. Thompson
Minister’s Statement 96 - 1(3): Department Name Update
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform my colleagues and the public that effective April 1, 2000 the name of my department has been changed to “SANAJULIRIJIIT”, the Department of Public Works and Services.
In addition, of April 1, 2000 a stand-alone housing corporation was officially created and it is called “NUNAVUMMI IGLULIRIJIRJUAKUT”.
In English it will translate to the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Establishment of the Housing Corporation will allow us to focus more closely on the housing corporation and develop meaningful and sustainable solutions to the problems to the problems that currently exist in housing.
Mr. Speaker the Department of Public Works and Services will continue its mandate to support other governments departments in the delivery in the programs and services. My staff and I look forward to continue working in co-operation with the other departments to service the people of Nunavut.
Speaker: Ministers’ Statements, Mr. Kilabuk.
Minister’s Statement 97 - 1(3): Joint Minister’s of Energy and Environment Meeting
As members know, I participated in the joint ministers of Energy and the Environment in Vancouver.
These meetings are normally rare events but of late one topic has created the need for energy and environment ministers to meet once a year.
The topic is climate change.
Climate change is not a unique problem to Canada and indeed only 2 percent of the world's gas emissions originate in Canada and Nunavut only emits 0.1 percent of these emissions.
However, while Canadians are only a small contributor to the problems, we are a huge recipient of its impact.
Today these impacts are occurring more quickly and in greater concentration in Canada's north.
For this reason Mr. Speaker, it is extremely important to bring the north's point of view to the table of the energy and environments ministers.
As the environment minister for Nunavut, I feel it is extremely important to Nunavummiut to improve our knowledge on climate change.
To that end Mr. Speaker, I urged my colleagues attending the JMM to adapt a more aggressive program of science on the impact of climate change.
I invited scientists from Environment Canada to Nunavut to provide members with detailed information on what is known and what is not known about climate change.
I have also asked my department officials to begin work on a climate change plan for Nunavut to be presented to cabinet and this House at a later date.
Mr. Speaker together with Canada's two other territories, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories; we have an important voice at the national level on the climate change issue.
A voice that did not go unnoticed at the meetings.
It is my intention to continue to work with Canada's minister of the environment, David Anderson and Natural Resource's minister Ralph Goodall with plans to increase the understanding of climate change in Canada's north.
The measures that must be taken to protect our environment and the livelihoods of Nunavummiut for future generations.
Speaker: Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 98 - 1(3): FPT Ministers of Health Meeting
Mr. Speaker I want to inform you of a meeting of federal, provincial and territorial health ministers, which I recently attended in Ontario.
Mr. Speaker this was a very important meeting for the preservation of our national health care system.
As you know Mr. Speaker, Nunavut is not alone in this country in our struggle to maintain the quality of our health care systems for our people.
The budgets for health are being stretched near the breaking point across Canada and although are needs in Nunavut are unique, our goals are the same as other jurisdictions.
Mainly to preserve our ability to provide high quality, accessible health care to our citizens.
Mr. Speaker I have joined my provincial and territorial colleagues to demand the federal government increase their contribution to health care across Canada including Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker we want the Canadian government to restore the Canadian Health and Social Transfer or CHST to 1994/95 levels adjusted to reflect current economic reality.
Mr. Speaker we want the federal government to reaffirm there fiscal commitment to the Canada Health Act.
We also want the Federal government to become full partners as we strive to ensure the sustainability of our health care system in all the territories and provinces, and we require a long-term funding commitment from the Government of Canada to accomplish that.