EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
From my constituents I would like to say thank you to her for representing Nunavut in the past. She worked very hard to represent Nunavummiut. Even after her husband passed away she has truly represented the people of Nunavut.
Although she does not appear in my community too much, she is our representative in the House of Commons in Ottawa.
As elected politicians the people in Nunavut appreciate this very much and I wanted to appreciate Nancy Karetak-Lindell for representing us in Nunavut.
This morning I would like to state my appreciation for the people that are our staff, our Sergeant-at-Arms, and the media.
Before we proceed with the Oral Questions, at this time I would like to remind the members that we only have one Inuinnaqtut interpreter.
Please make sure that you remember that.
Question 108 – 2(4): Energy Issues (Curley)
My question is going to be directed to the Minister responsible for Energy.
All Members of the Legislative Assembly recently received a copy of the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s most recent fuel stabilization rider application to the Utility Rate Review Council, URRC, that’s dated March 2, 2007.
I want to ask the minister about an issue that the application raises, I don’t believe that the prices have gone up for a long time; I would like to ask the minister what’s happening with the application.
The Fuel Stabilization Rider, FSR, is put in place to help cover the costs of fuel on an annual basis, from year to year. In this case the FSR was 7.87 cents a kilowatt hour. The application that the member refers to is decreasing that Fuel Stabilization Rider to 6.665 cents a kilowatt hour, so it is dropping about a cent.
That’s the application to the URRC. Any FSR has to be approved by an independent body, in this case the URRC, before it can be applied.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, in the application I will quote.
“Qulliq Energy Corporation has recently been advised that the Nunavut Government would like to move towards a true cost which will likely result in a greater range of fuel prices across Nunavut, but would prefer to wait until the next supply season.”
Can the minister explain to the House today the reason why the Government of Nunavut wants to make this change and whether the government has made a final decision on that matter?
Almost 20 percent of the total budget of the Government of Nunavut goes towards energy, and energy related matters, whether that is the production of electricity, the importation of fuel, and so on.
What has been discussed in the House in the past, as well as the Ikuma I and the Ikuma II Reports, has been moving the government with an affordable energy fund to show all the subsidies, make the subsidies transparent that are in place for the purchase and the distribution of fuel and energy.
The idea of going to the true price of fuel, you would factor in the cost of the transportation of the fuel, the distribution of the fuel, and you would also look at the storage at the POL sites, for example, Mr. Speaker, taking care of the storage tanks and so on.
Right now, when you look at the price of fuel at the pump, it includes the transportation costs, and the distribution costs. It doesn’t factor in, for example, storage costs and other ancillary costs that are associated with the purchase of fuel.
So, when we talk about the true cost of fuel that is something that we’re looking at. We’re looking at the Power Corporation as a first step to start paying the true cost of fuel.
There has been no decision on it. I would like to be in a position, as the minister responsible, to bring something forward in the fall for the House to review at that time.
Mr. Curley: I appreciate the minister briefing the members on the application.
It is quite important that Nunavummiut be informed as to whether or not there will be additional costs assessed to the consumers.
I would like to ask the minister exactly what he means by true costs being levied against Qulliq Energy Corporation or the consumers in general.
I want to assure the minister that when he is considering the true costs being applied to consumers, whether or not the consumers use all the fuel that was bought the previous year, the consumers must pay for it regardless of whether or not they use 50 percent of the supply or three quarters of the supply.
Do you mean 100 percent of the supply be levied against the consumers?
I think the question is clear. So that’s the kind of questions that Nunavummiut are asking today.
The member raises an interesting point, and that point being that 100 percent of the fuel purchased by the Power Corporation is purchased through the Petroleum Product Division.
The actual cost of that fuel has increased from over $20 million three years ago to over $30 million last year which is the last year we have actual figures for. Moving to the true cost of fuel would mean that the actual cost of actually purchasing the fuel, the storage of the fuel, distribution of the fuel, would be factored into that price.
Right now, it’s hidden through the different subsidies that are in place and at different costs.
We artificially take that price and set a rate for the territory. We use what is called a blended rate.
So, the cost of shipping fuel, for example, to Resolute Bay may be more than it is to Chesterfield Inlet, but we try to take that price and make it a blended cost.
So when we talk about moving to the true costs of fuel, that is what we’re talking about doing.
Mr. Curley: I would like to urge the minister to seriously consider that Nunavummiut need not be levied or charged for true costs when in fact they are not even using it or spending it because they only use maybe 50 percent of the supply that the government bought.
So could you consider that Nunavummiut be assessed a certain percentage of the cost up to a point, maybe three quarters of the supply instead of 100 percent of the supply bought, because it’s sitting in a container which has nothing to do with the consumers that you are intending to recover your costs from?
Again, I want to thank the member for raising the question.
Two days ago in the House I tabled the proposed Energy Strategy for the Government of Nunavut and we talked about true pricing of fuel, how we purchase fuel, how we generate electricity.
I can ensure the member that, with discussion on our tabled document, we would be bringing forward our energy strategy, probably in the session in May. Then we would have an opportunity to have some further discussion.
At the end of the day, what the Government of Nunavut is trying to do is protect Nunavut consumers without highly, wildly escalating prices.
At the same time, trying to demonstrate what those subsidies are that are in place.
Question 109 – 2(4): Community Health Representative for Grise Fiord (Barnabas)
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health.
In my Member’s Statement I mentioned that there needs to be a community health representative in Grise Fiord.
To date, there hasn’t been any position being advertised for that position in the community of Grise Fiord.
Can the minister give me the status on this issue?
I will have to speak to my staff to find out why that position has not been advertised and get back to the member.
Can the minister advise me and the Hamlet of Grise Fiord once this position is being advertised so people in Grise Fiord can apply for this position?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will do that.
I will provide this information to the hamlet as well as the member as soon as I get this information on the status of the position.
Question 110 – 2(4): Client Travel Policies for Patients and Escorts (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services in dealing with a topic that has received a lot of attention by all members in the House and that is client travel policies for patients and escorts.
In one of the guiding principles of the Client Travel Policy, it indicates to be fair to everyone.
This means to make good, responsible decisions that are the same for everyone. It also means that making the reasons for decisions are clear and understandable.
My question to the minister is: when the department or officials are deciding on escort travel, how do they ensure they are following the policy the same for everybody?
A decision on whether a person requires an escort or not depends on the patient needs. On that basis then that policy is applied.
The medical condition of the patients is considered first and foremost.
I guess my next question is, also in the policy it states only one escort will be approved per trip.
I am just wondering if the minister can confirm if that is the case or if there are cases where multiple escorts would be sent out on a trip.
Again, case-by-case, the condition of the patient; sometimes two individuals are sent, depending again on the condition of the person and the serious nature of the patient’s current condition.
Normally, the practice is only to allow one escort.
In the policy it says, “Where there is a special circumstances the executive director must recommend any change and the director of client travel may approve more than one escort.”
I would like to ask the minister if she is aware of what types of special circumstances would be taken into consideration there to allow for multiple escorts to go?
Again, the condition of the patient; it all depends on the condition of the patient and how serious the person’s condition is when those situations are applied.
I have asked those questions because in the document that my colleague tabled other day that breaks down the medical and escort travel by region.
In the Baffin region, for ages zero to 16 there was 2,450 patients sent out, 1,225 escorts.
In the Kitikmeot region for the same age group, 866 patients sent out, 650 escorts with those patients.
The anomaly here in the Kivalliq where they had 1,706 patients sent out and 1,824 escorts sent out.
I would like to ask the minister if she could bring forward justification to the House since you could have over 100 more escorts sent out than patients.
Again, case-by-case, every situation is different.
I am aware of when escorts have been away with the patient for an extensive amount of time; two, three months at a time in a hospital we do switch-overs with families. Or it could be that there is a requirement, like I had mentioned earlier, the state of the person’s condition. Again, it varies on a case-by-case basis.
Question 111 – 2(4): GN’s Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy (Peterson)
I have been reviewing the minister’s recently tabled Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy.
In particular I was reviewing an action item on page 20, “Following an independent review, the Government of Nunavut will facilitate a workshop in partnership with the federal government, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and the three Regional Inuit Associations, Nunavut Planning Commission, Nunavut Impact Review Board, and the Nunavut Water Board.”
This is a review of the permitting and regulatory structures. I know it’s a kind of a daunting action item. In other words, the government will facilitate a workshop with Government of Canada, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Kivalliq Inuit Association, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Nunavut Planning Commission, Nunavut Impact Review Board, and the Nunavut Water Board.
I can certainly see why the mining sector is confused about our regulatory permitting process, and why it’s so slow and complicated.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell me what the current status is of the independent review of the permitting and regulatory structures in the territory?
The review has not started yet but they are identifying what they will review at that time.
On page 52, in the timeline identified there, on the review issue that there be a Request for Proposal in the fall of 2006, and a final report for March 2007; the resources are $75,000. Can the minister tell me if there has been a consultant hired to conduct an independent review?
I will have to check into this further.
I will have to get more information and give him the information.
This is a very impressive report.
It was distributed to mining conferences in southern Canada and was tabled in the House. The action items are impressive. That review is identified as an action item and is very important for the mining sector in Nunavut.
I wonder if the minister can say if an independent review has been started. Can he give me an idea of when it will be completed?
Yes, it is very important to consult with the different communities Ikaluktutiak, Iqaluit, Pond Inlet, and Clyde River. There was one in Ottawa, Vancouver, and Toronto.
There were a lot of people that were involved and they were very beneficial in setting this up.
As I said earlier, I’ll have to check with my officials and get back to the member.
I hate to keep harping on the same issue about the over-regulation, red tape and bureaucracy in Nunavut. We keep hearing about how we have to develop our economy and all these regulations are holding up the development of our economy.
The minister’s says the review hasn’t been completed, it hasn’t been started.
He also mentioned in one of the action items that a workshop will occur with all those organizations.
I wonder if the minister can tell me when he thinks the workshop will actually occur. Will it occur in 2007 or in some future year?
On page 40, action 1-6, in his supplementary question, the independent review has not started but it will follow through.
At that time, then the workshop will be held.
Question 112 – 2(4): Medical Travel From Sanikiluaq (Kattuk)
During Committee of the Whole yesterday she stated something and I would like clarification, but I want to make a statement with regards to medical travel.
Back in the 50s and 60s, we used to go down to Moose Factory, especially people from the Belcher Islands.
In the 1970s they would go to Churchill, and in the late 1970s we would go down to Moose Factory, too.
This was not our doing; it was the doing of the government.
Nowadays, Sanikiluaq residents have to go to Churchill or Winnipeg.
The minister indicated yesterday that she would talk to her officials as to why Sanikiluaq residents don’t go down to Ottawa? I would like to ask the minister if she has talked to her officials about this.
I have asked my staff to review that current arrangement for Sanikiluaq patients travelling through Churchill and Winnipeg to explore whether there are other ways that we can provide better service to community of Sanikiluaq around health.
One option is perhaps they should go to Ottawa; the other option is maybe Iqaluit.
Instead of chartering to Winnipeg and Churchill we can look at Sanikiluaq being chartered to here, or Ottawa.
So, we are just looking at that; no decision has been made, but because of the high cost of the service, we’re looking at ways of trying to reduce the costs of medical travel, and we are exploring just what those options might be at this point in time.
We hear in the House that the boarding home in Ottawa is constantly full and a lot of times they have to put people in hotels.
And, here in Iqaluit the boarding home is constantly full.
Those things will have to be considered, too.
But, I would like to share with the minister that she will have to consult with the residents of Sanikiluaq. They should participate in the process if they’re going to be talking about this.
I wonder if the minister will be able to consult the residents of Sanikiluaq.
We’re just exploring at this point in time.
No decision has been made. We’re looking at the cost issue. The concern that the member raises related to the aircraft; that’s all part of it.
The boarding home situation in Ottawa of course is part of it, as well as here.
But, we are just exploring the options and we will consult with the community what ever we decide to do.  At this point in time, the arrangement will continue to be with Winnipeg and Churchill.
But, at this point in time, again, I want to reassure the member it is just an exploration. We are exploring what options we have of how we can provide better service to Sanikiluarmiut.
That is basically where we are at, and I will keep the member informed as well as the community in case there are any changes.
Question 113 – 2(4): Fuel Prices (Arvaluk)
My question is a supplementary to Mr. Curley’s question with regard to energy.
This glass of water I drank it where I left a little bit to compare it with the fuel tanks.
Sometimes the fuel tanks get refuelled when they are very low and they just did that in Arctic Bay.
My question is the residue at the bottom, maybe it has the price of last year’s and the following year when it’s refilled, then it is a new price including the residue that was left at the bottom. How do you justify the cost from the old fuel and the new one?
When it’s fixed, how do you justify the cost of it?
Your question is toward the Minister responsible for Petroleum Products, Minister Brown.
With the fuel prices going up and everything else goes up. I’d like to state at this time the price of fuel went up in November by 10 cents a litre, and the taxes.
Even though that might be the case the cost of fuel is constantly going up, it’s not like that.
I can state that the remaining fuel that was left is added on with the new one because we don’t have any other tank.
PPD orders once a year.
If you can remember in 2003 the cost of oil was $26 a barrel and every single year it constantly goes up and in 2004 it was $40 a barrel.
It’s the same size barrel. The barrel is the same and the price keeps going up.
In 2005 the price was $60. In 2006 it was $78 a barrel.
The fuel went up considerably higher.
What I would like to say is that the residue from the previous year and the new supply is 10 cents a litre, and it applies to the whole of Nunavut.
It will be the same.
I can’t predict what the cost will be in the fall time.
I know that we need order because they have constituencies that need to be informed, too.
The second question that I would like to pose is now that it’s springtime and I am sure that you’ll be looking to purchase fuel at the best price.
Once you find out where to buy the fuel and you state the quantity; approximately 20 billion litres, do you tell them how much you want, or do you tell them since you’re fuel is the best and it’s most cost effective way, go fill up the 25 communities and then after you deliver the fuel we’ll find out how much it costs. How does that occur?
Community and Government Services Minister, Minister Brown.
We work with the Department of Finance when we work on the prices of fuel and also we work with Petroleum Products Division, since they are responsible for that.
We purchase different kinds of fuel, and we look for the most cost effective way.
There are hardly any options, but we expect to purchase fuel on hedging, for example, diesel.
I could talk about the differences with the diesel beginning from 2003-04 to 2005 as to how much it costs and the price.
I can report to the House on these but the diesel in 2005 $1,653,224 the price of that, and gasoline $20,854,470, and jet A-1 $55,474,994, and AV gas, which we also purchase too, it’s not a huge volume because not too many communities use that; $241,245.
In total cost: $137,813,364.
So those are my responses. I can also table that information.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): I don’t want to make a supplementary question because she did not answer my question.
My question was do you purchase fuel ahead of time, like for example, for the year 2005 there was 115 million litres purchased and in 2006 there were 99 million litres purchased.
You purchased fuel by telling them the quantity that you want, or purchased the fuel ahead of time and then once the ship delivers the fuel to the community then find out how much it would cost.
So I would like the Speaker to let me know if I can ask a second question.
Speaker (interpretation): You asked the question so your next question it’s still the second supplementary.
I would like to ask the member if he can ask the question again.
Mr. Arvaluk, if you can clarify your question.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): What I’m trying to say it does not state here in this document what the policy is when you purchase fuel from whatever company you purchase your fuel from, wherever you purchase your fuel from.
And I’m sure if there was a bid, or if there was a request for proposals, and if this company won, we don’t know how much fuel we’ll need in Pond Inlet, Kugluktuk, or Arviat for example.
We don’t know how many litres of fuel they’ll require in the communities, but fuel will be delivered to the communities, and then after you deliver that fuel.
Do you pay for the fuel delivered, or do you purchase 137,813,364 worth of fuel ahead of time?
I would like to thank my colleague for asking those questions.
The fuel is purchased from Shell Oil, from a Montreal refinery, and from Edmonton.
I have not identified how much fuel will be delivered to the communities, but Woodward’s Oil Limited, (interpretation ends) provides marine transportation and delivery of Government of Nunavut fuel to the communities in the Baffin and Kivalliq regions.
Northern Transportation Company Limited provides marine transportation and the delivery of Government of Nunavut fuel to the communities in the Kitikmeot region.
As a condition to the contract extension, Woodward’s implementation will include all Government of Nunavut requests, enhancement to equipment, safety, and environment procedures in their 2005, and succeeding operational plans.
The minister stated that they had increased at 10 cents but they required an increase of 26, but with the government’s assistance, they would increase the fuel by 10 cents a litre so that the communities would not pay too much.
Was this increase for both gasoline and diesel? Did you also provide a subsidy for aviation fuel; A1 jet fuel, or JP4, used for helicopters?
Did you provide a 10 cent subsidy to for them as well?
Yes, that is how it is in the communities. Yes, the price of various fuels had the same price according to my understanding; that’s how it was.
Question 114 – 2(4): Continual Monitoring of Contaminated Marine Mammals (Alagalak)
I would like to make a statement because this has been a concern of mine. Although the minister is not really responsible for this, we have been impacted with regards to sea mammals such as seals and whales that migrate through the Belcher Islands, travelling to the Keewatin.
We harvest them for subsistence.
Beginning in 1980 they identified that the whales are contaminated with mercury. My colleague from Sanikiluaq made a statement about a seal that was tagged with a radio.
They travel all over the place and these mammals travel through the contaminated waters.
So I would like to ask the minister if there is continual monitoring of these waters and how do you work with the Department of Fisheries.
In regard to sealing, it has moved to the Department of Economic Development. So I believe that he should be directing his question to that minister.
Mr. Premier if you can clarify which minister is responsible for that question.
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation is responsible for the trading of sealskins and wildlife issues are the responsibility of the Department of Environment but these two departments work together to lobby the federal government and to work with the federal government.
It seems like the question is more leaning towards the Minister of Environment and I’m sure he can respond to that question.
Could the member rephrase his question?
Please rephrase your question, Mr. Alagalak.
I stated my concern in regard to the hydro construction and when building those it can become hazardous to marine mammals.
In regard to this ... (interpretation ends) ... contamination with the marine mammals, is what I’m talking about, the concerns we have and how the minister is working with Fisheries and Oceans to see how they are working together in the prevention of contamination to marine mammals in Hudson Bay. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the member for raising the issue.