EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
There is an airport-specific truck that is there, that one can stay there and you can have the people there to man that if there is a house fire. There are other vehicles there.
You still have the ability to react to both, if necessary.
I think the opportunity is there to be able to get more manpower, more equipment, and more training by pooling those resources together.
So, I am just wondering if there is a willingness to take a look at that over the next year by the department.
Also, outside of Iqaluit, the smaller communities also continued to get better handle of the inventory, and are also looking for ways of improving training at the community level and other possible partners to act on that.
So, we will definitely have a look at this.
It is good that we can find ways to save money and provide a better service, so we should look at that, and we really want to get down to it, but it is almost like devolution and like a duplication of services.
It is one thing that we are trying to find ways to trim some fat.
Maybe there is an opportunity for some fat to be trimmed there, and get better service out of it, and appreciate that.
My last question here is on the fire marshal’s office itself. It is almost double the amount, and in the business plan it is showing $580,000 last yea,r and it is $941,000 this year.
I am just wondering if I can get an explanation for that increase.
It is on J-24 of the business plan.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): I apologize, Mr. Chairman, colleagues.
Emergency organization has been reduced and the other one, there is more, and this is just to coincide with each other.
Again, I know there was a rational explanation for it.
On fire equipment, it has $54,000, and it is just for miscellaneous fire fighting equipment, for fire trucks, and I imagine it can buy a lot of fire trucks with $54,000.
One of the problems here was tanks, and oxygen, and things like that.
How do you screen out with only $54,000? I do not imagine… . You know, that is pretty specialty equipment that costs money, that you can’t go too far with it.
So, how is that allocated? Is it on a first come, first served basis, or is there priority planning to try and ensure that our fire… . Ones in the worst need get what they need first and then you move up the ladder as the time goes by.
It is an application done in the program, and we try to spread it around to as many communities as possible.
The program funds minor equipment such as bunker gear, fire alarms, sirens, radios, pumps, and hose for the trucks.
It is an application-driven process that we try and spread around to as many communities as we can.
I guess it has been showing $54,000 for the last few years.
I know in a couple of other areas the numbers have been neither reduced nor increased because of the historic usage of the program. Has that program been fully utilized in the past?
. If not, if there’s more requests than there’s funding for, is that an idea how much that is?
I can state to my colleague that we definitely can use more.
To meet the current needs out there now, we’d probably have to look at going up as high as $250,000 a year to meet the current need.
I would also like to ask a question concerning firefighters.
Where was the design made for ambulance, under the developmental $510,000, $140,000, around that area?
Why was it delayed?
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chair.
I lost my train of thought there for a minute.
Is this from the capital plan?
I apologize right now; I haven’t seen this recently.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, there was a plan.
I think this was dealt with, that in the fall, they were asking on the fire training, that it is too small even for the ambulance.
It would be good to see this implemented this fall because it is becoming an emergency case.
I would like to know, will you start the delivery on this because there’s no training facility available?
It was already designed, apparently.
Have you heard about it?
Chairman (interpretation):Thank you.
Thank you to my colleague.
We met with the mayor and the SAO.
We are having a better understanding with each other now and working together.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Do you agree that it would be made this fall or next year?
I will go on to another subject under the business plan, J-26, the Coast Guard’s marine certification program.
Who is meeting? Is this about the licence or for the vessels?
Can one of your officials, or yourself, speak on this issue, when it will start?
I’ve asked my officials to see, but there’s no clarification just yet.
We will be working on it, that training for emergency purposes and for certification, that it will be for Nunavut.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, this is a very important issue because we need marine licences.
They are very important right now, since there is regular sea traffic to Churchill, and this is getting very difficult for this, and we would like to have a better understanding.
Who do we ask so that we can be proactive?
This is one of the priorities.
If we go to G-25, the first priorities for 2004-05 are for marine.
I would just like to add that the past five years, it seems like there have been rehab in the Baffin region and Keewatin.
It is very important how you could travel without capsizing, such as if there are floaters, that it is good to have training on such things as this. It should be taken as an emergency because when people are clam digging, they are not wearing jackets.
And if there was such a support program, like the hunters’ support program, who are able to get wholesale price with NTI for life jackets, it should be more promoted so that we would not lose lives to drowning.
I feel that there should be more communication on this.
We would like to continue on with the training or certification program, and I thank the member.
Especially, they are very good for people going out hunting, to be provided with all the things that they need to save their lives.
And to feel that they are very good in emergencies, they’re good just in case there are emergencies when you’re out on the land.
At this time we’re at G-13.
Community and government services.
Grand summary of protection services.
Total, operations and maintenance, $2,762,000.
Chairman: G-15.
Capital planning and technical services.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, under “$36 million,” was that the money before you took on public works?
Is it just for the two departments that have come together?
That’s for the two departments that I hold now, Public Works and Community Government.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Peterson.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Minister.
You identified a couple of years ago that we had $350 million municipal infrastructure deficit; we had a lot of aging infrastructure.
Has your department gone through each community and identified individual infrastructure in the community, what its life cycle is, when it has to be replaced, or forget it?
That will be good for… . I lost my train of thought there, it’s five o’clock.
And you wonder where my head is after five hours of questions.
Seriously, Mr. Chairman, the department has been putting together a program to be able to record all the infrastructure at the community level.
So, it is something that we are currently working on.
I remembered what I was going to say.
I’ve got a comment on our water line in Cambridge Bay.
It was 26 or 27 years old and we had been working very hard to get that replaced, and it will be replaced this year, but unfortunately it froze up in December, and it has put an additional burden on our community.
That’s the kind of stuff that we have to keep being aware of that when infrastructure fails; it could cost us significantly.
So I thought I’d throw that comment in there.
Yes, we hear the member’s concerns.
I know it’s been considered, and to do with infrastructure such as hospital and schools qualify under this item.
I just want to stress to the minister that there should be public-private partnerships considered.
Some people always think that if it’s taken over by the private company that it’s going to be more expensive, but to me it’s not like that.
The government’s capital spending… . If we could convert them to make them into lease payments, perhaps for ten years, and then the government is able to do more with their dollars.
If that could be considered by the department either by call for proposals, invitational proposals, and stuff like that, sort of to compare prices.
That way the government can make more with their dollars and perhaps just to find out the best way the government can stretch their dollars, besides the healthcare facility.
I just wondered what the thinking of the minister is on that.
There was a question similar to the comment that Mr. Curley is making.
As a cabinet, we wanted to think about considering that.
I wanted to tell the member that I have agreed to consider the wish of the member to see what better ways we can find.
So, I will be working with the cabinet members to see how best we can utilize those dollars.
We are on the page for community and government services.
Community planning and technical services, $19, 065,000.
Chairman: “Qujannamiik.” G-16. information item for Petroleum Products Division, and G-17, also an information item. Petroleum Products Revolving Fund.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Although it is just an information item, I would like to ask a question on that page.
It seems like they are projecting, in the revolving funds, once you have done the estimates under total income, before the fuel prices are increased in Canada.
Yes, that was from the original price.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I think this was last year’s total income, but now that the world prices of fuel have gone up, even if it is wholesale prices, the price has increased.
The total income and the total expenses will probably go up, it seems.
These were last fall’s.
So, looking at the total income and the total expenditures, there will probably be a price increase.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Looking at the last year’s total, there must be a $435,000 increase.
If the deficit goes up, does that go up?
It is hard to say at this time.
I am not exactly sure if there is going to be an increase or a deficit.
First of all, Mr. Chairman, if I could say for the first comment that he made, if the price is going to go up for petroleum products, we expect that we cannot really comment at this time because we do not know exactly what is going to happen.
So, next year we will find out that exact number.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I am not going to hop on this for a while, but because the world fuel prices have gone up, it would not be true if you say that if the price of petroleum products is not going to go up in Nunavut because of the world prices. If you look at the retail prices after they have gone up… . I am sure that if the world price of petroleum products has gone up, I am sure Nunavut will go up too.
I think Nunavummiut have to know that the fuel prices and the gas prices will have to go up.
It is to be expected, because we are not protected from world prices.
We have no protection.
Yes, it is expected that the price will go up.
Even if that is the case, we have to think of lower transportation costs.
What we are expecting is that the transportation end of it will probably be cheaper, but we are not really exactly sure, perhaps we’ll probably not use it, the $20 million; we will probably be saving.
Chairman (interpretation): Any further questions, Mr. Curley?
I have a question in regards to this page.
First of all it’s starting to become evident, I think it was yesterday or today, that the fuel prices are increasing, and all the communities will have to purchase fuel.
We are starting to expect fuel price increases in the future, but I do want to ask the minister in regards to the oil.
This coming winter, I know that in November or December, we could probably make estimates.
Perhaps you could provide a report to the House after six months of using this whether you expect to increase the fuel or whether there were overexpenditures.
Do you make a report to the Legislative Assembly?
Chairman (interpretation): I am sorry, your microphone was turned off in between and we could not hear you.
Yes, although we could not hear part of his question, but if you want me to respond to his comment, I could try and respond.
Next fall we will commit to making a report in regards to the fuel distribution, whether it is going to be more expensive or cheaper. So, we will be making a report to you.
I will try and be a little bit slower.
Yes, I am concerned in regards to all the municipalities in Nunavut because they are given limited resources, and they cannot even go beyond what their budget is, and they get money through taxation.
Also, the majority of our municipalities are in a deficit situation.
What would happen in the case when the fuel prices go up?
Would you be able to provide some form of subsidy to the municipalities?
It is evident that, yes, if there is going to be a fuel price increase we will have to review the process to make sure that we don’t overexpend, and we will have to agree to the municipalities to review the fuel prices after the distribution of the fuel.
If there is going to be a huge impact on the communities, I will provide reports and information to them and look at options as to how we can deal with this, whether it be making plans or not.
For this coming fall session, whether it be in November or December, even before the session… . I would like to see the report done prior to their fall session, a report on how the fuel delivery went and what the expenditures were, and I believe that it would be ideal to start planning for the fall session to make the report.
Yes, to my colleague’s question.
Prior to the fall session or during the fall session, if there was no other way out.
Yes, I’ll commit to providing or making the report available. Thank you.
I have no more comments to make.
I would like to address the minister in regards to the revolving fund.
Perhaps, if you are going to be having $20 million cost savings… . Would the revolving fund would be too small if it’s down to $75 millions?
I apologize. Just to elaborate further, for the past three years, annually, we will be saving costs of about $6 million because of the transfer, .
Because of the fuel price increasing, and we have stated that we need the $20 million for the three years.
That is a three year estimate.
I would like to ask the minister… . In your business plan, it states under page J-28 that this $20 million, there is a proposal to increase it to $90 million.
If you are going to increase the revolving fund, where would you find $58 million?
I know that we can’t find $15 million, just after see that there, but, for example, we have a $75 million cap on borrowing, when we’re trying to propose up to $90 million.
We’re trying to increase the cap.
Because the revolving fund is a very important fund.
Ever since it was set up, that’s the only way we’re able to pay for the purchase of fuel.
One issue that we continually challenge is the cost, whether it be overhead, and you try to keep your overhead as low as possible.
When the fuel is purchased, and I know that it has, I know that you need to increase the fuel in order to sell it. That way you can make money, and after all this is done then the government pays for the fuel.
For that reason, when the cost increases it has to go back down.
The money that you had borrowed has to go through the Petroleum Products Division.
Even though there is going to be a transfer.
Are you looking at, to the best of your ability, to keep the overhead costs down and not hire too many employees?
Are you going to consider all of these things, that looking at the business plan on J-28, the money has to come back through selling the fuel?
So, that is why I am asking the minister, because the public is listening out there.
I would like to ask that you be very careful because it is going to be operating separately.
My colleague’s comments are very well taken and I agree to them.
And also the business plan, I know that we are looking at options to use the best possible ways.
I also want to state again, Mr. Chairman… .
I indicated earlier on, when I first made my statement, that just recently there has been a joint meeting with all the ministers in Canada and that we would agree to making a goal. Perhaps if we need more assistance, we can ask them for assistance. But to further elaborate on that, we are working with the provincial ministers to lobby and work on behalf of our government.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I just have to thank you now.
We are on page J-18.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, this is a revolving fund.
Have you ever thought of having this privatized so that it will be cheaper?
Like the revolving funds were used when the government could not borrow any funding, that is when it was used.
This is the question that I am asking. If you answered that question, I would not ask you another question.
Public Stores Revolving Fund, page J-18.
The Public Stores Revolving Fund was established to provide working capital to finance central warehousing of standard supply inventories.
This is, for example, for a large amount of corresponding material that we have to buy outside of the government.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Curley, did you get that answer?
Chairman (interpretation): I do not have any more names left.
(Interpretation ends.) Page J-19, information item.
Details of work performance on behalf of third parties.
(Interpretation.) Any questions on that page?
Going back to J-4.
(Interpretation ends.) Community and government services department summary.
Details of expenditure.
Total, Operations and maintenance, $108,789,000.
We are done with that department.
The department is completed.
Chairman: Then we can begin the review of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Mr. Curley?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister, Mr. Tom Rich.
I would like to ask the minister of housing, Mr. Kilabuk, to make his opening comments.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I will be with my officials responsible for housing.
I apologize, Mr. Chairmain, I’m getting a little mixed up here. Mr. Chairman, if I can just have a few minutes.
Thank you. I got it now.
I apologize, Mr. Chairman, I had different papers in front of me.
I’m very pleased to address questions related to 2004-05 main estimates for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Over the next four years, and in close cooperation with my other responsibilities for Community and Government Services, we will work very hard to make a real difference for housing in Nunavut.
We use every opportunity to increase the number of houses in the territory.
We will do this on our own and we will invite partners, like Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the federal government, to work with us to achieve our goal.
Mr. Chairman, one of the first things I did as minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation was to send a letter to the Honourable Andy Scott, the federal minister responsible for infrastructure and the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation, requesting an urgent meeting.
Minister Scott has replied that he is also most interested in meeting to discuss our housing crisis.
I look forward to an early meeting with either him or his successor, depending on the outcome of the pending federal election.
The priorities in our business plan support this goal. Our capital plan supports this goal.
And our main estimates continue to support the increase in social housing infrastructure through additional operating and maintenance funding to our community partners, the local housing organizations.
Mr. Chairman, capital construction is the proper element to support it.
For 2004-05:
We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Public Housing Rent Scale.
Currently, staff are putting in the finishing touches on a revision to the unit condition deduction so tenants who are living in our houses that are in the poorest condition will have a meaningful reduction in the rent that they have to pay.
Over the next year, we will continue to monitor and evaluate all parts of the rent scale, in close cooperation with the local housing organizations.
We will finalize the community consultation regarding the building connections in Nunavut’s strategic planning process.
We are currently visiting every community and discussing current housing issues with elders, youth, and community leaders.
This year, we will finalize the results of those discussions and produce a 10-year plan for housing in Nunavut.
From there, we will hold a fourth symposium to present the plan to all stakeholders.
Staff housing policy matters will receive close attention too.
Last year, we finalized the policy aspects of staff housing.
For 2004-05 we will concentrate on developing staff housing programs that are sensitive to the needs of Nunavut government staff, while encouraging recruitment and retention for the government.
We will also closely examine all subsidized housing in the territory and determine how best to approach these critical issues.
The Under One Roof theme of this initiative includes investigating delivery of Energy Corporation housing, student housing, Health and Social Services-dedicated units, as well as specific special requests for other Government of Nunavut departments.
Mr. Chairman, we are also looking at a variety of changes to home ownership programs, which fall under the capital program but are included in the business plan.
These include changes to the downpayment assistance program, as well as numerous revisions to our home repair program to make the programs easier to access, easier to understand, and make more of an impact Nunavut-wide.
This investigation will include limits, as well as the possibility of increasing the amount of home repair funding available for projects by dropping the current sliding scale and increasing funding limits overall.
Members of this Legislative Assembly have mentioned that tenants are not aware of all the positive changes that we have made to the Public Housing Rent Scale.
I am pleased to report that the Corporation has begun an increased awareness program at the community level.
Every few weeks one aspect of the rent scale will be explained in a bulletin that will be circulated to tenants throughout our communities.
For example, the first bulletin, which is already in circulation, explains student exemptions from the rent scale.
Others in the series will be youth, seniors, and family-size deductions, to name just a few.
Fiscal 2004-05 Government of Nunavut funding to the Nunavut Housing Corporation will increase by $1,862,000.
This amount is made up of:
an increase of $1,008,000 to local housing organizations for new public housing construction;
an increase of $823,000 to staff housing; $715,000 is to cover utility costs and $98,000 is for the operating and maintenance costs to twenty new owned units.
Ten of these will be in Rankin Inlet and ten in Cambridge Bay to support the new health centres in those communities; and
an increase of $41,000 to cover the cost of an increase to the employees’ northern allowance for non-unionized employees.
For 2004-05 the Nunavut Housing Corporation has projected a full staffing complement.
We currently expect the full salary allocation to be used during 2004-05, with any savings from vacancies used by casual staffing requirements and overtime.
Mr. Chairman, in all other material respects, the main estimates for the Nunavut Housing Corporation remain unchanged from last year.
I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have regarding the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2004-05 main estimates.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and committee members.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister Kilabuk.
Do you have witnesses you would like to bring to the table, Mr. Minister?
Yes, I do have witnesses: my officials.
Chairman (interpretation): Does the committee agree that the minister bring his officials into the chambers?
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Sergeant-at-arms, can you assist his officials, please?
Mr. Minister, for the record, please introduce your officials.
With me today on my left, Peter Scott, President of Nunavut Housing Corporation, Chris D’Arcy on my right.