EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2009-2010 – Health and Social Services – Consideration in Committee 106
Good morning, Premier, Ministers, and my colleagues.
Good morning, Nunavummiut.
Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge my grandchild’s birthday. He is named after my late son. Piujuq Jimmy Arreak, (interpretation ends) “happy birthday.”
Going to the orders of the day. Item 2.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Hunter Tootoo.
Minister’s Statement 003 – 3(2): Nunavut Housing Corporation Maintenance Operations (Tootoo)
I have the pleasure of rising today to report on how the Nunavut Housing Corporation is addressing the issues and concerns identified in the Office of the Auditor General’s report on the operations and maintenance of our public housing units in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, as Members of this Legislative Assembly are aware, the OAG report identified concerns in the following areas: the control and security of stock materials; the condition of our housing stock; accountability for expenditures; adequate training at the regional and local levels; and outdated policies and procedures.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation has taken significant steps to address these issues.
A review was completed on maintenance management programs and operations in most communities.
The review identified training upgrades and changes needing immediate attention.
Six training workshops were held in all regions for 60 maintenance and administrative staff from 22 communities.
One-on-one training, the review of stock control, and the inspection of warehouse facilities have been completed in seven communities to date.
Training included instruction on how to use computerized maintenance systems, the proper care of stock inventories, scheduling of work, purchasing of materials, reporting of repairs and replacement expenditures, and preparing budgets and tracking major capital projects.
Mr. Speaker, the corporation is moving forward with a number of initiatives over the next two years, including the revision of maintenance policies and procedures, the implementation of new stock control systems, the enhancement of LHO security compounds to protect materials, the delivery of regional workshops for LHO staff, upgrades and replacements to warehouse facilities, and one-on-one training in the remaining communities.
Mr. Speaker, another major undertaking is a complete assessment of all public housing units.
These assessments will provide a better picture of the condition of the units, as well as the repair and replacement costs to bring them up to acceptable standards, which will assist in seeking funding from our federal partners.
As our maintenance systems and programs are upgraded, we will continue with regional and community workshops to ensure that LHO and NHC employees are well trained over the coming years.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, these initiatives will take time and will not be completed overnight.
However, we feel that this is an important investment to ensure that our LHO and regional operations are running effectively and efficiently so as to improve the living conditions of Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 004 – 3(2): Skills Canada Nunavut (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, my Annuraaqatik. I would also like to wish your grandchild a happy birthday.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to inform my colleagues about the recent events and activities of Skills Canada Nunavut.
Skills Canada is a national not-for-profit organization helping young Canadians realize the enormous career opportunities available by developing their skills in trade and technology fields.
Mr. Speaker, Skills Canada Nunavut is in its fourth year of operation. They have just finished hosting a very successful Fourth Annual Territorial Skills Competition, where over 50 students competed in 13 different trade and technology contest areas.
The winners of these contests were in Charlottetown, PEI from May 20 to 23 to compete in the 15th Canadian Skills Competition.
Students from Pond Inlet, Iqaluit, Arviat, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, and Taloyoak attended this national competition.
Mr. Speaker, Team Nunavut garnered fourth place finishes and was awarded the Team Spirit Award at the competition. This honour is given to the team who showed the most spirit at the opening ceremony and throughout the event.
The initiatives of Skills Canada Nunavut give youth exposure to interesting hands-on career options and encourage them to continue their education in the direction of skilled trades and technologies while receiving on-the-job training.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education is proud to sponsor Skills Canada Nunavut. I would like to recognize their other sponsors: Service Canada, Diavik Diamond Mines, Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce, Qulliq Energy Corporation, Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, and Nunavut Arctic College. I would also like to recognize the employers who allowed their apprentices to compete for the territory and were so generous in their support.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate all our students and mentors in skills clubs across the territory. I also encourage industry, business, labour, and individual professionals to partner with Skills Canada Nunavut in guiding our youth towards the exciting and challenging career options in skilled trades and technologies.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Annuraaqatik.
Hon. Peter Taptuna.
Minister’s Statement 005 – 3(2): Conclusion of Contract Negotiations with NAV Canada (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Koana, Mr. Speaker.
I am pleased to announce a successful conclusion to our contract negotiations with Nav Canada for the implementation of a five-year Community Aerodrome Radio Services (CARS) management contract.
This contract is valued at $29.2 million over five years.
This is the second long-term contract we have signed with Nav Canada and it will allow us to continue to build on the success of the first contract and of the training school for the airport observer/communicators in Rankin Inlet.
This contract will allow us to continue to operate this program through fairly valued contracts with the municipalities and private companies in 22 communities in Nunavut and will assure continued employment for approximately 70 Nunavummiut in their home communities with a total annual contract value of approximately $5.8 million.
I would like to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to thank Nav Canada for their good faith in negotiating this contract, especially considering the impact the slowing economy has had on their revenues in the past year.
I would also like to thank Nunavut Arctic College, which has provided enormous support to the program of developing aviation professionals through the CARS Technical Training Centre in Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, the college’s board of governors, facilities, instructors, and technical resources have been fundamental to the success of the CARS program. We look forward to the continued good work of the training centre and its graduates and the contribution they make to aviation safety and reliability in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, these long-term contracts can be difficult to negotiate and I am pleased that following the negotiations and signing of this contract, we have five years of certainty going forward.
Minister’s Statement 006 – 3(2): Ingirrasiliqta; the Nunavut Transportation Strategy (Taptuna)
I am pleased to rise again today before the Members of this House to table Ingirrasiliqta; the Nunavut Transportation Strategy.
We live in a vast territory and each of our lives is affected daily by the way we transport goods, people, and services.
Our transportation system affects the way our food arrives, how we maintain contact with our families, and the cost of building supplies and heating fuel.
Just as importantly, the transportation system enables our entire economy.
Because this system underpins so much of what we do, it must work as safely and efficiently as possible.
Mr. Speaker, it is no accident that a transportation system is sometimes called a supply chain.
Just like in a chain, the weakest link determines how much weight the chain can handle.
The strategy I am tabling later on today directs us to examine the whole chain from one end to the other and lays out tasks to determine which links need to be changed to improve the capacity of the whole.
When the actions contained in the strategy are complete, we will begin to see changes to our transportation system.
We will have developed sound policy for operating our facilities.
We will have criteria and rationale for making decisions on how transportation infrastructure is developed.
We will have training plans and materials to enhance our workforce, and we will have a mechanism for negotiating agreements with our industrial and governmental partners.
Transportation systems cannot be improved overnight, Mr. Speaker, but I believe this strategy is a good step in the right direction.
Hon. Tagak Curley.
Minister’s Statement 007 – 3(2): H1N1 Flu Virus (Human Swine Flu) (Curley)
On Monday, April 20, 2009, the Public Health Agency announced Canada’s first case of H1N1 flu virus, also known as the human swine flu.
On May 28, 2009, Nunavut had its first lab-confirmed case of H1N1 flu virus and as of yesterday, June 4, 2009, we have five cases in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, of the five cases in Nunavut, two are in the pediatric ward at the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, all five are recovering well.
These cases are not connected and are not from one single community in Nunavut.
My department will continue to monitor the situation and the workload of the frontline health staff.
We will provide additional resources to any affected community health centres if required so that they may continue to provide timely and quality care to Nunavutmiut.
Mr. Speaker, in accordance with standard public health policy, my department is not releasing the names of any individuals affected by H1N1 out of respect for their privacy. Additionally, the names of the communities are also being withheld so as to not cause panic.
If there were any benefit to releasing the names of the communities, please be assured that we would do so.
Mr. Speaker, the primary goal of the Department of Health and Social Services is to protect the health of Nunavutmiut and their families.
Mr. Speaker, we have put into action a plan that we are still following that includes:
Heightening surveillance by frontline health care workers.
Issuing public health advisories and public information on how to protect yourself from the flu.
Providing health care workers with detailed advice on how to manage, suspect, and/or confirm cases.
Evaluating inventory of pandemic supplies – antivirals, face masks, and gowns, etcetera.
Communicating with Nunavutmiut through local radio stations, newspaper interviews, and advertisements.
Mr. Speaker, the symptoms of this outbreak of H1N1 have been relatively mild, but it is possible that the next outbreak will have more severe symptoms. My department is continuing to prepare ourselves for any future outbreaks of flu-like viruses.
Territorial, regional, and community pandemic plans are being updated with new information in anticipation of future outbreaks.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the timely and appropriate response to the issue by our staff and health professionals.
I would also like to acknowledge the very excellent cooperation and support we have received from the other departments, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Health Canada.
If there are no more, (interpretation ends) Members’ Statements. (interpretation) Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Rumbolt.
Member’s Statement 018 – 3(2): Recognition of Teachers achieving their Master’s in Education (Rumbolt)
I rise today to recognize four teachers at the Nuiyak School in Sanikiluaq.
Mr. Speaker, three years ago, Lisi Kavik, Mina Rumbolt, Mary Kavik Sr., and Dinah Kavik entered into a correspondence program in conjunction with the University of Prince Edward Island to work towards achieving their master’s degree in education.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce today that these four teachers have accomplished their goal in this program.
Mr. Speaker, the four teachers will be travelling to Iqaluit on June 29 to attend their graduation ceremonies on July 1, along with other teachers from Nunavut who have completed the master’s program.
I would like to thank the University of Prince Edward Island and to all of those involved in Nunavut for making the dreams of becoming better teachers come true for these people.
Member’s Statement 019 – 3(2): Summer Employment Opportunities for Repulse Bay Students (Ningark)
Good morning to my colleagues and all Nunavummiut.
Just prior to my arrival here, Mr. Speaker, a young person from Repulse Bay wrote to me with respect to summer student employment opportunities for students in the higher grades in their community.
Further, I commend and am grateful for this person’s letter as that person is still in high school but inquired as to the possibilities of employment during the summer break. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions when you need further information.
There are many young people seeking support, and that person wanted to assist his fellow students, Mr. Speaker. He is preparing well for his future and that’s the way it should be.
At the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister of Human Resources questions with respect to potential summer jobs available for students in Repulse Bay. I will pose the question to the minister but if the Premier wishes to respond, that is fine since I will be asking questions on behalf of the young people in Repulse Bay.
Member’s Statement 020 – 3(2): Humanizing Canadian Arctic Sovereignty (Elliott)
I am proud to once again rise in this House to speak of the many exciting initiatives and activities that are taking place in my constituency of Quttiktuq.
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to update members today about the High Arctic Council and their new “Sovereignty Includes Me” campaign.
As members will recall from my Member’s Statement earlier this year, the High Arctic Council held its inaugural meeting on February 26, 2009.
The council was very pleased to welcome the attendance of Minister Taptuna, Senator Adams, and other officials.
Since that time, the council has spearheaded a Canadian Arctic sovereignty campaign in an effort to humanize the issue of arctic sovereignty.
The High Arctic Council supports the idea of having a sovereignty campaign. Nunavut Youth Consulting, our non-profit youth group in Arctic Bay, developed the slogan “Sovereignty Includes Me.”
They have branded a sovereignty logo which depicts an Inuk in traditional clothing holding a Kakivak. The campaign includes the design of a poster and three bookmarks.
Mr. Speaker, when we hear references to arctic sovereignty, the focus of discussion is often on such things as satellite surveillance, unmanned patrol drones, military hardware, and sovereignty exercises. The discussions sometimes leave out the human dimension of this issue and ignore the fact that Inuit have lived in the territory for over 5,000 years.
As members are aware, the communities of Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay were founded for the sole purpose of asserting Canadian arctic sovereignty.
The materials in the High Arctic Council’s campaign depict three major themes when addressing the concept of sovereignty: a youth, who represents our present and our future; an elder, who represents our foundation and source of traditional knowledge; and a hunter, who represents a traditional way of life – all of these come together to show what sovereignty means to us.
Following the High Arctic Council’s guidance, Nunavut Youth Consulting is currently distributing the posters and a set of three bookmarks.
We are getting assistance with distribution through the office of our hard-working Member of Parliament, Leona Aglukkaq, Pauktuutit, and Senator Charlie Watt’s office.
Senator Watt spoke about the campaign in the Senate last week.
Mr. Speaker, again this shows the ability of the High Arctic Council to work together to help promote the many issues we face in the High Arctic.
I am confident that all members will assist us in helping to promote and distribute these materials and I ask them to join me in paying tribute to the determination of the communities of Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I rise today to acknowledge some individuals in the Gallery.
Firstly, Nick Newberry, who is very well-known by Iqalummiut, has been a high school teacher for many years.
Although he’s not teaching anymore and has moved to PEI to enjoy his retirement, it seems like he has been working even harder.
The people who are here with him are the Kativik Board of Directors and I would like to acknowledge them all because they work very hard for young people on a voluntary basis.
They came to Nunavut to discuss this matter with various businesses and entities.
I would like to recognize Nick Newberry and the Kativik Board of Directors.
Question 009 – 3(2): Summer Employment Opportunities for Repulse Bay Students (Ningark)
I will direct my question to the Premier of Nunavut as it involves all of the government departments and I’m not exactly sure who else to direct it to.
Would the Premier be able to send me information on summer student employment opportunities so that I could provide it to the residents of Repulse Bay?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): I hope I understood you correctly.
If I understood it properly and perhaps I have misunderstood, in your Member’s Statement, you made a statement with respect to employment opportunities. Are you asking if there will be employment opportunities?
Can you please clarify your question, Mr. Ningark?
As I indicated in my Member’s Statement, some young people in Repulse Bay wrote to me with regard to the fact that senior high school students are looking for summer employment and since I am their representative from Akulliq, they requested that information from me.
Since I don’t have any personal funds for this request, is it possible for the government to set aside funds for summer student employment opportunities?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ningark. I will direct that question to (interpretation ends) the Minister of Human Resources, Hon. Daniel Shewchuk.
I will describe our summer student program that we have in place right now. I am pleased to inform the member that the Government of Nunavut thinks that summer student employment is very important to all of Nunavummiut and it is an important program.
Yes, we are very interested in giving opportunity to our young people that are looking for summer jobs.
The process is to voice their interest and show their interest.
In the Kivalliq region, in Repulse Bay, they can register with our Rankin Inlet Human Resources office and put their name in if they are interested in being available for summer student positions.
I am encouraging all departments throughout all of our government to initiate and give summer students the opportunity to see what career path they may choose to follow in the future.
So we are encouraging that and I would say to the member that I would encourage all of your constituents and their children that they put their name in and register in Rankin Inlet for summer student positions.
Not only in the GN but also in the private sector and with the hamlets, there’s always employment in the summertime for young people and we encourage that greatly, but that is the process.
Question 010 – 3(2): Conservation Officer Vacancy in Coral Harbour (Ningeongan)
It has recently come to my attention that our community of Coral Harbour will be losing its conservation officer position next week.
As the minister will appreciate, these positions are very important in our communities.
I would like to ask the minister if the process for hiring the conservation officer has been started and when the residents of Coral Harbour can expect that position to be filled.
Yes, I have been advised too that the conservation officer in Coral Harbour will be leaving shortly, not as of yet, I believe in the middle of this month. And I would like to advise the member that yes, we are looking at that and the process will be started very shortly for staffing that position.
As well known by all of us, it will take some time and I can’t give you a date when there will be a replacement conservation officer in your community, but the process will be started very shortly and we will ensure, as quick as we can, that we can replace that person.
I wish to get further information from the minister regarding the conservation officer program in Nunavut and whether we have any Nunavummiut taking this training to become a conservation officer.
Many communities are adversely impacted when a conservation officer leaves and many communities have noted that when the officer is a resident of that community, they tend to stay in their positions longer.
I imagine that many of our youth in Nunavut may be interested in this career option. So my question is whether we have any Nunavummiut undertaking this training for becoming a conservation officer.
I would like to advise the member that yes, we do have a training program in Nunavut and at present, there are trainee positions for one in each region.
We are having great difficulty in implementing this program and finding suitable candidates with qualifications who will stay with this training program through the end.
But we are encouraging young Nunavummiut and beneficiaries to get involved in a career as a conservation officer as much as we can.
We will continue to do this and we will target those beneficiaries in our training program.
I encourage all young beneficiaries and young people in communities to take our environmental program that we offer at the Arctic College to get involved in environmental fields, not only as conservation officers but as researchers, wildlife technicians, and biologists, to manage the wildlife that we have in Nunavut.
We are looking at this and we are trying our best to address this issue right now. We will try and do better in the future, but we do have a training program in place right now. We are trying to review it and make it better and offer beneficiaries and Nunavummiut to take this program and become conservation officers, and we will continue to do this.
We are very interested in all young Inuit getting involved. And what better career could they have than managing and ensuring the protection of the land in Nunavut?
I am very pleased to see that there are training opportunities and programs available to the people of Nunavut.
I would like further clarification, Mr. Speaker, on who they can contact if they are interested in undertaking the training courses for conservation officers.
Specifically, in the smaller communities, it’s rather difficult to get that type of information.
I would like to know whether they can contact his department or which contact my constituents can call within the department if they are interested in pursuing careers as conservation officers.
As we do have a conservation officer in every community in Nunavut, the local contact would be the conservation officer if they are interested in getting into that field.
They can also contact the regional human resources office or they can contact our head office in Iqaluit, the Department of Environment.
But we would be very interested in anyone that does contact us to help them along with the process and to give them the skills to become conservation officers in Nunavut. We would encourage them to do that and we would help them to try and get there because we are very interested in this.
Question 011 – 3(2): Plans for Iqaluit International Airport (Okalik)
Good morning. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
During our last session, I raised several questions regarding the terminal building in Iqaluit.