EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
At the present time, I think they are expecting from the minister for him to make a decision because of the population has been growing in Rankin Inlet and there is going to be a regional hospital there.
I would like to tell the minister that he should be a leader in the decision and talk with the Minister of Health and Social Services and try to get the hamlet council and the office to be moved to the old nursing station.
I just want to clarify to the member that when I met with the hamlet council and the mayor that I would be in a position to agree with their move.
But, I would have to meet with the executive council to move them to the old nursing station, but I will have to meet with the ministers or the executive council. I have told the mayor and the hamlet council that we will look into this and get back to them.
Any more Mr. Curley?
Question 143 – 2(1): Fuel Delivery Contract – Tujjaat Co-op
I have a question directed to the same minister responsible for the Department of Community and Government Services.
I think it has been about a year-and-a-half, the co-op is very concerned in Resolute Bay in regards to the fuel delivery contract.
I have received some letters in that regard.
So, as the Member for the High Arctic, I would like to find out how the government have followed their policies by giving companies contracts.
On April 30, I wrote a letter to the minister concerning contracts for fuel delivery, but I have not had any letters from the minister’s department.
I would like to ask the minister when he will be responding to the letter that I wrote him in April.
If the letter has not been mailed out, I will give it to the member this week.
I wonder what the department is going to be using when they are doing a study or a review in regards to the concerns of the Tudjaat Co-op.
I will get the correspondence that I have and before the member leaves, I will look at the concerns of the Co-op from Tudjaat, and I will get back to the member.
I would like to thank the minister for wanting to give me the information, but in the letter they have requested that they would like to get some information whether the Tudjaat Co-op will be receiving the contract.
I am not trying to argue with the member, but I would like to assure the member that when we look at the requests by Tudjaat Co-op, I will be consulting him about it.
Yes, I will be meeting with the minister, but we have a request in the letter: is there going to be any changes made to the fuel delivery contract; after the PPD has moved to the Qulliq Energy Corporation, will there be any changes?
Not directly related to the member’s question, when I was at the witness table, I stated that the business plans of my department are being reviewed and this was part of the review process.
So, whenever the business plans are done, then we will know what is happening.
Question 144 – 2(1): Oil Tank Update
I have a question directed to the minister responsible for community and government services and public works.
I am aware and have seen an oil tank that was not completed here in Iqaluit.
The tank that was going to be built at that time has not been touched again, or has not been worked on.
It has cost a lot of money.
Whenever there is construction equipment that comes in to the community, and the building material that comes into the communities, they have to start… . The contractors had to work again.
I’d like to ask a question: what stage is the government at in completing that oil tank, or whether there is going to be some construction started again this summer?
What we have to do is review what has happened at the time and I will ask my staff or consult with my staff and reply or to answer the member’s question.
So, I will be giving him the report on what has happened to date.
It’s evident that they have utilized some money from the GN funds.
I would really like to hear, and I’m very interested in, a bit of information on how it had proceeded in the past. I’m sure that you’ll probably need to get additional funds to deal with this issue.
I would like to hear about this information as soon as possible because our summer construction season is very short and if you had any plans or expectations as to when you’ll be completing this. I know that we will be very interested in hearing about this project.
Yes, it is possible on one of their stays when I appear before the committee, I’m sure there will be some more information available to you at that time in regards to the fuel tank.
Question 145 – 2(1): Umingmaktok House Repairs
My question is for the Minister of Housing Corporation.
Recently I was in Umingmaktok. It is not a centralized community, but it is a community and it’s in my riding.
When I was down there, the folks were telling me that they haven’t had their houses upgraded for several years.
They need their houses levelled.
For example, if you put a ball down on the floor, the ball rolls downwards.
So, I wanted to ask the minister if he would commit his department to go into Umingmaktok this summer and to levelling the houses and providing the folks with some new stoves.
Minister for Housing Corporation, Mr. Kilabuk.
I stand to be corrected.
But, Mr. Speaker, I believe that is an application for a project that we would be more than willing to visit with my colleague.
So, I would almost turn that question around and probably seek applications to for us to determine specifically what kind work is needed for those units.
I’m not sure if the minister understood my question.
The houses that are in Umingmaktok were put there several years ago by the government and I’m not sure if the folks, I’m not even sure the Housing Corporation is laying claim to ownership, but they were put there by the government.
There are 20 folks living down there.
They need their houses upgraded and repaired and they’ve asked me to ask the minister if the Housing Corporation would go in there and level and upgrade and repair the houses this summer.
I guess in that case, the best response suitable for me is to approach my colleague responsible for outpost camps and see how best we can deal with this issue.
Speaker: “Qujannamiik,” Mr. Kilabuk.
I am not sure the folks in Umingmaktok would want to hear the minister consider that their community is an outpost camp.
It is a community, there are people down there, they are living in houses, they have an airstrip, it has fuel tanks, it has a store, a health facility.
I am not sure if you could call it or consider it an outpost camp, but they would like to have their houses repaired this summer and I hope the minister could commit his department to doing that this summer.
Speaker: “Qujannamiik,” Mr. Peterson.
I mentioned my colleague’s department in an effort to assure my colleague that I am willing to work on this file, to see how we can best meet the needs of the Bathurst Inlet residents regarding their houses.
But, I will commit to contacting Bathurst Inlet residents, and to see what kind of work is required for the units.
I will commit to forwarding this information to my colleague once it is available.
Speaker: “Qujannamiik,” Minister Kilabuk.
Mr. Peterson, your final question.
Mr. Peterson: I would like to clarify that it is not Bathurst Inlet, it is Umingmaktok.
Bathurst Inlet is a community; I am not sure if there are any housing corporation houses down there, but Umingmaktok does. I am certain they are prepared….
I am hoping that the minister is saying that he is committing himself to undertaking these repairs, these vital repairs this summer.
I know you have been here for a long time and have been doing this.
I apologize, I switched the two communities.
Yes, I will look into that to find out what kind of solutions we will find and I will inform the member.
Question 146 – 2(1): Gravel Needed in Repulse Bay
I would like to direct my question to the minister for transportation.
First of all, let me make a preamble on Repulse Bay.
He had gone to Repulse Bay and I am sure he noticed that there is hardly any room for units and there is no more gravel.
Yes, we are literally running out of gravel in Repulse Bay.
So, this is why I would like to ask the minister, will the minister commit to looking into obtaining gravel?
We need some other alternative because units will be built there in Repulse Bay.
So, will the minister commit, as soon as possible, to look into ways we can give support to the gravel?
Speaker: “Qujannamiik,” Mr. Mapsalak.
Minister for transportation, Mr. Simailak.
Yes, I did see that in Repulse Bay. The staff of the hamlet council approached me to talk about this, and I also let my officials know about it and they are now dealing with this as we speak.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Simailak.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to thank the minister for his response.
Yes, this is an urgent case. The only gravel that was crushed was for the Government of Nunavut, and they do not want to relinquish it, and the community is in dire need because every time they build a lot, they are very expensive.
So, my question is: When do you expect to complete the discussion with your officials to get this going?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Mapsalak.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you.
I will let my officials know about this this morning and that this is an urgent case, and they have to discuss this matter with the municipality.
Also, we are treating this as a priority, and my colleague from Community and Government Services will also be involved.
We are dealing with this as a priority.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Simailak.
Question 147 – 2(1): Broken Heavy Equipment
In my constituency, I am sure there will be some concerns arising, so I would like to ask the minister ahead of time.
Has the Minister of Community and Government Services heard that the lots, I think that there are only four lots there, and the heavy equipment we have over there is broken.
I would like to know if the minister is aware of this.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to advise my colleague that I have not heard about this.
If there was correspondence about it, I have not received the correspondence yet.
Do I understand the minister to say that once he finds out about this, would he be willing to work with me on this issue?
Yes, if you relay your concerns, yes, we can look into that.
Question 148 – 2(1): Cost of Billing Error
My question is for the minister responsible for energy and the Nunavut Power Corporation.
In the last week, I have had some constituents tell me that their power bills remain as confusing as ever.
As you know, last week I asked the minister if rates have gone up, because people were saying that it looked like their bills have gotten higher.
One constituent took his bill to the office and asked why it was higher than it had been in the past.
It appeared after looking at it closely with officials from the corporation that the Power Corporation had been incorrectly applying a subsidy to the base charge on everybody’s bill.
And they only caught it when they switched to their new billing system.
My question for the minister is… . I am just wondering if the minister has any idea how much this error has cost the corporation?
This is the first time that I have heard of that, so unfortunately I have to take that question as notice.
Speaker: The minister has taken it as notice, so we will move along.
Question 149 – 2(1): Sensitivity Training
In support of my colleague’s question, I have heard that one of my constituents has owed $700.
I want further information about that.
I do want to tell the minister responsible for Nunavut Power Corporation that the staff were starting to be worried about employee relations.
Perhaps you should speak with your colleague, the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth on cultural orientation, because right now there is a lot of unhappiness going on between the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries.
I have heard that in Qamanittuaq, the finance comptroller resigned, and it seems like they were very good workers.
I would like you to look into this to see if they can have a sensitivity training program.
If you could look into that.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Curley.
Yes, I will treat this as a high priority, and this doesn’t need to be happening. Yes, I will treat this as a high priority urgent case.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Simailak.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I would like to thank the minister for dealing with this.
I don’t want to mention names.
I would just like to tell you that this needs to be rectified.
And also I would like to thank NPC.
Many of us Inuit who are linesmen from Keewatin region during this past extremely cold winter were travelling to Igloolik and other communities to work on the lines.
They are very good workers, and I believe that they can have a better working relationship, and I would like to get a report after you discuss this. I’m urging the workers not to quit.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Yes, as I stated, I will take this as one of my first priorities. We do have a lot of trained lineme. There was a youth who won a pole-top climbing competition involving Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon.
This individual was from Rankin Inlet.
We are very proud of our Inuit staff.
I will come back to you.
I’ll take that as notice.
Question 150 – 2(1): Details of Explanation of Power Bills
Again, my question is for the minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
Talking about the bills that have come out and how there is a new format and that… .
I’d just like to ask the minister if the bills that we get as consumers in the future will clearly explain how much the power is costing, how much is being subsidized, where there is a clear breakdown on the bill so that people will be able to easily identify how much they are paying and how much is being subsidized.
Hon. David Simailak: Yes, I will commit to making sure that all of that information is very clear on the new power bills in English, French, and Inuktitut.
I’m going on with the bills, continuing with bills.
Is there a month in which there is going to be an item on there that’s going to show how much the fuel rider and the subsidy for that, apparently in the works, is on the bills?
Yes, all of that information should be available, once the budget is approved.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Simailak. Mr. Tootoo.
Is the minister indicating then that the requirement for putting this subsidy on is going to depend on whether or not the fuel rider on the bill is approved in the House?
Is that when the minister is going to start?
The Minister of Finance tells me yes.
The minister is getting much clearer direction from the finance minister than from the former minister. Clear and concise.
My question, then, is once the budget is approved, the Department of Finance’s budget is approved, is that when the minister will be forwarding the request for the fuel stabilization rider to the Utility Rate Review Council?
Speaker: “Qujannamiik,” Mr. Tootoo.
Hon. David Simailak: The fuel stabilization, I am told, does not have to go to the Utility Rate Review Council.
Question 151 – 2(1): Community Airport Radio Station Program
In the airports, especially in the High Arctic, in Resolute Bay, they go to take training to work in the airport in the weather stations, and they have to go for a number of months, to move to Fort Smith, to train.
I would like to ask the Minister of Education if the CARS program is going to be brought to Nunavut from the west.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, when we are training at CAR stations, those that work at CAR stations will be coming to Nunavut.
Can the minister assure me of when this is going to happen, that the Nunavummiut will go to Nunavut to train?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Yes.
I cannot say that right now.
We are negotiating with Nav Canada right now on that issue.
Question 152 – 2(1): Update on Ministers’ Meeting in Toronto
My question is for the minister of health.
The minister of health and the Minister of Finance went to Toronto over the weekend to attend a two-day meeting with Canada’s health and finance ministers.
I am wondering if the minister of health could tell us what was accomplished at the meeting that will be a good help to Nunavut?
We just came back from Toronto.
All of the ministers from Canada had a meeting there and also some of the finance ministers were part of that as well.
We talked about the funding that is going to be used for health and social services.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Brown.
I am wondering if the minister could tell us if they have learned any possible solutions that would help us keep our healthcare costs down in Nunavut, prevent it from doubling or tripling over the next two, three, five years.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister Brown.
We mostly talked about funding, that we want to get more money every year, that we are still negotiating, and also, we will meet again at the end of July.
I am wondering if the minister of health could tell us if we will be getting a copy of the report of the committee so we could review it, read it, learn what was discussed, what the recommendations were, and possibly provide some feedback for the minister.
Yes, I will look into this.
I will look into the report that you are seeking.
Mr. Peterson, are you finished?
Question 153 – 2(1): Kuugaaruk and Repulse Bay in Need of Teachers
The question I am asking is for the Minister of Education.
I would like to thank you for coming on the tour to my communities.
We heard a lot of concerns about education in Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay.
We do have similar concerns regarding education, especially that they need more teachers.
Also, if they get new teachers, there is a lot of housing needed.
I talked about this in the past and right now there are a lot of students that are just in the hallway, in the library, and in the science rooms, that they have to use all these rooms because of the lack of space.
The question I have for the Minister of Education… .
I would like to get your input on how you felt about what you heard.
Even though there is nothing in the five-year capital plan, can you do this as your first priority, especially for Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay?
The Minister of Education, Mr. Picco.
First of all I have to appreciate the member for inviting me, along with some of the other ministers, to have an opportunity to go to Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk.
I think it is an eye opener for many of the members to be able to travel to other members’ communities and see some of the concerns, indeed, to see some of the huge issues that are present all over Nunavut, issues like terminal buildings, airports, lack of infrastructure, and in this case, the housing situation.
In 1996-97, when the GNWT sold off the staff housing… . I believe that was a bad move and it has put the Government of Nunavut today in a bad situation, that we have not been able to replace some of that housing stock.
The situation with staff housing for teachers, especially in this is quite extreme. Indeed, in the communities that were just mentioned, as well as Whale Cove, and in your community, Mr. Speaker, Chesterfield Inlet, there are concerns about staff housing for teachers.
It is something that we are trying to address right now with the minister for housing.
That is, hopefully, something that we will be able to do very soon.
We are cognizant of the fact there are issues around sealift in those communities.
You have heard this, I am sure, that there was a letter from my community that legally there is a number of students that a teacher can have.
Right now the students are doubling and there are no staff houses.
Right now, the only way that they can get teachers are those not qualified to teach because there is no staff housing available for the teachers.
The only way, like I said, is that we can only get teachers who are not trained to be teachers because there is lack of housing.
The Premier just reminded me of the many times, like Mr. Tootoo, I was standing up in the assembly in Yellowknife and complaining to the former housing minister at that time about selling off staff housing, and presented petitions, and so on and so forth, and the government went ahead and did it. Mr. Premier just reminded me how seven years ago I was right, that that was a bad mistake and he said that… . Anyway, I will not go into that.
In all seriousness, the issue around staff housing, as I said earlier, is one that we have put in; the housing stock has not been rolled over.
The government has tried to put long-term leases in place for different housing units to secure housing for teachers.
But the member has been talking about how as our student population has risen in the communities, we need more teachers, and in this case, you need to bring in teachers because we do not have qualified people at the community level.
The issue is, we have some communities where two and three teachers are living together and we have had to, in some cases, try to hire teaching couples, a husband and a wife, for example, who are teachers to work in the community because of the shortage of housing.
I would hope to have some kind of a position in the next two weeks with our friends at the Housing Corporation to see what we can do to expedite the situation.
We are trying to ascertain in each of the communities: are these units available; can we get a long-term lease; if not, what could we do to facilitate the housing for the teaching staff?
Of course, that is in the communities in general for the Government of Nunavut.
I do not have that answer right now, but it is something that we are working on and indeed, we are trying to do it in an expeditious matter. If our friends in 1996 and 1997… .
I stated today that maybe we would not be in this situation that we are now.
I would like to hear from the Minister of Education saying that he would be dealing with, on an emergency basis,the concerns of my constituents.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I had just indicated, I believe there are at least six communities in Nunavut right now who have a situation in regards to teachers’ housing.
As the member knows, and the members of the House know, our schools and classrooms are between May 1 and June 26.
So, on an urgent basis, we need to be able to recruit teachers to begin school again in some communities around the first week, and in other communities, after Labour Day.
So, it is on an urgent basis that we are trying to find the housing for the member’s communities and for some of the other communities that have a situation regarding proper housing for our teaching staff.
Question 154 – 2(1): Consider Leasing Heavy Equipment
I would like to address the Minister of Community and Government Services.
It is in regards to….
I know that the minister thinks about this, such as those small capital items like heavy equipment, is lacking in the communities.
It is also the case in my community and it is going to be quite a ways away to get some water with the water truck in my community.
I think the department is able to…. Not having the municipality buying it, I think if it was put through a competitive process, they can purchase a lease to pay for an equipment instead of buying the heavy equipment or the equipment for the community service.
I wonder if the minister could consider lease-to-purchase.
The question that the member is posing is very appropriate at this time because I met with the councillors and the mayor when I was in Rankin Inlet, and I know there is a lot of aging machinery in each community that is used for services in the communities.
But, I talked to his constituents and what I asked him was to look into which equipment they would like to get first as a priority, to see how best way they could purchase their equipment.
I would like to talk with my cabinet colleagues before I make a commitment to that.
Question 155 – 2(1): Auditor General’s Recommendations
My question is for the Minister of Finance; it has been a while since she had a question.
I’ll ask her a question.
One of the issues that was raised in the Auditor General’s report concerns the quality of documents that go before this House for approval.