EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We believe it’s not the mandate of this government to set the association up; however, after appearance, those who would like to have such an association, I have directed the Department to help facilitate that.
I welcome that very much, that foster parents will be supporting each other; I say that because some of the communities don’t have a social worker and they have foster parents in place.
They would need a lot of support, regular visits to the school, hospitals, nursing stations and the parents so I think if they have a Foster Parents Group in Nunavut foster parents will increase when they have that organization put in place.
Can I ask the Minister when he thinks this association will be operating?
Mr. Speaker, my wife and I were former foster parents and there was no manual, there was no discussion with us when we were fostering a child.
Indeed, there was very little contact with us with regards to the needs of the child or the regulations and rules involved and that’s one of the reasons why we brought forward the manual.
The second issue had been an association for foster parents so that they could actually get together to deal with some of the issues around foster parenting.
What I just said was that we would help facilitate that.
We haven’t had an official request yet from foster parents but we expect that once we have the manuals distributed, that will be one of the requests coming back and then we would hope to be able to help to facilitate that.
I would suggest to you Mr. Speaker, that we would know, given the next three or four weeks, once the manuals are distributed out into foster parents homes, into their hands, then we’d be able to see what the follow up is on that.
Mr. Speaker, when I was in the Department of Justice, we used to give the alternative homes to offenders to come to meetings to get together to support each other.
Could the Minister commit to bringing the foster parents and go through this handbook together with the Department; maybe at that time they could start to discuss forming an association.
Maybe this would be a good way of approaching this.
Mr. Speaker, I think the Member has a good suggestion.
After the session today, during the session most ministerial staff monitor the sessions and the question are being brought forward, including ours.
I think that is a great suggestion and that indeed we’ll try to facilitate that and see if we can find a common ground and common course for the foster parents as well as the association.
Question 624 – 1(6): Flying Options in the Kivalliq Region
Mr. Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'm like the brand new breath of a baby so please have patience.
As Jack Anawak stated earlier regarding Kivalliq Air for medical evacuations, when they leave Winnipeg, because it’s quite far to go to Coral Harbour, whether it’s going to Repulse Bay or Chesterfield Inlet, this aircraft, I was told, although First Air flies into Rankin from Winnipeg, they are rejected when they request to go though that airline and they are told that they can only go through the Kivalliq Air because that aircraft is so small.
It’s inadequate, especially for elders when there is no bathroom and it’s quite tiresome for these elders to travel through these aircrafts.
Patients have requested to travel through First Air, through Rankin Inlet by jet and then to Repulse Bay and Chesterfield where there is not quite such a distance between these communities.
So I am wondering why they don’t have the option of flying on the other airlines, on aircraft that is bigger?
Why don’t they have that option to fly the other airlines?
Speaker: Minster responsible for Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the first questioned asked me by the new Member; I’ll try to give him a shorter answer.
Mr. Speaker, we did a contact, an RFPs with medical travel across Nunavut and one component was in the Keewatin, the component was for medical emergency travel; that’s the medivac; if someone’s having an operation and sent out and the other one was scheduled medical travel.
Mr. Speaker, the scheduled medical travel had to contain planes that are suitable to be used, based on the duration of the plane, and number one, patients, for security and as safety as well as example of elders who were uncomfortable the plane had to be large enough, so you weren’t dealing with two or three seater planes, for example.
Mr. Speaker, on the issue around why the patients are not allowed on certain planes, that’s something that I’ll have to follow up and find out for the Member.
If the Member could provide me in writing when this occurred or how many patients were involved or any other logistical or administrative information where we could review it.
If that’s not the information that has not been given to me by the department, if there is any other information out there, I will deal with it and follow that up.
Question 625 – 1(6): Fuel Spills and Lost Dry Cargo
Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Department of Public Works and Services.
Mr. Speaker, there was a lot of controversy and talk when the eastern arctic supply for dry cargo, and the government signed new contracts back in January and February of this year.
We’ve just completed our sealift pretty much everywhere in the communities of Nunavut. I don’t know if the Minister has heard, but I have heard rumours again and I keep hearing a lot of rumours.
Can the Minister tell me, if in fact it’s true that there was a fuel spill and dry cargo being lost and dumped in all the waters around Nunavut?
Speaker: Minister Kattuk?
Regarding his question about fuel spills, I’ve heard it only as a rumour, as well as for the dry goods.
The sealift supply ships are still going into the communities, the season is not complete yet.
Once the sealift season has been completed, then we’ll have a complete review of them.
On that he’s also heard those issues in regards to fuel spills and dry cargo being dropped into waters.
I know for a fact in Baker Lake, Sigany Transport dumped a set of forks from a loader in a bucket down at the end of the lake and I don’t know what’s happening there, but I also heard that there were some fuel spills in this region; by who, I don’t know.
If the Minister is not aware of it, can he launch an investigation just to see who is responsible and what the damage was on all issues regarding fuel spills and dry cargo being dropped off ships and barges and tugs?
In the communities that had those unfortunate circumstances, my colleagues questions regarding the investigation, I will look into the matter so we can prevent it in the future.
What I can say is that I will committee my staff to investigate what the issues surrounding the Baker Lake incidents were and find out other matters if there were any.
I'm glad the Minister is going to commit to looking into that issue.
Could the Minister also commit, I know it’s not a major issue where you have to send people to every community in Nunavut, could he commit to this House to have the information before the sitting of this Legislative Assembly ends in November?
Yes, I’ll have that information before this session ends.
Last on my list, I have Mr. Alakannuark.
Question 626 – 1(6): Status of Bad Gasoline or Fuel
I would like to ask the Minister of Public Works and Services in regards to the fuel that was not adequate.
I just wondered if the Minister could tell us what the status of that is.
Could the Member tell me which community had experienced bad gas or fuel?
The question was regarding Repulse Bay.
I have asked this question before on what the status of the report is about bad gas in Repulse Bay.
I don’t have the information at this time about the problem that occurred in Repulse Bay.
I just want to state to the Member that I will look into his question and get back to him as soon as I can.
At this time I don’t have the information so I would like to apologize to the Member for not having the information.
I will respond to the Member before the end of the session.
I would like to have unanimous consent to go back to Item 5.
Speaker: The Member is seeking unanimous consent go back to Item 5.
No I’m not going to recognise Mr. Edward Picco, the greatest singer in Nunavut and country and western today but I would like to compliment him on his CD and I’ll probably have to listen to it one evening.
But Mr. Speaker on a serious note, I would like to recognise a young person from Baker Lake who is now traveling to Montreal to attend a Workers Compensation Board Canada wide meeting for young workers in Canada, and she was also very active in the youth groups and she’s very vocal and I would like to recognise Lillian Mannik from Baker Lake.
Tabled Document 133 – 1(6): Above and Beyond
I would like to table the article from the September-October 2003 edition of the Above and Beyond magazine.
I encourage the Members to read through the article about the Kugluktuk circumpolar games, and enjoy the beautiful photographs.
Are there any further of Tabling of Documents?
If not we’ll move onto to Item 14.
Bill 40 – An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Business Credit Corporation – First Reading
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay that Bill 40, an Act to Amend Northwest Territories Business Credit Corporation Act to be read for the first time.
The Motion is carried and Bill 40 has had first reading.
Bill 41 – An Act to Amend the Nursing Act – First Reading
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Sanikiluaq, that Bill 41, an Act to Amend the Nursing Act be read for the first time.
Speaker: Thank you Minister. The motion is in order.
The Motion is carried and Bill 41 has had first reading.
Bill 42 – An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act – First Reading
Ms. Thompson: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East that Bill 42, an Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 42 has had first reading.
Bill 43 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – First Reading
Bill 44 – Supplementary Appropriation (O and M) Act No. 1, 2003/2004 – First Reading
Bill 45 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act No. 4, 2003/2004 – First Reading
Bill 47 – Supplementary Appropriation (O and M) Act No. 3, 2002/2003 – First Reading
Bill 48 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act No. 4, 2002/2003 – First Reading
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Hudson Bay that Bill 43, an Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, Bill 44, Supplementary Appropriation (O and M) Act No. 1, 2003/2004, Bill 45, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act No. 4, 2003/2004, Bill 47, Supplementary Appropriation (O and M) Act No. 3, 2002/2003, and Bill 48 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act No. 4, 2002/2003 be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 42, 43, 44, 45, 47 and 48 have had first reading.
Bill 12, Bill 33 and Bill 46 with Mr. Puqiqnak in the chair.
I would ask Members that we agree we proceed directly into Committee of the Whole so that opening comments can be made before we take a short break for lunch.
Do we have agreement?
Speaker: Mr. Puqiqnak in the chair.
Chairman (Mr. Puqiqnak) (interpretation): Thank you. When we’re going to have Committee of the Whole we usually have a break but we’ll continue on for opening comments.
The Committee will now come to order.
During Committee of the Whole we will be dealing with Bill 12, Bill 33 and Bill 46.
We would like to continue with the review of the 2004/2004 Capital Estimates starting with the Department of Education followed by the Department of Human Resources.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Does the Committee agree that we’ll deal with Capital Estimates for the Department of Education?
The Minister can now begin with her opening comments.
I would like to thank the Members.
I'm very pleased to be here today to discuss the proposed 2004/2005 Department of Education Capital Projects Budget.
The Department of Education 2004/2005 Capital Budget is $26 million, 588 thousand.
Capital Budget is $26 million, 588 thousand.
This budget allows the Department to undertake 15 projects including, the 15 projects already underway and including three new projects at the planning or design stage.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Chairperson, over the past few years my department has developed and refined a comprehensive school facility database which enables my department to set the priority for each project based on rankings of the current facilities condition, utilization and program requirements.
A similar database for all Nunavut Arctic College Community Learning Centres is being developed.
(interpretation) Mr. Chairman, we continue to gather information from hamlets, District Education Authorities, school operations, Nunavut Arctic College staff and the Public Works and Services as the fundamental product developing, managing, and refining our Capital Plan.
Mr. Chairman, this proposed Capital Plan includes two new schools and eight school additions, two new Arctic College facilities as well as the Territorial Library facility.
Construction will begin, continue or be completed in the communities of Cape Dorset, Hall Beach, Resolute Bay, Cambridge Bay, Kugaaruk, Arviat, Baker Lake and Whale Cove during this fiscal year.
We are proposing planning and design for the future projects in Iqaluit and Qikiqtarjuaq.
We are also using on the job training for high school students in the construction phase in both Arviat and Whale Cove.
We have had to quickly adjust our plans to include the replacement of Joamie School and the challenge remains in addressing our current needs.
(interpretation ends) My Department’s Capital Plan for the next five years will make a great difference in the educational infrastructure across Nunavut.
(interpretation) Mr. Chairman, I'm very grateful to my colleagues who have understood and supported required budget transfers for Education’s Capital Projects during delivery in this past year.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here today to discuss the Department of Education’s Capital Budget for 2004/2005.
In Summary, I commit to making every dollar go as far as it can to reflect this government’s investment in the educational process.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Madam Minister for your opening remarks.
The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Health and Education, please begin with your opening comments.
As the Chair of the Standing Committee on Health and Education, I am pleased to have this opportunity to make some introductory remarks as we begin deliberations on the capital budget of the Department of Education.
The Committee on Health and Education was disappointed not to have the opportunity to review the draft 2004-2005 Capital Estimates with the Minister last month.
The Department of Education has been allocated approximately 25% of the Government of Nunavut’s Capital spending for 2004-2005 for a total Capital budget of nearly $27 million.
Since last year’s review of the 2003-2004 Capital Estimates, the department’s projected budget for the upcoming fiscal year has increased by just under $10 million.
Members understand that over $9 million of this increase has been allocated to begin replacing Joamie School in Iqaluit, which burned down during the summer.
Members have noted with growing concern that an alarming number of schools, since the creation of Nunavut, have been destroyed by fire.
Members would encourage the Minister to work with her department to develop strategies and make the necessary investments to ensure that assets such as schools and other properties are adequately protected.
During previous reviews of Capital budgets, the Standing Committee has raised the concern that amounts allocated for projects often differ widely from actual costs and time lines are frequently re-adjusted without clear and timely justification. The 2004-2005 Capital Budget is no different in this regard and Members again urge the Minister to encourage her Department to work towards more realistic time and cost projections.
Members of the Standing Committee are pleased that the Minister has followed their recommendation to establish partnerships to expand existing school projects and the Committee encourages further initiatives of this kind to establish or upgrade existing community-based learning centres.
There are many individuals who could take advantage of opportunities to upgrade their skills while remaining in their home communities.
Members were pleased to note the department’s apparent re-focus on trades training with the appointment of a new Assistant Deputy Minister who would be working on trades and vocational training.
Members encourage the Minister to collaborate with the Minister of Sustainable Development to secure further learning opportunities for Nunavut residents in the mining and trades industries.
I am sure that individual Members will also have questions and comments as we proceed.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman of the Standing Committee.
At this time we are now on general comments.
You have 10 minutes to speak your general comments.
Would you like to proceed with your General Comments now?
Mr. Speaker did not announce….Hold on.
We will have a forty-five minute lunch break.
>>Committee recessed 11:56 a.m. and resumed at 12:57 p.m.
Chairman (Mr. Puqiqnak) (interpretation): Thank you, for coming back this afternoon.
Madam Minister, please introduce your staff.
To my right is Pam Hine, my Deputy Minister at the Department of Education and to my left, Lorne Levy, our Capital Planner.
We are going to be reviewing the Capital Estimates.
Now that you have done your Opening Remarks, I would like to let the Members know we are now at General Comments.
I will allow 10-minutes for General Comments for each Member.
Mr. McLean: Thank you, very much, cousin.
First time, I think, I have ever been allowed to go the first time, so thank you very much.
On my, almost five years of sitting in this House, I can honestly say, with a clear conscience, that Baker Lake has finally caught up and I think I speak for the community when I say all our facilities are now up to date.
Five years ago, it was a disaster in my community.
The Nunavut Arctic College Learning Center was the oldest, probably in Canada, it was dilapidated, it has finally been replaced, I was up there the other day and all of the students are happy.
So, I want to commend the Department of Education for a new learning center.
The new Jonah Amitnaaq School has been in the construction phase now for a couple of years, three years; it is a little delayed, but I go through that building at least once a month for a walk myself and I am very, it gives me a sense of pride that finally in that community, after having the oldest school in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, full of asbestos, whatever, whatever, whatever, it is finally going to open in probably within the next three or four months abiding no other major problems with the construction.
The Rachel Arnammaktiq Elementary School is a fairly new building; they did the extension on that about seven years ago.
So I can sit here as an MLA and be very proud, very proud of the educational facilities that are now currently in my community.
I think that we were neglected by the old NWT Government and I think that I can speak for most communities that division was coming, and I think that there was a tendency not to spend as much money in Nunavut’s part of the Territory as it is now.
In travelling around, in the Standing Committees, and I pretty well hit close to fifteen to twenty communities within the last five years, there is a tremendous amount of money and construction work going into most communities in Nunavut with educational facilities.
So I just want to say that it is nice to see the money being spent where it has to be, in educational facilities.
I want to commend the Government as a whole, the current Ministers, the past Ministers, and just the Government as a whole.
And Lorne Levy has been an excellent addition to your Capital Planning Department.
And he has been nothing but a pleasure to work with.
You have a very capable Deputy in your midst now and she has always been very good to work with in my tenure as an MLA in Nunavut.
So you have a very great team there, and you are a good leader.
I just hope that the building of these educational facilities goes on in the future.
That does not mean that we are where we should be.
I know that there is talk about trade schools.
Yes, we need trade schools in this territory.
There seems to be more emphasis down south on trade schools.
There is a worldwide shortage of skilled trades people right now because a lot of them who were trained thirty of forty years ago are now retired.
So looking at the Capital Plan and analyzing it, we have put the money where we needed to.
But now that we are pretty well caught up on educational facilities, and I am sure that there needs to be more built, it is time to look at building some trade schools in Nunavut.
I do not want to get into the debate on where to build them; I just think that they have to be built.
I do not know where the money is going to come from as we are actually at a fiscal reality now of being, not broke, but we are almost there.
So I do not know if you have to
go outside of the territory to encourage some companies to come in to the territory and build trade schools, or whatever.
I would encourage you to work with Nunavut Arctic College on building some trade schools in Nunavut in other communities, other than Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay.
Look at the smaller communities that have facilities.
Overall I would just like to say how pleased I am in the way that this Government has treated my community in the education department in infrastructure and schools.
I am hoping that I do not alarm my colleagues because they are probably saying, “Well, it is my turn now.”
I will be the first one to say that I have never said one word in this about another community not having a school, or speak it against it.
So whoever needs it, I hope that they get it the future.
I would just like to say thank you and keep up the good work.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you for your gratitude to the Government.
While we are at General Comments, I will get Mr. Havioyak next.
Thank you for coming to our Session.
I know that Mr. Levy used to be in the Kitikmeot region, and I enjoyed his company while he stayed in the Kitikmeot.
(interpretation ends) I wish that I could say what my colleague was saying.
I know that you recognized that there is more need for infrastructure in Nunavut.
For the last two years, I have talked about community-based training.
When I look at the Capital Plan for 2004-2005, it seems to be, I could be wrong, I’m just saying what I see myself when I look at this capital plan, it seems to me the general training is going towards the regional level or the headquarters opposed to my comments for the last two years to community based training.
I want you to know, myself and your worship Anablak met with the Sustainable Development Minister a few weeks ago when we were sitting in the capital, but on the side we decided to meet with Minister Olayuk about the community issues, one of them being the mining training program.
The reason why we talked about the mining training, he was involved, he’s sort of monitoring what’s happening in his area, but also we met with him so that he can pass on some information to you and encourage the government to concentrate more on the community based training.
A presentation to the Minister Olayuk by the hamlet and the mayor and his worker was exactly on that, the community based training for Diavik diamonds, what they were doing in my community, so they can explore as much as they can in that community.
The last three years they have been successful, and it’s a way to go and a way to go train our local people.
Just recently two or three weeks ago, we had eight graduates on the Security Training Program and all eight of them will be working with Diavik mines.