EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I realize that this is a work in progress, but I believe that there are some ground rules that would have to be laid in the very beginning just so you will know what you want done with the plebiscite.
Is this plebiscite going to be binding or is it a non-binding plebiscite? For example, they had the liquor plebiscite in Iqaluit. It was non-binding.
It didn’t really matter what people said.
And I just want to know: is this plebiscite a binding vote or is it non-binding?
The land plebiscite is totally different than the liquor plebiscite.
Lands are very important in the communities within Nunavut and we believe that land is very important in Nunavut.
I stated before that we will hear from the people of Nunavut on what their thoughts are. Once our staff meets with the public and consults with them, I’m sure we will have a better idea as to which way it will occur.
Also, NTI represents Inuit and I’m sure they will consult with the Inuit. I think that they will probably be different.
Question 081 – 4(3): Departmental Positions (Enook)
Mr. Speaker, on June 1 of this year, I asked the minister questions about his department’s vacant positions.
Mr. Speaker, as of this morning, the most current employment figures for the Government of Nunavut that are publicly available on the Department of Finance’s website indicate that there are over 100 vacancies in the department, including nine vacancies in Pond Inlet.
This information was dated as of December of last year, so I am hopeful that there has been some progress since then.
I would like to ask this question: which of the vacant positions in Pond Inlet have actually been filled over the past four months?
This is a very important issue and concern regarding vacant positions.
I can’t tell the member which vacant positions are in which community, but I can use an example of casuals being hired to fill those positions, and there are a very few to date.
I can’t tell you which communities have vacant positions and I will have to review the vacancy issue.
Yesterday, we had a fire drill at the Legislative Assembly.
As we’re all aware, fire safety is a critical issue in Nunavut, which is why I have been asking about the status of the assistant fire marshal position in Pond Inlet for some time. It has been vacant for quite a while.
Can the minister tell me today what the status is of this position?
I can look into the status of the assistant fire marshal position, and there are quite a few vacant positions in the communities.
Back in December of 2013, I received written assurances from the government that the department’s vacant positions in Pond Inlet would be filled “in the timeliest manner possible.”
Can the minister provide a clear explanation as to what specific problems are preventing the department from filling its vacancies in Pond Inlet?
I will look into the matter and I will make sure that I provide information to the member as soon as possible.
Question 082 – 4(3): Certifying Specialized Medical Equipment (Sammurtok)
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, as the minister is aware, many of our health services rely on specialized equipment and diagnostic machines to address health issues.
Can the minister clarify what steps are taken to repair and certify a piece of specialized equipment when it is damaged or needs repair?
The Department of Community and Government Services is the department responsible when we have to repair or purchase specialized equipment.
We work together with their department to make sure that the specialized equipment is repaired or replaced.
It has been brought to my attention that the certification for Nunavut’s specialized medical equipment can only be done at a facility in Ottawa.
Can the minister confirm that this is the case and, if so, how is the certification process followed for equipment based in the Kivalliq region?
With the specialized equipment, they are all certified. We have to make sure that all the specialized equipment is in proper order.
They are certified outside of Nunavut. It is something that we can’t alter.
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am concerned that some of our health centres operate with damaged equipment, such as broken oxygen lines, damaged dental equipment, and faulty X-ray machines as well as other specialized machinery that needs repair.
Can the minister clarify what steps his department takes to ensure that all health centres are equipped with properly functioning and certified medical equipment?
We make sure that all specialized equipment is operating and in working order, especially the diagnostic machinery. This is a very good question and we will make sure to look into the matter and make sure everything is in proper order.
Question 083 – 4(3): Handbook and Training for Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit (Joanasie)
Good day, my colleagues.
He made a Minister’s Statement this afternoon regarding the handbook and training of ilinniarvimmi inuusilirijiit.
It also indicated here that he will be working together with the school counsellors and will consult the counsellors for input into the handbook.
Are you only going to be consulting with the school counsellors or are you going to be consulting with other individuals, for example, elders or organizations based at the community level or mental health workers?
From what we have put together, we are going to be providing training for school counsellors.
They will be using Inuit values and beliefs as a base. They’re going to be trained by certified workers.
As I stated earlier, in February 2016, there will be regional conferences in Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet, and Iqaluit.
Those are the three communities where the regional training will be delivered.
All school counsellors are going to be attending those regional conferences. Our foundation will be Inuit values and beliefs.
I don’t believe he answered my question, but I will move on.
I was going to ask a question regarding Inuit values and beliefs.
Are you also going to be consulting with the regional Inuit organizations so that this handbook will be available to the public? Are you going to be working together with the Inuit organizations or Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit also?
There are going to be courses on Children’s Grief and Children’s Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviour.
Those courses are going to be part of the training program, including counselling. There are very well-trained counsellors out there and we will be utilizing them. We are currently developing training for ilinniarvimmi inuusilirijiit on Children’s Grief and Children’s Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviour.
We will be providing qualified teachers for those training programs. We’re not just going to be hiring an individual off the street. We’re going to use specialized trainers.
I am very thankful that the Department of Education is working on the handbook and training for school counsellors, as well as providing training on Children’s Grief and Children’s Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviour so that we will know how to handle children who have been traumatized.
The school counsellors have very heavy responsibilities, but I would like to ask the minister about the training that is going to be provided.
I believe you’re talking about a handbook. Are these handbooks going to be just for the school counsellors or are they also going to be made available to the teachers and student support assistants or members of the public?
I’m mainly talking about school counsellors. This will be directed more towards the school counsellors.
We also train other staff like student support assistants. We have different staff members that we provide training for in our schools.
This will be directed mainly towards ilinniarvimmi inuusilirijiit.
However, we know that this will be beneficial to the students in all the schools. Ilinniarvimmi inuusilirijiit have their own roles. As I stated earlier, there are other staff members in our schools that are provided training in other areas.
Question 084 – 4(3): Caribou and Polar Bear Surveys on Baffin Island (Shooyook)
Good day, Nunavummiut and my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, there is a real concern in Nunavut on Baffin Island.
Polar bears and caribou are studied by helicopter, and this is very bad for wildlife.
For how many years will this kind of study be going on for caribou and polar bears?
I think he’s talking about two different types of wildlife.
I understand the concern of how the studies are conducted.
I will look into it and get a definite answer, and I was going to do that.
I still do not have the information on the exact status of how it is today. I will look further into it.
Yes, this is a real concern and it has to be dealt with.
This is for the protection of caribou.
We put a total allowable harvest together, and the caribou are surveyed by helicopter.
This damages the wildlife.
Caribou live in a quiet environment that is totally different from ours.
This totally destroys their hearing ability.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister do something about the Nunavummiut’s concern of the work of NWMB? Can he push for this noisy system to be slowed down and stopped?
That is how we can heal the animals.
Can the minister inform me on how it is today?
When the Government of Nunavut, especially the Department of Environment, wants to do a survey, they have to put a proposal together for this purpose, including the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board’s particular ways of doing the surveys and what types of surveys they are going to do.
Are they going to walk the land or go by snowmobile, airplane, or helicopter?
Either way, these are put in their proposals for the people who want to do surveys and have to be approved by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
Right now, regarding the polar bear surveys, I think it was last year that I told them about less intrusive survey methods, less intrusive to the lifestyle of the animal.
We have moved forward on this.
As I mentioned, I have to look into the survey methods for caribou.
When they do caribou surveys, which method do they use?
As I stated earlier, I don’t have that information yet and once I have the information, I can bring it forward.
From personal experience, I will tell the minister about the survey done on narwhals and these are other things.
As a real Inuk, I don’t like wildlife surveys. I am totally against them.
They destroy the animals and I’m speaking the truth.
In our community, they use nets. They do their studies using this method and they were putting satellite trackers on them from the time they started the surveys. They don’t use noisy machines, but they use nets.
Since the survey started, there are no narwhals coming to our community anymore.
I would like to see the surveys stopped altogether or slowed down.
Mr. Speaker, we, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, and the Department of Environment are directing the animals now and they say the animals are dwindling.
That is totally not the case.
The message for surveys in the future is don’t worry about them getting depleted; just slow down the surveys.
Mr. Speaker, while he sits as the minister, can he encourage that surveys to be slowed down?
I didn’t hear a question as it was more of a comment.
I apologize. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Environment, Mr. Mike.
With polar bears, caribou, and narwhal, it is the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that does the narwhal surveys.
The local hunters and trappers organizations are the most involved.
I don’t know if they overstep the communities, but all I can say is maybe I can look into his concern with the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and I will discuss this with him.
I think he’s talking about the Baffin region or the Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Management Board and I will look into them too.
Whether it’s the Arctic Bay, Resolute Bay, or Grise Fiord HTO, I will look into the exact status of this program and why it went ahead.
I will look into those organizations also concerning this problem.
Question 085 – 4(3): Departmental Positions (Angnakak)
On May 27 of this year, I asked the minister questions about her department’s vacant positions.
The Second Session ended shortly thereafter, so I never really got a full answer back.
As of this morning, the most current employment figures for the Government of Nunavut that are publicly available on the Department of Finance’s website indicate that there are over 40 vacancies in the department, including almost two dozen vacancies in Iqaluit.
However, it appears that none of these vacancies are currently being advertised.
Can the minister explain why this is the case?
This summer, we filled some of the positions, some of the positions are being filled right now, and there are interviews being conducted right now for some positions.
There are various reasons why there are 43 positions open currently. There is roughly 68 percent filled as of now.
Slightly over 50 percent of those are filled by beneficiaries.
To date, it has been a slow process. Mr. Speaker, they are presently being filled.
On average, every GN position costs around $115,000 in compensation and benefits. Forty vacant positions work out to approximately $4.5 million in lapsed salary expenditures.
Can the minister clarify how the department is using its savings from unfilled positions?
Some of these positions are filled by casuals. We do not save a lot of money that way because a lot of positions are filled by casuals, Mr. Speaker.
Joe wants me to hurry up. He wants to ask questions.
My third question, I know that you said that you have been looking into hiring, but if the minister can clearly state whether or not her department is currently under a hiring freeze or not, just to confirm for the record.
I thank my colleague. She’s asking very good questions.
My department is not under a hiring freeze at the moment and we have opened three permanent positions this summer.
Tabled Document 021 – 4(3): 2014-2015 Annual Report of the Nunavut Liquor Commission (Peterson)
I am pleased to table the 2014-15 Annual Report of the Nunavut Liquor Commission.
The Hon. Minister responsible for Workers’ Safety and Compensation, Minister Peterson.
Tabled Document 022 – 4(3): 2014 Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission Annual Report (Peterson)
I am pleased to table the 2014 Annual Report of the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.
Notices of Motions [for First Reading of Bills].
Bill 08 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act – Notice
I give notice that on Friday, October 30, 2015, I will move that Bill 8, Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 09 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act and the Plebiscites Act – Notice
I give notice that on Friday, October 30, 2015, I will move that Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act and the Plebiscites Act, be read for the first time.
Pursuant to Rule 62(2), I request the consent of this House to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 8, Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking consent to waive the two-day waiting rule so that Bill 8 can be read today for the first time.
Bill 08 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member of Cambridge Bay, that Bill 8, Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 8 has received first reading.
Pursuant to Rule 62(2), I request the consent of this House to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act and the Plebiscites Act.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking consent to waive the two-day waiting rule so that Bill 9 can be read today for the first time.
Bill 09 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act and the Plebiscites Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member of Cambridge Bay, that Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act and the Plebiscites Act, be read for the first time.
Pursuant to Rule 62(2), I request the consent of this House to waive the one-day notice requirement to allow for the second reading of Bill 8, Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking consent to waive the one-day waiting rule so that Bill 8 can be read today for the second time.
Bill 08 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member of Cambridge Bay, that Bill 8, Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act to halt the accrual of pensionable service during the period in which a member is suspended.
It also amends the Official Languages Act and the Representative for Children and Youth Act to require the approval of the Management and Services Board for the direct appointment of employees.
It also changes the length of the term of the Languages Commissioner from four to five years.
The motion has been carried and as Bill 8 is a House Bill, it is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Pursuant to Rule 62(2), I request the consent of this House to waive the one-day notice requirement to allow for the second reading of Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act and the Plebiscites Act.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking consent to waive the one-day waiting rule so that Bill 9 can be read today for the second time.
Bill 09 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act and the Plebiscites Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act and the Plebiscites Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Nunavut Elections Act and the Plebiscites Act to implement recommendations made by the chief electoral officer in her report on the 2013 general election.
This bill also provides the Management and Services Board with broader regulation-making powers in respect to elections and plebiscites, requires the approval of that board for the direct appointment of staff, and in the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, it provides for the chief electoral officer to continue to hold office after the expiry of his or her term until reappointed or until a successor is appointed.
It also repeals the prohibition on the sale of liquor on election day and includes a few minor housekeeping amendments.
The motion has been carried and as Bill 9 is a House Bill. It is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, and 9 and Tabled Documents 107 – 4(2) and 149 – 4(2) with Mr. Akoak in the Chair.
In accordance with the authority provided to me by Motion 4 – 4(3), the committee will stay in session until it reports itself out.
>>House recessed at 15:19 and Committee resumed at 15:46
Welcome to the sitting, all the (interpretation) Nunavummiut who are listening. (interpretation ends) In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items do deal with: Bills 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, and 9 and Tabled Documents 107 – 4(2) and 149 – 4(2).
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with Bill 3 and the review of the Department of Community and Government Services, followed by the Department of Education and the Department of Health.
Are we in agreement that we continue with the capital estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services?
Hon. Johnny Mike: Yes, please.
The officials here with me today are my Deputy Minister, Roy Green, and my Assistant Deputy Minister, Darren Flynn, to my left.
We finished off with Mr. Mikkungwak yesterday. Does he have any more questions? Mr. Joanasie.
In here, it explains that for 2016-21, fire trucks will be replaced. (interpretation ends) As the minister is well aware, (interpretation) in Rankin Inlet, we have been requesting a new fire truck replacement.
Therefore, I will be asking questions in regard to that. (interpretation ends) Which community will get the first 2016-17 fire trucks replacement?
Rankin Inlet and Cape Dorset.
Moving on to another topic, the arena for Rankin Inlet is in the capital plan, but it states that it won’t be started until 2017-18.
According to the detailed information, it’s in the planning stage right now.
I thought we were already in the design stage.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Yes, the capital estimates that are planned to that year for Rankin Inlet, according to our knowledge, they have not started working on that, so it’s in the planning stage as of now.
Chairman: Mr. A. Sammurtok.
Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Since you say that it’s in the planning stage, since everyone is aware that the hamlet’s municipal office is lacking space, rather than deferring it, would you be able to build an extension to that?
Originally the community requested a community hall complex as part of the arena. Back in the last mandate, it was decided that it was approved by the Legislative Assembly for an arena only.
The design phase is somewhat delayed because, during the discussion with the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet, they insisted that they needed a community hall expansion as well as the arena.
Back on March, 23, 2015 when we were in Rankin Inlet, it was agreed with council at the time that we would proceed with a standalone arena in the community and that once the arena was built, given that the existing complex within the community is structurally sound, then we would take a look at doing an expansion of the community hall in that facility, but that would only happen when there was funding available in the capital plan to be able to bring this forward for consideration.
I won’t take too long. Yesterday, members were asking questions regarding sewage lagoons. I used to ask questions regarding the community of Naujaat.
The minister responded to this issue on May 28.
I would like to know what the status of the sewage lagoon is for Naujaat because it has been many years now that they have been pouring raw sewage on the land. There is no sewage lagoon and the collection of sewage is getting huge and the population is growing and the number of houses is increasing.
For that reason, when the minister responded, he said they’re planning on it and they would put the RFP out for the sewage lagoon and that its construction would start in 2016.
Will it be constructed this coming summer?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to thank you for asking that question again.
With the sewage lagoon in Naujaat, the Nunavut Water Board has approved the plan.
We will be tendering out the work and I expect construction will begin in the summer or early fall of 2016.
I would also like to thank the minister for explaining that. I also have another question on the capital estimates. Though it’s not in the capital estimates and I don’t see it in the plans at all, the other community that I represent is Coral Harbour and they are lacking garage space.
There are municipal vehicles being stored outside in mid-winter because of the lack of garage space.
They said that they had constructed a new four-bay parking garage, which was constructed by the Co-op when they had the fuel delivery contract. I believe that’s what I heard from the Hamlet of Coral Harbour. The O&M of the garage was cost-shared between the municipality and the Co-op.
This facility is still quite new. Since the Co-op doesn’t have the fuel delivery contract, they have asked the hamlet council if they can use 100 percent of the garage.
When this kind of issue arises, and I know it’s very expensive to construct a four-bay parking garage, do you provide support?
Could you provide support as soon as possible?
I hope you understand where I am coming from.
Mr. Chairman, if I’m going outside the capital estimates, please let me know.
I personally have no idea what the member is talking about.
As a minister for this department, I have not been briefed in regard to that, so I’ll have my deputy minister respond to the question if he can. I would like to refer the question to the deputy minister.