EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, at this very moment, a group of early childhood educators are meeting in Goose Bay, Labrador for the first ever national Inuit early childhood education gathering called “Nutaqavut Sivuniksavut.”
Last week, my colleague from Tununiq suggested that daycare facilities could be used as temporary shelters for young children who had been removed from their home for safety reasons so that they could stay within their community and not be shipped down south, far away from their family and culture.
Mr. Speaker, during this sitting, we have voted to approve the Department of Education’s 2010-11 main estimates which include an additional $500,000 for increased funding for licensed daycare facilities.
However, Mr. Speaker, despite all of these worthy ideas and initiatives, our government has nothing in place to ensure that every community can actually have a safe, comfortable, and viable daycare facility to deliver these programs in.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s Statement.
Mr. Ningeongan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Thank you, my colleagues.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, while there is still some time before the government brings forward its next capital plan, I would strongly encourage the government to consider providing capital funding for daycare infrastructure projects.
Early childhood education may be the foundation of lifelong health and well-being, but first, we must lay the foundations for the place where they can receive that education.
Member’s Statement 192 – 3(2): Innovative Thinking (Elliott)
I rise today to offer another suggestion to our government.
Although this may or may not be the first time that my colleagues have heard it, what I care about is giving ideas the chance to be heard and discussed.
During yesterday’s proceedings of the Committee of the Whole, the Minister of ED&T took the time to outline in detail for us his department’s plans for the coming fiscal year.
I want to sincerely thank him for making this effort.
It shows respect for this House and all of its members.
Two of the initiatives that his department is looking at are a new Iqaluit air terminal building and some type of marine docking facility in the community.
Mr. Speaker, I recall that when the minister first spoke about the development of a new airport in Iqaluit, I suggested that a $50 airport redevelopment fee would be worth considering to help offset the costs.
It was interesting to hear the laughter and different comments that I received from people. I sensed that they were shocked that an MLA would suggest something like that.
Perhaps that shows the skewed perspective that we have in the High Arctic because of the tremendously high cost of living where my home is. Suggesting a $50 fee does not seem like a lot when an average ticket from your home to Iqaluit is around $3,000.
Perhaps that is my point, as I ask my colleagues to see the world from our perspective.
On December 9, 2009, in a CBC interview regarding the Tamapta Action Plan, the Premier was quoted as saying, “We will have to be very creative and innovative in meeting some of our plans.”
She continued by saying, “Of course, we are always looking for extra funding from outside sources.”
Mr. Speaker, I agree wholeheartedly with the Premier.
We need to be creative and innovative. That’s why the idea of using the Nanisivik Naval Facility as a major port, fuelling station, and docking facility for the Northwest Passage is worth serious consideration.
It is already used for offloading supplies for Ausuittuq (Grise Fiord) and Kugaaruk.
With global warming, it is anticipated that shipping traffic will increase dramatically.
In regard to the Premier’s comments about outside funding sources, the federal government is kicking in around $100 million for this facility.
I remain concerned that the Government of Nunavut is not working closely enough with the federal government to capitalize on the tremendous potential of this situation.
I remain concerned that they are looking at closing the airstrip in Nanisivik…
Mr. Speaker, I would like to request unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s Statement today.
I remain concerned that they are looking at closing the airstrip in Nanisivik that has jet service capabilities and cutting off the only access from Arctic Bay to the facility by closing the all-year road.
Mr. Speaker, I want to return to what I first said in my statement and strongly urge the government to seize this moment and look at this project as being a unique opportunity for action.
Member’s Statement 193 – 3(2): Support for Hunters (Okalik)
I was quite ecstatic to listen to the announcement regarding the decision overturning the American CITES proposal to list the polar bear as an endangered species.
I would like to see the ban removed from the Baffin Bay population, especially in the communities on the East Baffin coast, including your constituency communities, Mr. Speaker.
The federal government banned the exportation of polar bear hides stemming from the commercial sport hunts.
It is still in effect today.
Now that the proposal to list the polar bears as endangered species has been overturned, I urge both governments to reopen the discussions on this.
I especially urge the Nunavut government to discuss this development with the federal government and to lobby them to repeal the ban of hides from the management zone and further, to negotiate on behalf of the impacted sport hunting guides with respect to compensation for lost income directly as a result of this ban. The federal government should reimburse these individuals for the reason that they declared that they had concerns about this population.
Furthermore, the federal government had stated that a quota has been established in Nunavut. This is no longer an obstacle.
I would like the federal government lobbied to reopen discussions on this particular zone and provide more assistance to the impacted residents of Nunavut who lost their livelihood as a result.
I have no more names on my list. (interpretation ends) Item 4.
Return to Oral Question 262 – 3(2): NTEP Graduates (Shewchuk)
I am returning the answer to a question asked by Mr. Ningark a little while ago, 262 – 3(2), in regard to the number of Nunavut Teacher Education Program graduates.
NTEP has a total 117 students in 10 communities.
Fourteen of them are in their final year and expected to graduate.
Ten of these are in Kugaaruk and the other four are in Iqaluit.
Sixty-six are starting their professional education in the foundation year.
The numbers, Mr. Speaker, that I’ll quickly outline, are here below. There are a total of 117 students.
In Iqaluit, there are four in year 1, eight in year 2, eight in year 3, four in year 4, and two in transition. In Kugaaruk, there are ten in year 4 who are going to graduate. That is a very good accomplishment.
There are seven in year 2 in Rankin Inlet, eight in year 2 in Cambridge Bay.
There are 13 in Pangnirtung in the foundation year; 6 in Pond Inlet, 11 in Cape Dorset, 12 in Kugluktuk, 12 in Baker Lake, and 12 in Qikiqtarjuaq and they’re all in their foundation year.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Returns to Oral Questions.
Return to Oral Question 265 – 3(2): Nomination for Innovative Human Resource Practices (Tootoo)
Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
My Return to Oral Question 265 – 3(2), asked to me by the Member for Iqaluit West in regard to the nomination for innovative human resource practices:
The question and I’ll quote, “In the Minister’s Statement today, he was applauding the nomination of an individual in the Power Corporation and in looking at the award and the criteria, I noticed that the eligibility criteria to be awarded for this prize is that the person has to be physically located in Manitoba, so I don’t know how this will be awarded to the nominee.
So that’s my question to the minister.”
Mr. Speaker, in response, the nomination for the award was accepted by the Human Resource Management Association of Manitoba where it had to have been in order according to their criteria.
Otherwise, they would not have accepted it.
Mr. Speaker, if the member wishes to contact this organization for clarification, the contact information is HRMAM, that is Human Resource Management Association of Manitoba, and their address is: 1700-275 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 2B3.
Question 305 – 3(2): RFP for Panellized Housing Units (Schell)
My first question is for the Hon. Minister of Housing.
About a year ago, there was an RFP that went out looking for proposals on interested parties that were going to build these panels for these new panelled housing for Nunavut Housing. I’m assuming there was more than one proposal put forward.
My question is: who is on the board or whatever you want to call it that made a decision which was the best proposal? Were there any engineers or architects involved? I’m just hoping it wasn’t the same people who made a decision to get the New Holland telehandlers.
I would like to inform the member that it was exactly the same people… Mr. Speaker, no, I’m not exactly sure who was on that. I know that our technical division did it.
Once all of the proposals were received, I believe there were about 12 or 13 of them. After reviewing the proposals that were received, it was short listed down to about two or three.
Prior to anything being done, a team went in and had an actual physical inspection and looked at the proposals that were short listed before making a decision to move forward on there.
But if the member wishes, I can find out exactly who participated in that process.
I don’t have that level of detail with me, but I would be more than happy to provide it to the member if he so wishes.
Could the minister let the House know where this company is located that is doing these panels?
I could give you the address, I don’t have the address with me, but southwest outside of Ottawa is where the location of that company is. I could tell from where I usually stay when I go down there at a friend’s. It’s probably about eight minutes drive from there.
Hopefully that helps the member.
I’m wonder if the hon. member could let me know if they have signed a contract and what the amount is for these new panel units with this firm.
I certainly hope we have a contract signed in place because they’re halfway through manufacturing or a good way through manufacturing these panels as we speak right now. As far as exactly how much that is, I don’t have that information.
I would be more than happy to let the member know as soon as I get that information.
I should be able to provide that information to him later today.
The main reason I was asking you that is because we’re going right back to what we had with the telehandler issue.
They have ordered this and signed a contract. My understanding is that these units aren’t stamped by an architectural engineer as of yet.
I think they’re putting the cart in front of the horse again. What if these are not acceptable?
My understanding is that they have not been stamped yet. So I want to ask the minister how he can sign a contract when they’re not even stamped by an engineer at the present time.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. Minister Tootoo.
I’m sorry if the member is misunderstanding.
He had asked me this earlier and I checked into it.
The drawings, the specifications, and the actual panels, the entire unit has been reviewed by the contractor’s head of their technical division, who is a certified technical engineer, prior to them moving forward with any of that construction.
That was done prior to that.  So I just want to correct the member that they were reviewed by a structural engineer and approved prior to them starting manufacturing.
Question 306 – 3(2): Ministerial Liquor Task Force (Ningark)
My question is directed to the Hon. Minister of Finance.
Earlier this morning, I received a phone call from the Mayor of the Hamlet of Kugaaruk wondering when the new liquor task force will be coming to the community. He has apparently attended one in the fall with the minister.
He is wondering when the review panel will be visiting the community to review the new Liquor Act.
Mr. Speaker, I had the honour and privilege of speaking to the chairs of some of the alcohol education committees when they were here last fall. I did speak to them about the minister’s task force on the review of the Liquor Act and I outlined some of the steps.
Very soon, I will be announcing the names of the ten individuals who have agreed to be members of the task force.
We will be inviting them to Iqaluit for a sit-down meeting in early April.
From there, they will develop their schedule. I am not sure when they will get to Kugaaruk, but they will be getting to all communities in Nunavut within, I would say, a total of 14 months, but hopefully a lot sooner than that.
Question 307 – 3(2): Polar Bear Issue in McClintock Channel (Okalik)
I was asking about the communities of Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak, to which I made some phone calls.
They said that in previous years, they hunted polar bears around the McClintock Channel this time of year and they would go seal hunting where there are also bearded seals in the spring. Apparently, they don’t hunt around that area anymore. It’s no longer safe as there are now too many polar bears due to a moratorium that was imposed for the area.
I want to ask the minister if he is willing look into the moratorium around the McClintock Channel area and the concerns about polar bears from the residents.
I would like to thank the member for that question and concern.
I would like to advise the member that the residents of Taloyoak right now have a quota for the Gulf of Boothia population. There is no quota or TAH for the McClintock Channel for that community.
However, I would encourage the people of Taloyoak to continue their annual hunt. If there is a reason in lieu of life and property and defence that they need to harvest the polar bear, they can absolutely do that. I’m sure that the residents there will try and deter polar bears before they harvest them, but I would state to the community that that not be the reason that they do not go and practice their traditional hunt.
I would just also like to say that it is up to the regional wildlife organization if they’re interested in acquiring a harvest from that area that they work through their regional wildlife organization.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Your first supplementary… is that all?
Question 308 – 3(2): Activities of the Public Agencies Council (Elliott)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for “Prudence,” or Finance, the Hon. Keith Peterson.
Mr. Speaker, in June of last year, Members of the Legislative Assembly were provided with copies of the terms of reference for the government’s Public Agencies Council which used to be known as the Crown Agency Council.
The Minister of Finance chairs the Public Agencies Council and its other members are the Premier and the Minister of Human Resources.
According to its terms of reference, the Public Agencies Council is supposed to hold quarterly meetings.
According to my calculations, the council should have held at least two meetings by now.
My question for the minister is this: how many meetings has the council held to date and what decisions have been made?
I wish he would have asked me that question yesterday in Committee of the Whole when I had my deputy minister with me.
I want to assure the member, Mr. Speaker, that the Public Agencies Council has met. He is quite correct who the membership is.
It is very informal. We don’t have to have big, scheduled meetings. We can meet informally and I believe we’ve had at least two meetings.
We have talked about the letters of expectation for the Crown agencies and discussed the Memorandums of Understanding.
One of the key responsibilities of the Public Agencies Council is to develop letters of expectation for public agencies which represent the Government of Nunavut’s perspective as a key stakeholder and which reflect government’s priorities and key issues.
Mr. Speaker, we have recently had changes in key areas of our major public agencies.
For example, we have a new President of the Qulliq Energy Corporation, a new President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, and I believe now we have a new President of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
Can the minister confirm that these letters of expectation were developed and presented to the public agencies?
The Public Agencies Council; we don’t direct the day-to-day affairs of the Crown agencies. We make recommendations to the minister responsible and then they, in their letters to the board of directors or the presidents of those organizations, provide the day-to day-direction.
Throughout the sitting of the House, Members of the Legislative Assembly have been calling on the government to ensure that business plans and annual reports on the contracting, procurement and leasing activities of Crown corporations and agencies are tabled in a timely manner.
If these business plans and annual reports were tabled in a timely manner, perhaps we would have fewer questions on these issues.
Will the minister ensure that this matter is placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Public Agencies Council?
One of the responsibilities of the Public Agencies Council is to develop guidelines for public agencies concerning corporate governance.
As I understand it, the senior management of Crown corporations and agencies are responsible for the day-to-day operations and activities of these entities.
The government’s new Public Agencies Council is responsible for setting strategic directions, goals, and priorities for the Crown corporations and agencies.
Can the minister explain: exactly what is the role of the board of directors and the board of governors of our Crown corporations and agencies?
If I had the time, I would probably take the entire question period up to explain the role of the board of directors and the senior management of the Crown agencies.
I have sat as a secretary treasurer and treasurer in the board of directors of many companies in my career, and I can assure the member that the role of the board of directors is to set the vision and direction for Crown agencies.
Again, as I explained earlier, the Public Agencies Council provides recommendations to the appropriate minister and then the minister will communicate with the board of directors of the Crown agency or the president.
The board of directors and the president are accountable to the appropriate minister and back to the Government of Nunavut.
Question 309 – 3(2): Pop Vending Machines in Government Buildings (Okalik)
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I directed some of my questions to the Minister of Finance regarding the issue of over-consumption of soft drinks in Nunavut and about the government’s initiatives in trying to lower the consumption of soft drinks.
The response I got was that the Department of Health and Social Services is managing this issue properly by continuing to conduct their public awareness campaigns to try and lower the consumption of soft drinks.
I would now like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services that if his department is indeed serious about reducing soft drink consumption, then they have to walk the talk in no uncertain terms. I would like to know if the minister is willing to personally lead this drive to reduce over-consumption of soft drinks in Nunavut.
It is a fact that in every public building, one can readily buy soft drinks from vending machines.
Can the department offer healthier alternatives instead in the future?
I would like to ask for a reply from the Minister of Health and Social Services on what action will be taken on this issue.
I very much appreciate the suggestion the member included in his question.
Whenever practical recommendations are provided, it is always pleasing to get them and apply them for the people of Nunavut.
I would like to inform the House that in 2004, the last government created an initiative specifically geared towards students in the schools. The campaign was named ‘Drop the Pop’ and was started with funding from the federal government.
The program is part of the diabetes awareness funding and practically every school in Nunavut participated in this campaign.
Just this past winter, the northern territories were allocated $75,000 each by the federal government so that the three northern governments (the Yukon, the NWT, and Nunavut) could continue this campaign.
Further, we know of other situations where we can assist in lessening the sweets available to the public, such as our ‘Drop the Pop’ campaign. We will endeavour to implement other public drives of this nature.
I want to thank the member again for asking this question.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) From what I understand, we have a pop vending machine at our local hospital here.
We have to be sending a healthy message to all of our citizens that we should not be aiding such poor health choices in our own health facilities.
So I’m encouraging the minister that perhaps we can provide healthier drinks in those facilities and throughout our government buildings here in Nunavut.
That’s something I hope that the minister will do something about in the very near future. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It’s at your discretion to respond, Minister Curley.
Yes, I will ensure that we look into this.
Further, we will look for partnerships perhaps with my other colleagues. It could be that some government office buildings do have vending machines that we haven’t noticed.
We will try to investigate that. I’m sure that health officials are listening to these proceedings and we will keep the House updated.
We strongly believe in offering healthier choices.
Perhaps we can also think about replacing the regular soft drinks with diet versions.
We will take this into consideration.
Question 310 – 3(2): Activities of the Public Agencies Council (Elliott)
I would like to continue with my line of questioning.
I have questions for the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Keith Peterson.
In regard to the Public Agencies Council, could he explain why there is this extra layer of bureaucracy?
I’m not sure if I understand the member’s question.
The Public Agencies Council is not civil servants. Mr. Speaker, the Public Agencies Council is made up of ministers.
Then maybe the question would be: why do we have the Public Agencies Council as an extra layer of control?
If he could explain why it’s there.
Mr. Speaker, the Qulliq Energy Corporation, the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, the Nunavut Development Corporation, they operate at arm’s-length from the government, providing services and programs to Nunavummiut.
They deal directly with the appropriate minister, but the link comes from cabinet through the Public Agencies Council and they provide recommendations to the minister.
It’s purely a recommendation that they do need to be accountable ultimately back to the Legislative Assembly.
That provides some more clarity; I was getting a little confused. If you’ve got two levels of people telling you how to do things, it gets a little confusing.
In terms of decisions being made, you said that the Public Agencies Council provides recommendations and some direction. In terms of clarity, who has the final say if the Public Agencies Council says, “This is the direction we want you to go,” but the board of governors says, “Well, no, this isn’t how we’re going because in previous years, we have gone this way”? Who makes that final decision?
Hon Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I again thank Mr. Elliott for the question.
Mr. Speaker, I said the Public Agencies Council makes the recommendations to the appropriate minister and the appropriate minister works with the Crown agency, the president, and the board of directors, if there is a board of directors.
Normally, the board of directors are appointed by the cabinet.
So the ultimate responsibility for the Crown agency is the appropriate minister and then through the minister to the Legislative Assembly.
Question 311 – 3(2): Hiring Procedures for Inuit Social Workers (Komoartok)