EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
If it’s not good to deal with, we shouldn’t be giving it to the secretariat; we have to be able to account for ourselves.
Every time I asked her a question, she talked about the secretariat, but you do have the authority through the Act.
In the future, if you are going to vacate any DM position, you have to make sure that you publicize it to Nunavummiut and to people outside of Nunavut.
I believe that needs to be rectified. As a government, who are we going to look to?
I didn’t hear a question, so it’s up to you if you would like to respond, (interpretation ends) Madam Premier.
As I said with the Senior Personnel Secretariat, they can tell me after meeting and it’s at my discretion because we didn’t violate or breach any Act.
I didn’t want to make that decision myself; I want to be able to make it with others.
Question 105 – 3(2): Government Response to Conservation Officer’s Actions (Ningeongan)
Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s Statement, I referred to the actions of a conservation officer in shooting two muskoxen out of season and in a closed area outside of Chesterfield Inlet.
Can the minister clarify for this House exactly how this incident occurred and how it could have been allowed to happen?
First of all, I thank the member from Coral Harbour for his question and concern.
At this point in time, I am not prepared and I cannot comment on this investigation.
There is an incident that happened and I don’t feel proper to speak about a specific person or community.
There is an incident that happened and I will respond to that in general terms.
Speaker: Thank you. (interpretation) Any more?
(interpretation ends) Your first supplementary, Mr. Ningeongan.
I guess that’s just the point of my issue here. The minister, in my opinion, should have been prepared to be available to answer my questions.
By the way, I am from Coral Harbour but I represent Nanulik.
So therefore, I would like to ask the minister if he could at least update the House as to what happened in that incident. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There was an incident that happened that did involve a conservation officer and others where an illegal incident was allowed to take place.
Senior staff in my department did an investigation, a very thorough investigation, involving the community involved as we are committed, under our new Wildlife Act, to involve the community and the HTO in the local community.
That was definitely the case in this case. The outcome of the case was, at this point in time, not to lay any charges and the community was in compliance with that and agreed to that step taken right now.
There are mistakes that were happening here in our orientation of our officer staff and we recognize that. I am prepared to speak to that and how we can try and address that issue.
Even though I sense hesitation to get to the point of the matter from the minister, I would like to ask another question here.
Is the minister confident that this conservation officer will be able to continue to do his job effectively given the circumstances?
As the member has stated, conservation officers in the position of authority are very highly looked at.
However, everybody is a human being.
The investigation that happened with this officer would be no different than any other member or resident of Nunavut.
I assure the member that this is the case and this investigation took place, that he was treated as such. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Ningeongan: Mr. Speaker, I’m a bit stunned here.
The spirit of Tamapta that this government wishes to pursue and the principles of it directs into this kind of incident from happening.
I wish to ask the minister: will you be prepared to make the necessary corrections and to look at the issue of being able to do an investigation on a department rather than utilizing an independent source?
I would like to advise the member that yes, we would be willing to look at, if one of our staff members within the department, especially in the high authority of a conservation officer, has alleged to commit an offence, bringing an independent, outside body to investigate such a case in the future.
I also would just like to state that I think this incident that has happened has opened our eyes, that we have to do a much better job in the orientation of all our staff within the Department of Environment and maybe other departments within Nunavut where there is very clear direction given on culture, living in Nunavut, and dealing with the people in Nunavut.
I think it’s very important that we can improve on this and have people who have been living here and experienced deliver that orientation.
A point of privilege.
A point of privilege has been requested.
My point of privilege is that the minister is making contradictory remarks here.
He said that there was an investigation done by his staff and he said that he cannot comment in detail because this investigation is going on to a member, my colleague.
Can he state to us whether the investigation has been done or is it going on?
He did not make that clear.
A point of privilege was requested and it sounds more like a point of order.
If the minister would like to respond to that, I’ll give you a chance.
The investigation, to my knowledge, is not completely done yet, so that’s why I’m saying what I’m saying.
A clarification of the question has been made and the point of order has been dealt with.
Question 106 – 3(2): Status of Water Truck Fill Station in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)
As the minister is aware, helping to ensure that communities have adequate and safe drinking water is one of the department’s responsibilities.
As a community’s population grows and its infrastructure ages, the need to upgrade facilities is crucial.
In previous years’ capital budgets, the minister’s department has allocated approximately $340,000 for a new water truck fill station for Sanikiluaq.
On March of this year, I asked the minister questions on this issue in the House.
He indicated that once the new fiscal year starts, the department’s plan is to get the request for proposals out.
A capital carryover for this project was approved by the Legislative Assembly in June of this year.
However, the project has still not gotten underway.
Can the minister update the House today on the status of the Sanikiluaq Water Truck Fill Station?
Given that the project was not approved through the Building Canada Fund until we were into March, it was not practical to have the planning and design done to meet the shipping season.
As a matter of fact, the planning and design phase is going to be completed in January and the water fill station should be in Sanikiluaq at the next shipping season.
The Building Canada Fund portion of this project was approximately $1 million.
Can the minister update the House on the status of the third party funding and if this amount will be sufficient to complete this project?
Yes, it should be sufficient to complete the project.
Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 107 – 3(2): Transportation Infrastructure Needs of Baker Lake (Aupaluktuq)
Yesterday, I tabled the transcripts from the recent hearings of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, during which the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Baker Lake made an important presentation to Members of Parliament.
In their presentation, they discussed the need for major improvements to Baker Lake’s transportation infrastructure, including its airport.
However, the presenters told the committee that although key federal ministers are in support of plans to relocate the airport, they are, and I quote, “still trying to get the Government of Nunavut to come onside and [sponsor] this thing.”
Can the minister update me today on what the GN’s position is on this issue?
Thank you for the question, hon. member from Baker Lake. Yes, I can attempt to update you on the position of the Baker Lake Airport.
As you mentioned in the statements that were made to the Standing Committee on Finance for the federal government, yes, everybody supports the proposed projects, so does this government.
As indicated before, we do support it.
Initially, we support the initiative, but at this time, we do not have the financial resources to build a new airstrip for Baker Lake.
The current levels of federal funding, including the Building Canada Fund, will only be able to address the most critical needs of airport infrastructure and Baker Lake, at this point in time, is not one of them.
I also thank the Hon. Minister Taptuna for the response.
A supplementary question that I would like to ask is Agnico-Eagle Mines has appeared before the standing committee. Their presentation also stressed the need for improvements to infrastructure in the community and region, including improvements to Baker Lake’s dock and the development of a regional deepwater port.
Can the minister tell me how his department is working with Baker Lake and the mining companies to achieve these goals?
My department is currently working with Transport Canada on two studies.
The first is the overall transportation needs of the territory of Nunavut and the other is more focused on feasibility of ports, including Rankin Inlet, Pond Inlet, and Cambridge Bay.
At this time, the federal government is tendering through their system on these studies.
Of course, all municipalities, including Baker Lake, all mining companies that are working in this region, the marine carriers, and stakeholders are being consulted throughout the course of this study.
I would like to thank the hon. minister for his response. (interpretation ends) Earlier this week, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development held important hearings in Iqaluit on the subject of barriers and solutions to economic development in the territories.
Did the Government of Nunavut make a presentation to this committee and will the minister commit to tabling the presentation in the Legislative Assembly, yes or no?
Hon. Peter Taptuna (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Deputy Minister Bob Long appeared on behalf of me as a witness before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.
He also participated with the mayor of Iqaluit, the economic development officer for the Hamlet of Pangnirtung, and the acting chair of the Nunavut Economic Forum.
Throughout the process there, Deputy Minister Long, throughout the presentation, indicated the need for a more improved standard of living in the north and the need for Ottawa to build north just as Canada has been built from the east to the west for the last 140 years.
And yes, I will be prepared to table that presentation in the future.
Again I would like to thank the hon. minister for that response.
In noting that there was a presentation, I just want to note as well if the deputy minister indicated what position or how did the Members of Parliament react.
Overall, Deputy Minister Long’s discussion on infrastructure… .
The needs of infrastructure were accepted by the standing committee. There was a general agreement that additional investment in the infrastructure would lower transportation costs and improve the prospects for the fishery and tourism industries, and overall, the economic well-being of the north.
Question 108 – 3(2): Government of Nunavut’s Travel Policies (Schell)
My question is for the Minister of Finance, who is responsible for the government’s duty travel policies that are contained in the government’s Financial Administration Manual.
As I noted in my Member’s Statement, I am calling on the GN to ensure that it supports northern owned airlines.
Will the minister commit to immediately reviewing the Financial Administration Manual to ensure that GN civil servants travelling to the south fly on northern and Inuit owned carriers only, yes or no?
What I can tell Mr. Schell is that Government of Nunavut employees are required to comply with the Financial Administration Manual and that includes travel. So as long as they’re adhering to the policies, then they’re not breaking the rules.
Mr. Schell: My first supplementary question is: are you going to review the Financial Administration Manual?
I thank Mr. Schell again for that question.
Mr. Speaker, what I can assure Mr. Schell is that the Financial Administration Manual has been under review for a period of time already.
A number of directives have gone through the deputy ministers’ committee and made it to cabinet. I think they were at least 60 to 65 percent completed on the review of the policies and regulations in the Financial Administration Manual.
When will this review be completed?
I think that if we’re on schedule, the review should be completed by some time in 2010.
The reason I’m asking is because Air Canada is moving in, in March and I was hoping that that would be done before that, but it’s obviously not.
I didn’t hear a question, but maybe Minister Peterson wishes to reply to that.
I again thank Mr. Schell. I just want to assure Mr. Schell and all Members of the Assembly that I, too, come from a smaller community and we are concerned.
I have been up north most of my life and I’m well aware of the services that the northern airlines provide to the smaller communities.
So we are concerned and I’m personally concerned because it affects my riding.
So we will be taking a close look to ensure that Government of Nunavut employees comply with the policy.
That’s what they are there for. We committed to strengthening financial management throughout the Government of Nunavut and that’s where our commitment will remain.
Question 109 – 3(2): Progress towards Social Advocacy (Elliott)
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier during my Member’s Statement, I’m concerned that the mandate of the government’s Social Advocacy Office may be overly broad and not specific enough. Can the Premier clarify what steps have been taken to date to establish the Social Advocacy Office?
Speaker: Thank you. Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon. Eva Aariak.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Protecting people who cannot take care of themselves is something that we consider very important.
Under my department, we are starting to set up the Social Advocacy Office and I will inform the members as soon as the dates are established.
I guess I’m a little concerned because back in June when we met the last time, I had concerns and brought up and mentioned the fact that I felt that the mandate was too broad and also mentioned that with that mandate being so broad, one of the issues I saw in particular was the ability of the government to be able to find an individual with the skill sets to staff the position.
So has the Premier’s Office been able to… . Oh, sorry. Has your department been able to find someone to fill that position?
Speaker: Thank you. Madam Premier.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): We are currently working on this issue. We have an employee who works for the status of women council and we will be getting additional staff. I will keep you updated on the issue as it progresses.
Again I’m a little concerned because the year is almost finished and it sounds like maybe there hasn’t been a lot done working towards this Social Advocacy Office.
I know the Premier has mentioned and said it was important, but if there is no progress to report, then I’m a little worried as to why there is no progress.
I seem to remember that in June, there are actually three positions from Health and Social Services and three positions from EIA, so that would be a total of six positions for that office. I just wonder: what are those people doing? If there was some information that the Premier could give us in terms of whether they are reviewing legislation or whether they are looking for office space.
This speaks to it being included, as it is part of the social services portfolio.
So that office will be working closely with Health and Social Services to look at the social aspects, child advocacy, family issues, and (interpretation ends) child and family services legislation.
With the Department of Health and Social Services, as part of the Tamapta Mandate, we will conduct a comprehensive review of child and family services legislation, programming, and current delivery methods. Beginning this year, my colleague, the Minister of Health and Social Services, will be leading the initiative with the focus on ensuring that children receive appropriate and responsive services. (interpretation) That seems to be the issue that the member wants reviewed.
A top priority of this government is to protect children and ensuring that children are properly housed is very important.
The child and family services legislation is very important.
(interpretation ends) My department, through the Social Advocacy Office, will research the creation of an independent child and youth representative.
The office will be created in cooperation with the process of a child protection review so that the priorities we give the system over the coming years will continue into the future. (interpretation) It is something that is very important.
I will make sure that there is a proper review done and that Inuit traditional knowledge is incorporated into the legislation, especially when it comes to social issues.
I don’t know if that’s any different from what we have already heard.
At the beginning, I felt that the Social Advocacy Office was going to be set up and the youth and child representative… . It would just be years and years and years before anything positive came.
Could the Premier sort of elaborate? She said that there was research that had been done in terms of a youth and child representative office. Could she provide what type of research has been done and what her government has done to work towards that?
I didn’t say that it was completed.
I said that we will conduct it. (interpretation ends) We will conduct a comprehensive review of child and family services. (interpretation) That is for clarity.
The reason why we’re waiting is we’re looking at the Tamapta Action Plan.
At this time, we are reviewing it. We seriously want to put that action plan into motion and I’m very pleased that we’re now working on it.
Question 110 – 3(2): New Landfill for Repulse Bay (Ningark)
The clock is going faster now.
I believe he knows, as he was in Repulse Bay last summer, and I’m sure that he was receiving correspondence from the Hamlet of Repulse Bay and their applications.
The community dump is very close to the airport and the community, so they don’t really want to burn the refuse at the dump because the smoke drifts over the hill.
I had received a letter from a constituent in Repulse Bay who is a member of the hamlet council. I have also spoken to the hamlet council in Repulse Bay.
Have you made any plans on the Repulse Bay dump relocation?
I would like the Minister of CGS to respond to that, please.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): The review of the dump in Repulse Bay was completed.
We will be working on the final draft of an agreement with the hamlet for the community dump construction.
Firstly, to supplement his comment, I wish to thank the minister for his response since this gives us hope for the resolution of the issue.
Is the minister in a position to advise me as to when the work will commence? I imagine that his officials will have to visit the hamlet in Repulse Bay.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Kusugak.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Yes, perhaps the work will commence this upcoming summer. I’m sure that they will commence on the project once the fencing materials have been received by the hamlet. We will also be working on the completion of an MOU agreement with the hamlet.
As we all know, a lot of the debris from the dump has been blown all over the area and we will be looking at the fenced-in area which will be subject to the agreement. This is to ensure that when the hamlet has to clean up, they are not solely responsible for cleaning up the windblown debris from the dump.
We are hoping that it will occur this summer.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): My second supplementary, Mr. Speaker: will the work revolve around relocating the dump further from the community or will they only be installing a fence around the dump?
The wind blows debris all over the environment. Based on comments from residents, they are concerned about its proximity, especially when the garbage is burned, as the smoke tends to blow into the community. So they are not burning the materials due to this issue.
According to the information provided to me by staff, they will be reviewing the material for the fencing, but the dump will not be moved. That is what I know currently, that they will do that at the same location.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Ningark.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final supplementary relates to whether the fencing project will indeed commence this summer.
Can the minister advise me as to the dates of construction on the dump and sewage facilities in Repulse Bay?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Yes, the fencing material has been shipped and the hamlet is in receipt of the materials that arrived in the community.
The drilling company will be travelling to Repulse Bay and once they are in the community, they will start working on the project. This is not the only drilling project that they have to undertake in the community.
They first have to drill the support beams for the fencing prior to stringing up the fence.
Once these have been drilled, the construction would commence.
What I can tell the member is that the material for the fencing is already in Repulse Bay.
Question 111 – 3(2): Completion of New Bridge in Pangnirtung (Komoartok)
As we are now all aware, last year, our community experienced problems with the bridge connecting our two community areas and the bridge was damaged during a storm on June 9, 2008. Our community was provided a replacement bridge.
The new bridge material arrived and it was constructed immediately. However, this bridge was not the type the community would have chosen.
Due to the fact that this was an emergency replacement and it had to be hurriedly constructed before the end of October, it was appreciated by our residents as it became useable upon completion.
We are thankful for being able to cross the river at our leisure again.
However, we are still experiencing some issues, such as the proper lining up of the outlet roads to the ends of the bridge, which could not be completed due to the snow cover and the ground freezing due to the lateness of the season in the fall.
These areas were to be completed this spring as soon as conditions allowed for completion of these tasks, but we then ran into problems with the financing of this emergency bridge replacement.
We were led to believe that the federal government would cover the funds for the emergency replacement, but we were informed later on that this would not be the case.
On another matter, the surveyors completed the surveys for the road connecting to the bridge.
They started surveying on the north side, but it was incomplete just prior to the bridge.
The road closer to the original community has never been surveyed or improved for today’s traffic.
Will they eventually reach that area and, secondly, will they be able to finally finish all of the roadwork?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Komoartok. (interpretation ends) Minister of Community and Government Services, Hon. Lorne Kusugak.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will look into the issue raised in your question and I will want to get further understanding as to what the status of it is and once I get the status, I will relay that information to you.
Question 112 – 3(2): Investigation of Conservation Officer (Arvaluk)
I just barely made it, I think.
When I raised the point of privilege earlier, the minister clarified that the investigation is still going on, it’s not completed.
My question, then, is: when it was reported that the wildlife officers said wildlife officers caught muskoxen out of season and out of area, how was it so difficult not to press charges then?
Why do you need an investigation? What are you investigating?