EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I can return to reviewing that again and we will conduct further reviews. As per my previous statements, in November of this year, I will be receiving a full report and what you just referenced on the need for a bus can be incorporated into that.
As I stated earlier, if a school requires a special needs bus, they can submit their request and our department can support them in their request.
As per my previous statements about the reasoning for the review and after completion, we can consider the comment you made just now to include it.
Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak, 25 seconds to go.
I know my time is running out.
However, I am passionate about the middle school.
Can the minister assure me as the MLA for Baker Lake, the hamlet, and the district education authority that the middle school will go ahead?
I would like my colleague to know that I spoke with the chairman of the education authority, David Simailak, on Friday about the middle school and the fact that it has been delayed. He didn’t have many questions to me at that time when I informed him.
We can talk to the education authority members and hamlet council about this matter further, but as I stated earlier, everything is based on enrolment and the fact that there are fewer students enrolled is why the project has been delayed.
As to how can we engage the parents more, whenever I meet with the DEA, I encourage them to promote parental engagement so that parents can be more involved in their children’s education and we always encourage them to do that.
Like I said, I am open to meeting with them again.
Before I ask my question, let me first say this: as the Minister of Education, along with your officials, we were proud of your efforts when we had a horrible tragedy in Cape Dorset with the school burning down.
Many of us don’t know all the details, but listening to all the efforts, it sounded like you worked very well together with the MLA and education authority in Cape Dorset.
We are proud of your efforts.
With what you mentioned earlier, sometimes you want to respond so well that you don’t respond right away.
Don’t worry.
There is no rush. If you want to respond properly, take your time and respond properly. I always want a good response.
I believe we’re on G-4 in English. The first question I would like to pose to the minister is there are different kinds of schools that are being proposed to be constructed in Igloolik, Naujaat, and other communities.
I would like to ask this question. I believe it was last year when we were informed that for big buildings, such as health centres, they’re trying to make the blueprint the same so that the price can be pretty much the same for the next one. They try to use a common design.
We know that the communities are different and the number of people is different in each community. We’re talking about the blueprint of the building.
Have you been doing that?
Let me ask that first.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for posing that question. It’s great when we’re able to work well with other people.
In regard to your question, right now, it’s the standard design concept that you are referring to. The concept is being developed. The standard design hasn’t been set yet.
We all understand that if you use one blueprint, you can’t just use the same blueprint all over the place.
It’s not like that. What is talked about is the window will follow these specifications and the roof will follow the same specifications or the furnace room will have a certain specification as well. That’s what we mean.
We haven’t used that yet, although we have been talking about it. We are working with Community and Government Services and this is still being reviewed. We expect that in the spring of 2016, we will have a definitive plan.
We haven’t used the common design yet on that.
Another question I wanted to ask was for small capital. That’s what I refer to small capital. In Inuktitut, I call them things that don’t cost as much.
In here, there’s $925,000 for repairs, renovations, and upgrades.
I’m sure you have given us that information, but I haven’t been able to find it. Can you show me where I can see these documents? Just let me know what document they’re in.
He’s asking for help in finding the document. Mr. Quassa.
I stated that I would be sending you a letter, but I don’t think that letter has been sent yet about what you’re asking about.
Perhaps I should explain this in greater detail. The $925,000 was set up so that the $125,000 and the $100,000 would be separate, but now we have combined them and that’s how it’s $925,000 now.
It is two pots of money that we put into one. If I can say it in English, (interpretation ends) in previous years, school assessments and special needs assessment projects were allocated funds separately, again as I said, $125,000 and $100,000 respectively from minor projects.
Again, the standing committee suggested the three projects to be rolled into one.
(interpretation) I’m just giving that explanation; it’s not really part of your question, but we will get the answer to your question a little later.
When we’re talking about minor or small capital projects, I just want to hear: today, do all of our schools have infrastructure that accommodates handicapped students?
Are there schools that don’t have wheelchair ramps? Do all schools have wheelchair ramps now? Are they all equipped to accommodate handicapped students?
For those students that need more help to go to school, there is a (interpretation ends) school special needs assessment project (interpretation) that has been completed. We worked with the Department of Community and Government Services and we’re putting together a strategy for the schools that need additional work to accommodate handicapped students.
That is being put together right now. Obviously, once we get the information about which schools need more work, we will know.
I’m sure you answered my question. It’s probably me not understanding your response.
Let me ask again.
Have you checked our schools to make sure that they all have infrastructure to accommodate handicapped students?
If so, do all the schools have proper ramps to accommodate handicapped students?
Almost all the schools have been reviewed, but we’re not done with all of them yet. That’s how I can respond.
We know it’s very important. If there is a critical need for something like that, then we will use the small capital project funding that we have set aside for that purpose. We will be able to do something if there is a critical need to put in something like that.
There is another one that has been on the books for a very long time, the renovation of the Gjoa Haven school. Is it finally scheduled for completion in 2016-17?
First of all, yes, we will be able to complete it at that time. We expect that the coming fall of 2016, it will be completed for sure.
That’s our goal. Obviously at that time, in the fall of 2016, there will be an official opening. We’re planning to do that.
I am trying to be very serious.
Mr. Chairman, perhaps this will be my last question. I would just like to get further clarification.
As the minister stated numerous times, we have policies in place when we’re considering building or replacing a school. I’ll use the school in Arctic Bay for example. Although it’s not filled to capacity, due to its age, they will have to consider building a new school.
If I say that our school is getting too old, just for example, for aging facilities, what criteria does it have to meet? Is it because of the safety issues or that there is mould?
What criteria do you apply for old schools? When do you start considering building a new school?
I hope my question was clear.
We assess whether or not the furnace or boiler is too old, including the floors and the insides of the building.
I cannot give you detailed parts as to when it is considered to be an old building.
We look at the boilers and all the contents of the school. I cannot exactly tell you which one.
Using Arctic Bay as an example, the school was constructed back in… . I can’t remember when.
Let’s be aware that the Department of Community and Government Services also provides us information as to which facilities are aging and their department inspects the buildings and facilities and they provide the information to our department or the community provides that information.
There are various ways.
The Department of Community and Government Services is usually responsible for providing information on aging facilities and that’s when we start considering replacing them.
There are various ways or criteria as to how and when we can start considering new schools due to aging facilities or their capacity.
Corporate Services. Mr. Shooyook.
I would also like to welcome the minister and his officials. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
Since we’re dealing with schools, education, and the capital estimates, I hear about Arctic Bay and the school is old.
I just want to elaborate further that there is a staff member who is elderly now. She started working as a teacher at a very young age in the community of Arctic Bay.
Do you use the age of the facility to start considering its replacement when you’re considering constructing a new school?
I know that I should be good at math since I’m the Minister of Education.
Back in 1970, the school was constructed in Arctic Bay and back in 1998, it was renovated.
The school was constructed in 1970.
I hope I responded to your question. I didn’t quite get the last part of your question.
Yes, that’s the case and that’s why I’m making a comment to that because it’s an aging facility and I know that we will have to deal with that while I’m still a Member of Legislative Assembly.
The facility is so old that the water is seeping to the floor and it now smells like mould.
When it becomes mouldy, we start saying that it’s “contaminated” and for the safety of our children, we wouldn’t want them to be in a contaminated place.
As the Minister of Education, have you heard from the school principal or the DEA if there’s an emergency case in regard to this issue?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank my colleague for asking those questions.
As I stated, it was renovated in the past and regarding the spillage of water, they have constructed a new floor and the mould odour was being dealt with the last time the floor was worked on.
We have not heard of the issue that you just brought up.
I can say that Arctic Bay’s school is very old.
We are working with the Department of Community and Government Services on the plans for the school in Arctic Bay, but the floor was renovated and they were working on the mould odour. We haven’t heard from teachers or the DEA since it has been worked on.
I thank the minister for providing that information to me.
My question was: did the chair of the DEA approach you to say that the school is too small? I’m sure that the number of students enrolled at the school is below the capacity.
They haven’t informed us yet.
We haven’t heard from the DEA or the principal of the school in regard to the question you just posed.
The percentage of students enrolled is way below 85 percent.
They’re at 65 percent. It’s quite low.
The facility is old and that’s what we’re focusing on.
We haven’t been informed whether it needs to be replaced. We are working from this end on its replacement because the school is old.
I am very pleased that I will be able to go to Arctic Bay next month and I’ll be able to see the school that you’re speaking about first hand.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome, Minister Quassa and your officials.
First of all, I would like to extend my appreciation for providing support to Cape Dorset during the stressful times. I know that it made national news.
In your opening comments, you stated that it’s obvious the capital budget was set before the school burned down. Since the school actually burned down, how and when do you expect to start moving ahead with the new school for Cape Dorset? When do you expect to come up with a supplementary appropriation?
This coming week, we expect this to be set up, but I want the member to know that we have sent out the RFP to tender out the design for $1 million. That’s just the start.
I can say in the House that in the future, we will be tabling the information on the new school.
We have already identified that we will request $15.5 million under supplementary appropriation for 2016-17 and $14.5 million for 2017-18 for our capital estimates.
That will come forward, as well as $3 million for the 2018-19 fiscal year for capital estimates. That will be our proposal for that fiscal year.
In total, $34 million would be proposed, but as I stated before, the initial proposal is $1 million for the design of the school.
I would also like to thank the minister for his response. While you’re on the planning stage for the community, I was wondering if the DEA could be involved in determining the site for the new school as well as me, as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Will you be working closely with us?
Yesterday, somebody went to Cape Dorset to have a meeting with the district education authority. They were just recently there to have meetings and to ask them what kind of designs they would like. We’re looking forward to getting the details and we will make sure that you get the information.
This was a question that I had asked earlier. At the beginning of our fall sitting, I asked if the Department of Education had looked at optional classrooms or whether they’re looking at options of getting portable classrooms.
We have talked about the options; we looked at the interim ideas. It was one of the options that we had added.
Community and Government Services and the Department of Education were there and we talked about the options that were available, but obviously at that time, right after the fire, even if we had made a request, it would have been impossible to transport those portable classrooms this year.
It’s obvious now that we’re going to be reviewing the possibility of getting portable classrooms. If we’re going to be using that option, they would only come in during next year’s sealift.
I know there are going to be ships coming in. During the shipping season, the portable classrooms would be getting in to Cape Dorset. It’s too late in the year to order any and to transport them.
Community and Government Services are the ones responsible and they have the technical advisors to deal with (interpretation ends) the procurement, design, construction, and transportation to a sealift facility. It would probably take about six months. Again, even if we pursued exemptions from GN contracting, according to CG&S, it could probably be about three or four more months to get it up. (interpretation) With that, it’s quite obvious that we’re planning for next year instead of this year.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the minister for dealing with this matter.
I would also like to thank the cabinet members who did a tremendous effort and worked together to deal with the fire and also for having meetings with the hamlet council and the DEA. I would also like to thank my colleagues for giving us support.
It became a great need to get a school. Obviously, we can’t build a school overnight.
I’ll move on to another subject regarding the issue of busing.
Looking at the regions, could you also identify which communities have buses? Which ones have contracted busing services? Are we going to be able to get that information, not today but before the end of the session?
Yes, we will make sure that you get the information. My deputy minister has noted it.
We will make sure that we provide the information to you and also to your colleagues.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): I would also like the information to identify who owns the buses.
I would think that they’re property of the Government of Nunavut through Community and Government Services.
For the operation and maintenance of the buses, who pays for the expenditures?
Maybe I didn’t understand your question.
I didn’t understand the early childhood education part, but I think I get it now.
I believe you’re talking about buses.
The Department of Education uses a contractor to provide the buses.
We also approve the RFPs regarding buses, but there are different uses for the buses.
For example, we provide the buses and the buses are operated by… . I’ll use Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet as an example. (interpretation ends) We provide the contract. It’s to a private contractor.
The second one would be where the department purchases a bus and makes it into a GN asset. A good example would be Pangnirtung and Pond Inlet. (interpretation) The buses are owned by the Nunavut government.
Another option we use is if the DEA buys the bus.
It would be owned by the Government of Nunavut, but the local district education authority would sign an agreement on the care of the buses.
The DEAs are responsible for the buses, for example, in Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven.
We have three options we use regarding the operations of the buses.
If we look at the whole of Nunavut, I would like to get information on which communities have buses, which communities do not have buses, and all the other details regarding who owns the buses, who operates the buses, which ones are run by contract.
That’s the information that I’m requesting from the Department of Education and the minister had agreed to do so, so I’ll leave it at that.
Total Capital Expenditures. $26,280,000.
Education. Detail of Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $26,280,000.
Do you have closing comments?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to thank my colleagues. The Department of Education has the full support so that our children will be educated.
If we count the total population of the schools, they are at 30 percent. We have a lot of students all across Nunavut.
We thank you for your support and we will make sure that everything that we want to provide goes ahead. Also, if you have any concerns on anything to do with education, please make sure to let us know.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the minister and staff.
Bill 03 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2016-2017 – Health – Consideration in Committee
Minister of Health, Minister Okalik, welcome.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes. My deputy minister is on her way.
Mr. Minister, for the record, please introduce your witnesses. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister.
With me to my right is someone you know, my Deputy Minister, Colleen Stockley, and to my left is Assistant Deputy Minister Kathy Perrin. They will be with me here at the table.
Ms. Stockley and Ms. Perrin, welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
I now give you the opportunity to make your opening comments.
I am pleased to take this opportunity today to present the 2016-17 Capital Estimates of the Department of Health.
The department has a number of capital projects planned to replace and renovate our aging health care facilities.
Currently, 60 percent of the department’s community health centres are 20 years of age or older.
For 2016-17, Health is requesting $16.5 million for four capital projects.
I will briefly provide details of each project.
The first capital project that needs continuing funding is the new Arctic Bay Community Health Centre. The first phase of construction was started in July 2015 and in order to continue construction, the department is requesting the $12 million of capital funding that was set aside in last year’s capital plan for 2016-17.
The estimated total project cost is $27.7 million, including the detached five-plex staff housing that will be constructed by the Nunavut Housing Corporation right beside the new health centre.
Ongoing planning and design for the new Cape Dorset Community Health Centre is the second capital project that needs funding. The department is presently looking to further enhance and improve on the design of new health centres to better meet the needs of the department and communities.
The department is requesting $1.5 million in capital funding for the design phase of the project.
In the coming fiscal years, the department will be requesting an estimated $25.5 million for the first and second phases of construction.
The last two projects the department is requesting funding for is $1 million for small capital and $2 million for ongoing lifecycle maintenance.
The small capital yearly allocation is for the purchase of the department’s medical equipment, vehicles, and furniture.
I will provide you with a detailed listing of the equipment, vehicles, and furniture that we are planning on replacing in 2016-17 once the list is finalized.
The ongoing lifecycle yearly allocation is for the minor renovations, repairs, modifications, and upgrades of departmental facilities.
We also set aside some contingency funding for emergency repairs during the winter months.
In closing, the department’s proposed capital plan for 2016-17 is in line with the Sivumut Abluqta Mandate of this government.
Specifically, the capital plan is focused on aging health care facilities, which provide essential services to Nunavummiut.
I thank you all for your support on these important projects, and I welcome questions and comments from members.
Does the chair of the standing committee have comments? Mr. Joanasie.
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness as the Committee of the Whole begins its consideration of the proposed 2016-17 Capital Estimates of the Department of Health.
Standing committee members note that the department’s proposed capital budget for 2016-17 is $16.5 million, which includes funding for two infrastructure projects and two blocks of funding for minor capital and small capital projects.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee recognizes that replacing and updating community health centres across Nunavut is a long-term goal with more than half of these facilities more than 20 years old.
The two infrastructure projects in the Department of Health’s proposed 2016-17 capital estimates are to replace community health centres in the communities of Arctic Bay and Cape Dorset.
Mr. Chairman, the Arctic Bay project has been ongoing for some time and was initially to be built under a common design concept, including the new health centre projects in Repulse Bay and Taloyoak.
Over time, it has become clear that adapting a common design to the needs of each community has resulted in steadily increasing costs, as changes to project parameters and budgets were required to meet each community’s unique circumstances.
Members were surprised to note, for example, that the new Arctic Bay Community Health Centre will no longer include housing for health centre staff within its design.
The newly revised plan now indicates that a standalone five-plex housing unit will be constructed near the new community health centre. The standing committee recommends that the department work very closely with the Nunavut Housing Corporation to ensure that the housing component of this project is completed in a timely manner.
Mr. Chairman, during the minister’s appearance before the standing committee, members were given to understand that the new Arctic Bay Health Centre will also no longer include a morgue.
Members were somewhat surprised at this proposed change to the project, as resolutions passed by the Nunavut Association of Municipalities in recent years have repeatedly requested updated morgue facilities for all Nunavut communities.
While members noted that the department’s second infrastructure project, to proceed with the Cape Dorset replacement health centre, has been included in previous capital plans, the standing committee was disappointed not to receive any further information of the department’s future plans for any other projects in its 2016-20 five-year capital plan. The standing committee recommends that the department be more forthcoming with information regarding which projects it intends to proceed with in coming years.