EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Kugluktuk wants, you probably have seen the documents already because there are 14 different departments and 7 of those that belong to Community Government & Transportation just using that as an example.
How did you decide and how did you put it into a 5 year capital plan so that we can see for sure and I need to understand how it works. When you’re planning these 5 year capital plans, how do you come up with the numbers?
The other one was written by the hamlet and directed to your department - I know that the money isn’t always available.
I can understand that part, I know we cannot come up with the funding that you want overnight.
But, also I noticed from last year that they were going to build that docking facility in Kugluktuk.
We all know that it’s not completed yet because we’ve been pushing docking facilities ever since last year.
It is still not completed as of today.
Fisheries and Oceans put a hold on that because they were doing a study.
For that reason, what I would like to see is the department try and finish the study without further delay.
Also, I just want to mention the proposed Bathurst road and port.
Last week, while I was in Yellowknife, I went to observe how they are going to go ahead with that project, that road to Bathurst Inlet.
KIA and government departments and other organizations met in regards to that road and they like the idea of building that road to Bathurst Inlet and the docking facility that they’re going to build over there.
So I would like to encourage your department to go ahead with this project, and support it however we can support this item with funding that we can get from the government.
I am very pleased to see that the government is working towards this project in this capital plan as well.
I myself will be supporting this road project to Bathurst Inlet because the Kitikmeot people are looking forward to this for the employment.
A number of people have expressed their interest; people have mentioned that if we build this road it’s going to be economically beneficial for Kitikmeot people.
It will mean things are not going to be as expensive as they are now.
I am pleased with her opening comments regarding the capital plan, particular on the docking facilities.
Hopefully a formal request from my community of Hall Beach will finally become reality.
We have no docking facility, marine facility.
Every time the water becomes rough, we have to pull up our boats before the wind picks up and that’s always been the case because of the marine facilities.
The one we had was owned by the DEW line and was not very close to our community. It hasn’t been used and it is deteriorating. Not too many people in the community use that facility.
So I would be happy to see that they build, at least include in their plans, a marine facility in Hall Beach and that it would be one of the first ones.
It should be prioritised when it’s put into the capital plans.
The Assistant Deputy Minister fully knows how the shoreline is in Hall Beach and because we live by the shore, just before I became a Member of the Legislative Assembly, I was hired to make some kind of a wall to prevent erosion from the water, so I worked on that because I was asked to do so.
Because we’re always short of funding, there are not too many projects for community centres; we all know that the community centre is way too small for the size of the community.
When we had visitors they had to go to the centre of the building and the people who were visiting almost filled up the whole building, that’s how small it is, so that should be considered also.
The reason I will be raising this is I think I’ve asked about this and the Minister has stated that they have included it in the plan. I will be asking in that line of questioning, what I just said; maybe I’ll talk about this some other time.
Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased with the opening comments made by the minister and I can understand that there are a lot of needs out there, and I would wish you more success in the future in dealing with your federal counterparts to access additional funding.
I know it’s an issue that the members know about, and myself and the member from Baker Lake raised it today in this House in our Members’ Statements.
We also passed a motion at our last sitting in Pangnirtung in regards to that. So hopefully this will assist, comments like this, will assist the Minister and her staff in getting through to her federal counterparts, to loosen up the purse strings, Mr. Chairman.
One thing that I am very pleased being here and I know it’s something that I raised over the last number of years is to come up with a solution to assist the City of Iqaluit to deal with some of the critical infrastructure crisis that it was facing and that it is facing. I’m very pleased to see and hear that that the department has worked with the City of Iqaluit, Mayor Mathews, and councillors in coming up with some type of arrangements that will assist them in dealing with the problems.
I commend the minister and the department; I know it’s not easy to come up with solutions to deal with the magnitude of the crisis that we face here in Iqaluit and we certainly appreciate the efforts and what we see here in the capital plans.
One other issue that a couple of other members raised and I think it’s something that maybe the department can take a look at down the road is on the docking facilities. With more and more warming of the waters and shorter seasons of ice, the need for docking facilities in all of the communities are becoming greater.
But also a result of those same factors there may be a new market for initiatives in opening up the tourism market. Maybe the minister can work with the Minister of Sustainable Development on it and that’s the idea of some of the communities throughout Nunavut.
Tour ships come in and they don’t have adequate docking facilities to be able to have the people get on and off these boats. We all know what it’s like when you get a little windy here to try and manoeuvre people on and off these larger boats and the larger cruise ships. It isn’t always easy.
I think that is something that has potential for marketing for Nunavut.
More and more these tour groups are looking for destination places where if a ship, there was one a few years ago that started off in Churchill, Manitoba and the boat came up the west coast of Hudson’s Bay, I’m not sure where, I know for sure it stopped in Cape Dorset and then it came here. Then the individuals off of that ship got off here and flew back and for them to reload here or wherever the other people get off for a whole bunch of new people to get back for the return.
Those kinds of trips are usually retired people and they can only handle the one-way trip and are not looking at a two-way journey because it can be quite cool and often a one-way trip by boat over our waters is sufficient experience for some people.
I think this is something the department may want to look at in the future; some potential for yielding many more benefits to a number of communities throughout the territory.
And I guess that’s about it Mr. Chairman, for my opening comments and again just thanking the minister for coming up with solutions with the city and continue to urge her and wish her more luck in freeing up federal purse strings for Nunavut.
I don’t have too many comments.
First of all I’d just like to thank the witnesses here.
We should appreciate them as they look after the municipal services, there are roads, and there is water delivery, sewage. And they are equipped with enough infrastructure even though we want more all the time; but they cost a lot to get them to the communities and we are fortunate that we can get at least some of them.
But one of my communities, the community of Arctic Bay has written letters asking for a meeting hall or a community centre but I regret to see that it’s not written here.
I don’t know how we can get our request put on the capital plan, or maybe there is a limit that only after a number of times you can request and then your request will finally be included in the plan.
But I will be raising this question when I start asking questions because the request from the community should be considered.
The stuff in regards to transportation, I was happy to hear about the minister that there was a transportation study in the communities and I welcome that. But I would like to ask also when is it scheduled to be completed?
In the opening comments, it doesn’t say, maybe I missed it, it doesn’t seem to specify the completion date.
She stated earlier that the communities along with their cultures and customs, and there was also a study about going to Greenland because when you go to Greenland it’s very scenic and we can benefit a lot and sometimes we can teach them, they can benefit from us.
So in regards to the community transportation studies, I don’t care if I don’t see Greenland but in Arctic Bay we have relatives in Pond Inlet and by skidoo it’s 200 miles, you can get there about 10-12 hours by skidoo in springtime.
From Arctic Bay to go to Pond Inlet I have to go through Iqaluit and if I bring a child, the airfare that I would have to pay is over 4 thousand dollars.
We can’t wait to see what the results will be because we already know the existing problems; I don’t know when the completion of the study will be.
They’re probably not from Nunavut maybe they’re people who have never been up north who are conducting the survey, the studies.
I just wanted to resurface this concern to make sure that the consultants are from the north and know about the area.
And who can put their bids on that study; we know that the study is not cheap.
As an Inuk I can’t wait especially when there’s a death in our family, it takes a long time to go to a community even though the distance is not so great, it’s because of the inconvenience of the scheduled flights.
We can’t wait for this to be finished and hopefully they have qualified knowledgeable consultants.
And I also would like to state Mr. Chairman, in Nanisivik there is a dock for big ships and I would like to find out from the minister, I know it belongs to DFO and CG&T have staff that can negotiate or consult with each other. The only dock is in Nanisivik because they have to unload.
When we were up there last summer I went over with Alakannuark; we were up there and he also saw some staff that were going to his community and counted the crates that were going to his community when they were up in Nanisivik.
But they were en-route to his community and the person from Gjoa Haven went to Arctic Bay from Kugaaruk on the annual ship from his community to Arctic Bay to Nanisivik.
That’s how useful that dock could be.
Those are my general comments.
I will be raising questions later.
I’ll make my general comments brief.
I would to thank the Minister for her opening comments because it shows how hard they have worked to give the requests to the communities although they have limited resources or limited funds; because all the communities may request something, but due to lack of funds, that’s where the problems come, because we have many needs.
In my constituent community of Repulse Bay, there’s hardly any gravel there adjacent to the community.
So they’re trying to build access road to where the gravel is available.
I don’t see it in the Capital Estimates; I was wondering where I could find it because it could really improve the community of Repulse Bay and also for the hunters.
It could benefit the hunters and the community, when we build the access road to the gravel pit.  In the Keewatin Region, Chesterfield Inlet and Repulse Bay out of all the Nunavut communities, they don’t have any gravel.
Last year they worked really hard to access gravel.
We definitely need this, I don’t know how but some kind of support to build the access road to the gravel pit area.
And I also wanted to point that out because Repulse Bay is strongly requesting support in that area.
I don’t have any more names on my list for general comments.
At this time I’m sure the Minister can understand what is being said by the Members and their general comments.
When I asked the Minister about the plans for Igloolik on the community hall, well recreational centres, she said there was funding made available.
But looking at the plans up to 2008, I don’t see anything. So I was wondering what is happening to it? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon Manitok. Thompson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In my opening comments I noted that I spoke to the Igloolik Mayor and also the member about the design, that the 50 thousand dollars would be advanced.
It was at the time when the Capital Estimates were being drafted and also Mr. Chairman, the community health; I’m now trying to look at how we can improve the community health.
Even though there are some gymnasiums in some communities at the schools, definitely in some communities there is no gathering place.
I went to Yellowknife on Saturday to attend a meeting, Mr. Chairman, and at that time the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Paul Devillios and Ethel Blondin were also there and I spoke to them about this issue.
I will look at other options and alternatives to find out if we can make a decision because the communities know that the community halls are very important to them.
It’s not just for recreational uses, it’s a place where the community gathers for festivities and also for healing circles.
Yes, we will work on the Igloolik recreation hall design and I will work with the Department of Education or through Culture, Elders, Language and Youth, which Jack Anawak is the minister of. So I’ll work with those departments.
In regards to that, I would like to thank the minister for answering my question.
In regards to the design, since you’re planning the design part next year in the capital estimates, when will we be able to see the construction part of it?
I do not know what next year’s capital budget will be but I’m trying to obtain more funding to see if we can provide funding and/or get some outside sources.
We’re now trying to work with the federal government. As I have stated before, Mr. Chairman, our aboriginal healing fund is only intended for O & M purposes.
I’m trying to gear them towards our capital projects so that we can improve the communities’ halls.
Community halls are frequently used for healing.
So I will be working on this development.
I apologize for calling you Minister Manitok.
I’m glad that we’re proceeding with the plans and as long as I’m a Member of the Legislative Assembly I will be pursuing this.
But I will just conclude with that for now.
In regards to the docking facilities; you stated before that they’re doing a study on all the docking facilities in the communities and breakwaters.
Do you know if there’s capital estimates to do a study on breakwaters or docking facilities in the communities?
The study isn’t complete yet.
In the fall community tours were started.
Mr. Chairman, because of the erosion of Hall Beach’s shoreline, it also happened in Tuktoyaktuk, because there are no huge rocks, they have to work annually on their docking facility.
It would cost them a lot of money.
So we’ll definitely have to consider how Hall Beach is envisioning their docking facility.
Perhaps the local community knows best where the docking facility should be. Perhaps, they know what to use, whether it be rocks, or wood to make the dock.
We can look at other docking facilities that have been made down south.
We also have to come up with a decision in Hall Beach about the erosion of the shoreline.
We will have to work with the communities and look at the options.
We could be taught by the community itself through their suggestions and recommendations about what kind of docking facility they would like to see.
If you raise your hand I will know whether you have any supplementaries or not.
I know that it is going to be quite hard to work on the docking facility in Hall Beach because of course we have to see what best fits our shore.
Possibly what Ovide can do is give us a few boulders and we could put it along the shoreline.
It has to be seriously considered.
If you don’t already know, a long time ago we never built any in the olden days.
We seriously have to consider it.
If we build that dock it could improve our shoreline.
There were some improvements done to protect the houses from the waves.
That deteriorated and we had to build it again.
It is something that is very hard to do.
A docking facility in Hall Beach is something that I would like you to consider.
I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Koanaqutit, Itsivautaq.
Before we go page by page, I just have a few short comments.
On the criteria used by your Department to put in the Five Year Capital Plan, I understand a couple of criteria are used, I think anyways.
I know that health and safety issues are the priorities that you put into your Capital Plan.
Aside from that, are there any other requirements or criteria that you use, so they can be in your department’s five year capital plan; not just health and safety?
I am just trying to get a picture of the Hamlet’s five year capital plan.
Again I will use 17 of them.
Which of those 17 are for Community Government and Transportation for example?
I will use Kugluktuk for example as to how they can be put on the list here aside from the criteria. For example, health and safety - but is there another way to push it up a little bit. For example, in Sanikiluaq, if we had two same issues, two same needs, if one of them has to get prioritized, how do they qualify for the department’s 5 year capital plan?
We do our consultations with the communities across Nunavut in terms of prioritizing their capital needs, most of our money has been going to water, and sewer infrastructure needs in that area. As the members seem to recognize there are so many needs in the territory in terms of water, sewer lagoons, health and safety issues that it’s very difficult to put on new projects because by the time you have put the priorities down it mainly becomes water, sewer type of infrastructure we’re putting in our communities.
Most of our infrastructure in that area is very old, our needs and repairs need to be prioritized, and that’s part of the problem that we’re having right now at the department.
And also, for the members to know, the 5 year capital plan across Nunavut comes in waves.
It might be lower for communities one year and then higher for some communities in other years and then that’s how its done. Unless we start taking capital projects from somebody else and putting them somewhere else, which we won’t do, that’s the only way that we would be able to say we will get a new project on your 5 year capital plan.
We are aware of the needs in the communities but our priority is to make sure the people have fresh water and their health and safety considerations are a priority.
That’s where we have a problem with that but we can’t do much about it because of the way we are planning with the hamlets.
The hamlets are aware of the priorities that a hamlet would like but when you come to the bottom of it and you meet with the council and start asking them what their priorities are, their priorities are their drinking water, and that might be where we should be focussing our money.
We have to look at some innovative ways to deal with the other new projects and that’s what we’re trying to do with the Federal Government.
We have to keep lobbying and we’ll do that.
Mr. Havioyak: Koanaqutit, Uqaqti. I’m glad the department and the minister continually lobby to get funding for Nunavummiut projects.
Last year, last winter, I can’t remember, you might know better than I but remember that I’m using this again as an example, and I’m glad it’s on the list for the replacement of water tanks and I’m glad it’s on the list and it will happen.
But according to the Department of Public Works these contractors went to see that water tank.
From what I understand, what they did was put a support at the bottom of the tank so it won’t open down. You know open up, if it’s sealable, I’m not sure but I know they just put a support on there.
I guess using that as an example where this might have to be moved up a year.
I looked at it very seriously because from what I gathered, with all those supports you never know when it’s going to burst.
I just want to point that out; I think I’m sure you looked at that water issue.
Another question aside from that; an update really, just some information, I know I’ve been asking questions on the docking facility in Kugluktuk.
I know it’s been on hold due to the study that the Fisheries and Oceans are doing.
All I’m trying to do here is to get an update on this capital project.
I know they are waiting, I know some work has been done along the shore but not in the water.
So really I just want to ask, correct me if I’m wrong, you have stated that the funding will still be there to complete this work.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Mr. Chairman, I’m aware of the water tank in Kugluktuk.
I was able to see that tank a couple of months ago, so I’m aware of the stuff that is holding this together.
I think with the help of Public Works engineers we’re doing everything we can to help keep that water tank intact and it is one of our priorities.
On the breakwater and marine resupply site, as I understand this habitat study was completed in September.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is reviewing documents prior to granting a permit to construct.
Construction will begin once a permit is issued from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The construction of the breakwater facility will begin in March of 2003, with work taking place on the docking facility during spring and summer; that’s where it’s at.
I have no other names on my list. We can go to the capital estimates, 7-5. 7-6.
Community Government and Transportation. Detail of Capital.
Contributions. Headquarters, 4 thousand.
Mr. McLean: Ma’na Itsivautaq, under recreation facilities projects, 300 thousand dollars, could you explain what that is for.
With this 300 thousand, it's not very much with so many needs.
What I had done as a Minister was, I had asked my department that maybe we could divide it into 3 and in each region prioritize and use it for upgrading their recreational facilities or through the regional office and it’s for mainly maintaining our recreational facilities.
It’s an infrastructure fund to help out with the skating rinks and the swimming pools and so on.
So that’s what we’ve been using in part because it’s not very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
There are have not communities, there are have communities, and just recently the Hamlet of Baker Lake sold their Zamboni to Chesterfield Inlet for the give away price of 4 thousand dollars.
And the Zamboni was probably valued at 30 thousand and I would like to commend the Hamlet of Baker Lake for being so generous in sending that Zamboni down to Chesterfield Inlet because the people of Chesterfield Inlet and Baker Lake have a great relationship working with each other.
And yes there are some relatives down there but I have to say it was great that they sent the Zamboni down so people in Chesterfield Inlet don’t have to scrape their ice with shovels anymore.
But the point I’m getting to is, larger municipalities like the Arviats, the Bakers, the Rankins, the Iqaluits, the Dorsets, the Pangs, the Ponds, everything is larger, and Kugluktuk, they are larger municipalities so the funding is larger.
I guess larger funding and you know, through great fiscal management, a lot of them maintain surpluses.
So they can buy their own Zamboni’s.
Like Baker Lake has bought its own Zamboni twice in the last 15 years out of the operating surplus.
The government hasn’t contributed a penny to the Baker Lake Zamboni and the smaller communities I think it’s great that the government, if they can, buy them a Zamboni because they are recreational facilities.
You know, we can put in a million and a half of the 3 million dollar recreational facility in a community and we shortchange them 50 thousand dollars on a Zamboni.
So you know, there should be some kind of rule there that a larger community has to put in some money to buy a Zamboni and the smaller communities that don’t have surpluses should be funded.