EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
And Mr. Speaker, that’s the exact reason why we’re trying to bring some more consistency to the programs through one agency in respect of having all housing policy and matters under their jurisdiction.
Having said that Mr. Speaker, it’s no different right now than what I said earlier about all housing programs and public housing side of things right now, rent is charged based on income on the staff housing side of things, rent is based on the square footage, condition of housing, etc.
So we’re trying to bring some consistency in there and like I’ve said in the past it’s a matter of timing to work that through.
That’s why we’re continuing to try to develop policies that are more consistent.
I didn’t hear the answer to the question.
I asked about why the gross ands not the net income.
How did you arrive at that.
I'm trying to figure out how you assess by the employees on the gross income instead and not the net.
Mr. Speaker, it’s because all our programs prior to January 1st, of 2003 of this year were based on gross income.
Like I’ve said in the past on the new public housing rent scale, now it’s based on net income and that’s one of the positive actions that we’ve heard out there taken into consideration other cost of families and trying to provide for the families as part of the income and the assessment of rent.
Now, having said that, the Housing Corporation has made that dramatic, or significant shift in policy to base rent in this program on net income and the Government of Nunavut policies will move in that same direction.
Like I said, it’s a matter of timing.
I was trying to make that point to the member.
I also checked this thing with CMHC line as to where you got the 30 percent from, the Shelter costs of their gross income.
You mentioned that Finance is moving over to the Nunavut Housing Corporation, I heard you say that.
Mr. Speaker, In respect to the Hardship Allowance Program, it’s administered right now by the Department of Finance.
I indicated that there is work being done to shift that program, that policy over to the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
I would expect reasonably within 30 to 60 days that could be finalized.
Can the Minister consider putting that putting the Shelter program income from gross down to assess the employees on net income while they are doing that, can they consider that?
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Yes, we will consider that, but I would like to point out that if you have an employee that is making $70 to 80 thousand of gross income, take off their expenses and it’s down to $50 to 60 thousand, it’s still significantly higher income earners.
It’s not going to change the situation necessarily for that individual basing it on gross or basing it on net income.
Obviously unless it’s an extenuating factors in the net income calculations for that particular employee or employees.
Question 466 – 1(6): Local DEAs Process for Public Meetings
I also thank the person that cut my hair.
In the smaller communities, I’d like to ask about meetings pertaining to DEAs.
When the DEAs have problems in the communities they hold meetings to deal with concerns or problems and raise their concerns with the government.
My question is whether they have those types of meetings in Iqaluit.
Does the DEA in Iqaluit have the same type of process as in other communities?
Does the public in Iqaluit have the opportunity to raise their concerns regarding their education system?
The DEAs according to their mandate give opportunity to the public to voice their concerns.
For instance, the draft Education Act gave the perfect opportunity for the community to voice their concerns through their DEA and if you’re asking about Iqaluit and whether they hold public meetings with the community members, I am not really sure about the surrounding circumstances so I don’t know how to answer that.
Question 467 – 1(6): Bad Heating Fuel
My question is for the minister responsible for Petroleum Products. Mr. Speaker I know the beginning of the session I’d asked the minister if they were looking into any of the problems that were reported to the home heating fuel that was reported in Cape Dorset.
Mr. Speaker, on the radio this morning there was in indication that there were some problems with fuel and I’d like to ask the minister if its just the two communities that they’re looking at as the reports states that the fuel is the same, it came on the plane barge, is the department looking at other communities where that same fuel was dropped off and look to see if there is problems there as well.
At the present time the only two communities that we heard of before this session were the only two communities where we heard of cases and it was only from here say that I heard of one other community with problems and we had begun some testing regarding the home heating fuel but only in these two communities.
My staff has also checked with other communities to see if there are similar problems regarding home heating fuel.
Mr. Speaker, I’m sure we are all remember that with bad gasoline that we all faced last year and we’re still dealing with now and Mr. Speaker I know that this is something that we don’t want to repeat with the home heating fuel.
I’d like to ask the minister if he can indicate or commit that this fuel will be tested and checked in all the communities to ensure that we don’t run into the same problem that we did with the bad gasoline.
I will ensure the information regarding the testing will be brought forth because we don’t want to see what happened last year with gasoline with the home heating fuel.
There is some testing being done in these two communities and we still need some time to test the fuel and to see if we can limit the situation and we’re more or less following the same steps as we did with gasoline testing last year so at this point we are not hearing of any other complaints besides those two communities.
I think there is an additive missing from the home heating fuel that is causing problems but I will let the members know once the testing is done and ensure that the other communities fuel is checked.
Mr. Speaker, according to the director I believe that in individual from Petroleum Products, there was an early indication or preliminary tests that there was a lubricant additive that may be causing the problem and that this additive was put in by the refinery where the fuel was bought and I’d like to ask the Minister that fuel that was bought at that refinery is the same fuel that not only went to these two communities, it went to all the communities throughout Nunavut.
The fuel at sealift time, it is thought that this problem fuel arrived in these two communities, so what I’m saying is the problems are arising in only those two communities.
We checked the other communities, it’s the same fuel that was delivered to those communities but they don’t seem to be having the same types of problems as these two communities although it’s the same fuel that was delivered to other communities.
Mr. Speaker, I would think that common sense would indicate that if it’s the same fuel in those two communities that went to all the other communities, that there could possibly be the same problem in all the communities where that fuel was delivered to.
Mr. Speaker, I know each community is a little bit different in the amount of fuel that is has left over from the previous year, that it may be using up that old fuel before it gets into the new fuel or there may be a mixture of last year’s resupply left over from previous years.
I really believe the same thing happened with the bad gas.
First it was just a couple of communities and then it was everybody so I don’t think the department should wait until people complain.
Can the Minister commit to being proactive in this situation and go to each community and check all the fuel in those communities to try and solve the problem before it becomes a big problem that the department doesn’t want acknowledge.
Yes we will do that and I will also say that last year, when we were dealing with the bad gas, the tank farms, the ones that had fuel left from the previous year, their problems didn’t arise until they used up the old supply.
Once that had run low, their problems arose later. I will commit to ensuring that all the communities will be tested and we’ll figure out what the supply levels are from the previous year.
I will commit to ensuring that fuel is tested in all communities and as well find out what the levels were from the previous year’s supply.
Question 468 – 1(6): Testing of Bad Fuel
I do have a question for the same Minister of Petroleum Products.
The Minister had stated that they will be conducting tests on the heating fuel from Repulse Bay and they’re still experiencing problems today with the heating fuel because the heating fuel breaks the pumps of the furnaces.
It would be very dangerous when it over heats. It can explode and burn the house down, so my question is, rather than waiting, how quickly can you get the results for this?
We have heard from the residents of Repulse Bay that they reported having problems with the heating fuel.
We have sent out the samples to the laboratory and they say that they put an additive when they transported that fuel to the ship.
I think we’re going to have to wait a little longer to get the final results.
The laboratory is testing the fuel.
I don’t know how long we’ll have to wait for the results.
I’ve been thinking too that if it’s going to take a long time to finally get the results from the testing, I hope it doesn’t happen again like it did with the bad gas experience we recently had last year.
I know that the cost of living is increasing.
Perhaps you’ll be able to compensate the homes that have been experiencing with bad home heating fuel.
Yes, we’ll have to wait awhile to get the final results and after that we can then look at solutions.
But in regards to your question about compensating the home owners, I myself cannot, as an individual Minister respond to that because government as a whole has to respond to that.
We have to get the final results before making any decision so I cannot respond to your question today.
Mr. Irqittuq,
Question 469 – 1(6): Furnace Maintenance Workshop
I will give my friend a rest today as it is Friday.
Mr. Speaker, I think it was last year during the session we deliberated on some problems that are arising.
There was a furnace maintenance workshop here in this region and the Minister Community Government & Transportation was talking about a furnace maintenance workshop. I was wondering if they’re in the planning stages right now.
I did not make that statement.
I don’t even know what I said.
I'm not a furnace expert.
I don’t know if we’re talking about Hamlet furnaces.
I don’t understand his question.
Mr. Speaker, last fall during the time we started experiencing bad gasoline, we were talking about furnace problems.
In Repulse Bay more than one unit has burnt down.
That is why I had asked that question.
Can her department consider holding a furnace maintenance workshop whether it’s the staff of the Hamlet or whether it’s the staff of the Housing Corporation?
Minister Kilabuk will answer that question.
I thank my colleagues for having the same level of understanding.
In regards to furnace maintenance program, they don’t go to training programs but what they do is training on the job.
They would spend 8 weeks in Fort Smith and that’s part of their training program.
In regards to the member’s question, I have made a Minister’s Statement on looking into what adults are interested in learning.
That was one of the suggestions by people in Nunavut on what kind of training that the public would want to see in Nunavut and that was one of them.
This coming fall, after it’s been completed, I’ll be able to table it.
I wanted Ms. Thompson to respond to me.
I thank the Minister of Education to me.
Back in the 1980s it was possible to get that training and I know that individuals that used to instruct Furnace Maintenance Programs.
We still have that position in our community and I was wondering if the Minister could look into this Furnace Maintenance Program can be restarted.
I will talk to the Minister responsible for Community Government & Transportation because I don’t know if there is a training program for furnace maintenance within the municipalities.
I will commit to speaking with my colleague.
Question 470 – 1(6): Unilingual Homeowners – Bad Heating Fuel
First of all before I ask a question, I have been receiving correspondence from my colleagues.
I want everyone to know that this was presented to the Commissioner of Nunavut.
The people in Taloyoak make those so I just wanted to bring it out and show it off to the members here.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister for the Housing Corporation.
When the government used to provide assistance for $15 thousand for those homeownership programs, DAP programs, Mr. Speaker, many people own their own homes.
I would like to ask the Minister, some home owners in Nunavut don’t know how to speak English and they’re unilingual speaking people and they don’t know how to maintain a furnace.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask that these homeowners, to make sure that these people who are unilingual homeowners, that they are in a safe condition.
Minister for the Housing Corporation, Minister Ng.
Obviously Mr. Speaker, we would want to ensure that all Nunavummiut live in safe housing conditions.
If there was a specific problem with the unit or units in a community, we would certainly be able whether working through the local housing authority or directly with housing corporation staff, make an assessment and see if there were any safety issues or concerns that had to be addressed.
My constituency of Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak, I know about them and there are individuals too who reside in public housing, yes they get very good service and they service their furnaces annually but those homeowners, the homes are poorly insulated and when the weather gets cold, the pipes freeze.
We don’t know if our electricity and furnaces are safe.
Mr. Speaker, I’m asking this question because everybody has the right to live in a safe environment, so I was wondering if the Minister can look into making sure these home owners furnace’s and other things are regularly maintained.
Mr. Speaker, if it’s a private homeowner then that’s part of the responsibility and obligations of being a home owner to try to make sure that you maintain it.
It’s in the best interest of being the owner of the home.
But having said that, if there are issues around repairs being required, over and above what a normal maintenance expenditure would be, there are home owner repair programs, emergency repair programs and so on that the housing corporation provides for those individuals that may be in that situation.
Again, if there are specific individuals within his constituency that require some help, I would be more than glad to discuss it with him or have my officials deal with that.
Mr. Speaker, did I understand correctly, that the homeowners can inspect the private homes to make sure they’re safe and to look at the fire extinguishers to make sure that they’re up to date, just to do a safety inspection of these private homes.
Can private homeowners request inspections, or is it your department that asks the officials to do the inspections.
Mr. Speaker, I’m not exactly sure on where the member’s questions are going in respect to safety.
If it’s in respect to housing conditions, that is where the Housing Corporation would come into play.
If it is in respect to issues around fire, that’s where the fire marshal would come into play.
So, I guess it is a matter of what issues that the Member is raising as far as safety concerns for the home owners.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I think he is misunderstanding me.
I am talking about public housing, yes, they are regularly maintained. I am talking about home owners not the public housing.
I know the public housing units are being regularly maintained, but home owners in the communities are what I am talking about.
I am concerned that these home owners.
I am wondering whether they can get regular inspections to ensure their houses are up to code.
Can you ensure that these home owners can get that same service as public housing units?
Mr. Speaker, we can try.
It depends on what issues the home owner is facing.
Like I said if it is in respect to a deterioration of the unit because it is an older unit and a poor insulation and then the Member had mentioned before, that obviously we could work with that home owner to try to access some of the programs that we have for home repair programs.
It is in respect to fire marshals, issues around that or health issues around the quality of some of the components of the house and that might be a different matter, but it certainly will work with the Member and any home owner that has problems to try and identify where we can assist them.
Question 471 – 1(6): Program Review Exercise
My question is directed and I will speak in English. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier.
Which Department is coordinating the program review exercise?
Mr. Speaker, I have been concerned and also been speaking out sometime now that the Government would be better able to deal with social issues in Nunavut by dividing the Department of Health and Social Services into two.
This would allow for each Department to clearly focus on its mission.
My question, Mr. Speaker, is will the Premier commit to me and this House that the program review exercise will give serious consideration to this idea?
What I will do is await the results of the program review and I would be alone in reviewing that, the Cabinet along with the Members will adjoin me in reviewing the final analysis of the review.
So, I look forward to working with the Member and all Members of this House in determining the best way of moving forward after the program review is completed.
I would just like to elaborate little bit more on why we need to have a Social Services Department.
When I review the Opening Remarks of the Minister of Health and Social Services and the Committee Chairperson’s Report, also the Main Estimates, there is very little spoken about social service issues and a large part of the budget is for health related issues.
So, to have healthy communities, we need to have a good program to just support and help our people in the communities.
I would just like to make sure that this is being taken seriously.
I will keep an open mind.
I would like to see the review completed and as I said, I am committed to working with all members including on the best ways of moving forward when the review is completed.
Question 472 – 1(6): Baker Lake – Private Airline Fuel Services
I too will give my friend a break today in question period.
My question today Mr. Speaker is to the Minister of Public Works and Services.
Mr. Speaker, the current awarding of the petroleum products contract to Woodward’s Oil, and also the awarding of the dry cargo contract to NSSI shipping.
I’d like to thank the minister for his quick response to most of our questions but in Baker Lake we have a private contractor providing fuel services for fuelling up aircrafts in Baker Lake.
This contractor fuels commercial aircrafts, plus he’s also responsible for fuelling medivacs, emergency airplanes etc.
And the Government of Nunavut in the awarding of the centre over looked this very important component when they were awarding their contracts.
The question today to the Minister responsible is will his department work with this contractor to make sure that they have sufficient fuel to fuel up medivacs and the commercial airlines this year.
That’s the answer I was looking for.
Will he keep me informed also because this is a very important issue and can he also let me know when he is going to have this issue settled because the last time I knew or heard, there was no really decision made on it.
Can the minister commit to let me know as soon as possible about this private contractor?
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Question 473 – 1(6): Capital Projects
I’m glad my voice won’t be on the radio because I have a deep voice.
I sound like a big man.
My question is directed to Community Government and Transportation minister.
In the communities there are projects like dock or roads to be constructed to out the out skirts of the community.
How are these projects dealt with?
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): When there are different needs in the communities for projects there is a tender call put out.
If the roads need to be constructed in the communities to a hunting site or different, there is a proposal call for these projects.
The Cape Dorset regional office deals with those.
The transportation minister gets funding from the Federal Government and my question is, when there is a dock or a road being constructed to the out squirts of the community the hamlet has an opportunity to take part.
But my question is, in any of the community, say they want to build a breakwater, would they have to ask the Federal Government for the funding or can her department deal with those requests.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. regarding the breakwater projects in the communities, it’s an ongoing project and we’re seeking funds from the Federal Government.
We have had some of the funds forwarded to us for these breakwater projects.
Those communities who need these breakwaters, we have to do a feasibility study first for instance, especially when it’s going to affect the marine area and we have to deal with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans before those projects are started.
Mr. Speaker, if a community is requesting a breakwater, we would work with the community and the Federal Government.
We would automatically be dealing with them anyway, and first of all, we’d deal with the community first to discuss the needs and how these breakwaters would be constructed.
Yes, the funds are funnelled through us but if we need more funding, we would request those funds from the Federal Government and ensure that we have the same understanding with the community and work with the communities and yes they would work through my department.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Yes if there’s a need in the community, they would have to do a study first as I heard, through their department.
I think it was last year; there was a feasibility study done in the community in the month of August.
There were some officials in the community.
What were they planning or have you seen that project regarding that study?
The members had asked about the breakwater projects in the communities and if it could be made a priority for the members.
The breakwater projects, we haven’t really been dealing with this project.
The previous government had this initiative and it was not their priority as well.
Because of that, the breakwaters, in these communities, are to better serve the sealift season.
These breakwaters are not specifically built for the hunters.
With that, when Nunavut came to be and when I became Minister, I was asked by the members to find out what the needs were for these breakwaters.
So, I had asked the officials to go into the communities and find out what they’re asking for exactly about these breakwaters.
What we do know now, is that these communities are not happy with their breakwaters because they weren’t geared for the benefit of hunters.
Mr. Speaker, in some of the communities these breakwaters are actually a safety issue and there are dangerous issues in some of the communities as a result of these breakwaters.
These were only constructed for these ships to dock and the idea has changed whereas, we want to construct these breakwaters to benefit hunters and that is why there was a study.
The Federal Government funding is geared towards these breakwaters and we have began working closer with the communities to ensure their needs are met.
There were some funding issues in there that we had to deal with on that matter.
Question 474 – 1(6): Homeownership Impacts
My question is to the Minister of the Housing Corporation.
I was glad that he was getting quite emotional yesterday.
I just want to get the facts straight here.