Nunavut Canada

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF

3rd Session 4th Assembly

HANSARD

Official Report

DAY 6

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Pages 257 – 311

Iqaluit

Speaker: The Honourable George Qulaut, M.L.A.

Legislative Assembly of Nunavut

Speaker Hon. George Qulaut (Amittuq) Tony Akoak Hon. George Kuksuk Allan Rumbolt () ( North-Whale Cove) (Hudson Bay) Deputy Chair, Committee of Minister of Culture and Heritage; Minister of the Whole Languages; Minister responsible for the Nunavut Alexander Sammurtok Housing Corporation ( South) Pat Angnakak (-Niaqunnguu) Steve Mapsalak Tom Sammurtok (Aivilik) (Rankin Inlet North- Hon. Monica Ell- Chesterfield Inlet) Kanayuk Hon. Johnny Mike (Iqaluit-Manirajak) () Joe Savikataaq Deputy Premier; Minister of Minister of Community and Government Services; (Arviat South) Economic Development and Minister of Environment Isaac Shooyook

Transportation; Minister of (Quttiktuq) Simeon Mikkungwak Energy (Baker Lake) Hon. Peter Taptuna Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole Joe Enook ()

(Tununiq) Premier; Minister of Executive Hon. Paul Okalik Deputy Speaker and Chair of and Intergovernmental Affairs; the Committee of the Whole (Iqaluit-Sinaa) Minister of Health; Minister of Justice; Minister Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs; Minister George Hickes responsible for Labour; Minister responsible for responsible for the Utility Rates (Iqaluit-Tasiluk) Immigration; Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention Review Council David Joanasie Hon. Keith Peterson (South Baffin) () Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk Minister of Finance, Chair of the Financial (Netsilik) Pauloosie Keyootak Management Board; Minister responsible for the Qulliq Minister of Family Services; (Uqqummiut) Energy Corporation; Minister responsible for the Minister responsible for Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission Homelessness; Minister responsible for the Status of Hon. Paul Quassa Women (Aggu) Government House Leader; Minister of Education; Minister responsible for Officers Clerk John Quirke

Deputy Clerk Clerk Assistant Law Clerk Sergeant-at-Arms Hansard Production Nancy Tupik Stephen Innuksuk Michael Chandler Simanek Kilabuk Innirvik Support Services

Box 1200 Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0 Tel (867) 975-5000 Fax (867) 975-5190 Toll-Free (877) 334-7266 Website: www.assembly.nu.ca

Table of Contents

Opening Prayer ...... 257

Ministers’ Statements ...... 257

Members’ Statements ...... 259

Returns to Oral Questions ...... 265

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery ...... 265

Oral Questions ...... 265

Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters* ...... 280

Tabling of Documents ...... 281

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters ...... 281

Report of the Committee of the Whole ...... 310

Orders of the Day ...... 310

A. Daily References

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 ...... 257

B. Ministers’ Statements

017 – 4(3): EU Seal Hunting Ban Exemption (Mike) ...... 257

018 – 4(3): Nunavut Students Participate in the Student Vote Program (Quassa) ...... 258

019 – 4(3): Nunavut Arctic College Releases New Dictionary (Quassa) ...... 258

C. Members’ Statements

054 – 4(3): 2015 High School Graduates from Constituency (Mapsalak) ...... 259

055 – 4(3): Office Space Deficit in (Rumbolt) ...... 260

056 – 4(3): Suicide Crisis in Nunavut (Joanasie) ...... 261

057 – 4(3): QIA’s 40th Anniversary (Mike) ...... 262

058 – 4(3): Appreciation for Compassion Following Summer Tragedy (Enook) ...... 262

059 – 4(3): The Netsilik Series (Ugyuk) ...... 264

060 – 4(3): Appreciation of Nephew and Mr. Mapsalak (Okalik) ...... 264

D. Returns to Oral Questions

Return to Oral Question 016 – 4(3): Decentralized Positions in (Ell-Kanayuk) ...... 265

E. Oral Questions

064 – 4(3): Motor Vehicles (Mikkungwak) ...... 265

065 – 4(3): Baffin Island Caribou Survey (Enook) ...... 267

066 – 4(3): Local Housing Organization’s Operations (Mapsalak) ...... 268

067 – 4(3): Western Hudson Bay’s Polar Bear Harvest (Savikataaq) ...... 269

068 – 4(3): Office Space Deficit in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt) ...... 270

069 – 4(3): Land Availability for Housing in Iqaluit (Hickes) ...... 272

070 – 4(3): Breakfast Programs for Nunavut’s School Children (Angnakak) ...... 274

071 – 4(3): Counselling Services for (Shooyook) ...... 275

072 – 4(3): Suicide Crisis in Nunavut (Joanasie) ...... 276

073 – 4(3): Status of New Building Canada Fund (Sammurtok, A) ...... 278

074 – 4(3): Local Housing Organization’s Operations (Mapsalak) ...... 279

F. Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters

Committee Report 001 – 4(3): Bill 4, Write-off of Assets Act (Savikataaq) ...... 280

Committee Report 002 – 4(3): Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Safety Act (Savikataaq) ...... 280

G. Tabling of Documents

019 – 4(3): Schedule for the Student Loan Fund March 31, 2014 (Ugyuk) ...... 281

020 – 4(3): Schedule for the Student Loan Fund March 31, 2015 (Ugyuk) ...... 281

H. Bills

Bill 03 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2016-2017 – Community and Government Services –

Consideration in Committee ...... 281

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 257

Iqaluit, Nunavut Mr. Speaker, I’ll be making an Tuesday, October 27, 2015 announcement on the European Union Members Present: seal hunting ban exemption. Mr. Tony Akoak, Ms. Pat Angnakak, Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk, Mr. Joe Mr. Speaker, in July of this year, the Enook, Mr. George Hickes, Mr. David European Union formally approved the Joanasie, Mr. Pauloosie Keyootak, Hon. Government of Nunavut’s application to George Kuksuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, become a recognized body under the Hon. Johnny Mike, Mr. Simeon indigenous communities’ exemption of Mikkungwak, Hon. Paul Okalik, Hon. the European Union seal regime. Keith Peterson, Hon. Paul Quassa, Hon. George Qulaut, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. (interpretation ends) This means that the Alexander Sammurtok, Mr. Tom Government of Nunavut will be able to Sammurtok, Mr. Joe Savikataaq, Mr. certify that sealskins were harvested Isaac Shooyook, Hon. Peter Taptuna, according to the rules of the exemption, Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk. and this will allow Nunavut harvesters to once again sell their sealskins and >>House commenced at 13:30 sealskin products in the European market. Item 1: Opening Prayer (interpretation) Shortly after our Speaker (Hon. George Qulaut) application was approved, the European (interpretation): Can you say the opening Union changed the rules relating to this prayer, please, Ms. Ugyuk. exemption. I am pleased to say that thanks to some hard work, we have been >>Prayer able to meet these new rules and retain our exemption. Speaker (interpretation): Good afternoon, my fellow Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, this is Members, ministers, and (interpretation an important step towards the ends) Premier, (interpretation) welcome. recognition of sealing as a way of life for and my department will continue to Going to the first item in the orders of work to ensure that Nunavut the day. Item 2. Ministers’ Statements. communities benefit in a tangible way (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister from this positive development by of Environment, Mr. Mike. continuing to promote the recovery of international seal markets. Item 2: Ministers’ Statements (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, this Minister’s Statement 017 – 4(3): EU welcome news is the result of close Seal Hunting Ban Exemption cooperation between my department, (Mike) Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and other Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): sealing stakeholders, and I would like to Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day, conclude by expressing my gratitude to Nunavummiut as well as my family and all those involved in helping to achieve residents of Pangnirtung. this important recognition for Nunavut’s

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 258 sealing industry. Thank you, Mr. candidates. Student voting results were Speaker. not released until the federal election was over. >>Applause Mr. Speaker, both schools received Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. educational resources, posters, riding Ministers’ Statements. Minister of maps, ballots, and ballot boxes free of Education, Mr. Quassa. charge. Students researched the different party platforms online and discussed the Minister’s Statement 018 – 4(3): issues the candidates were focusing on. Nunavut Students Participate in the Student Vote Program (interpretation ends) Students in grades (Quassa) 10 through 12 at Netsilik School drafted Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): questions they wanted to be answered by Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day to the Nunavut candidates. Their questions my fellow community residents, my focused on housing, food security, colleagues, and the people of Nunavut. employment, and infrastructure. They submitted their questions to CBC North Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak to my and some of these questions were asked fellow members about an excellent at the Nunavut all-candidates debate in learning opportunity that was available Iqaluit on Tuesday, October 13. to Nunavut students because of the federal election. Many schools held (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I am mock elections to help students learn pleased that Nunavut youth were able to about the election process. engage in the political process. Their engagement is important because they High school students from Netsilik are our future leaders. I ask members to School in and John congratulate the students at these two Arnalukjuak School in Arviat took part high schools. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. in the Student Vote program. >>Applause (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, Student Vote is a national program Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. delivered by Elections Canada and Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation CIVIX, Canada’s leading civic ends) The Hon. [Minister] responsible education organization that works to for Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Quassa. build the skills and habits of citizenship among young . Minister’s Statement 019 – 4(3): Nunavut Arctic College Releases (interpretation) In the Student Vote New Dictionary (Quassa) program, Netsilik School and John Arnalukjuak School held elections Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): parallel to the 2015 federal election. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with Students learned about the electoral excitement that I announce the release of process, engaged in the campaign, and Nunavut Arctic College’s latest cast ballots for the official Nunavut publication,

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 259

Uqauhiitigut Uqauhiliurut, Dictionary of possible through the collaboration of Utkuhiksalingmiut Postbase Nunavummiut and southern scholars. Suffixes. (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, this book is This book was authored by Dr. Jean one example of many new and exciting Briggs of Memorial University, along projects of Nunavut Arctic College’s with linguists Dr. Alana Johns of new publishing division, and it is University of Toronto, and Conor Cook available for purchase at Arctic Ventures of Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit. Marketplace and online at amazon.ca. I encourage both northern and southern (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, readers to continue preserving and beginning in 1963, at Chantrey Inlet, in promoting through our an effort to learn the Utkuhiksalingmiut language and the joys of reading. I will dialect, Dr. Briggs began recording all be recognizing an individual at the the words she heard spoken around her appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. as she lived as the adopted daughter of a Speaker. camp family. Many linguists took great interest in Dr. Briggs’ work as the >>Applause central arctic dialect she was recording was largely unknown to the world. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Ministers’ Statements. I have no more After the Utkuhiksalingmiut moved to names on my list. We will move on. the multi-dialectical town of Gjoa Item 3. Members’ Statements. Member Haven, they expressed strong interest in for Aivilik, Mr. Steve Mapsalak. having a dictionary of their dialect. They feared Utkuhiksalingmiutitut was being Item 3: Members’ Statements lost or greatly changed through contact with other Inuktitut dialects and with Member’s Statement 054 – 4(3): 2015 English. High School Graduates from Constituency (Mapsalak) (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, this Nunavut Arctic College publication Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank represents Dr. Briggs’ 50 years of you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good day” to dedication to the preservation of the people of , , Utkuhiksalingmiutitut. This book is also and Nunavut. an expression of Dr. Briggs’ gratitude to the Utkuhiksalingmiut who assisted her Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate five decades of work. the people of Coral Harbour and Naujaat students who graduated grade 12. I will (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I mention the names of the graduates for would like to extend my sincere thanks Coral Harbour. The graduating students to Dr. Briggs, Dr. Alana Johns, and are: Conor Cook for their persistence, detail, and dedication to Inuktitut. This book is Victoria Ell, an example of the important work that is Cianna Ell, Gail Angootialuk,

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 260

Lenny Emiktowt, was intended to be a closet or storage Devon Bruce, space in the building. Richard Netser, Kathy Ottoqi, Mr. Speaker, I have been raising this William Nakoolak, and issue in the House for several years now Katelyn Kalai. and on a number of occasions I was told that the government would not address From Naujaat, the graduates are: the situation in Sanikiluaq until it had completed a Nunavut-wide office space Roxanne Siusangnark, study. Katelyn Siusangnark, Melissa Siusangnark, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Community Anita Kopak, and from Hall Beach is a and Government Services has recently student who went to finish his studies in given me a copy of his department’s Naujaat, Jeremiah Qanatsiaq. office space needs assessment study. I recognize that the lack of office space is Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues an issue for numerous communities in to congratulate these graduates and they the territory and I believe that the have more opportunities to further their conclusions of this study would be of education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. interest to all Nunavummiut.

>>Applause My concern, however, is that in the time that it took to undertake and complete Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. this study, employees in my community Members’ Statements. Member for have continued to work in overcrowded Hudson Bay, Mr. Rumbolt. and inadequate office spaces.

Member’s Statement 055 – 4(3): Mr. Speaker, if the government expects Office Space Deficit in Sanikiluaq employees to carry out their duties to the (Rumbolt) fullest extent possible, then the Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. government must provide an Good afternoon to the people of environment that facilitates professional Nunavut. excellence. Mr. Speaker, from my initial review of Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a the document, the conclusions of this longstanding issue that continues to study echo the very issues that I have affect the residents of my community. been raising for the past several years, namely, that there is a concerning lack of As I have stated previously in the House, office space for government employees government employees in Sanikiluaq in Sanikiluaq. Mr. Speaker, I strongly continue to work in inadequate encourage the government to find a way conditions. Staff at Sanikiluaq’s health to address this issue in as soon as centre continue to work in overcrowded possible. conditions and an employee in another facility is actually working out of what

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 261

At the appropriate time today, I will are hurting others. As I stand here today, have questions on this issue. Thank you, I want to remember and express my hurt Mr. Speaker. from people that left us all too early.

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for Members’ Statements. Member for unanimous consent to conclude my South Baffin, Mr. Joanasie. statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member’s Statement 056 – 4(3): Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Suicide Crisis in Nunavut (interpretation ends) The member is (Joanasie) seeking unanimous consent to conclude Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank his statement. Are there any nays? you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good day” to (interpretation) I didn’t hear any nays. the people of Cape Dorset and Mr. Joanasie, please proceed. as well as all Nunavummiut. Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank Mr. Speaker, I rise today to formally you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my applaud Premier Peter Taptuna, Minister colleagues. Paul Okalik and their cabinet colleagues for designating suicide as a crisis in We must stop hurting ourselves. I want Nunavut. to remember and express my hurt from people that left us all too early. It hurt Mr. Speaker, I commend Minister me to see my friends, classmates, and Okalik who is the first Minister people I care about cut their lives short. responsible for Suicide Prevention and for speaking from his personal Mr. Speaker, I believe that we must not experiences. bottle up our emotions any longer. By sharing our stories and asking questions, Mr. Speaker, I believe this we can counsel ourselves, our families, announcement is a step in the right and our friends. Talking about the issue direction in dealing with the issue head- of suicide openly can help us reach some on. I encourage my colleagues and other level of peace and develop solutions. leaders to continue pressing for ways to improve the quality of life of Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I Nunavummiut and to provide more will have some questions for the options to choose life and to deal with Minister responsible for Suicide challenging situations. Prevention. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that there is Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. political will to challenge Nunavut’s Members’ Statements. Member for suicide issue and I hope that, Pangnirtung, Mr. Mike. collectively, we can reduce its impact and effectively support the cause.

Mr. Speaker, we must stop hurting ourselves. When we hurt ourselves, we

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 262

Member’s Statement 057 – 4(3): Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): QIA’s 40th Anniversary (Mike) Thank you, my colleagues.

Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): At that time, it was around 1988-92 for Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you and the South Baffin communities of good day to my fellow residents of , Pangnirtung, Iqaluit, Pangnirtung. Kimmirut, and Cape Dorset. Some of the negotiators have passed on and some are Yesterday, the still here. We had land identification indicated that the Qikiqtani Inuit negotiating teams in all communities. Association celebrated their 40th anniversary, which I am very proud of. I We have to recognize Inuusiq Nashalik would like to remember and celebrate especially, to be well taken care of, and the community negotiators. I was to be recognized by the Qikiqtani Inuit involved in that celebration. Association. I rise today to recognize this individual while he is still here. At that time, there were four of us from Pangnirtung with CLINT (community I would like to make sure that other land identification negotiating team). elders are also recognized for their The late Jaypeetee Akpalialuk, contributions. Those are some of the few representing the wildlife division, was individuals from South Baffin who one of the negotiators with the Baffin participated in identifying the lands and Regional Inuit Association, along with negotiating. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. the late Norman Komoartuk, representing the elders was Inuusiq >>Applause Nashalik, who is now 97 years old, and I was representing the hamlet council. We Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. were part of the land identification Members’ Statements. Member for negotiating team. Tununiq, Mr. Enook.

Each community had teams in the Baffin Member’s Statement 058 – 4(3): region and it was spearheaded by Appreciation for Compassion Pauloosie Keyootak He was of Following Summer Tragedy tremendous help when we were (Enook) identifying the lands for the South Baffin Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, communities. Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon to the people of Pond Inlet and to my daughter. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent Mr. Speaker, I was informed by one of to conclude my statement. the Pond Inlet residents about my pannikallak, Nina Kautuq. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is Mr. Speaker, as Nunavummiut and seeking unanimous consent to conclude members know, on August 16 this his statement. (interpretation) Are there summer, there was a tragic accident this any nays? I didn’t hear any nays. Please summer. There was a fire and there were proceed, Mr. Mike. four deaths at that time. This is

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 263 something that was very hard for the At that time, there was a tourism boat people of Pond Inlet and we were with doctors who were able to help the hurting at that time. victims.

I have been told and would like to say Also, the people of Pond Inlet kept the “thank you” on behalf of the family, the victims’ home clean and brought food. A mother especially, Nina Kautuq. There lot of people went there to show their are many individuals we have to be condolences and there were people who grateful for. There are so many to name, were there to give support to the family. but she indicated that the entire world knows about the hospitality of Mr. Speaker, at the time of the accident, Canadians. It was shown there at the they had to be medevaced out of the time of the tragic accident. territory to various hospitals and the evacuees needed medical escorts. There The people of Nunavut also indicated had to be quite a large number as they their willingness to help their fellow were six victims that were evacuated and Nunavummiut. Nunavummiut have they each needed an escort. Because always shown their support during everything like airfares, meals, and difficult times. There are many people to accommodations cost money, the thank and I would like to begin with the Department of Health was there to help people of Pond Inlet, and “thank you” and also made sure that the immediate will always be too little. family members stayed in one place in Winnipeg and in Ottawa. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my The people of Nunavut also made a huge statement. contribution to individuals they didn’t know so that the victims and their Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. families were able to stay together in The member is seeking unanimous Winnipeg and in Ottawa. We would consent to conclude his statement. Are especially like to thank the following there any nays? I didn’t hear any nays. who made financial contributions: Mr. Enook, please proceed. people of Clyde River, Kimmirut, Pangnirtung, Iqaluit, and Kuujjuaq in Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Nunavik. Also, there is an individual, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, my colleagues. Ocean Umphrey, from Prince George, who fundraised for the victims and their The people of Pond Inlet show their families. gratitude, but the word “thank you” will always be too little. I indicated earlier that Canadians are known for their hospitality. The father of Also, the staff at the nursing station, the the family was a huge Edmonton Oilers nurses and staff also worked very hard fan. Because this made national news, on the accident victims. The search and the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club made rescue operations also lent their a contribution to help the victims and tremendous support and did all they their families. Canadians are still very could to help the victims of the accident. well known for their hospitality.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 264

My panikallak, Nina Kautuq, her family pretending to be a seal and harpooned a and her mother, Regilee Ootook, as well seal at a breathing hole, running after it. as her extended family would like to I want his relatives to hear this. Thank extend their appreciation to you, your you, Mr. Speaker. communities, to the people of Nunavut, and to all Canadians. Thank you, Mr. >>Applause Speaker. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. >>Applause Members’ Statements. Member for Iqaluit-Sinaa, Mr. Okalik. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Members’ Statements. Member for Member’s Statement 060 – 4(3): Netsilik, Ms. Ugyuk. Appreciation of Nephew and Mr. Mapsalak (Okalik) Member’s Statement 059 – 4(3): The Netsilik Series (Ugyuk) Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): summer, it was beautiful in Nunavut. My Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We feel the son has moved here now and he went Member for Tununiq’s statement. We caribou hunting. Since there is not much appreciate that too. caribou around here and my nephew lives in Rankin Inlet, he went there and We were told to wear sealskin today. I caught his first caribou. I was so proud am grateful for representing the people of him and I appreciate my nephew, of Netsilik. Norman, for letting him catch his first caribou. The Netsilingmiut from , Itimanniaq and Paniaq and their adopted Later on, I wanted to watch him catch child, had been filmed and many people his next caribou. I was with him in still watch those films today. I am proud Naujaat and we went out with Mr. of them because they’re teaching Inuit Mapsalak and his son. When Mr. customs, even though they’re not there Mapsalak found a bull caribou, it was anymore. They are showing my son’s birthday and he caught his first Netsilingmiut traditions on how to hunt, bull caribou. I thank the Mapsalaks very go camping, cultural practices, and they much for taking us out. Thank you, Mr. are showing their culture in film. We the Speaker. young ones have forgotten such things and we can watch those films now. I >>Applause appreciate that. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. They have descendants in Kugaaruk and Members’ Statements. I have no more I am proud of you for them having been names on my list. We will move on. filmed. They were filmed a long time Item 4. Returns to Oral Questions. ago. I wanted to show my appreciation (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister today as we are wearing sealskin. In the Monica Ell-Kanayuk. film, in the spring, Itimanniaq was

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 265

Item 4: Returns to Oral Questions College. Thank you. Conor Cook is from Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit. Return to Oral Question 016 – 4(3): These two were involved in putting Decentralized Positions in Pond together the publication I showed earlier, Inlet (Ell-Kanayuk) Utkuhiksalingmiut Uqauhiitigut Uqauhiliurut, Dictionary of Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk Utkuhiksalingmiut Inuktitut Postbase (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Suffixes. That’s the publication from Speaker. This is a return to an oral those people. I would like you to question that was asked by Joe Enook, recognize these individuals and I thank MLA for Tununiq, to me on October 21, them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 2015. >>Applause The question was: Speaker: Welcome to the gallery. This past summer, one of the positions (interpretation) Recognition of Visitors advertised in the newspapers was for a in the Gallery. Moving on. Item 6. Oral transportation programs officer, which Questions. Member for Baker Lake, Mr. opened and closed this summer. It’s Simeon Mikkungwak. based in Pond Inlet. The question I have about it is: what’s new with that Item 6: Oral Questions position? Has it been filled? Question 064 – 4(3): Motor Vehicles The answer is: (Mikkungwak) Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): The Transportation Programs Officer Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My (TPO) position was advertised from June questions are for the Minister of 19, 2015 to July 3, 2015. The candidates Economic Development and were screened and job interviews were Transportation. conducted. Although the position has not been filled, an offer has been made and (interpretation ends) As the minister is we expect it to be filled in the coming aware, concerns have been raised in weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Baker Lake on a number of occasions regarding the lack of a full-time Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. employee to deliver motor vehicles Item 5. Recognition of Visitors in the services in the community, including Gallery. Member for Aggu, Mr. Quassa. driver examinations and issuing of licences. Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery In June of this year, the minister informed me by way of correspondence Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): that these services would be provided by Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to the community’s government liaison recognize with my colleagues, Sean officer with support from the Guistini. Is he here? He is the manager Department of ED&T’s regional office of resource development at Arctic in Rankin Inlet.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 266

Can the minister tell me today if her Transportation, Ms. Ell-Kanayuk. department has any plans to hire a full- time employee in Baker Lake to provide Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk motor vehicles services to the (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. community and, if not, why not? Thank Speaker. I thank you for that question. you, Mr. Speaker. My staff travel to the communities when they are invited. To date, we have tried Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. to see how to improve the issuance of (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister driver’s licences. We have seen now that of Economic Development and we need more examiners in Nunavut. Transportation, Ms. Monica Ell- Therefore, we have decided that we need Kanayuk. an examiner in Iqaluit. We want to hear from everybody on how we can make Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk improvements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. question. The issuance of driver’s Your final supplementary, Mr. licences is, in many of the communities, Mikkungwak. handled by the government liaison officers. In Baker Lake, they have a Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): GLO who is quite capable of issuing Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I driver’s licences. Thank you, Mr. also thank the minister for her response. Speaker. (interpretation ends) It is my understanding that the government is Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. considering introducing a ban on Your first supplementary, Mr. “distracted driving,” which would Mikkungwak. prohibit the use of cellphones or other devices when operating a motor vehicle. Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Does the government envision this ban Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. being enforced by GN employees or (interpretation ends) It is my municipal by-law authorities? Thank understanding that the Department of you, Mr. Speaker. Economic Development and Transportation made a presentation to Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. the Nunavut Association of Minister of Economic Development and Municipalities at its recent annual Transportation, Ms. Ell-Kanayuk. general meeting in Cambridge Bay. Can the minister indicate what changes she is Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk planning to make to the Motor Vehicles (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Act and when she is planning to Speaker. I also thank the member for introduce them in the Legislative that question. We’re still working on the Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Motor Vehicles Act and how exactly it’s going to be set up, and who is going to Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. be responsible for what. If I try to Minister of Economic Development and respond, it would be too soon. Some people who drive vehicles these days

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 267 who are distracted will be included in Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. what we are working on. Thank you, Mr. Your first supplementary, Mr. Enook. Speaker. Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Speaker. If the survey is done for a Oral Questions. Member for Tununiq, month, what area is being surveyed? If Mr. Enook. he can further clarify, how are they doing the survey? Thank you, Mr. Question 065 – 4(3): Baffin Island Speaker. Caribou Survey (Enook) Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Minister of Environment, Mr. Mike. Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Environment. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They’re Mr. Speaker, at yesterday’s sitting, I surveying Baffin Island in the caribou asked about caribou and the ban on moratorium area. That’s how it is. The caribou harvesting, and whether we islands are included in the survey. The would be able to harvest caribou. I areas that were surveyed last year would like to get further information included the islands. I mean the bigger today. islands south of Hall Beach. They are part of the Baffin Island caribou I will first ask the Minister of moratorium area. Thank you, Mr. Environment. He said that they are doing Speaker. a survey right now. How long is this survey going to be conducted and where Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. are they doing the survey? It’s probably Your final supplementary, Mr. Enook. on Baffin Island, but which part of Baffin Island? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me base my question Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. on this: on August 25, the Department of (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister Environment’s document states that the of Environment, Mr. Mike. survey is going to be studying to see how many females, calves, and males Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): there are. If I understand correctly, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my that’s what they’re going to be counting colleague for the question. The survey and that the survey will be completed in started last month. I have no information the fall. We call fall different things. on whether it’s completed by now, but I What do you mean by fall? After they can state that this was set up as a are completed in the fall, will the results summer survey. I would just like to note of the study be announced? Thank you, that the first survey that was done in the Mr. Speaker. middle of winter was conducted for a whole month. That’s how long I expect Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. the survey to take. Thank you, Mr. Minister of Environment, Mr. Mike. Speaker.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 268

Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): you, Mr. Speaker. Has the minister ever Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The results of seen or known of a housing association the survey which are being done right that has been dealt with by the Nunavut now will be given to the Nunavut Housing Corporation and not the locally Wildlife Management Board in elected housing association to hire December of 2015. That’s what we managers themselves? Do you know of normally do and that’s what we are an instance in which the Nunavut planning to do in December of 2015. Housing Corporation hires the manager Thank you, Mr. Speaker. for the local housing association?

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Oral Questions. Member for Aivilik, Mr. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Steve Mapsalak. Housing Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk.

Question 066 – 4(3): Local Housing Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Organization’s Operations Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I (Mapsalak) again thank the member for that Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank question. Mr. Speaker, I can respond by you, Mr. Speaker. I will direct my saying that the Nunavut Housing question to the Minister responsible for Corporation helps when they get a the Housing Corporation. request for help from the local housing associations. We use our office to help Mr. Speaker, I would first like to ask a the local housing association and we can question about housing associations. The provide the support that way. Thank you, boards are elected by the communities. Mr. Speaker. When they are looking for a manager, who is responsible for that? That is my Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. first question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your final supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank responsible for the Nunavut Housing you, Mr. Speaker. Even though that’s the Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk. way things work, local housing association boards are supposed to hire Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): their own managers that will work for Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I them. Has it ever happened that the say “good day” to my fellow Nunavut Housing Corporation has Nunavummiut. I thank the member for appointed a manager without going that question. Mr. Speaker, it is the through the local housing association? housing associations that hire their Thank you, Mr. Speaker. managers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister Your first supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak. responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk. Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 269

Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): If you go to page 35, the minister said, Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As I “As a government, we are no longer able stated earlier, the local housing to do things on our own as to what kind associations hire their own managers and of caribou should be harvested.” Another other staff members to work in the recommendation that he has taken from housing association. That is their NWMB, he stated. Further down, responsibility under the management “However, as a government, we cannot agreement and that is what they do. make our own decisions now when it That’s how I can respond to that comes to that kind of issue.” question. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the decision that the recommendation NWMB has made to Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. the minister regarding the total allowable Oral Questions. Member for Arviat, Mr. harvest for the western Hudson Bay, he Savikataaq. seems to be making a decision, yet he has told Mr. Shooyook that he cannot Question 067 – 4(3): Western Hudson make that decision. I would like the Bay’s Polar Bear Harvest minister to state which it is. Thank you. (Savikataaq) Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Speaker. I would like to question the (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister Minister of Environment. of Environment, Mr. Mike.

I have been questioning the minister on Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): the decision of NWMB and his decisions Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke in on the total allowable harvest for polar Inuktitut yesterday and I will speak in bears in the western Hudson Bay. Inuktitut today. The English that you Yesterday, Mr. Shooyook was read is not what I said. This is what I questioning him on the total allowable was trying to say: these days when there harvest of caribou on Baffin. I believe are agreements that we have to work that his statement to me and then his with, one group, even if it is statement to Mr. Shooyook are different government, cannot do it on its own and he’s using different standards. now. When it comes to wildlife, we have to work with our wildlife partners. The I’ll quote from the Hansard and I know government can’t do it anymore on its these are not edited. This is from own because we have wildlife partners yesterday on page 34. The minister is under agreements. That’s what I was quoted, “I trust that the Nunavut trying to say. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Wildlife Management Board followed the comments or the submissions that Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. were made by other parties because they Your first supplementary, Mr. recommended that they only harvest Savikataaq. male caribou.” He said that he based his decision on the recommendation of Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. NWMB. Speaker. I thank the minister for exactly stating my point. The government has to

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 270 work with its counterparts. In the case of days when the situation is like this, the the western Hudson Bay, it’s the minister can approve or deny or make NWMB and they have made a another decision on the recommendation recommendation to the minister and the from NWMB. That is what we are going minister, I believe, is going against the through now. The Kivalliq Wildlife recommendation because he has not Board is meeting right now. We work made a decision yet, even though the closely with the Nunavut Wildlife TAH should have been out by July 1. Management Board and we talk about When is he going to come out with a the recommendations and decisions. We decision on the TAH for the western don’t always agree with each other, but Hudson Bay? Thank you. we agree most of the time. If we see polar bears in Nunavut, we see that the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. total allowable harvest has been going Minister of Environment, Mr. Mike. up a little bit. There has been no real decrease. That is my response, Mr. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Speaker. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for that question. It is Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. progressing. It is going ahead. Since I Oral Questions. Member for received the letter from the Nunavut (interpretation ends) Hudson Bay, Mr. Wildlife Management Board, it is Rumbolt. progressing forward. Right now, I have written to the chairman of NWMB about Question 068 – 4(3): Office Space this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Deficit in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your final supplementary, Mr. I would like to direct my questions to the Savikataaq. Minister of Community and Government Services. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like the minister stated, he has Mr. Speaker, I have previously raised to work with his co-management concerns in the House that the current counterparts, the NWMB. NWMB has level of office space in Sanikiluaq is made a recommendation to him. My insufficient for Government of Nunavut questions are clear and precise and very employees to carry out their duties. understandable. I would just like to ask the minister why he won’t just give me a Earlier this year, the minister provided clear, straightforward answer. Thank me a copy of his department’s office you. space needs assessment for all of Nunavut. I believe this document Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. includes important information that Minister of Environment, Mr. Mike. should be made available to the public. However, I recognize that the document Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): is 200 pages long. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With our wildlife management partners, these

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 271

Will the minister commit to tabling in study for each community? Thank you, the House a summary of the Office Mr. Speaker. Space Needs Assessment for Nunavut, including the main findings and Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. conclusions of this study for each Minister of Community and Government community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Services, Mr. Mike.

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister Thank you. Since I could see his face of Community and Government getting ready to ask a question, I tried to Services, Mr. Mike. proactively answer it.

Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Yes, once the assessment has been Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the completed and is available, his question member’s question, I can respond by of when I could table the results of the saying that government offices in assessment depends on the when the Nunavut have been assessed and we are report has been completed and reviewed. now looking at the results from the Due to this reason, when looking at the assessment. In looking at that, we will office space issues related to start making plans. I expect this will be government, I want to be understood completed by December 2015. clearly here. We are currently working on this process and once it has been The Department of Community and finalized, the assessment results once Government Services is working closely completed will come to me for with other departments to make sure that consideration as to whether I can table we have adequate office space. We are that information in the House. Thank also reviewing our lease agreements as a you, Mr. Speaker. part of this. In December of 2015, I am expecting to see the results along with a Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. decision at that time. Thank you, Mr. Your final supplementary, Mr. Rumbolt. Speaker. Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. In my community, employees are Your first supplementary, Mr. Rumbolt. required to work in unreasonable conditions. As I mentioned earlier in my Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Member’s Statement, the office for The minister must be a great mind- Sanikiluaq’s income support worker is reader. He went on and answered my placed in what was intended to be a supplementary question about what the storage area for the building and staff at government was going to do, but he Sanikiluaq’s health centre are working in failed to answer my initial question. I’ll overcrowded conditions. ask my initial question again: will the minister commit to tabling in the House Mr. Speaker, the government must a summary of the Office Space Needs ensure that it provides employees with Assessment for Nunavut, including the adequate space to carry out their duties, main findings and conclusions of the

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 272 especially as its workforce continues to We recently completed the capital grow. budget for the Nunavut Housing Corporation. In one of the documents Can the minister indicate if he is willing that were provided, in the background to consider entering into long-term lease around NHC’s housing allocation agreements with companies that are system, it makes a statement on the last willing to construct facilities and lease page that states, “If your community is office space back to the Government of in the greatest core need at the time of Nunavut? If the government is not allocation, then it will receive housing willing to enter into such agreements, construction.” please explain why. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the course of the minister being at the witness [table] with Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. his officials, we talked about the land (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister unavailability in certain communities of Community and Government across this territory. My initial question Services, Mr. Mike. to the minister would be: what communications have CGS and the City Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): of Iqaluit had to address the ongoing Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For that reason, situation of land availability? Thank you, in regard to the office implementation Mr. Speaker. plan, we are trying to work on the office space issue. We want to know which Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. communities are in most need of office (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister space and they will be a priority. We of Community and Government need to get the results from the Services, Mr. Mike. assessment first, but I can say that in those places where there is a shortage of Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): office space, they will be our priority Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The City of during the decision stage. Thank you, Iqaluit is different; the operation is Mr. Speaker. different in regard to land management. I cannot respond to the member’s question Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. at this time and I’ll have to review it, and Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit- I am sorry. Thank you. Tasiluk, Mr. Hickes. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Question 069 – 4(3): Land Availability Your first supplementary, Mr. Hickes. for Housing in Iqaluit (Hickes) Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This land availability issue has been Minister Mike might feel he’s on the hot going on for a number of years. In that seat today, but I also have a question for same document, there’s a chart that him under the Community and shows the waitlist as a percent of stock, Government Services portfolio he holds. pre-allocation of a number of investments into our housing portfolio, and from the number I see, Iqaluit was at

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 273 about 54 percent of stock, now it’s at 72 ongoing basis of availability for percent after literally hundreds of developing much needed housing, and I millions of dollars have been invested in realize that the City of Iqaluit does have this territory for housing. a slightly different funding process and that Community and Government I find it very hard to believe that this Services provides it. Another example is land availability issue has just arisen in my colleague from Pond Inlet. They’re the very recent past. There have been currently also well over 50 percent at 60 some discussions of the delay of the percent of the waitlist as a percentage of Road to Nowhere subdivision, and there stock. has been some speculation that the city deficit is contributing to the delay of the I find it hard to believe, as the Minister ongoing subdivision in that area. of Housing has stated that it’s such a crucial need, that there hasn’t some Would the minister be able to provide dialogue, whether it be at the cabinet the viewing audience what options are table, a ministerial discussion, or from being considered to access more land the community, from the hamlets’ here in the city of Iqaluit? Thank you, offices or from the City of Iqaluit. I Mr. Speaker. would like to get an answer on where this is on the priority list of Community Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. and Government Services to deal with Minister of Community and Government this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Services, Mr. Mike. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Minister of Community and Government Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Iqaluit is Services, Mr. Mike. a bit different, as always, from other communities because it has city status. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): The city status gives more discretion to Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to operate or deal with the land parcels. I having discussions together, as I stated can tell you that in Nunavut, when we before, Iqaluit is slightly different in the deal with land lots, our lands division way they deal with land. As I stated works with them. With respect to Iqaluit, before, I will look into it and then I will since I became the Minister of be able to provide a response. For land Community and Government Services, I selection, if there’s a land issue with have rarely heard about the land issue. I other departments, I am willing to work will look into that and once I have done with the cabinet. that, I will be able to provide that information to the member, as I stated I haven’t heard from the minister in before. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. regard to the status of Iqaluit. I haven’t heard from the Nunavut Housing Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Corporation in regard to the land. That’s Your final supplementary, Mr. Hickes. why I said that I will look into this first and I will consult with them. I know that Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. they discussed this topic through the This has been such a crucial need on an news media in Iqaluit and that’s all I

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 274 have heard so far through the media have a nutrition policy, including the about the land development issue. As I national guidelines. We will be stated before, I will look into it and I will following the national guidelines provide some information. Thank you, because they were just recently released. Mr. Speaker. Also, it’s evident that breakfast Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. programs are very beneficial for Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit- students’ learning. In the Qanukkanniq Niaqunnguu, Ms. Angnakak. report card, it was No. 26 in the recommendations under food and snack Question 070 – 4(3): Breakfast programs. We will try and follow that Programs for Nunavut’s School recommendation from the Qanukkanniq Children (Angnakak) report card.

Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. I can say that through the Department of Speaker. I would like to direct my Health’s (interpretation ends) Breakfast question to the Minister of Education. I Program Enhancement Project, would like to talk about something that’s (interpretation) $5,000 is provided. They near and dear to me. pay for everything else. As I stated before, we have to abide by the national Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I was very guidelines which were recently pleased that the Department of announced and the Government of Education provided additional funding to Nunavut’s nutrition guidelines are also schools across Nunavut to provide used. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. breakfast programs for its students. As we all know, being tired and hungry is Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. not the best recipe for learning and Your first supplementary, Ms. succeeding. Angnakak.

Mr. Speaker, can the minister provide an Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. update on his department’s long-term Speaker. I thank the minister for his strategy to address hunger and food good response. Mr. Speaker, in some insecurity for school-aged children? schools, parents and even students Thank you, Mr. Speaker. volunteer to run breakfast programs. In other schools, teachers volunteer to run Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. such programs, but in some schools, Minister of Education, Mr. Quassa. teachers are directed by the principal. Can the minister clarify what his Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): departmental policies are when it comes Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my to working to provide school breakfast colleague for that question. I agree with programs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. the member. Yes, our students need to be fed properly so that they can learn Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. and succeed. As I stated before, to date, I (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister can state that the Department of Health of Education, Mr. Quassa. has provided support to us and we now

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 275

Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): have to have a good breakfast in order to Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Parents of enhance your performance. It’s the same students and teachers volunteer to help with the students. with the breakfast program and we do look for individuals in the communities Again, we would like to thank the to volunteer. The teachers have to teach. Department of Health, who supports the They’re not nutritionists or breakfast Department of Education on this subject. providers. For that reason, we get Thank you, Mr. Speaker. parents and other community members to volunteer. Teachers have to provide Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. instruction to students and it’s up to Oral Questions. Member for Quttiktuq, community members to volunteer. We Mr. Shooyook. thank them very much for doing their part in volunteering to provide the Question 071 – 4(3): Counselling breakfast programs. We do thank the Services for Grise Fiord teachers for providing instruction and for (Shooyook) volunteering with the breakfast Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank programs, but the teachers are there to you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct teach. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. my question to the Minister of Health.

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the community of Grise Your final supplementary, Ms. Fiord, which is the smallest community Angnakak. in Nunavut, has less than 150 residents. The community lacks important services Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. such as a social worker or a mental Speaker. It is quite clear that children health worker. Many years ago, there who are tired and hungry often do not was a full-time social worker who had perform well at school. Can the minister housing in the community. These days, a indicate whether his department tracks mental health worker visits the and monitors whether attendance or community for less than three months at academic performance by Nunavut a time. students is linked to the availability of breakfast programs in Nunavut schools? Can the minister clearly explain why the Thank you, Mr. Speaker. community of Grise Fiord no longer has a full-time professional to provide Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. counselling services to the community? Minister of Education, Mr. Quassa. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister started the breakfast program, we saw of Health, Mr. Okalik. that it was beneficial to students. The students tend to have better attendance Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): and academic performance when they Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to are provided with the breakfast program. be clear that mental health workers are Even if you’re going to go to work, you under our department, but social workers

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 276 are under the Department of Family Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Mr. Services, so I cannot really respond to Speaker, there are individuals in the that part of your question. From what I community of Grise Fiord who face know, the people of Resolute Bay and mental health issues and need help. To Grise Fiord share a mental health get counselling, they have to travel to worker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Iqaluit or even farther to the south. Leaving home is not good for their well- Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. being or the well-being of their families. Your first supplementary, Mr. Will the minister commit to establishing Shooyook. a full-time mental health worker in the community of Grise Fiord? Thank you, Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank Mr. Speaker. you, Mr. Speaker. When the mental health worker visits Grise Fiord, he has Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. to stay in the health centre transient (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister apartment, which is also used by visiting of Health, Mr. Okalik. professionals, such as the doctor, dentist, eye team, and social worker. There are Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): vacant houses in the community which Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mental health could be allocated to a permanent mental is something that is very important to health worker. Can the minister clarify this government. We are working on whether the lack of housing is a reason mental health issues and I’m sure that why there is no permanent mental health we will be developing more services and worker in the community of Grise Fiord? programs. I would like to have a good Thank you, Mr. Speaker. look at the issue of mental health workers, programs and services that are Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. provided. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister of Health, Mr. Okalik. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Oral Questions. Member for South Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have Baffin, Mr. Joanasie. started to provide professional services to Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord by Question 072 – 4(3): Suicide Crisis in sharing the mental health nurse. If there Nunavut (Joanasie) is a need to realign their arrangement, then we can look into it and look at the Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank options. As I indicated earlier, as the you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct Department of Health, we don’t deal my questions to the Minister responsible with the social workers, who are under a for Suicide Prevention. different department. I can respond to questions regarding mental health Mr. Speaker, as you know, the Office of workers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. the Chief Coroner for Nunavut held a public inquest on suicides in Nunavut. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. The inquest took place at the Nunavut Your final supplementary, Mr. Court of Justice this past September Shooyook. 2015.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 277

The Government of Nunavut has started (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responding to some of the responsible for Suicide Prevention, Mr. recommendations of the inquest by Okalik. designating suicide as a crisis and appointing a Minister responsible for Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Suicide Prevention. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From what I know, the Department of Health is I would first like to ask the minister: can working very hard right now. They are at the Minister responsible for Suicide the planning stage and I know that the Prevention outline his first order of other ministers are proceeding again business under this portfolio? Thank with their plans. The Minister of you, Mr. Speaker. Education is keeping us updated as to what they’re doing in their department. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Once the committee is fully in place, we Minister responsible for Suicide will be doing a review of the Prevention, Mr. Okalik. recommendations from the jury. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not going Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. to be working alone on suicide Your final supplementary, Mr. Joanasie. prevention. I will work closely with my ministerial colleagues. We have not had Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank our first meeting yet and we will make you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the sure that we keep you updated on the minister for his response. As the minister progress once we get a senior official. indicated, he cannot do it alone. I would We will have to work with all also like to recognize the Inuit Embrace government departments. Once it gets Life Council, the youth representatives underway, we will start the planning from the regional Inuit associations, the process some time very shortly. We will RCMP, the social workers, health do a review first to see what’s available professionals, and Arctic College with and take it from there. Thank you, Mr. the ASIST program. With that, can the Speaker. minister describe how Nunavummiut can participate and work with his ministry to Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. curb the suicide crisis in Nunavut? Your first supplementary, Mr. Joanasie. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister Minister responsible for Suicide for his response. Can the minister Prevention, Mr. Okalik. indicate when he expects to respond to all of the recommendations from the jury Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): that presided over the inquest into Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with suicides in Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. you wholeheartedly. I cannot do it alone. Speaker. We have to work with all entities out there. We are going to ensure that we Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. work on the recommendations directed

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 278 to our government and show our partners act on this request, yes or no? Thank we are committed to the work. Once we you, Mr. Speaker. show we are serious, it will give us more authority to persuade others to follow Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. like our counterparts at the federal level. Minister of Community and Government All levels of government should work Services, Mr. Mike. together to implement the recommendations that were made by the Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): jury during the inquest. That’s our goal Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that’s how with this program. Thank you, Mr. I can respond. Thank you. Speaker. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Your first supplementary, Mr. Oral Questions. Member for Rankin Sammurtok. Inlet, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok. Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Question 073 – 4(3): Status of New Speaker. Can the minister indicate how Building Canada Fund many formal proposals have been (Sammurtok, A) submitted to date by the Government of Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Good Nunavut to the New Building Canada day to my fellow residents of Rankin Fund? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Inlet, Nunavummiut, and my colleagues. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister Speaker. My questions are for the of Community and Government Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Mike. Services. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): I As the minister is aware, the Department cannot say exactly how many there are, of CGS worked with all of Nunavut’s but we submitted all those proposals for municipalities to develop integrated projects that will be funded through this community infrastructure sustainability fund to the government quite a while plans. ago. My officials have been informed that due to the recent election, they Two of the priorities that have been cannot identify which project is where. I identified by Rankin Inlet are can’t answer his question on exactly how improvements to the community’s solid many projects from the communities waste management and drinking water will be funded through the New Building infrastructure. Canada Fund. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In June of this year, I wrote to the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. minister and encouraged him to work Your final supplementary, Mr. with the municipality to develop an Sammurtok. appropriate proposal for submission to the federal government under the New Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Building Canada Fund. Did the minister Speaker. As the minister is aware, I

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 279 wrote to him on June 30, 2015 That being the case, they are being run concerning the issue of Rankin Inlet’s by the housing corporation and they infrastructure needs and the New can’t run themselves. Can the minister Building Canada Fund. Why has the look into why it is the case in Naujaat minister not replied to my letter? Thank that the manager was hired by the you, Mr. Speaker. housing corporation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Community and Government Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Services, Mr. Mike. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk. Thank you. We are working on this. Concerning the letter, as I indicated Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): earlier, we are waiting for indication Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I from the federal government, but the almost called you the Chairman, Mr. letter he is referring to right now, I Speaker. I also thank the member for recently dealt with that in my office. that question. Mr. Speaker, he asked the Right now, my officials are working on question earlier about how the housing the reply. It’s not that they’re not association managers conduct the working on it; they’re working on it management of the local associations. right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The local housing association uses our management (interpretation ends) Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. agreement (interpretation) which sets out Your final supplementary, Mr. the mandate for the (interpretation ends) Sammurtok. I’m sorry. Oral Questions. local association (interpretation) or if Member for Aivilik, Mr. Mapsalak. they have been converted to an (interpretation ends) authority Question 074 – 4(3): Local Housing (interpretation) that has their own legal Organization’s Operations mandate under the agreement. (Mapsalak) Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank However, with respect to the actual you, Mr. Speaker. I will direct my subject of his question, I do not have the question to the Minister responsible for information in front of me. I will have to the Housing Corporation. look into that matter and if our departmental officials have experience Mr. Speaker, as I questioned earlier, I with the subject he raised, I will request would just like clarification with my the information. In any event, I will ask question. Mr. Speaker, I have been my officials at NHC to look into that informed personally by the recent matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. chairperson of the local housing association that they have no leeway Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. whatsoever as a board of housing, and Your first supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak. that’s the reason why he resigned. Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If local housing

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 280 associations want to make decisions, dealt with. Concerning his exact they can do so because they are elected. question, even if I don’t respond to him As I stated earlier, I wanted him to look personally, I’ll have my department look into why it is being run that way in into it. Thank you very much, Mr. Naujaat. It seems like the housing Speaker. corporation is running things now. Can he get a response to me before the end of Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. this sitting? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, the time for question period has expired. Moving on to Item 7. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Written Questions. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Item 8. Returns to Written Questions. Housing Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk. Item 9. Replies to Opening Address. Item 10.Petitions. Item 11. Responses to Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Petitions. Item 12. Reports of Standing Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m and Special Committees on Bills and not sure whether I can get back to him Other Matters. Mr. Savikataaq. before the end of this sitting, but I will look into his question and I will try to Item 12: Reports of Standing and have it dealt with by my officials. Thank Special Committees on Bills and you very much, Mr. Speaker. Other Matters*

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Committee Report 001 – 4(3): Bill 4, Your final supplementary, Mr. Write-off of Assets Act Mapsalak. (Savikataaq) Committee Report 002 – 4(3): Bill 5, Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank An Act to Amend the Safety Act you, Mr. Speaker. I’m just thinking that (Savikataaq) he can respond to my question before the Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. end of the sitting even face to face, not Speaker. I wish to report that the necessarily in the Assembly. He doesn’t following bills have been reviewed by necessarily need to look into it himself; I the Standing Committee on Legislation will ask him again. Can he respond to and are ready for consideration in me, even though it’s not at the Assembly Committee of the Whole: physically, before the end of the sitting, even face to face? Thank you, Mr.  Bill 4, Write-off of Assets Act, 2014- Speaker. 2015; and

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you.  Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Safety Minister responsible for the Nunavut Act. Housing Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As I Speaker: Thank you. Bill 4 and Bill 5 said earlier, my officials at the housing will appear on the order paper for corporation are here right now and October 29. listening to this and we will try to have it

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 281

Item 13. Tabling of Documents. Hon. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms. Minister, Ms. Ugyuk. >>House recessed at 15:20 and Item 13: Tabling of Documents Committee resumed at 15:48

Tabled Document 019 – 4(3): Schedule Item 19: Consideration in Committee for the Student Loan Fund March of the Whole of Bills and Other 31, 2014 (Ugyuk) Matters

Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Chairman (Mr. Akoak): Good Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to afternoon. Welcome to the sitting. table the schedule for the Student Loan Welcome, Nunavummiut (interpretation) Fund for the year ending March 31, and those listening to the proceedings. 2014. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to call Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. the committee meeting to order. In the (interpretation ends) Tabling of Committee of the Whole we have the Documents. Hon. Minister, Ms. Ugyuk. following items to deal with: Bills 1, 2, 3, and 6 and Tabled Documents 107 – Tabled Document 020 – 4(3): Schedule 4(2) and 149 – 4(2). What is the wish of for the Student Loan Fund March the committee? Mr. Rumbolt. 31, 2015 (Ugyuk) Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Chairman. We wish to continue with Bill Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to 3 and the review of the Department of table the schedule for the Student Loan Community and Government Services, Fund for the year ending March 31, followed by the Department of 2015. Education. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Chairman: Thank you. Are we in (interpretation ends) Tabling of agreement that we first deal with the Documents. Item 14. Notices of capital estimates for Community and Motions. Item 15. Notices of Motions Government Services? for First Reading of Bills Item 16. (interpretation) Motions. (interpretation Some Members: Agreed. ends) Item 17. First Reading of Bills. Item 18. Second Reading of Bills. Item Bill 03 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 19. Consideration in Committee of the 2016-2017 – Community and Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills Government Services – 1, 2, 3, and 6 and Tabled Documents 107 Consideration in Committee – 4 (2) and 149 – 4(2) with Mr. Akoak in the Chair. Chairman: Thank you. I would now like to ask the Minister of Community Before we proceed to the Committee of and Government Services if he has the Whole, we will take a 20-minute officials that he would like to appear break. before the committee. Minister Mike.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 282

Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): In addition to assisting government Yes. departments, Community and Government Services is also responsible Chairman: Thank you. Does the for assisting all Nunavut communities in committee agree to let the minister’s the long-term planning and delivery of staff go to the witness table? capital projects. These efforts have forged strong collaborations with our Some Members: Agreed. communities and these relationships continue to strengthen day by day. Chairman: Thank you. Sergeant-at- Arms, please escort the witnesses in. (interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, the proposed capital budget for the For the record, Minister, please Department of Community and introduce your officials. Government Services in fiscal year 2016-17 is $31,852,000. This requested Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): allocation will primarily be for ongoing Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my right, initiatives and reflects our department’s my Deputy Minister, Roy Green, and my responsibility to support both GN and Assistant Deputy Minister, Darren municipal programs. Flynn, and myself, Minister Mike. Thank you. (interpretation) Our proposed capital budget for the upcoming year includes: Chairman: Thank you. Please proceed with your opening comments, Minister  $2,200,000 for capacity increases to Mike. fuel storage facilities in , Sanikiluaq, and Gjoa Haven; Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to have this  (interpretation ends) $4,750,000 for opportunity today to update committee code compliance upgrades for Baker members on the 2017-21 five-year Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, and Coral capital plan and in particular the 2016-17 Harbour fuel storage [facilities]; Capital Estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services.  $5 million for minor capital projects which will primarily be used to assist With me today are Roy Green, Deputy communities with minor Minister and Darren Flynn, Assistant infrastructure upgrades and repairs, Deputy Minister, Community Services. and for lifecycle renewal of GN owned assets; The Department of Community and Government Services has a central role  $3,400,000 as a block funding to play in the delivery of capital projects contribution to the City of Iqaluit to for the government. We provide support assist in upgrades to core municipal to all departments during the initial infrastructure; stages of project planning, design development, technical review,  (interpretation) $2 million for construction, and commissioning. upgrades to communication

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 283

technology infrastructure, funding solid waste infrastructure upgrades in that will support ongoing our communities. improvements to telecommunications for all GN (interpretation ends) Additionally, departments and municipalities; and officials within my department continue to work with Canada to implement  (interpretation ends) $14,502,000 for projects under the New Building Canada municipal infrastructure projects in Fund, which will provide $256 million various communities across the three of federal funding from 2014 to 2024. regions. (interpretation) Officials from my (interpretation) Mr. Chairman, the department met with Infrastructure infrastructure needs across the territory Canada officials on August 24, 2015 in are simply too vast to adequately address Iqaluit to determine when the in the short term with the limited capital preliminary projects submitted to funding available. (interpretation ends) Canada for consideration would be Regrettably, this is the infrastructure approved in principle by the federal reality facing our territory. It is therefore minister. (interpretation ends) CGS has paramount that scarce capital funding is been advised that the preliminary list of administered as effectively as possible to projects submitted for consideration best address the core needs of our under the New Building Canada Fund communities. will not be approved in principle until some time after the federal election. (interpretation) To ensure our approach Feds indicated the approval in principle in identifying priority projects is will not likely happen until some time in prudent, officials in my department work January 2016. very closely with municipalities, the Nunavut Community Infrastructure (interpretation) Both funding agreements Advisory Committee, and other branches provide much needed infrastructure of government to rank and prioritize investments to the territory that will help infrastructure projects. (interpretation establish a foundation of infrastructure ends) This approach allows us to address that will be resilient to the changing the most urgent and critical projects in climate of the north and produce strong the short term to support our government and prosperous communities. and our communities. (interpretation ends) Building and To assist in advancing municipal planning for sustainable infrastructure in infrastructure priorities, the department Nunavut requires cooperation between utilizes capital funds from federal the various levels of government and our infrastructure programs. (interpretation) communities. The department is The Government of Nunavut signed the committed to working with communities (interpretation ends) Canada-Nunavut to identify priorities through the Federal Gas Tax Agreement in February Integrated Community Sustainability 2014, (interpretation) which will bring a Plan. It is from these community-driven total of $143 million over a 10-year plans that CGS is able to assess the period to address water, wastewater, and

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 284 infrastructure needs and priorities across Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, the territory. 2015-2016. In his opening comments, the minister indicated that approximately (interpretation) Mr. Chairman, the 106 capital projects and $117,901,000 in development of sustainability plans is an funding were being carried over from important tool for Nunavut communities. 2015-16 to 2016-17. Members continue These plans need to be easy to use, to have concerns regarding the volume effective, durable, and adaptable. of capital carryovers. Sustainability planning will prepare our communities to support growth and Mr. Chairman, the department’s 2014-15 development, and safeguard our capital budget included $2 million to environment and our culture. complete a number of preplanning studies for various departments. At that Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I now look time, the department indicated that it forward to your questions. anticipated that funding for preplanning studies would resume in the 2016-17 Chairman: Thank you, Minister Mike. fiscal year. However, the department’s (interpretation) Does the chair of the current five-year capital plan does not committee have any comments? Mr. include any funding for preplanning Rumbolt. studies.

Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. During the minister’s appearance, Chairman, and good afternoon. Mr. members were informed that the Chairman, I am pleased to provide department is currently working to opening comments on behalf of the complete the approved preplanning Standing Committee on Community and studies and that the department will not Economic Development as the be requesting funding for new Committee of the Whole begins its preplanning projects until these studies consideration of the Department of have completed. Members look forward Community and Government Services’ to ongoing updates on the status of these proposed 2016-17 capital estimates. preplanning studies. Members note that the department’s proposed capital budget for the 2016-17 On April 7 of 2015, Infrastructure fiscal year is $31,852,000. The Canada announced that Nunavut will department’s capital budget for the receive approximately $256 million in 2015-16 fiscal year was $27.55 million. funding under the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component of the New Building Canada Fund. Members Mr. Chairman, the department’s recognize that eligible projects under operations have a significant impact on this funding will be cost-shared between the success of the Government of the federal government and the Nunavut’s overall capital planning Government of Nunavut. process. On May 5, 2015, the Minister of Finance appeared before the Committee During the minister’s recent appearance, of the Whole on the occasion of its members were informed that a number consideration of Supplementary of departments are currently in the

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 285 process of developing business cases for Mr. Chairman, the department a number of proposed capital projects previously indicated that it was which will be submitted for funding “working closely with Aboriginal under the New Building Canada Fund. Affairs and Northern Development Members were also informed that the Canada, the Nunavut Association of Department of Community and Municipal Administrators and Government Services will be providing municipalities to establish daily support to various other departments in procedures to assist communities in the development of their business cases. complying with their water licence requirements.” The department has also Mr. Chairman, the standing committee previously indicated that a “water recognizes that the Government of monitoring working group has been Nunavut is restricted from disclosing established to ensure water samples are any information on the list of projects being taken regularly and water logs are that it has submitted for funding under being filed daily.” Members continue to the New Building Canada Fund until urge stakeholders to work together to such a time as these projects receive ensure municipalities are in compliance final approval from the federal Minister with their water licences and look of Infrastructure Canada. However, the forward to receiving ongoing updates on standing committee encourages the this issue. Government of Nunavut to be as transparent as possible in how it Mr. Chairman, the department allocates territorial funding to capital previously indicated that it had hired projects that may be cost-shared with the Dalhousie University to undertake a federal government. review of wastewater facilities in Nunavut to determine if these facilities Mr. Chairman, members note that the are meeting effluent quality standards. department’s proposed 2016-17 capital During the minister’s recent appearance, estimates include $5 million in small members were informed that a final capital funding to complete various report on this review will be completed projects throughout the territory, in January of 2016 and that the including $883,000 in block funding to department will be working with the be distributed in the territory’s three federal government to explore regions, $2,867,000 for building and wastewater treatment options for the equipment upgrades, $250,000 for territory. Members look forward to vehicle replacements, and $1 million for receiving ongoing updates on the status various minor projects. During the of this report. minister’s recent appearance, members asked a number of questions related to Mr. Chairman, the department’s the government’s specific allocations proposed 2016-17 capital estimates under its small capital line items. include $1.5 million for a new project to Members encourage the minister to table upgrade solid waste sites across an annual report that provides Nunavut. Information provided by the information on the department’s specific department indicates that this funding expenditures under each of its small will be used to undertake planning and capital line items. design work for infrastructure upgrades

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 286 at the solid waste facilities in Arviat, Mr. Chairman, that concludes my Clyde River, Resolute Bay, and Grise opening comments on the proposed Fiord. The department indicates that this 2016-17 Capital Estimates of the work will allow the department to Department of Community and develop a business case for this project, Government Services. Thank you, Mr. which may be submitted for funding Chairman. under the New Building Canada Fund. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. During the minister’s recent appearance, The floor is now open for general members raised a number of concerns comments. I have no names on my list. relating to the current conditions of We will now proceed to the page-by- water treatment, wastewater treatment, page review of the department’s and solid waste facilities across the estimates starting on page J-3. territory. Members recognize that Community and Government Services. upgrading and replacing current Branch Summary. Community Services. infrastructure will require significant Mr. Enook. financial and operational commitment over a long period of time, and look Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, forward to regular and ongoing updates Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, Mr. on any reports and initiatives in this area. Minister and your officials.

Mr. Chairman, the department’s I would like to go back to Minister proposed 2016-17 capital estimates also Mike’s opening comments. Just so I’m include $4.75 million for new project to not too confused, and I can’t find it in upgrade the tank farms in Baker Lake, here, but on page 4 of your opening Chesterfield Inlet, and Coral Harbour. comments it states here, “$14,502,000 The department has indicated that these for municipal infrastructure projects in upgrades are necessary to bring these various communities across the three fuel storage facilities into compliance regions” in Nunavut. What line item with federal regulations under the does that $14 million appear on in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. capital estimates? Thank you, Mr. Members note that the department is Chairman. planning to upgrade tank farms across the territory over the next five fiscal Chairman: Minister Mike. years to bring all fuel storage facilities in Nunavut into compliance with federal Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): regulations. Members recognize that the Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank department intends to undertake these the member for his question. I would upgrades concurrently with capacity like to have my deputy minister respond increase projects in various communities to the question. Thank you, Mr. to increase cost savings where Chairman. appropriate. Members encourage the department to continue to explore ways Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Green. to achieve additional cost savings in this area. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The $14 million that we were referring

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 287 to in the speaking notes, those are all the further review, although the document gas tax projects that are financed by the was already complete. Can he explain . Unless there is a what further reviews are needed to be gas tax project that’s in Appendix 4, done on this particular document for they’re not Vote 2 monies, so they just office space? Thank you. show up as an information item in section 6 of the capital estimates. Thank Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. you, Mr. Chairman. Minister Mike.

Chairman: Thank you. Appendix 4 at Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): the bottom of the page is A-IV-2. Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We spoke Enook. about the assessment of office space needs earlier this afternoon. I don’t think Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, I mentioned a review in Inuktitut, but Mr. Chairman. I’m totally lost now. I’m there was a study that was done to find sorry, Mr. Chairman. Can you repeat the out what office space is required. That page, please. Thank you. document will help us to decide on the implementation plan. As I stated before, Chairman: Under Appendix 4 under the implementation plan will be tabled Infrastructure Projects, bottom of the once all the plans and everything has page, A-IV-2. Mr. Enook. been completed in December.

Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, My colleague asked if I can table that, Mr. Chairman. I’ll leave it at that for but I wasn’t talking about a review. We now. Thank you. need to review it comprehensively and look at all the office space needs in Chairman: Community and Nunavut. What I was trying to say is that Government Services. Branch Summary. I need to review that document. I didn’t Community Services. Total Capital say that it needs to be reviewed again Expenditures. $24,902,000. Mr. and I apologize for the Rumbolt. misunderstanding. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Earlier today, I was Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Rumbolt. questioning the minister on the sewage lagoon in Sanikiluaq and I was referring Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. to… . Sorry, it wasn’t the sewage Chairman. I thank the minister for that lagoon; it was office space, I think. clarification. Now that the study is done and you’re now reviewing the study to >>Laughter see what the next steps are, what kind of timeline are you anticipating from now I’ve got sewage on my mind. to the point where you can actually be doing work in the communities to deal I was referring to a document that was with the office space shortage in our provided to me and the minister was communities? Thank you, Mr. telling us that this document needed Chairman.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 288

Chairman: Thank you. Minister Mike. water from washing out the roads and also for the granular materials to repair Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): the roads for a long-term permanent fix. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We now have Thank you, Mr. Chairman. the completed study. We are working together with the different government Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Savikataaq. departments. We would like to make sure that everything is done properly to Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. do a priority listing and I’m sure that it’s Chairman. On the same page, small going to go very well. capital for $5 million, firstly, what’s the definition of “small capital”? Thank you. From here on, the government office space leases are also being studied by Chairman: Thank you. Definition for our department. We are going to take it small capital, Minister Mike. from there and after December 2015, the assessment will have been completed Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): and we will know which communities Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy will require additional offices. That minister will respond to the question. would be after December 2015. Thank Thank you. you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Green. Chairman: Thank you. We’re on Community and Government Services. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Branch Summary. Community Services. Under the GN’s capital planning Mr. Savikataaq. handbook, any project below $250,000 is deemed to be minor or small capital Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. and those types of funding are used to Chairman. On J-4 here, for the Coral replace generators, windows, roof Harbour Road Washout Repairs, it is $2 repairs, and minor repairs for municipal million. Just an explanation on that, assets. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. please. Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Savikataaq. Chairman: Thank you. Minister Mike. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Chairman. Thanks, Mr. Green, for the Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy clarification. The reason I wanted to minister will respond to the question. know that is because I just wanted to Thank you. know how rigid it was about your definition of “small capital.” In the letter Chairman: Mr. Green. that we have from the minister back from July 2 explaining about small Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. capital funds that were used in 2014-15, The $2 million is to repair the access one of the line items is for Whale Cove road to the airport. It’s in the area near EPO and it’s $1.1 million. That’s surely tank farm in the community. The money a whole lot more than $250,000. So if is required to put culverts to divert the we could just get an explanation on how

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 289 stringent they are on their guidelines. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. We were looking at buying the existing gas bar that was owned by the Co-op Chairman: Thank you. Minister Mike. within the community. Subsequent to a conditional assessment, the liability risk Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): was too high. Basically we decided to Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again my build a new dispensing unit in deputy minister will respond to the Qikiqtarjuaq and the rationale for buying question. Thank you. the gas bar in that community is because of the distance from the tank farm and Chairman: Mr. Green. the community. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Initially, when the budget was Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. established for the EPCO upgrades for the Whale Cove tank farm, it was felt at Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. the time that the work could have been Chairman. Would it be a reasonable done for $250,000 or lower. Once we assumption then to state that as long as hired an architectural engineer to your cost is less than $250,000 for a actually take a look at the extent of the small capital project, if the funds are work that needed to be done, it was a way over, it’s okay as long as the budget shortfall. The budget shortfall funding is available to slide a more was addressed through surplus funds expensive project through small capital? within CGS and they were subsequently Would that be a fair statement? Thank approved by the Financial Management you. Board. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. Minister Mike. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Thank you. My deputy minister will Chairman. I take it that’s the same respond to the question. Thank you. explanation for the Qikiqtarjuaq Fuel Dispenser too because that project came Chairman: Mr. Green. out to $525,000. If the minister can explain if that’s the same reasoning that Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. it’s so much more than $250,000. Thank The Financial Administration Act is you. quite clear that if we were to increase anything over $250,000, we have to Chairman: Minister Mike. follow FAM procedures. Part of those guidelines is that we must notify the Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): appropriate standing committee chairs Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy about any increase in small capital over minister will respond to the question. $250,000, and if we don’t have the funds Thank you. to do this, we have to get Financial Management Board approval before we Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Green. can proceed with increasing a project

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 290 beyond the $250,000 threshold. Thank Territorial Infrastructure Component. you, Mr. Chairman. You also indicated that projects eligible under this new fund would be cost- Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Savikataaq. shared 75 percent to 25 percent between the federal government and the Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Government of Nunavut. Chairman. I thank him for the explanation. To go on a different matter, Can you indicate how your department in June of 2015, the Legislative will prioritize and plan these cost- Assembly approved approximately $60 sharing projects to ensure that the million in capital carryover funding for government is not carrying over an 106 projects, of which approximately 40 excessive amount of capital funding? projects were undertaken by your Thank you. department. To date, what progress has been made by your department in Chairman: Minister Mike. completing its backlog of capital projects? Thank you. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you. As the Minister of Chairman: Thank you. Minister Mike. Community and Government Services, I am here to explain the carryovers a little Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): further. There is the $21 million that was Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the a carryover. It used to be between $60 member for asking that question. The million and $68 million. It has decreased 2013-14 capital carryovers increased in significantly. That is specifically for the 2014-15 and in 2015-16, the carryover Department of Community and went down to $21 million. Thank you, Government Services. Mr. Chairman. For your other question regarding the Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. $256 million, I will refer that to my deputy minister. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman. On June 7, 2010, the Minister of Finance stated that the government Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Green. was seeing a high volume capital carryover funding due to human Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. resource capacities and their requirement In terms of the projects that have been for appropriating 100 percent of the submitted to Infrastructure Canada for Building Canada funds projects upfront. the New Building Canada Fund, there was a list of projects that were compiled In your correspondence to the Full from all GN departments and Caucus dated June 19, 2015, you municipalities and those projects were indicated that the federal government ranked and prioritized based on the GN’s has begun implementing the New ranking criteria. Building Canada Fund and that Nunavut would receive approximately $256 The difference between the New million in funding under the Provincial- Building Canada Fund and previous

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 291

Building Canada Fund is that in the minister will respond to that question. previous Building Canada program, the Thank you. funds were front-end loaded whereas in the New Building Canada program, the Chairman: Thank you. Just a reminder, funds are claim-based driven. There we have some translators that are trying actually won’t be any capital carryovers to keep up with you. Mr. Green. for the New Building Canada Fund because we have to spend our money Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. first and then we would have to go It certainly will present a cash flow through Infrastructure Canada to get situation for the government if we have reimbursed. to spend the money upfront and then get reimbursed through the Government of I’ll just give a little bit of clarity on the Canada for their 75 percent portion of capital carryovers. The minister is right; the capital investments. we can’t speak to… . We only have the capital carryover listing for CGS. We From the discussions and arrangements don’t have the capital carryovers for that we have with Infrastructure Canada, other GN departments. In fiscal year if it is deemed that the number of 2013-14, CGS had $6.1 million in projects we’re bringing forward with capital carryovers and for fiscal year respect to their contribution would have 2014-15, we had 40 projects for a total an impact on the GN debt wall because of $61 million in capital carryovers. For we would have invested the funds the fiscal year 2015-16, we are right now through the consolidated revenue, projecting 17 carryovers with a Infrastructure Canada has agreed that reduction in carryovers to $21.1 million. they would give the GN a cash advance Thank you, Mr. Chairman. so that it wouldn’t have any negative impact on the GN’s overall cash flow Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Savikataaq. position. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Savikataaq. Chairman. Mr. Green just explained how the New Building Canada Fund works. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Will this hinder the number of projects Chairman. I’ll ask the minister then: is that the department can do because they he anticipating spending the whole $256 upfront 100 percent of the cost? If that’s million? Thank you. my understanding of what Mr. Green just said, they would have to upfront 100 Chairman: Minister Mike. percent of the cost of the project and then get 75 percent of it back from the Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): I federal government. That’s how I think we already stated that we have understood it. Is that correct? Thank you. shortfalls. That is the only way we will have to do it because we’re short of Chairman: Minister Mike. funds. We will have to spend the money carefully. I can answer yes to that. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 292

Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. I said earlier, this is a 10-year agreement and within those ten years, we would Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. like all of that money spent. We know Chairman. Just for complete clarity for that all of it will be spent. the committee members, the federal government has agreed to upfront $256 My deputy minister will try and answer million for the Building Canada Fund the other part of the question. Thank projects. Thank you. you.

Chairman: Minister Mike. Chairman: Mr. Green.

Hon. Johnny Mike: No. (interpretation) Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. The New Building Canada Fund, as the minister has indicated, is a 10-year Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. program. We have submitted a list of projects for the $256 million to Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Infrastructure Canada for preliminary Chairman. But the minister stated that he approval. Once those projects are would spend the $256 million. If the approved, they will be integrated in with federal government is not going to the GN’s capital planning process. It’s upfront the whole cost, how much of the going to take at least 10 years to deliver $256 million did the federal government all of those projects. agree to upfront? Mr. Green stated that if it’s going to impact on their projects, There’s no restriction that we have to they will be able to get money up front. I spend $25 million a year. The way that would just like to know: of the $256 the program is structured, we could million that has been allotted for spend $250 million over five years. They Nunavut under the New Building would allow us to do it. Unfortunately, Canada Fund, how much of it will they with the number of projects, we’re going be able to get up front? We would like to need at least five to ten years to be all projects to go ahead, but we also able to fulfill that number of projects know that we’re near the top of our debt from the start to the completion. cap. So if the minister can state how much of the $256 million will be able to Infrastructure Canada said that in any be up-fronted. Thank you. given year, if we have a list of projects that we want to deliver, because we’ve Chairman: Thank you. Minister Mike. got to front-end 75 percent for Canada upfront, we would have to pay for this Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): money. They’re saying that we have to Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I provide them with an analysis of the understood his first question correctly, GN’s working capital so they would that $256 million is slotted for ten years determine, if it was a certain fiscal and we will be trying to spend it within period, if it would have an impact on the ten years. This is through a funding debt wall, then they would actually agreement. It is an annual amount of $25 front-end load and would give us an million, as an example, for ten years. As advance. Basically we would have to

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 293 determine what impact the delivery of Canada is prepared to approve any those new projects would have on our projects under the New Building Canada debt wall and then we would work with Fund, we must have a business case fully Infrastructure Canada for the cash developed. We would need to hire advance. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. architects and engineers to help us to move towards the planning study and the Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Savikataaq. schematic design for those new projects that we’re proposing in the New Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Building Canada Fund. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Staying on the Building Chairman. Canada Fund, in the proposed 2016-17 capital estimates, your department Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. includes $1.5 million for a new solid waste facility project. Information Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. provided by your department indicates Chairman. I can’t speak for the other that the funding being requested for this communities of Clyde River, Resolute project in the 2016-17 fiscal year is to Bay, and Grise Fiord, but I know that in develop a business case for solid waste Arviat, the useful life of our solid waste infrastructure projects in Arviat, Clyde site is nearing its end. When can we River, Resolute Bay, and Grise Fiord expect the monies to start flowing to and that these projects may be submitted start either expanding or making a new for funding under the New Building site? Once the study is done, is there a Canada Fund. timeline of when the actual construction would start in Arviat? Thank you. Can you clarify if the $1.5 million included in your 2016-17 capital Chairman: Minister Mike. estimates will be used for the design and construction phase of these solid waste Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): infrastructure projects? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy minister will respond to the question Chairman: Minister Mike. with your permission.

Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Chairman: Mr. Green. Thank you. My deputy minister will provide a clarification in regard to the Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. question. Thank you. Once we get preliminary approval from Infrastructure Canada in January 2016, Chairman: Mr. Green. we would be ready probably to submit the business case within four to five Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. months after we get final approval. I’m The $1.5 million is required to develop a not sure how long it’s going to take, the business case through a planning study. timelines for Infrastructure Canada to Basically, when we submit the business give us final approval once they have case to Infrastructure Canada, the $1.5 reviewed the business cases, but as soon million would be bring us close to the as we get final approval for the business schematic design. Before Infrastructure case, we would then proceed with the

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 294 final design and then be ready to start give the city $3.4 million to support construction six months to a year after some of their core infrastructure, such as the final design is completed. Thank their granular development programs, you, Mr. Chairman. water and wastewater programs; those types of infrastructures. Chairman: Thank you. We’re on Community and Government Services. We certainly do have a strong working Branch Summary. Community Services. relationship with the municipalities and Ms. Angnakak. we certainly do offer any technical support that they need from us. We just Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. encourage them that, when they look at Chairman, and good afternoon. I would their projects within the city, they need like to ask the minister and perhaps his to really take a look at it from a health officials what kind of engagement and safety perspective and really they’ve had with the City of Iqaluit in concentrate on the core needs of the regard to their infrastructure needs. services within the city. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman.

Chairman: Minister Mike. Chairman: Ms. Angnakak.

Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll have my Chairman. A few weeks ago, I attended deputy minister respond to that question. a community consultation in regard to Thank you. water issues, and the issue of the water trucks getting old came up. I see in here Chairman: Mr. Green. that there are truck replacements that do happen from time to time. Have they Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. ever had a discussion with you about We actually meet with the City of Iqaluit their needs in regard to water trucks? quarterly. The last meeting that we had Thank you, Mr. Chairman. with the City of Iqaluit was on September 30. We met with the mayor Chairman: Minister Mike. and their CEO to take a look at what their infrastructure priorities are within Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): the community and what some of their Thank you. I think that question is urgent needs are, and basically try to directed at my deputy minister, so he work with them to look at capital will reply. Thank you. investments to take care of some of those emerging needs within the city. Chairman: Mr. Green.

We are aware that the City of Iqaluit gets Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 15 percent of the gas tax, which is $2.5 During our discussions with the City of million a year from the GN’s part of the Iqaluit, they had not mentioned to us gas tax program, which is used for water about seeking any financial support for and waste management programs. As their sewage and water trucks. They you know from the capital estimates, we would finance those vehicles similar to

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 295 what we do in other municipalities. The Chairman: Minister Mike. sewage and water trucks are financed through their user fees that they collect Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): for providing services to Nunavummiut, Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy plus there’s about $7.6 million in GN minister will respond to that question. subsidies that we provide to the Thank you. municipalities to offset some of the additional costs for those vehicles. Chairman: Mr. Green.

I might reiterate as well that we have Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I undertaken a comprehensive review, have not seen a copy of the City of which should be finished by the end of Iqaluit’s solid waste management plan. I this fiscal year, to take a look at the do know, in discussions with the City of water, waste, and sewage programs right Iqaluit, that I think there’s close to $12 across the territory. The purpose of that million that’s accumulated in the Gas is to ensure that those programs are Tax Fund that will be used partially to sustainable over the long term and, if help develop a new landfill site. Thank not, then what needs to be done to make you, Mr. Chairman. sure those programs are sustainable from the lifecycle perspective. The city has Chairman: Ms. Angnakak. participated in this review as well. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have often brought up the Chairman: Ms. Angnakak. fact that we don’t like to approve fund that seem to have like a class “X.” It Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. says in here in the substantiation sheet Chairman. Thank you for your response. that they have yet to select a new solid Keeping in line, we’re talking about waste management site. They have to water and solid waste management, as complete the decommissioning plan. It you said, $3.4 million is going to be seems like very little is known about the provided to the City of Iqaluit through a new solid waste management facility. contribution agreement. Information I’m wondering why we would fund provided by your department indicates something that we know very little that $8.9 million of this total about. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. contribution will be allocated to the development of a new solid waste Chairman: Minister Mike. management facility in Iqaluit. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): It was anticipated that the new solid Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Once again, waste management program would be my deputy minister will respond to that adopted by the Iqaluit City Council in question. Thank you. 2012, but to date no plan has been officially adopted. Can you provide an Chairman: Mr. Green. update on this management plan? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to any funding that we

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 296 provide to the City of Iqaluit, we do sign Chairman: Thank you. We’re on a contribution agreement. As part of Community and Government Services. those contribution agreements, they must Branch Summary. Community Services. submit and get ministerial approval Mr. Mikkungwak. before they can start spending those monies on specific projects. Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I From time to time, we do get requests welcome the minister and his officials. from the city for authorization to The first question I would like to ask is proceed. Some of those capital projects in regard to the minister’s opening are under the contribution agreements, comments on page 3, “$4,750,000 for but certainly, the contribution agreement code compliance upgrades for Baker is very strict in terms of how the city can Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, and Coral spend that money and they really can’t Harbour fuel storage [facilities].” What do it without ministerial approval. Thank exactly is that for? That’s my first you, Mr. Chairman. question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman: Ms. Angnakak. Chairman: Minister Mike.

Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Chairman. Thank you for your response. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don’t Obviously we want to see a new facility understand what he is saying. Can he put in place in Iqaluit. That has often indicate what he is referring to? Thank been one of my biggest concerns; it’s you. about the waste management. Sometimes I feel that the city needs to Chairman: It’s on page 3. Mr. have perhaps more support in really Mikkungwak. coming forward with some of these plans. It seems like they have been Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): dragging a long time. We want the Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. money to be spent wisely and efficiently, I’m trying to ask about the $4,750,000 but at the same time, I recognize the that will be needed for code compliance capacity issues also. upgrades for fuel storage facilities. Which product is it for? Is it for gas or I think that is why my first question to diesel? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. you was about the level of engagement with the city because you always hear Chairman: Minister Mike. different stories. One of the stories I have heard is that the department and the Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): city don’t often get along. I’m not sure if Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy that is true or not, and I hope it’s not true minister will respond to that question. I because there really is a lot of work to didn’t understand his dialect the first do when it comes to this. time around and I apologize for that. My deputy minister will respond. Thank Mr. Chairman, I think that is it for me. you. Thank you.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 297

Chairman: Thank you. It’s in your both the diesel and gasoline fuel tanks. opening comments. Mr. Green. In Coral Harbour, we are upgrading the three million litre diesel tank. Thank Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. you, Mr. Chairman. The list of projects that I’m showing is on page J-6. The $2 million is to Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak, I think increase the tank capacity in Gjoa your question was for page J-5. Mr. Haven. There is $100,000 for the Mikkungwak. warranty work for the fuel… . Just give me a minute. Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am referencing his opening Thank you, Mr. Chairman. $3 million of comments. Moving along, my next the $4 million is for the construction of question will be, on June 19, 2015, you the Gjoa Haven tank farm and in indicated that the government will Chesterfield Inlet, it’s for the EPCO submit projects to Infrastructure Canada upgrades. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. for assessment of eligibility. Once a project is deemed eligible, the Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Government of Nunavut is then Mikkungwak. responsible for developing a full business case. To date, has your Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): department submitted any projects for Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I assessment and, if so, when? Thank you, know that we have different dialects, Mr. Chairman. obviously, so I will ask the question in English. Chairman: Minister Mike.

(interpretation ends) I asked a very Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): simple question. When we look at that Thank you. My deputy minister will particular paragraph, fuel storage respond to that question. Thank you. facilities in Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, and Coral Harbour, is that for Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Green. gasoline or diesel fuel storage? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can I ask you to repeat that question Chairman: Minister Mike. again? I was just picking up some of the papers that were forwarded; I had a Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): distraction there. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy minister will respond. Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak.

Chairman: Mr. Green. Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On June 19, 2015, you Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. indicated that the government will For Baker Lake, we’re doing an increase submit projects to Infrastructure Canada in diesel consumption tank. In for assessment of eligibility. Once a Chesterfield Inlet, we did an upgrade to project is deemed eligible, the

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 298

Government of Nunavut is then have to take a look at the site conditions responsible for developing a full that would be included in the business business case. To date, has your case. An option analysis would be department submitted any projects for included in the business case. It’s a very assessment and, if so, when? Thank you, detailed business case. It pretty much Mr. Chairman. brings the project to the schematic design. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Green. Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There was a full list of projects Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): submitted to Infrastructure Canada in Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. August 2015. The list of projects is (interpretation ends) In your being analyzed right now by the correspondence, you indicated that infrastructure staff. Because of the eligible projects under the Provincial- election, the preliminary approvals for Territorial Infrastructure Component can those projects are delayed. We’re not fall under a number of different likely to get a response back from categories, including public transit, Infrastructure Canada for the list of wastewater, and green energy. Will your projects that we submitted until January department be responsible for 2016. We have submitted a list of developing business cases for all capital projects to Infrastructure Canada. Thank projects that are submitted for you, Mr. Chairman. consideration under the New Building Canada Fund? Thank you, Mr. Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak. Chairman.

Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman: Minister Mike. Chairman. Can you indicate what is included in these business cases? Thank Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll have my deputy minister respond to that question. Chairman: Minister Mike. Thank you.

Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Chairman: Mr. Green. Thank you. My deputy minister will respond to that question. Thank you. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Any projects that are submitted on Chairman: Mr. Green. behalf of the municipalities, CGS will take full responsibility for the Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. development of the business case for Once we receive preliminary approval those. For any projects that are from Infrastructure Canada, the next step submitted by other departments within is to submit the business case. The the GN that are eligible for funding business case contains about the same under the New Building Canada Fund, types of information that we would CGS will help the respective require in a planning study. We would departments to develop the business

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 299 cases and CGS will be responsible for they get the business cases before they submitting those business cases to give the final approval. We do have a Infrastructure Canada. Thank you, Mr. strong working relationship with Chairman. Infrastructure Canada and we certainly do keep strong dialogue with Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak. Infrastructure Canada. Once the preliminary approval is done and we Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): submit the business cases, we will be Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. following up with Infrastructure Canada (interpretation ends) In your officials on a regular basis to make sure correspondence, you indicated that the that they can expedite those projects federal government must review each under this program. Thank you, Mr. business case before approving a project Chairman. for funding under the New Building Canada Fund and that this process could Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak. take 3 to 18 months. Can you explain how your department will ensure that all Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): business cases are completed in a timely Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. matter? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Moving on to another topic, I’m looking at page J-4. I’m sure the minister is Chairman: Minister Mike. aware that I asked this question last year regarding Baker Lake. We have made Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): requests for a utilidor system. Can you Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll have my respond to my question about the utilidor deputy minister respond to that question. system for Baker Lake? Thank you, Mr. Thank you. Chairman.

Chairman: Mr. Green. Chairman: Minister Mike.

Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Once we have received preliminary Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy approval from Infrastructure Canada, we minister will respond to that question. will immediately start working with the Thank you. GN for any municipal projects that we include in the plan, plus any client Chairman: Mr. Green. departments’ requests for funding. We will work with those departments and Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. submit those business cases. It would We have commissioned a consultant to probably take the department in itself undertake a feasibility study to three to six months to fully develop a determine the viability of a utilidor business plan to make sure that we’ve system in Baker Lake and what the got all the requirements that are required investment cost would be to construct a for Infrastructure Canada. utilidor system in the community.

Infrastructure Canada has indicated to us This report is not expected to be that it could take 3 to 18 months once finalized until December 31. Once that

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 300 report is finalized, we will share the Chairman: Mr. Green. report with the hamlet. If it is a desire to move ahead with the utilidor system, we Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. do know it is going to be an expensive With respect to the solid waste sites investment. All I can say is, once the within the territory in 24 communities, feasibility study is done, it is going to solid waste sites are near the end of their take some time to introduce this into the useful life. It’s kind of a legacy issue the five-year capital plan because it can only GN inherited from the GNWT. go ahead when there is financing to include it in the GN five-year capital As part of the strategy, we looked at the plan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. best practices and what type of landfill sites we would need to ensure that we Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak. can meet best practices. Basically the new modified landfill sites would have Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): three separate lined berms, one for Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. domestic waste, one for hazardous I’ll move on to another topic. The material, and one for bulky metals, to Premier went to Baker Lake and met ensure that no contaminants leak into the with the Qilautimiut committee. Baker environment. Lake is one of the communities that have a large population of elders. Our elders The new solid waste site will require had raised a concern regarding the fencing and controlled access. Certainly, dump. The smoke from the dump can part of the best practice is looking at cause health problems. options to divert waste out of the solid waste sites like cardboard, woods, and (interpretation ends) With that, my some of the other materials that can be question here would be, information burnt in using a burn box similar to here provided by the department indicates in Iqaluit. that the most feasible option to develop new solid waste infrastructure in Whenever we move forward to new Nunavut is to implement the modified solid waste sites, the first thing we will landfills that are described in the do is to do a solid waste audit to Municipal Solid Waste Best Practices in determine what types of garbage is being Nunavut Report. deposited into those landfill sites and then look at options of how we can try to Can you indicate if implementing the divert waste out of the landfill sites so modified landfill model in Nunavut will that we can extend their useful life. require a complete overhaul of all the Thank you, Mr. Chairman. current solid waste sites in Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak.

Chairman: Minister Mike. Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The official seems to read my Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): mind, leading me right into my next Thank you. I’ll have my deputy minister question. Will the minister commit to respond to that question. Thank you. tabling this Municipal Solid Waste Best

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 301

Practices in Nunavut Report in the for us to do is to do an audit of the Legislative Assembly? Thank you, Mr. existing waste materials that are Chairman. deposited in those landfill sites. From using those audits, it will determine how Chairman: Minister Mike. we can re-engineer those landfill sites in the community to best meet their needs Hon. Johnny Mike: Yes. Thank you. for best practices and managing the solid waste sites going forward. Even though Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak. we’re using a modified landfill site in all communities, it depends on the Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): community’s size and the types of Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I domestic wastes that are being deposited also thank the minister for his response. I into the landfill sites that will determine am very pleased and I can’t wait to see the size of the new landfill site within the report. those communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Information provided by your department indicates Chairman: Thank you. Mr. that the modified landfill model includes Mikkungwak. a complete fence, as the official indicated, a fenced facility with a Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. designated lined cell for bulky materials, Chairman. Moving right along, I’ll move hazardous waste, and domestic garbage. on to another subject here. On March 2, Additional features, including burn sites, 2015 during Committee of the Whole’s reusable products, and potential consideration of the department’s 2015- recyclables will be considered on a site- 16 main estimates, the minister of the by-site basis. day indicated that your department had hired Dalhousie University to undertake Can you indicate what kind of factors a review to “gather baseline data on the would allow or restrict a community existing sewage lagoons to see if they from having these additional features can meet the new proposed, included in their solid waste sites? recommended effluent levels.” The Thank you, Mr. Chairman. minister also indicated that information gathered through this review would Chairman: Minister Mike. indicate if Nunavut was required to undertake any improvements to its Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): current wastewater management Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy facilities. minister will respond to that question. Thank you. Can you indicate if Dalhousie University has completed this review and, if so, Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Green. what were the results? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before we actually move in to the design Chairman: Minister Mike. and build of a landfill site, the first step

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 302

Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Hon. Johnny Mike: Yes and it would Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy be an executive summary report, if that minister will respond to that question. is the question. Thank you. Thank you. Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak. Chairman: Mr. Green. Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman. As the minister indicates, it Dalhousie has finalized all of its research will be an executive report. Are we within the communities that they were looking at different types of reports doing the research. All the baseline data considering that there is a Dalhousie now has been collected. The preliminary review that will be tabled and the other analysis that we have received from one that I referenced earlier? Thank you, Dalhousie so far is that it looks like, in Mr. Chairman. most of the testing that they have done, our effluent levels are really meeting Chairman: Minister Mike. high standards. Hon. Johnny Mike: No, it would be a Now that they have finalized this data, report. Yes. we should be expecting a report from Dalhousie University some time in the Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak. new calendar year, basically giving us the details of the results. At the same Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): time, based on the research that comes Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It out of this final report from Dalhousie is clear that the reports are going to have University, the next step would be then an effect on the proposals, but if we’re to work with Environment Canada to set going to be doing any activities and effluent standards that are realistic for building infrastructure, the elders do the north. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. have concerns. For example, when they’re burning the dump in Baker Lake, Chairman: Mr. Mikkungwak. it affects the health of the elders and the people. Will Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): also be factored in? Thank you, Mr. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Thank you for the response. I’ll direct my next question to Chairman: Minister Mike. the minister. Will you commit to tabling the Dalhousie University review of Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Nunavut’s wastewater system in the Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, they Legislative Assembly? Thank you, Mr. will be factored in. Thank you. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. We’re on Chairman: Minister Mike. Community and Government Services. Branch Summary. Community Services. Mr. Hickes.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 303

Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. that “…Community and Government I’ve got a few questions here, but I’ll Services is also responsible for assisting just continue on with the topic that Mr. all Nunavut communities in the long- Mikkungwak brought up. He spoke to term planning and delivery of capital the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure projects.” Component of the New Building Canada Fund and he had asked the question, Earlier this afternoon, I had some “Has Community and Government questions for the minister regarding land Services submitted any projects for availability specifically here in Iqaluit. I assessment?” You stated that there has know the minister said that he was going been some put forward. Do any of those to get back to me, but I just thought projects pertain to green energy? Thank maybe I would save his officials the time you, Mr. Chairman. of having to brief you in on the topic. I’m sure Mr. Green was listening very Chairman: Minister Mike. closely to the line of questioning I had this afternoon regarding discussions with Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): the Nunavut Housing Corporation and Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy the City of Iqaluit on recognizing, in my minister will respond to that question. opinion, a very dire need of land Thank you. availability.

Chairman: Mr. Green. Whereas we are in the percentage to waitlist the “highest need” community in Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. the territory, yet we’re unable to build The list of projects that have been even one unit to meet the growing need submitted for infrastructure of our residents with regard to housing. I consideration is marine infrastructure was just wondering if maybe the projects and solid waste site projects. minister has been updated or Mr. Green Those are the types of projects that have would be able to respond to what been submitted, but in terms of any other Community and Government Services is green infrastructure project, there was no doing with the City of Iqaluit and project submitted. Thank you, Mr. Nunavut Housing to address this need. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman: Mr. Hickes. Chairman: Minister Mike.

Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): I realize that your department doesn’t Thank you. I would like to thank the prioritize the submissions in a singular member for asking that question. I just fashion, that you don’t do it yourself. I’ll want to indicate that I have never let that one go for the time being, but I’ll received the letter from the City of have to admit that I’m a little Iqaluit on the availability of land. My disappointed. deputy minister will also respond to the question. Thank you. Following up with a comment made from your opening comments, it says

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 304

Chairman: Mr. Green. we can discuss any concerns that they may have with respect to land sites. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Earlier this month, I and my ADM Darren Flynn did meet with the Nunavut Chairman: Mr. Hickes. Housing Corporation. They have expressed some concerns about the Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. availability of developed lots within the I appreciate that information. It does communities. Basically there’s not worry me a little bit that when the necessarily of a shortage of lots in Nunavut Housing Corporation was communities; it’s just that the lots have allocating staff housing units and public not been developed. housing units, it has been recognized for years that even with the investment, as I What we were working with the stated earlier today, with housing Nunavut Housing Corporation on is let’s infrastructure across the territory, look at putting together a five-year because of the way Iqaluit has been strategy and determine which growing, the need has gotten worse, not community where the highest priority is better even with the investments that for public housing and staff housing, and have been made. then we would work with our lands division and the municipalities to make In a response from the Nunavut Housing sure that they could start developing Corporation that I received on Friday, it those lots. states that each of the communities has a sustainable community development The biggest challenge with plan and that the part that’s missing right municipalities is they are non-tax based now is how to get that plan to start communities and they don’t really working and executing the plan, and that develop lots based on speculations. there are challenges with funding and Basically what they really need is a cash flow from NHC’s standpoint. commitment from us that we are actually going to put facilities on those lots. I I understand that in a non-taxed based think, over the last couple months, we community, Community Government have developed a really strong working Services has maybe a larger role to play. relationship with our partners at NHC Maybe with the City of Iqaluit, it’s a and our Lands and Planning Division little bit different, but there is still that and also with the municipalities to try to overarching leadership role that make sure that the sites are available Community Government Service plays when those housing units are required in with the City of Iqaluit. I understand we the communities. have just gone through municipal elections, so our new councillors are NHC did also mention to us that they being sworn-in any day, and I’m hoping had some concerns about the availability this will be at the top of their priority of lots here in the city as well and some list. other issues, and we have agreed with NHC that we would arrange a meeting What options have been explored with with the city and NHC ourselves so that Nunavut Housing and the City of Iqaluit

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 305 on how to address on a faster track basis developments. That’s something that to be able to follow through with an certainly we can take under original proposal? For example, we can’t consideration and have a discussion with do a unit-by-unit land development the City of Iqaluit the next time we meet project here in Iqaluit. It’s just not with the new mayor and her staff. feasible. There has been a suspended development over by the Road to Chairman: Thank you. We’re at Nowhere subdivision that I think plan A Community and Government Services. and plan B have both been suspended, Branch Summary. Community Services. like I stated earlier, I’m assuming by Mr. Joanasie. cash flow issues with the City of Iqaluit. Mr. Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Is there something that Community and Chairman. Welcome, Minister Mike and Government Services or the GN as a your officials. I just wanted to get some whole would be able to assist the city on updates on a few projects in my a short-term basis? As we all know, constituency. I guess we can start off capital costs are recovered through a with the Kimmirut Sewage Lagoon. I land lease program where, in some understand that it has been set back. Can respects, it could be deemed as a loan. I get an update on that project, please? What options have been explored? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe if the minister would be able to describe that for me. Thank you, Mr. Chairman: Thank you. Just a reminder, Chairman. we’re barely maintaining quorum. No one is allowed out now. Thank you. Chairman: Minister Mike. Minister Mike.

Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy Thank you. My deputy minister will minister will respond to the question. reply to the question. Thank you. Chairman: Mr. Green. Chairman: Mr. Green. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The construction of the sewage lagoon in During our discussions with the City of Kimmirut is complete. As part of the Iqaluit, they certainly did indicate that application for commissioning the they had to postpone some of the sewage lagoon, the Nunavut Water development of some of their lots simply Board requested a fish habitat study be because it is a cash flow issue. When done because the community indicated you develop those sites, there’s quite a that the effluent from the new sewage bit of infrastructure like the utilidor. It lagoon may be discharging near fish- has to be expanded and upgraded in the bearing habitat. That study has been city. The city hasn’t out front completed and submitted to the Nunavut approached us to see if there are any Water Board. It was posted on their site options that the GN could temporarily for feedback on October 19. invest in assisting with those lot

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 306

The preliminary indications from the Is CGS going to proceed with that newly report are that there is no risk that the constructed sewage lagoon and moving effluent would have on the fish-bearing the project forward or if the risks and habitat. However, we are waiting for impacts are too great on the fish habitat, DFO to respond back to us to determine will they have to build a new sewage if there is any risk or if we need to do a lagoon at a new location? Thank you, mitigation to change the flow of the Mr. Chairman. effluent of the sewage lagoon. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Mike.

Chairman: Mr. Joanasie. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy Mr. Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. minister will respond to the question. Chairman. The construction is complete. Thank you. Now we’re looking at what the impacts are; if it will impact the fish in the area. Chairman: Mr. Green. The official stated that you’re going to wait for a response from the Department Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. of Fisheries and Oceans. When do they Once we know the outcome of the expect a response from them? Thank decision by DFO and the Nunavut Water you, Mr. Chairman. Board with respect to the study, what we would first approach, after we know if Chairman: Minister Mike. this needs some mitigation, then it’s our intent to work with Dalhousie University Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): under the existing contract we have now Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy to find ways if we can redesign the minister will reply to the question. wetlands to have the effluent flow away from that fish-bearing pond. Thank you, Chairman: Mr. Green. Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I Chairman: Mr. Joanasie. have asked my staff this week to reach out to the Nunavut Water Board and the Mr. Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. DFO to see if they can’t provide us with Chairman. Just looking back, it was five their recommendation in terms of the years ago that this project was outcome of that fish study. Thank you, announced under the old Building Mr. Chairman. Canada Fund. Now we have the New Building Canada Fund. Chairman: Mr. Joanasie. Before they proceeded to build this Mr. Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. facility, did they do a study to ask some Chairman. I have gone to that nearly of the locals and say, “Do fish here? Do completed sewage lagoon. It looks really you hunt here?” It might impact them. It nice and ready to be used. seems like the project was built and now they’re asking how it is going to impact. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 307

Chairman: Minister Mike. types of actions won’t happen moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hon. Johnny Mike: Thank you. Again, my DM will reply to that question, Chairman: Mr. Joanasie. please. Mr. Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Green. Chairman. Thank you for that detailed explanation. I encourage the department Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. to work with the municipality on this. This project was approved through the Like I said, it has been five years since GN capital plan and the Building Canada the announcement of that project. It’s a Fund using the old capital planning nice new facility that’s ready to be used, process. We were confident. We’re but it’s not commissioned yet. finding with the new capital planning process now that we have to do a I’ll move on to Cape Dorset. It’s almost planning study, which requires a the exact kind of circumstance, but it’s rigorous gathering of information before taking longer. I asked questions on that we bring anything into the five-year in this House to the minister of the day. capital plan for consideration. Can I get an update on the Cape Dorset Sewage Lagoon from the department? Moving forward, we would be doing Thank you, Mr. Chairman. those types of site conditions and the fish habitat studies to prevent some of Chairman: Minister Mike. those situations from happening. Unfortunately this sewage lagoon was Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): approved with not the level of detail that Thank you. My deputy minister will should have been required at the time it respond to that question. Thank you. was built. I think, if I look at some of the correspondence, discussions around this Chairman: Mr. Green. sewage lagoon dates back as far as 2001 and it has been progressing over the Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. years. Unfortunately this is another situation where, when this sewage lagoon was It’s unfortunate that the fish study didn’t built back in 2006 I think, since its get done. You’re absolutely right. It inception there have been ongoing should have been done before the operational issues with the sewage construction occurred. Unfortunately, lagoon. that didn’t happen. When we became aware of it, we did commission a fishing In order to try to, first of all, prevent the study. We will see what the outcome of leaking underneath the new solid waste the fish habitat study is before we site and plus the fact that the condition determine what the next steps are. of the road was something that we even brought to our attention after we did a I’m confident that, going forward under feasibility to determine what the best the new capital planning process, those solutions are for us to be able to commission this particular facility. We

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 308 are reviewing the options of the The department is well aware of the feasibility study that was completed this issue. The old sewage lagoon facility in fiscal year and we’re going to try to Cape Dorset, just this past summer, there determine what the most cost-effective was a breach in one of the cells that approach is to solve this situation with compromised the integrity of the sewage the sewage lagoon and bring it into lagoon cell and there’s leaking. The operation. department needs to address this issue moving forward. Once again, it’s unfortunate that this is a bit of a legacy issue that the current I asked in the spring about this summer administration within CGS has inherited. 2015, there’s supposed to be a dye study We are certainly working with the done. Have they got the results of that community to try to find ways that we study to see if the new sewage lagoon is can address the concerns for the sewage still leaking? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. lagoon so that we can get it commissioned through the water board. Chairman: Minister Mike. Depending on the scope of work that needs to be done to improve access to Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): this particular facility, it could be an Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The issues expensive fix. At this point in time, we face in Cape Dorset and Kimmirut we’re just looking at the options and have existed for quite some time. Ever determining how we can best deal with since I was assigned the portfolio of this issue and resolve the outstanding CG&S, I have had the opportunity to issues. visit various communities throughout our territory and witnessed examples of Once again, I would reiterate the fact proper facilities being managed by that under the new capital planning municipalities. They face various process those types of decisions would challenges. be avoided and certainly the amount of proper planning process would be done I can cite the example of Cambridge Bay prior to introducing it into the capital as it seems to be a model for others to planning process. All I can say to the follow. They have constructed a solid members is we are still working with the waste and sewage facility with an municipality to come up with ways that excellent layout that I saw myself. This we can try to commission the sewage is particularly when they are compliant lagoon. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. with all legislation, codes, and regulations applied by various agencies Chairman: Mr. Joanasie. and public bodies. The facility in Cambridge Bay seemed, in my eyes, a Mr. Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. perfect example of properly constructed Chairman. I sure hope so and I sure hope and compliant designs. All municipal that in eight years from now, the new waste management facilities should be sewage lagoons that are being built like that because one remembers today won’t have the same sorts of examples of well-managed and designed problems. facilities.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 309

Nonetheless, not every community is today. In the past, they had to go through blessed with favourable terrain, such as this capital planning process and today Cambridge Bay. Some are faced with the rote answer is that they have to go steep and rough terrain in their adjacent through the capital planning process lands. Although suitable lands can while we are asking that they be sometimes be found elsewhere, it is not considered for next year’s capital plans so easy in the case of Kimmirut and now. This seems redundant and makes Cape Dorset. Indeed, both the that past work under those plans ill department and I personally know that in planned. This is just a comment. order to find suitable terrain for now and the future, we have no choice but to find Also, what additional plans are there as the lands. The only way to initiate this contingencies for the particular search for feasible territory within the communities of Kimmirut and Cape proximity of the built up area is to put it Dorset? I want to be kept abreast of into the capital plans posthaste. developments from the Department of Community and Government Services. Mr. Chairman, I wanted to respond That is my final comment. Thank you. briefly on my personal knowledge about this issue and would ask that my deputy Chairman: Thank you. I didn’t hear a minister respond with the actual details question. Do you want to comment? as he is more versed in the operational Minister Mike. matters. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Chairman: Mr. Green. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My colleague has tersely managed to lay out the Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. process of capital planning required for We did do a dye test on the new sewage important community infrastructure. lagoon and the dye test did determine This is why, in my tenure as the Minister that there is a leak within the new of CGS, I can state the following with sewage lagoon. Basically what we’re regard to new capital items, let us say, doing now is looking at the options of for a five-year capital plan. To the extent how we can seal the leak within that we can ensure proper planning, I can lagoon. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. state here in front of you that it will follow all the procedures. We will Chairman: Thank you. Just a reminder ensure it doesn’t degenerate to the way it that we are on capital estimates 2016-17. was done in the past, where constant Mr. Joanasie. bureaucratic resubmissions result in costlier processes, with local decisions Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank rendered meaningless and no adherence you, Mr. Chairman. You jogged my to published plans. This eats up precious memory with that. Perhaps to end my funding, spurious of the political limited questions while on this subject, statements of having no extra funds. the current facilities as they were constructed are yet to become Respecting our management of capital operational. Again I reiterate my plans that have followed this process, the question about these existing facilities best practice is to do that and review the

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 310 process, and ensure checks and balances Item 20: Report of the Committee of exist to ensure that priorities are the Whole respected to allow our communities to operate smoothly, especially important Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. service-related infrastructure. I wanted Your committee has been considering to clarify that while speaking to this Bill 3 and the capital estimates, and matter. would like to report progress. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the The desire to be updated with Committee of the Whole be concurred developments in important local with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. priorities has to result in close communications between bureaucracy Speaker: There is a motion on the floor. and communities to ensure this process Is there a seconder? Mr. Enook. The works as planned. By having a close motion is in order. To the motion. All working relationship and communicating those in favour. (interpretation) Thank priorities on these capital items between you. (interpretation ends) Opposed. The communities and government and motion is carried. throughout the capital planning process, the projects can proceed as agreed to. Item 21. Third Reading of Bills. Item 22. Orders of the Day. Mr. Clerk. That’s why I am just responding. Although this isn’t included in our Item 22: Orders of the Day review, in reality, the question is relevant to our debate now, Mr. Clerk (Mr. Quirke): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Speaker. Just a reminder to members, there’s a meeting of the Full Caucus Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Enook. tomorrow morning at nine o’clock in the Nanuq Boardroom, followed by a Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, meeting of the Regular Members’ Mr. Chairman. I move that we report Caucus in the Nanuq Boardroom at progress. 11:15.

Chairman: Thank you. We have motion Orders of the Day for October 28: on the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable. All those in 1. Prayer favour of the motion. All those opposed. 2. Ministers’ Statements The motion is carried. I will now rise to report progress to the Speaker. 3. Members’ Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the officials from the witness table. 5. Recognition of Visitors in the

Gallery Speaker: Item 20. Report of the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Akoak. 6. Oral Questions

7. Written Questions

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Nunavut Hansard 311

8. Returns to Written Questions (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms.

9. Replies to Opening Address >>House adjourned at 17:57 10. Petitions 11. Responses to Petitions 12. Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters 13. Tabling of Documents 14. Notices of Motions 15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 16. Motions 17. First Reading of Bills 18. Second Reading of Bills 19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters  Bill 1  Bill 2  Bill 3  Bill 6  Tabled Document 107 – 4(2)  Tabled Document 149 – 4(2) 20. Report of the Committee of the Whole 21. Third Reading of Bills 22. Orders of the Day Thank you.

Speaker: Qujannamiik, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, October 28, at 1:30 p.m.